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Is Govt. Justified To Go After Street Traders Without Providing Markets For Them?

By Amin Kef Sesay

Spirited efforts have been made this week by the Government to get street traders off main areas in the municipality such as PZ, Abacha Street, Lumley, Wilberforce, Jui, etc.,in a bid to decongest those areas.

The question however many people have asked is whether the Government has the right to evict street traders without providing alternative livelihoods for them?

The eviction of street traders as a Government policy dates back to the days of Alfred Akibo-Betts as Mayor of the Freetown City Council.

Street trading in Freetown has mushroomed beyond control, since the end of the war in 2002, with grave consequences for road safety, public health and sanitation, street crime and environmental blight.

Hundreds of thousands of unemployed people in Freetown are eking out a meagre existence out of illegal street trading. Few are paying local council tax, let alone declaring their incomes for personal taxation purposes.

Even though the main reason for street trading is to earn a living, it has gotten out of hands especially in the Central Business District.

Apart from interrupting human and vehicular traffic, street trading also leaves the streets of Freetown littered with plastic bags, wrappers and other forms of wastes. This makes our streets very dirty, untidy and unsightly.

To control this chaos, it should be the place of the Freetown City Council (FCC) and other municipal councils to put measures in place and embark on operations to eradicate street trading and peddling especially from the Central Business District.

The measures can include payment of taxes for goods and also the acquisition of tickets by street traders to legitimize their trade.

When interviewed, many street traders expressed disappointment over the non- availability of a market for them to do business and pleaded for the Government to build conducive market places for them so they can avoid selling on the streets.

Many people see the creation of more markets as a solution to street trading. It is assumed that more markets will give street traders a conducive and appropriate environment to do their businesses .

However, in Freetown and the other cities, curbing street trading will take much more than creating new markets and persuading street traders and hawkers to sell their goods there because the business of street trading is much more an issue of survival as it is cultural.

SLAJ Actively Participates in Beach Clean-Up 2021

By Amin Kef Sesay

The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) joined  the European Union in Sierra Leone (and partners) in the annual EU Beach Clean-up event on Saturday 16th  October 2021 at 8:00am -11:00am at the Aberdeen- Lumley Beach, Freetown.

It was part of SLAJ’s contribution towards a collective effort to protect the environment and raise awareness on the protection of the ocean from plastic litter as one the main drivers of the depletion of marine biodiversity and climate change issues.

SLAJ President, Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, stated that the media has a moral obligation to support worthy courses, and the environment is key.

“The media plays a crucial role in raising awareness about climate change issues, mobilizing action, tracking policy implementation, and leading advocacy efforts towards the responsible treatment of the environment,” says Nasralla.

SLAJ is also investing in the planting of trees through the FCC’s tree planting project #FreeTownTheTreeTown campaign.

Members of the Fourth Estate volunteered by joining the National Executive at the Lumley beach on Saturday putting on their SLAJ Golden Jubilee T-shirts, caps and SLAJ visibility jackets while actively taking part in the cleaning exercise. Prior to the commencement of the exercise participants put on their face masks.

Former NMA Mines Compliance Officer Convicted by the ACC

By Foday Moriba Conteh

In a Press Release issued by the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) on the 15th October,2021 it was indicated that the High Court of Sierra Leone Holden at Freetown, presided over by the Hon. Justice Cosmotina Jarrett, has on Friday 15th October, 2021, convicted and sentenced Daniel Kapri Serry, a Mines Compliance Officer of the National Minerals Agency (NMA), and of No. 6 Azzolini Highway, Makeni, to pay a fine of Fifty Million Leones (Le. 50,000,000.00) or Serve Five (5) Years Imprisonment, following his conviction on one count of corruption offence.

The Hon. Justice Cosmotina Jarrett convicted Daniel Kapri Serry after he pleaded guilty to Count Three of the charges, Accepting an Advantage, contrary to Section 28 (2)(a) of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 12 of 2008 as amended by Act No. 9 of the 2019 Amendment Act. He was ordered to pay a fine of Fifty Million Leones on or before the 30th November, 2021, or serve a jail term of Five (5) Years.

It could be recalled that the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), on the 26th August, 2021, filed an indictment against Daniel Kapri Serry on various corruption offences. According to the particulars of offence, Daniel Kapri Serry, on diverse dates between 1st and 28th February 2021, peddled influence and accepted an advantage for himself in order to make use of his influence to obtain a benefit from a public body. Between the said dates, Daniel Kapri Serry, accepted the sums of Five Thousand US Dollars (US$5,000), Two Thousand US Dollars (US$2,000) and Three Hundred US Dollars (US$300) respectively for himself from businessmen Chi Clment and Simplice Bedy, in order to make use of his influence to facilitate the release and conveyance to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 15 Kilograms of gold valued at Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand US Dollars (US$350,000). Daniel Kapri Serry also accepted without lawful consideration an IPhone 11 in consideration for him to trace and apprehend one Fatmata Bomporo Sesay, a businesswoman involved in the sale of the said 15 Kilograms of gold.

President Bio Markets Sierra Leone in Dubai as an Investment Destination

By Esther Wright

President Julius Maada Bio has on the 15th October 2021 addressed the EXPO 2020 Dubai’s Investment Forum during which time he assured a huge audience of investors on some opportunities Sierra Leone can offer and policies in place to guarantee a return on investments.

The First Lady Madam Fatima Bio, who is also the Commissioner-General for the EXPO 2020 Dubai, welcomed the President and his entourage to the special event meant only for Sierra Leone to discuss investment opportunities with business executives from around the world. She noted that a lot of effort was put into making the event colourful.

The First Lady further stated that the event was a teaser that would eventually lead those who would be willing to visit the resource-rich West African country, adding that it would also open space and contacts necessary to strengthen the partnerships they will be creating on that day.

“Thank you very much for attending EXPO Dubai 2020 and thank you for attending the Sierra Leone Investment Forum,” she ended.

In a short statement, His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio thanked participants for making it a point of duty to attend the Sierra Leone Investment Forum at the EXPO Dubai 2020. He noted that he truly appreciated them because they showed interest in advancing the partnership and wanting to invest in the country.

He further assured that his Government had worked hard in the last three years to shape up the ecosystem to be conducive for business to flourish, fighting corruption and working very hard to make sure economic fundamentals were strong. He added that the new administration had changed the narratives about the past and would continue to do more.

“Therefore, I am seeking patient investors who want to do business that will bring shared benefits in a very good environment. Ladies and gentlemen, I am here to invite you to Sierra Leone and to let you know that we will not only welcome you, but we will also accompany you all throughout and give you the after-service support you deserve. I expect you to come to Sierra Leone. Thank you,” he concluded.

Government Intends Commissioning 4 New Ferries for Freetown & Lungi

By Esther Wright

This medium was made to understand that during a date to be pronounced later on, the General Manager of the Sierra Leone Ports Authority (SLPA) Dr. Abdulai Fofana and his Deputy Askia Yakuba Bio in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport and Aviation will soon commission four new ferries. The move, it was also learnt, is geared towards ameliorating the travelling constraints people have to go through in moving between the capital city Freetown and the airport town of Lungi across the River Rokel estuary and other communities along the country’s coast.

Of significant concern is the lack of a convenient and safe means of travelling from Lungi Airport to mainland Freetown  to those travelling in and out of the country via Lungi airport.

With the ferries servicing the Freetown-Tagrin route needing haulage and proper servicing , as they have become death traps and unreliable, and with an increase in passenger volume coupled with the Government’s expansion of the airport to cater for at least one million travelers in the coming years, it becomes very much important for new ferries to be procured.

Since the 1980s when funding for the Management of the Government owned ferry service became apparently hapless and the authorities decided to subcontract the running of the service to the private sector, not much investment has gone into improving the quality of the ferries themselves – of which there are only two.

Frequent breakdowns, corruption, lack of spare parts, and the high incidence of the ferries going aground or drifting into the Atlantic Ocean, have made passengers very wary about their safety. Hence, the astute, dynamic and forward looking leadership of SLPA wants to make these life-threatening challenges attached to sea travelling a thing of the past.

The much needed and long awaited ferry service, providing a fast, safe and professional ferry service between the airport and the capital, Freetown is  set to be enhanced by Government which will not only benefit and help in improving as well as easing travelling but will also positively impact the operations of airlines using the country’s air space.

Via VP Juldeh Jalloh…   Chinese Embassy Offers Well Woman Clinic Le 390M for a Triage Centre 

By Amin Kef Sesay

Based on a request put forward by the Well Woman Clinic situated at Aberdeen to the Vice President, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, for assistance, who in turn asked the assistance of the Chinese Embassy in Freetown, medical equipment and ancillaries were handed over by the Chinese on the 13th October 2021 at the Clinic in addition to what the Government provided.

The Well woman clinic is a health service provider that focuses on cancer care, maternal and neonatal health care and wellness care amongst others.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Well Woman Clinic, Jennifer Renner- Thomas, informed that the clinic started off as a breast cancer clinic after their family lost her younger sister to fourth stage breast cancer. She furthered that her family deemed it fit to open a breast cancer screening clinic for under–privileged women using their dwelling house.

“We gradually advanced to catering for the holistic well being of a woman,” she explained.

Madam Renner-Thomas, said the clinic was constrained with a Triage Centre and they met the Honourable Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh for support. She expressed gratitude to the Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, the Minister of Health and Sanitation and the Chinese Ambassador in Sierra Leone for promptly coming to their aid.

The Minister of Health and Sanitation Dr. Austin Demby said the vision of His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio is to provide healthcare services for all Sierra Leoneans. He stated that through the Ministry of Health, Government supports both public and private healthcare centres especially those giving special services such as cancer screening.

He described Well Woman Clinic as an important clinic, adding that Government has provided support for them with health care workers, electricity and medical supplies. He emphasized that the clinic supports Government’s plan to provide health care services to all Sierra Leoneans by providing antenatal and neonatal services to women amongst other services.

He commended Well Woman Clinic for their contribution in the healthcare delivery to the people of Sierra Leone.

The Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone, H.E Hu Zhangliang, said the Honourable Vice President was concerned about the operations of the women’s clinic and approached the Chinese Embassy for support to them, which he said the Embassy was able to provide the sum of Le 390,000,000 (three hundred and ninety million Leones) as support to the clinic.

He said they were happy to provide the support, adding that he is impressed by the popularity of the clinic and the quality of the services they provide for the people.

The Ambassador pointed out that health is one of the major areas of Sierra Leone – China friendship cooperation noting that, China has been providing support in building health infrastructures and giving technical expertise in the health sector by training medical doctors, lab technicians and other health workers. He commended the Government of Sierra Leone under the leadership of President Julius Maada Bio for making good use of the health support China has been providing to Sierra Leone especially during Ebola and COVID-19.

The Honourable Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh in his remarks, said the Well Woman Clinic is a clinic that provides excellent services to women and that maternal health is one of the New Direction Government’s priority areas. “As a Government we have provided support across the country for the health sector, recruited more health workers, increased budgetary allocation, and we are making efforts to get specialist trainings for our doctors,” he disclosed.

Vice President Jalloh maintained that supporting such a clinic is part of increasing on Government’s health portfolio. He explained that Well Woman approached Government with a request for a Triage Centre for preliminary screening of their patients based on which the Government reached out to the Chinese Government for assistance. The Chinese Embassy, he went on, provided over three hundred million Leones which Government directly handed over to the clinic.

The Honourable Vice President said they are impressed with the services Well Woman Clinic provides for the people of this country.

He emphasized that Government, under the leadership of President Julius Maada Bio, feels obliged to provide support at all levels where health care services are concerned.

The program was climaxed with a conducted tour of the clinic’s facilities and the symbolic handing over of drugs and other medical supplies.

Besides Decorated With an Award in Tanzania…   Tourism Ministry & Tourist Board Validate 1st National Marketing & Branding Strategy

By Amin Kef Sesay

With support from the World Bank Sierra Leone Economic Diversification Project, the Ministry Tourism and Cultural Affairs and the National Tourism Board (NTB), on the 15th October 2021, held a validation workshop for the first-ever National Marketing and Branding Strategy. The event took place at the Country Lodge Hotel on Hill Station in Freetown.

The destination marketing and branding strategy and action plan was formulated under the direction of the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs and the National Tourist Board. According to the developers, it will guide the marketing of tourism for the next ten years and includes a 5-year action plan with corresponding activities, tactics, targets and budgets.

It could be recalled that Journey and Acorn Consultancies in the UK were recruited to develop the Marketing and Branding Strategy which was formulated through extensive research, field work and stakeholder consultations.

In his opening address, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Andrew L. Sorie said Sierra Leone has all the natural endowments and all what was needed was a structured way to showcase the environment and benefit from it, hence Journey and Acorn were consulted to do the marketing strategy in order to lure more people to Sierra Leone.

In her statement, the General Manager of the National Tourist Board, Fatmata Hamid Carew intimated that the workshop aimed at producing Sierra Leone’s first ever destination marketing branding strategy with a 5-year action plan for the marketing of tourism and culture of Sierra Leone. She explained that the strategy is coming at a time when the sector is challenged globally due to the  COVID-19 pandemic, but however noted that the policy and legal framework must be addressed for the destination to be competitive.

The Task Team Leader for the World Bank Sierra Leone Economic Diversification Project, Moses K. Kibirige commended the Ministry and the Board for their partnership in the said project. He said the pandemic has affected the tourism industry globally and that was the best time for Sierra Leone to have its marketing and branding strategy to compete with the rest of the world. He stated how the strategy is very important for Sierra Leone to reposition its image within the international community of nations.

In his presentation, the Lead Consultant, Mike Fabricius said they were very privileged and excited to work for the country and that they have had wonderful experiences during their nationwide consultations. He commended the sense of openness and receptiveness of the people of Sierra Leone.

He explained what the project is all about and what has been developed from a rebranding and marketing strategy perspective. He said they were in Sierra Leone for three weeks where they had regional workshops and the inputs generated were factored in the marketing strategy. He presented the brand logo of the destinations with the caption “explore freedom”.

In her keynote address, the Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Memunatu Pratt thanked the World Bank for making this particular aspect of the economic diversification a success noting that it was the beginning of Sierra Leone long decade of tourism transformation. She told the gathering that the journey started with Journey and Acorn Consultancies and they are now in the end of the journey.

Minister Pratt maintained that this was the most excellent public consultation she had witnessed on tourism where people have been frank, objective and highly inclusive which she said set the pace for tourism to thrive. She said what the consultants have done complements all what the Ministry and the Board had been doing towards having a proper international outlook and also bringing digital marketing to the forefront of tourism.

The strategy presented by the consultants was adopted by all the stakeholders. Group presentations from the media and civil society, legislation and policy, hospitality, public sector associations and nature tourism climaxed the occasion.

In another development the country’s Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Memunatu Pratt, the Director of Tourism, Mohamed Jalloh and the General Manager of the National Tourist Board (NTB), Fatmata Hamid Carew were in attendance during the maiden edition of the East African Community (EAC) regional tourism expo in Tanzania on the theme: “Promotion of Resilient Tourism for Inclusive Socio-Economic Development”.

The Minister was decorated with the continental tourism award 2021 for her cutting-edge initiatives in ensuring that tourism remains a driving force of the economy of Sierra Leone.

The Tanzanian Tourism Minister, Damas Ndumbaro said the event aimed at promoting tourism attractions available in the EAC member countries of Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan and will also help to encourage tourism stakeholders, especially the private sector to work out strategies aimed at reviving the sector that has been devastated by the Covid-19 Pandemic.

In her statements, Minister Pratt thanked the EAC and the Minister of Tourism and Natural Resources of Tanzania, Damas Ndumbaro for spearheading and  hosting the wonderful event noting that the event is not only inspiring but has challenged ECOWAS to do same. She said this would lead to a bigger voice in the African Union (AU) as she is one of the leading advocates at the AU level in ensuring that much more resources are dedicated to tourism in Africa. She mentioned the devastation and dark days Africa has experienced but with tourism our story is sure to be changed for the better, she maintained.

She continued that the African Union Tourism Expo is something that should be thought about and as the Minister of Tourism and Culture of Sierra Leone she was there to recognize and appreciate the leadership of the United Republic of Tanzania. She applauded the Tanzanian President, Samia Suluhu Hassan for her aspiration of women in Africa and someone who would lead a number of changes in the sub-region. Dr. Pratt on behalf of the President of Sierra Leone, Brig. Rtd. Dr. Julius Maada Bio, the Hospitality sector and people of Sierra Leone presented a gift to the Tanzanian President, which was received on her behalf by their Tourism Minister in appreciation of the relationship between the two countries and a stronger partnership in the field of tourism and development.

Receiving the continental award, Dr. Pratt thanked the African Tourism Board for the recognition saying that the award would serve as an inspiration to other ministers of EAC and ECOWAS.

The Minister and her team toured museums and wildfire sanctuaries as part of their engagements in Tanzania.

NP-SL Continues to Gain a Significant Foothold of the Country’s Petroleum Landscape

By Amin Kef Sesay

The National Petroleum –Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL Ltd) continues to make meaningful inroads within the petroleum landscape of this country. Based on effective and efficient service delivery, the result-oriented company has drawn wide-spread commendations from near and far for holding the fort for too long, weathering various storms.

The company, formed years back by certain selfless Sierra Leoneans (thirty-five of them), has grown by infusing business-oriented  initiatives that have helped in transforming it into a buoyant and towering company within the business landscape of this country and even in the West African sub-region where it has vibrant operational branches.

One major thing which these local investors considered very paramount that will catapult the company is the premium being placed on optimizing customer care, which, they believe, will put the company in a very good stead to widen its customers’ base.  Maybe they foresee how that could work the wonders for the company and properly harnessing it such is yielding fruitful dividends.

It was against such a backdrop that they decided to import and install calibrated pumping machines at the company’s various Filling Stations, which are very capable of churning out the right quantity of fuel and at the same time display the corresponding price.

The introduction of these machines was a big welcome to many, as it is constantly instilling the feeling that they are getting the right quantity of petroleum products, petrol or diesel as well as lubricants, against what is being paid for. Hitherto, the old pumping machines were not so sophisticated and created leeway through which certain unscrupulous pump attendants clandestinely cheated customers by not pumping the requisite quantity of fuel requested for. However, with the latest calibrated machines, such became a thing of the past, making petroleum transactions at the company’s Filling Stations very transparent.

NP-SL made it a laid down policy to have a whole Customer Care Department that is charged with the responsibility to address the concerns of its customers and by extension members of the public. The inputs from members of the public are, most times, taken into consideration whenever meetings are convened, out of which resolutions are adopted that are tailored to give satisfaction in terms of responding to concerns and embracing certain recommendations.

The buoyant oil marketing company is the premier and sustainable indigenous business entity in this country, as it is hundred percent owned by Sierra Leoneans. One thing that they laid emphasis on is to give preference, in terms of employment, to exclusively Sierra Leoneans instead of considering bringing foreigners on board, except in instances where local expertise could not be sourced.

This stance on the part of the company is in sync with the country’s Local Content Policy, which underpins making use of local human and material resources in the production and service delivery chain. By giving employment preference to Sierra Leoneans, the company has been positively contributing towards poverty alleviation and availing individuals the opportunities to live improved standards of living. The policy is truly in tune with fulfilling one of the pillars of the national economic agenda.

With regards rolling out its Corporate Social Responsibility, NP-SL has been doing so steadily and progressively. The company has been giving institutional support to certain institutions..

Besides, the company most times has responded to disasters and other emergencies by providing the required support at its disposal like it did when Ebola and Mudslide disasters struck as well as the COVID-19. The gestures it extended were highly appreciated and the company was commended for its timely responses.

The company’s introduction of a Smart Card to purchase fuel has been widely applauded as a very good initiative. A particular customer, with money in his or her NP Smart Card, could easily put in for the quantity of petrol or diesel that he or she wants and the supply is facilitated, after which the amount of money expended is deducted from the card. It is a very convenient way of doing such transactions in a cashless manner. Its biggest advantage is that it creates room for a customer to budget for fuel purchase over time. NP Smart Card is now trending and many are presently using it, saying they prefer it than using physical cash.

Some users of NP Gas that this medium spoke with, intimated how it is a very good device which has a high speed performance and very environmentally useful and friendly. Manufactured in different cylinder shapes, it is portable and affordable. NP Gas could be secured at all the company’s major Filling Stations, where the gas to refill it could be accessed.

The company has really exhibited that it is poised to expand its operations, a determination that has been manifested in opening branches in Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast and The Gambia. In all those countries, those NP branches are doing extremely well in terms of service delivery and payment of taxes to the home Governments.

Indisputably, there is no way that we can talk of a very successful company, amidst challenges encumbered along the way, without mentioning NP-SL because the company is greatly contributing to the socio-economic development of nations.

Pharmacists to Down Tools if their Concerns Remain Unaddressed

By Amin Kef Sesay

A group of young pharmacists have vented out their dissatisfaction relating to what they described as unfair treatment not commensurate their qualifications and work load.

In a Press Release dated 14th October 2021 and signed by Alhaji O. Turay as President, Abu Bakarr Bangura as Secretary General and Junior Lamin Kamara as Public Relations Officer, the Young Pharmacists Group-Sierra Leone, also referred to as YPG-SL, unequivocally stated that they have been in several engagements with responsible authorities’ vis-à-vis issues revolving around the conditions of service of pharmacy professionals in the country.

The group continued that in the course of those engagements, they note, with extreme disappointment, the disregard with which authorities so engaged execute the responsibilities, ranging from unfair labour practices and continual failure to bargain in good faith about the welfare of pharmacy professionals.

YPG-SL, maintains that, it has long called for an improved condition of service, but the assigned pharmacy institutions/ stakeholders have woefully failed in addressing those concerns. According to the YPG-SL those institutions/stakeholders and the corresponding issues they have failed to address are as outlined below:

The Directorate of Pharmaceutical Services (formerly known as The Directorate of Drugs and Medical Supplies), headed by the Chief Pharmacist:

Scheme of service of Pharmacy professionals, Promotion of Pharmacy professionals (this includes both pharmacists and pharmacy technicians) after their legal tenure of services.

Delay in recruitment and posting of pharmacy professionals for over two years.

Inefficient Human Resource personnel at the Directorate of Pharmaceutical Services

Relocation of the Chief Pharmacist’s Office to the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, headquartered in Youyi Building.  Pharmacy Board of Sierra Leone, headed by the Registrar (Ag.):

Posting of Pharmacy technicians as Regional Heads ahead of pharmacists competent enough to carry out such mandates

Uncontrollable proliferation of pharmacies, drugs to register patent in a way that contravenes the Pharmacy and Drugs Act 201.

The Pharmacy Board Members: Continual and collaborative failure to work in the interest of pharmacy professionals and paying lip services to the existing challenges in the profession.

The YPG-SL stated that in consonance with the above, it has made several strides in a bid to amicably resolve the above mentioned issues via the collaboration with these authorities, but the result has always been fruitless.

Its members narrate that on the18th June 2019, the YPG-SL wrote a letter to the Chief Pharmacist/Director of Drugs and Medical Supplies titled “Concern Over New Scheme of Service for Pharmacy Professionals” and stated in that letter a charter of demands that should be addressed by the Chief Pharmacist.

It continued how on the 6th November 2018, the YPG-SL also wrote a proposal to the Minister of Health and Sanitation titled: “The Need for a Scale up and Improvement in the Conditions of Service of Pharmacy Professionals and Making their Roles Recognized, Outstanding and Relevant in the Healthcare Delivery System.”

On the 12th November 2018, the YPG-SL further stated that it again wrote another letter titled, “Request for a Consultative Meeting with Your Administration” to the Registrar of Pharmacy Board of Sierra Leone. That, they disclosed, came on the back of a proposal (as stated above, written to the then Minister) sent to the Registrar four days later. The purpose of the request, they said, was to allow the YPG-SL fifteen man committee at that time, engage the various governing bodies of pharmacy professionals, including the Pharmacy Board.

Stated in the Press Release was that the above correspondences have been directed with several follow ups, gentle reminders and friendly engagements, but they have yielded no positive result. Members said that has led to the mounting up of a position paper titled: “Position Paper on the Current Conditions of Services of Pharmacy Professionals and their Poor Recognition in the Health care Delivery System in Sierra Leone.

According to them the positions of YPG-SL are clear in the sense of making the Pharmacist’s role distinct and recognized and improve the remuneration and conditions of services for Pharmacists.
YPG-SL, the body that constitutes the young professionals that form the bed rock of the profession, it was repeatedly said, is highly frustrated over the lack of progress towards those demands and will no longer put up with unfair treatment.

The  Group therefore, firmly request that the following demands are addressed on or before Wednesday 12th  November 2021(i.e. within 21 working days, effective from the day of release of this press release): To Fast track the recruitment and posting of the last two batches of pharmacy professionals , fast track the enactment of the Reviewed Scheme of Service that allows Entry Pharmacists to start at Grade 8 and Inspecting Pharmacists at Grade 9 in tandem with the new promotion path ways for pharmacy professionals as opposed to the stagnated promotion with which pharmacists have to contend, the  posting of pharmacists to areas of vacancies, including health facilities, health programs, regulatory body, etc, increasing on the number of regional and district pharmacists. The current number of pharmacists in those settings is quite small to effectively and efficiently carry on their mandates and  restructuring of the current Human Resource Unit of the Directorate of Pharmaceutical Services to a more formidably proactive one.

It was indicated that in an event the above is not addressed accordingly and within the stipulated time frame, the YPG-SL will be left with no other choice than:  To embark on a demonstration on the 22 working day (i.e. 13 November 2021), effective since the date of release of this press release, boycott the forthcoming AGM/TGM, etc.

The YPG-SL says it also wants to note that the essence of the release is to bring to the attention of all pharmacy governing bodies the seriousness and series of burning issues that are eating into the fabric of the profession and until those issues are settled and demands addressed, they won’t rest.

Until these pharmacy governing bodies bargain in good faith for a fair contract that pays pharmacy professionals enough to live, they will not relent in their advocacy for improved working conditions.

When this medium contacted the Chief Pharmacist, Director of the Directorate of Pharmaceutical Services and Chairman of the Pharmacy Board Sierra Leone within the Ministry of Health and Sanitation ,Michael Jack Lansana, to ask him what is his take in relation to the above matter he responded by stating , “Thank you for bringing the allegations to my attention. At this point in time I am constrained to respond to your enquiries until we engage them and seek clarification on the issues raised. I will revert to you after the clarifications have been made”.

This medium also contacted Alhaji Mutarda Sesay on the same issue but he is yet to respond.

The YPG-SL forms the springboard of young graduating Pharmacists in Sierra Leone. Its membership comprises of young Pharmacists anticipating for the uplift of the Pharmacy profession through advocacy, commitment and service delivery within the healthcare sector to enhance optimal patient satisfaction and service delivery.

It has as its objectives: To provide a forum for young pharmacists in all areas of practice and in all corners of Sierra Leone to share their ideas and concerns of the growth of the profession and to seek for mentorships and career development, to promote the active improvement of Pharmaceutical education and advance the profession of Pharmacy, to involve its members in the moral and ethical obligations of the profession of Pharmacy, to bring astute young minds who will produce innovative and resourceful materials of relevance to the Pharmacy profession and to assist in the improvement and understanding of world health problems, to provide an independent forum for communication and dialogue among members and to contribute to the welfare of all members.

It also includes to be committed to the improvement of health care and service delivery to everyone and raising societal awareness about the role and importance of Pharmacists in patient care through health promotion activities

As its Vision, the Young Pharmacists Group-Sierra Leone will serve to motivate, inspire, strengthen and create opportunities for its members and young Pharmacists in Sierra Leone to enhance optimal patient care and service delivery.

The Mission of the organization borders around serving as the mouthpiece for young graduating Pharmacists in Sierra Leone, the Young Pharmacists Group-Sierra Leone will lead its members and young Pharmacy graduates to develop their career pathways by creating opportunities for leadership and professional development, raising societal awareness about the role and importance of Pharmacists in patient care, and create more opportunities for multidisciplinary connections with other young healthcare professionals.

Its members will serve as examples and models to pharmacy students and recent graduates transitioning to professionals-SL will promote the goals of PSSL by encouraging young members of PSSL to participate in PSSL activities and projects and abiding to the code of ethics of the profession. It will also enhance to promote creativity and innovation amongst young Pharmacists in Sierra Leone.

 

To Participate in International Cricket Competition… KADAT & KADCO Companies Support the Sierra Leone Cricket Association

By Foday Moriba Conteh

As part of rolling out its Corporate Social Responsibility, two of the most result-oriented companies operating within the country, KADAT Foods & Beverages in partnership with KADCO SL Limited has on the 16th October 2021, rendered support to the Sierra Leone Cricket Association, at KADAT’s manufacturing plant at Grafton, ahead of the latter’s friendly matches in Nigeria in preparation for the T20 World Cup Australia 2022 sub-Regional and Regional Qualifiers events which will be hosted in Rwanda in October and November, 2021.

Before officially disclosing its support, the General Manager of the KADAT, Oliver BM Somasa, former Deputy Inspector General of Police, welcomed all, including the team and its officials, members of the Fourth Estate and representatives of the Grafton community.

He informed all present that the Chief Executive Officer of the company, Kishore K. Parwani, has facilitated the rolling out of a series of development projects to support the Grafton Community mentioning those of offering residents with fresh and pure drinking water to residents for free, positioning of water tanks at strategic locations for residents to fetch water, support given to the resurfacing of the football field for youth recreational activities among others.

He highlighted that the company is not only operating with the sole aim of maximizing profits but to ensure that community development programmes are supported.

Oliver Somasa, who served as Chairman of the program, continued that the company has at this material moment decided to support the Sierra Leone Cricket Association ahead of an international competition in which the team will be participating in Kigali, Rwanda very soon in this year.

Kishore K. Parwani, while presenting the attractive jerseys on which it is inscribed the company water bottle brand name of “Bravely”, and trainers to each of the players stated that for a start each of the players will have two set of jerseys and trainers (sports shoes) from which each player benefitted.

He said, as a company, they got the notice for support lately but did all they could, at the moment, to present to the team what they have just provided. He wished the team good luck in all the games they will be playing and enjoined them to do all their best to emerge victorious so that one day they will play India.

Three of the Directors of the company in the persons of Girish Parwani, Abu Bakarr Keita (Buba)  and another Indian wished the cricket team good luck informing them that they are looking forward to them bringing the victory trophy to Sierra Leone.

On his part, the Board Chair of the Sierra Leone Cricket Association, Mustapha Kallon, expressed gratitude to the company for the support it has given to the team. He underscored the importance of the availability of funds for the furtherance or enhancement of sports in the country.

The Chairman explained that it is always expected from the national team 20% readiness in tandem to the support that the ICC provides stating that what KADAT has done will help the team greatly meet the 20% in put that it is supposed to contribute in order to become eligible to take part in any competition.

“The support that you have provided will go a long way to boost the morale of the players and help fulfill our requirement,” he stated adding how the jerseys are made up of top quality fibre.

He expressed hope that with the affiliation with the company they will forge a partnership with major international stakeholders in order to take the game of cricket to another level in the country.

The Chairman talked about some of the plans they have in the pipeline to roll out and solicited assistance to develop pieces of land that were donated to the Association.

“We want to make cricket very fashionable in the country and in that direction we want to target the schools where we want to catch them young and starting at that level going forward we will groom great cricket players,” he intimated.

He informed that in Nigeria the team will play six series of friendly matches in Group B were there are other countries like Mozambique, Botswana, Tanzania and Cameroon. Any team that emerges in the 1st position will then play in the Kigali Competition.

The highpoint of the occasion was the handing over of the jerseys and trainers to the Sierra Leone Cricket Association.

 

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