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Prior to Departure to Morocco…   SLFA Unveils Africell as Official Sponsor of Leone Stars 

By Foday Moriba Conteh

One of Serra Leone’s leading mobile telecommunications companies in the country, Africell, has been announced by the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) as the official Sponsor for Leone Stars in the AFCON Competition and Premier League during a signing sponsorship agreement between the company and the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) which took place at the Africell Headquarters at Wilberforce Village in Freetown on the 1st October 2021.

This partnership agreement will see Africell as the official sponsor for the Leone Stars AFCON finals with a total sponsorship package worth 700 Million Leones. They also announced a yearly sponsorship package of 1.2 Billion Leones for the Sierra Leone Premier League, which will last for a period of four years.

In his statement, President of the Sierra Leone Football Association, Thomas Daddy Brima expressed delight over the partnership with Africell of which he described the moment as a beginning of a new football era in the country.

He revealed that they did not handpicked Africell to be the official sponsor of Leone Stars but rather they passed their exams, adding that the Association sent out letters to Sierra Leoneans and institutions in order for them to come forward and give back to society stating that they are still looking ahead for support adding that while they are waiting Africell has offered Seven Hundred Million Leones (Le700, 000,000) as their support.

He however informed the gathering that Africell told them that they will buy their jerseys and reproduce replicas which they will market in order to get more money and further promised to give the SLFA more support in order to be successful in their ventures.

With regards the Sierra Leone Premier League, he disclosed that Africell decided to give $120,000, as sponsorship, for five years but said since his tenure will last for only four years so he appealed to Africell to give that amount of money as sponsorship for four years to which, he said, the company consented. He stated that the signing ceremony looked like an MOU but for him it is a relationship between SLFA and Africell.

On his part, the Chief Corporate Affairs Officer of Africell, Joe Abass Bangura, stated that his company’s commitment to support football in the country is incomparable of which he said the signing of the sponsorship agreement means that Africell is the official sponsor of Leone Stars and the Sierra Leone Premier League.

He maintained that during the launch of the Leone Stars African Cup of Nations Supporters Tour to Cameroon Project on the 14th September 2021 at the Bintumani Conference Centre, the Managing Director of Africell, Shadi Gerjawi, committed to His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio that Africell Mobile Company will continue to give its unflinching support to football, adding that the signing of the sponsorship agreement between Africell Sierra Leone and the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) is a fulfillment of that commitment.

Underscoring the sponsorship package, he revealed that Africell will give a direct cash component of Seven Hundred Million Leones (Le700, 000,000) and indirect support which includes the printing of promotional materials, the production and broadcasting of materials, Content and event planning, production and sales of merchandise etc. He also informed the gathering that Africell will also designate a short code for any raffle or event that will give supporters the opportunity to win packages to be eligible to attend the AFCON in Cameroon.

In another development, during a Press Briefing held on Saturday 2nd October, 2021 at the Africell American Corner on Bathurst Street in Freetown, the Head Coach of Leone Stars, John Keister informed pressmen that the Leone Stars will be leaving the shores of Freetown on Saturday 2ndOctober, 2021 to Morocco with some home based and foreign players where they will be playing three friendly matches against The Gambia, South Sudan and Morocco.

He said that after 25 years Sierra Leone was fortunate to qualify for the Africa Nations Cup and in that regard the Leone Stars will be embarking on these three friendly in Morocco to test the fitness of the team and identification of personnel which will give them an idea towards preparation as they head for the Africa Nations Cup in Cameroon.

John Keister said that the Technical Team has been able to get both home and foreign based players that will report for the friendly matches in Morocco.

Other speakers present at the ceremony, which includes the Chief Corporate Affairs Officer of Africell, Joe Abass Bangura, the Vice President of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) Harold Nat-Johnson, and the Deputy Executive Director of National Sports Authority (NSA), Dr. Abdul Rahman Swaray, also made a statement.

NP-SL’s Steadfastness in Optimal Service Delivery is Outstanding

By Amin Kef Sesay

Steadfastness in optimal service delivery has made the National Petroleum Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL-Ltd) one of the most outstanding and vibrant companies that is steadily operating, in thick and thin, in this country. Such largely emanates from the dogged determination on the part of 35 former employees of the then British Petroleum company, which decided to fold up its operations and sold shares, which these workers bought out of their end of service benefits and used as seed capital to commence the running of the now renowned NP-SL –Ltd.

Setting up the company was just one accomplished feat, but taking it from that level to where it is today, speaks volumes of the selflessness on the part of the shareholders, who were all Sierra Leoneans, to see their ‘baby’ grow and succeed up to an appreciable stage that they were yearning for. It is this selflessness on the part of the shareholders which eclipsed personal aggrandizement, misappropriation of funds and insincerity to such an extent that the resultant effect culminated into an overall success story.

At this material point in time the company has bagged a whole lot of recognition for its outstanding performances in the line of marketing qualitative petroleum products. It stands to be contested that NP-SL Ltd is the number one oil marketing company in this country, which is equal to none, as it continues to break new frontiers in its expansionist drive.

When the name NP is called, what immediately comes to mind is First for Customer Care and this is not a mere masquerading in borrowed robes, but rather a true accomplishment of what the company fervently believes in and is striving towards maintaining. To the Shareholders and Management of the company, providing utmost satisfaction in its service delivery to its esteemed as well as numerous customers is just as important as importing petroleum products into the country. Keen consideration is given to marketing high grade products that customers utilize for the effective performances of vehicles and other gadgets.

Besides, the company ensured that its pumping machines used in Filling Stations are modern and standardized in order to give customers their monies’ worth. These machines are very transparent, as it displays the number of litre pumped and the corresponding prices. Besides, customers concerns and suggestions are taken into consideration when policies are mapped out and Management decisions are arrived at, which makes it possible for various shades of opinions and inputs to be factored into how the company tailors its operations.

With the avowed aim of making their customers feel at home, NP-SL-Ltd has made the procurement of petroleum products very simple by introducing the use of NP Smart Card. NP Smart Card has unique embedded security features which cannot be easily faked by unscrupulous persons and the Card could be topped up to contain a considerable amount of money which a particular customer could use for purchasing purposes, with amounts deducted depending on the quantum of the products so far demanded. Indeed, it is a latest technological device and is becoming very trending.

For effective cooking purposes the company also has on offer for sale NP Gas, a device found in different cylinder shapes, that could be accessed at all the company’s Filling Stations as well as authorized dealers at affordable prices. Environmentally and medically certified as user friendly, NP Gas is presently going like hot cakes and there are energized workers in all the stations that readily offer tips or guidance as to how to optimally make use of this wonderful gadget. As a matter of fact a particular user can easily gain access to gas for refilling purpose.

A marked feature of the company has to do with its one hundred percent ‘Sierra Leoneaness’, having shareholders, Management and general staff who are all indigenes. Such a premium placed on making use of local talents and raw materials are parts of the core bedrock of the much talked about Local Content Policy.

Employing knowledgeable Sierra Leoneans to execute certain tasks has been a cardinal principle that has permeated the company’s existence throughout the periods it has been in active existence and such has been paying meaningful dividends. It also means offering various training opportunities to broaden the knowledge horizons of its members of staff for sound contributions to the company’s viability and buoyancy.

Bent on maintaining that stance, the company has been helping in poverty reduction because by offering job opportunities, either directly or otherwise, it is putting monies in the pockets of individuals to take care of responsibilities. Monies are spent internally as opposed to a situation where the company should have concentrated on importing foreign expatriates to do tasks that indigenes could do better.

NP-SL Ltd has, over the years, in its drive to roll out the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility complementing Government’s efforts to enhance improved standards of living. It has offered institutional capacity supports to vibrant entities.

To have branches in different parts of the country and going further to have presence within the West African sub-region tells of how the company is determined to grow. There are NP branches in Liberia, Guinea, Ivory Coast and The Gambia and the vibrant functioning of  all those branches is a true testimony of how successful its shareholders and Management want to see customers enjoying qualitative petroleum products. The company is providing job opportunities in those countries and at the same time paying taxes, which form components of generated revenues that are used by the respective Governments to undertake the implementation of various development programmes and projects.

NP-SL is moving on the right trajectory and deserves all the necessary support it requires to move from one height to another. The company is poised to continue creating meaningful impacts and consciously moving towards the direction of always setting the pace for others to follow.

With Support from IOM…   NCRA Gets New Consultant to Support UN Legal Identity Agenda

By Amin Kef Sesay

Mohamed Mubashir Massaquoi, Director-General of the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA) met with Madam Anette Bayer Forsingdal on the 1st October 2021 at the Authority’s Board Room, of the Authority’s Headquarters on Walpole Street in Freetown.

Madam Anette Bayer Forsingdal is a consultant hired by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) which is one of the critical partners positioned to support NCRA in the effective implementation of the UN Legal Identity Agenda in Sierra Leone.

Receiving the Consultant, DG Massaquoi heartily expressed appreciation to her for accepting the offer to support the NCRA in developing Standard Operating Procedures that will guide the full implementation of the UN Legal Identity Agenda project in Sierra Leone.

He intimated that the NCRA is currently implementing CRVS and Identity management in an integrated fashion with the aim to enhance efficiency in public administration in Sierra Leone.

The Head of NCRA further noted that, most countries in Africa, especially in the sub-Sahara countries, civil registration and vital statistics are fragmented, and that has made the Sierra Leone case unique, as opposed to others.

Giving an update on the work of NCRA , Madam Grace Harman, Director of Legal affairs and External Relations, who has been the focal person for UN LIA project at NCRA, highlighted that, the Authority has been able to do enormous work over the years beginning with the development of a five year strategic plan accompanied by an Operational Plan, established partnerships and strengthening relationships with critical stakeholders and development partners who are interested in supporting CRVS and ID Management reforms in Sierra Leone.

Grace Harman added that the Authority has just concluded an internal legal review covering policies, regulations and bill to support the smooth operationalization for the integration of other legal policy provisions that will guide a well-functioning CRVS and ID Management system in Sierra Leone.

She said that the process was fully realized in consultation with critical stakeholders in the country among others, and has actually put the Authority on a take off position for any particular intervention.

In  her Statement, the Consultant, Madam Anette Bayer said she is delighted to be part of NCRA and that she is ready and willing to provide every support needed in a more open and diligent manner.

Sharing her experience, Madam Anette said that CRVS has worked very well in Namibia and among few other countries in Africa. She noted that clear policy strategy to guide the different levels of operation was the key pin behind the recorded successes of the Namibia Government in the implementation of CRVS.

She advised that there should be clear path policies direction to guide and enforce efforts that will include all forms of persons in national programmes in order to avoid the occurrence of statelessness.

The Director-General concluded by assuring Madam Anette of Government’s support, nothing that there is a strong political will from H.E President Bio in making CRVS and ID Management a success. He noted that this has been demonstrated at the highest levels of platforms. He further maintained that the Consultant will get the best of support from the NCRA.

In attendance were the Ag Deputy Director of HR, Roselyn Massaquoi, Abraham Turay, Ag Deputy Director of Administration, the Deputy Director of IEC, Amadu Juana-Kamanda and other Senior Management staff.

It must be noted that IOM is one of the donor partners which have been supportive of NCRA’s efforts in implementing the UN Legal Identity Agenda in Sierra Leone.

As noted in the 2020 Country Assessment Report for Sierra Leone, which was conducted by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the endorsement of the National Civil Registration Act of 2016, has consolidated Civil and Vital Statistics (CRVS) functions under NCRA in line with core principles and standards of the United Nations Legal Identity (UN LIA) Initiative.

This informed the selection of Sierra Leone in early 2020 among nine countries to benefit from the United Nations Legal Identity that is jointly managed by the Government of Sierra Leone through the National Civil Registration Authority and the UN Agencies of UNDP, UNICEF and IOM respectively.

The report however highlighted the lack of interoperability between various components; the need for harmonization of legal, policy, procedural, and operational standards; lack of digitalization; limited investments; inadequate provision of supplies among others as challenges that are impeding the full integration and smooth functioning of the CRVS system in Sierra Leone.

The jointly proposed project to be implemented by UNDP, UNICEF and IOM in collaboration with the Government of Sierra Leone aims to target CRVS system improvement in Sierra Leone, through the objectives and targeted activities set.

UNICEF is to provide technical assistance to NCRA to effectively coordinate the significant CRVS component of ensuring Birth and Death registration and other vital events. The IOM will be helping to provide technical assistance to achieve policy strategy development and harmonization. This will be done in guidance of a defined Standard Operating Procedure (SOPs) for the integration of provision to reflect the identity need of all.

The UNDP, another critical UN agency, will provide technical support to NCRA in order to run an effective Secretariat and revitalize the CRVS National Steering Committee and Donor Coordination Platform. UNDP will also ensure the smooth implementation of births, deaths and other vital events registration agenda as a vital part of the legal Identity Agenda and CRVS systems, including increased partnership with the health sector.

Management of Gulf Water Company Exposes its Incompetence

By Amin Kef Sesay

Humanitarian gestures and philanthropy could not be done if the notion is uphold and maintained that since taxes are paid to any Government of the day then all must lie back and wait for development programmes, of whatever magnitude, to be undertaken by that Government simply because taxes are paid. Elementary Economics tells us that human wants are many amidst scarce resources to be allocated to satisfy varying needs. Government has so much on its plate to address warranting individuals and organizations to, from time to time, step in to undertake certain development interventions.

History is replete of patriots, well-meaning individuals who have demonstrated a high sense of commitment to uplift their fellow compatriots from the abyss of poverty by giving humanitarian gestures not to talk of championing certain community development projects that impacted positively and continue to do so on the lives of the vast majority residing within those communities where those projects were implemented. In this case we are referring to well-meaning citizens. This trend continues to date.

But besides good individuals, who are contributing meaningfully to development, there is the expectation that companies located within certain operational areas should help foster development via what is known as Corporate Social Responsibility.

According to Jason Fernando, a notable political economist, “Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a self-regulating business model that helps a company be socially accountable to itself, its stakeholders and the public. By practicing CRS, also called Corporate Citizenship, companies can be conscious of the kind of impact they are having on all aspects of society including economic, social and environmental.”

As one school of thought tried to argue it is not strictly obligatory on the part of companies to honor their CSRs since these companies are paying taxes to Government furthering that it is therefore the responsibility of Government to facilitate certain development programmes from the taxes it collects from these companies. However, this medium begs to differ from that notion.

Best practice requires that it is but prudent on the part of corporate institutions or companies to champion certain development interventions in their areas of operations under their Corporate Social Responsibilities.

This brings to the fore the burning issue relating to one of the well established water bottling companies in the country, Gulf Mineral Water and Beverage Company, which is situated at 5 Smart Farm, Off Wilkinson Road in Freetown.

The company stands accused of failing to be honoring its Corporate Social Responsibility in the locality where it is located. Residents of the community have expressed their indignation against the Management of the company. Of serious concern to them is the way the operations of the company is seriously and continually damaging the road on which the company is situated which is also used by residents.

It is indisputable that the fleets of the company’s vehicles that constantly ply the route to and fro, coupled with the Guma Valley Water Company water bouncers that supply water to the company, closely on a 24 hours basis, are jointly negatively contributing to immensely exacerbate the deplorable condition of the road.

The situation is one that is so mind boggling and added to that the haphazard manner in which the company’s vehicles that supplies its bottled water are packed with reckless abandon makes it quite difficult, if not very impossible for residents with vehicles to have convenient spaces to pack and move out their vehicles with ease leading to frustration and despair

When a concerned patriotic resident raised up the issue months ago with the Management of the company, the Managing Director, sincerely promised that it is on their top priority list to ensure that they take care of that creating the impression that it will soon be done. However, since that promise was made time has elapsed and there are no signs of any positive move on the part of the company’s Management to fulfill their promise and the hopes of residents has faded away by that insincerity.

It will also surprise many to know that the company is not strictly complying to safety standards for its workers, most of whom are deliberately used as casual workers. The workers do not have safety equipment while working within the factory posing serious health hazards. Besides, their generator plant is positioned in such a way that it produces gaseous emissions that the powerless and unsuspecting employees regularly inhale just in a bid of eking a living as other alternatives are seemingly out of their reach.

Interestingly, after reneging to fulfill its promise, this author, who happens to be residing within the locality and one of those affected drew the attention of Management of the company to their unfilled promise, they took offence and hurriedly convened a Press Conference on the 1st October, 2021 at the company’s premise during which Management made a lame attempt to refute their insincerity which was brought to light amidst other inadequacies which the company stands guilty of.

Instead of seriously sticking to the issue relating to the deplorable condition of the road, lamentably Management tried to brainwash journalists that I am on a personal vendetta.

They told journalists that simply because they did not honor my request of giving me an advert that is the reason why I have therefore decided to pick up a fight against the company. That assertion has proven to be totally incorrect and baseless as there has never been an instance when I have approached Management to solicit an advert. That apart how much adverts do the company gives out?  It is no boast but I am proud to say my news medium do not have a dearth of adverts….

They further tried to pull wool over the eyes of media practitioners that because they have been having issues relating to a packing space that is why I became so infuriated to an extent that I decided to paint the company in a bad light.

As if they convened the Press Conference to solely target me, Management went to the extent of stating that they are in support of some of their workers who have decided to gang up and physically attack and manhandle me because I am trying to destroy their source of living when in actual fact what I am doing is fighting for a genuine cause. For now I do not take this threat lightly.

Management furthered to misinform the journalists and some Civil Society activists present during the Press Conference that I am in the habit of bragging that journalists who visit the company, for one reason or the other, are my juniors in the profession.

That allegation, it must be noted, was a botched attempt to trivialize the bigger issue as if  I am bent on championing the cause of the maintenance of the road for personal aggrandizement, when in actual fact it is vividly apparent that I doing so in the interest of us the affected residents within the community. I am really sick and tired of frequently taking my vehicle to the garage for repairs because of the bad road and not to talk of the physiological trauma of struggling to pack my vehicle, sometimes after a long day in the office plus coming from evening service at the church and also to get out with ease.

It must be strongly stated that though it is the Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA) that is constitutionally charged with the mandate for the construction or rehabilitation (maintenance) of roads in different parts of the country, however, it is considered best practice, by many, for Management of the company to faciltate the process.

As a matter of fact the road is not a major one that requires too many resources, in terms of finance, machinery and manpower, to undertake its maintenance from time to time which understandably should not pose a major challenge for the company. At the end of the day the company too stands to benefit in terms of contributing to the good conditions of their very vehicles.

As the situation now stands, most of the affected residents and the media believe that it is high time the Government, Civil Society Organizations and other stakeholders prevail on the Gulf Water Management to undertake proper maintenance of the road in question in order to bring it up to an appreciable standard as soon as possible, otherwise the situation would continue to deteriorate to the discomfort of most of the residents living there. As for the other inadequacies it is up to the Ministry of Labour and Environment Protection Agency to step in.

The bottom line is that the residents are fed up with insincerity of the company. May common sense prevail!

Stay Tuned for More Revelation…

Big Boost for Sulima as…   Fisheries Minister Unveils Out Station Office, Public Toilet & One Patrol Boat

By Amin Kef Sesay

Emma Kowa Jalloh, Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, has on the , 28th September 2021, officially unveiled the Ministry’s Out Station Office, a public toilet and presented one patrol boat with 115 Horsepower Engine to the people of Sulima in the Sorogbeima Chiefdom in Pujehun District.

Unveiling and presenting the goodies to the people, the Minister reaffirmed President Bio’s commitment in ensuring that the promises he made to the people of Sulima during his 2018 campaign are fulfilled.

She maintained that the unveiling of their new out station office, the construction of the public toilets and the presentation of the out board engine machine were some of the promises the President made to the people of Sulima, and as the Minister in charge of Fisheries she is ensuring that the promises are actualized.

She explained that officials of the Ministry of Fisheries will be attached to Sulima to ensure that they monitor and regulate the manner in which fish products are packaged and exported and also ensure that proper fishing procedures are followed.

She commended the Town Chief and his people for providing the Ministry with a piece of land for the construction of an ultramodern Smoke Oven for the fishmongers, especially Women in Fisheries.

The Minister revealed that her Ministry has purchased fishing nets that will be sold to licensed boat owners at a cost recovery price so as to ensure that the fishermen in the chiefdom practice proper fishing methods using the right fishing nets.

She used the forum as an opportunity to introduce the new Quality Assurance Officer who will be attached to Sulima and Jendema respectively.

She appealed to the stakeholders, especially the local authorities in the chiefdom, to continue to work in partnership with officials of the Ministry to ensure that due processes are followed.

The Resident Minister, Southern Region, Mohamed Alie, expressed his thanks and appreciation to the Minister and her team for visiting his region and for providing all those goodies for the people of Sulima.

He assured the delegation of their continued effort to ensure that the will and wishes of the President are actualized.

The Resident Minister urged the people to be committed in their work as the Ministry will always be available to support them when needed.

Expressing appreciation to the delegation, the Town Chief of Sulima Chief Shiaka Luseni Massaquoi heaped praises on the Minister of Fisheries and her team for their continued support to his chiefdom and also appreciated the goodies.

He noted that the New Direction Government has done a lot for the people of Sulima that they will not forget in a hurry.

“We can now boast of having 24 hours solar electricity light in our town, a brand new two storey fisheries out station building, one brand new patrol boat with 115 horsepower outboard engine, and a public toilet that will prevent the people from defecating in the beach. All these goodies we have received under this regime,” he said.

The Director of Fisheries, Kadijatu Jalloh appealed to the Navy personnel in the town to use the boat for its intended purpose. She called on the Women in Fisheries organization to continue to be hard-working and work in line with the new Fisheries officials that will be attached to the chiefdom.

The meeting was chaired by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Elizabeth Ellie.

As 2020 Auditor General Report Expected Soon… Corruption Still Remains a Major Governance Issue

Auditor General, Lara Taylor-Pearce

By Amin Kef Sesay

A major concern for international aid policy during the last five decades has been to improve the living conditions for the poor in the poorest countries of the world.

In Sierra Leone, the Auditor General’s 2018 and 2019 annual reports clearly showed that despite a change of Government, grand corruption in the public sector still remains a big hindrance to revenue conservation and promotion of economic development and service delivery to the people as huge chunks of public funds still sink into the bottomless pockets of corrupt public officials in MDAs. The public wait to hear in the Auditor General’s 2020 report how far this Government has gone in putting corruption that hinders national development, under control.

Truth is, if the country has been consistently following the IMF and World Bank guidelines on prudent, transparent, accountable public financial management for the past ten years, our economy, contrary to the view of some that they have been ruined by bad IMF, World Bank advices would have been doing well and improving.

To help poor developing countries manage their resources well in order to generate much needed domestic revenue for development purposes, the World Bank, in recent years, supported several international initiatives against grand corruption (state-capture), including the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), the Stolen Asset Recovery Initiative (StAR) and the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC).

Combined, these initiatives have the potential to improve Government’s transparency and accountability by also addressing the role of international financial centers and multinational companies in facilitating grand corruption.

Generally, if a country has the appropriate ‘infrastructure’ of inquisitive media, opposition parties, and democratic budgeting, then EITI, for instance, could potentially have good effects on building transparency and reducing corruption.

However, in most of the EITI signatory countries where the Bank has provided support considerable needs for institution building still remain.

In particular, reducing corruption and increasing transparency in Government finance depend largely on successful stimulation of domestic political demands for accountability and information and, not least, creation of mechanisms to secure transparency and enforce accountability. Such mechanisms are also required for assets repatriated through the StAR initiative.

Efforts to fight corruption in poor countries like ours require, however, more attention to the role of multinational companies, banks and finance institutions in facilitating corruption and embezzlement of public funds in developing countries. Generally speaking, however, the Governments in poor countries are also the most corrupt.

The level of GDP per capita tends to explain the level of corruption in countries like Sierra Leone where it is still far less than USD800 per head compared to a country like Botswana where it has gone up above USD6000 per head in the last twenty years.

Generally, in explaining the prevalence of corruption in the country’s MDAs, we see that areas which are still complicated or beset with conflicting objectives, such as civil service reform, procurement and reform of the Judiciary, have shown less improvement in implementing reforms aimed at performance improvement.

Thus, linking governance work with visible public service improvements will help greatly to build credibility of the reforms with citizens and donors.

SLAJ President Commends Sterling Achievements Made by the Judiciary

Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, President of  the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ)

By Amin Kef Sesay

Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, President of  the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) has commended the sterling achievements so far made by the Judiciary over the years.

Whilst commending the massive reforms at the Judiciary under the leadership of His Lordship Justice Desmond Babatunde Edwards, he outlined the remarkable achievements in just two years of his association. He was speaking at the New Brookfields Hotel, Freetown, on 29th September, 2021.

In his presentation on “Deepening Sierra Leone’s Democracy: Prospects and Challenges,” the SLAJ President said under the current Chief Justice, Magistrates have been deployed in all Districts in the country, including Falaba and Karene.

For the first time, he continued, places such as Kailahun District, Port Loko District, Moyamba District and Koinadugu District now have resident High Court Judges.

According to him, this is indeed a new Judiciary, adding that, “we should be encouraged by the recent ruling of the highest court in the land giving victory to an opposition politician in the high profile political matter of dual citizenship.”

President Nasralla saluted the Judiciary for opening its activities to the public through their Communications Department.

“We should also be encouraged by the new public face of the once very conservative Judiciary arm of Government, now operating a Public Relations Department to interface with the public,” he said, noting that, “The fact that the Judiciary is also now allowing media cameras and recorders in court rooms during high profile public cases is a good prospect for justice.”

He reminded the public that the Sierra Leone Judiciary was rated high above Nigeria, Uganda, Turkey, Mexico, Niger, Pakistan and a host of other countries in the World Justice Project (WJP) Rule of Law Index 2020.

Another remarkable stride he highlighted by the Judiciary is the digitalization drive with the first virtual court being established and a responsive website where all judgments are now posted.

He told the jam-packed hall that there are still challenges, referencing access to justice.

He said despite the positive reforms taking place in the Judiciary, access to Justice still poses a huge challenge not only in Sierra Leone but Africa in general. This, again, is mostly attributed to lack of financial support by the Governments or a deliberate attempt by the politicians to stifle justice and redirect it in their favours.

In Sierra Leone, considering the number of Judges amidst the growing population of around 7million, according to the census conducted by Statistics Sierra Leone, there are still not enough judges to dispense effective and efficient justice.

Six Justices Subscribe to Oath as Notary Public

By Elkass Sannoh

The President of the Residual Special Court for Sierra Leone, Honourable Justice Jon Kamanda and five other successful lawyers with reputable standing at the Bar have subscribed to the oath of a Notary Public before the Honourable Chief Justice, His Lordship Justice Desmond Babatunde Edwards. This event took place in the CJ’s conference room on Tuesday, 28th September 2021, at the Law Courts Building in Freetown.

In exercise of the authority vested in him, the Hon. Chief Justice has the power under Section 2 of the Notaries Public Act, Chapter 13 of the Laws of Sierra Leone, 1960 to appoint fit and proper person from the Sierra Leone Bar of over ten years standing as Notary Public and the same to perform the duties and exercise the functions of such office anywhere in country.

Speaking at the occasion, the Hon. Chief Justice referred to the appointees as officers of the Court, stressing that their tasks require a high sense of ‘probity and integrity’ in the execution of their duties.

“You’ll be required to validate signatures, documents, oaths and affidavits of witnesses as well as witnesses’ declarations for outside use. It requires a high level of independence, integrity, impartiality, and fairness,’’ the Hon. Chief Justice said.

While he reposed confidence in the appointees, the Hon. Chief Justice urged them to consider their appointments as an “honor, respect and accolade” bestowed on them.

He said, “I have no doubt that those that I have appointed for this task fit the role and you’re going to do it with aplomb and dexterity and everybody will be proud of you. I have done you proud by appointing you as Notary Public and it’s left with you now to do us the honor in doing that job with effective and efficient deliberation.”

The appointees also included Dr. Tuma Adama Jabbi; the Deputy Master of the High Court, Lansanah Kotor-Kamara;Derek Samuel Edward Beoku-Betts; Joseph Fofanah and Len Gordon-Harris.

The Hon. Justice Jon Kamanda was Senior State Counsel in 1976 and Judge of the Court of Appeal between 2004 to 2008. He was Appeals Chamber Judge of the Special Court of Sierra Leone between 2008 to 2013 and a three-term President of the Sierra Leone Special Court.

He was former Member of Parliament for Kono Central from 1982 to 1986 and Minister of State in the Ministry of Mines between 1982 to 1986. He was also Minister of Health in 1996 and former Managing Director of the National Diamond Mining Company between 1987 to 1992.

Justice Kamanda is a graduate from Fourah Bah College, then affiliated to Durham University and was called to the Bar Middle Temple Inns of Court in 1975 in United Kingdom.

Dr. Tuma Adama Jabbi holds an Honorary Doctor of Law Degree (LL.D.) and a Master Class Certificate in Business Management and Leadership from the Commonwealth University and London Graduate School. She also earned a Master of Law Degree (LLM), certificate and Diploma in Corporate and Business Law from the University of Central England in Birmingham.

She also holds a Bachelor of Law Degree from De Montfort University in Leicester, United Kingdom and a Barrister at Law (BL) from the Sierra Leone Law School. She lectures Revenue Law at the University of Sierra Leone, a course she pioneered and has written extensively in that area.

Dr. Tuma is the Sierra Leone Bar Association representative at the Council of Legal Education, the body responsible for Legal education in Sierra Leone and was recently reappointed by the President of Sierra Leone, His Excellency Rtd. Dr. Julius Maada Bio as Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the National Revenue Authority (NRA) for a second term. She is married to Mohamed Gento- Kamara and blessed with beautiful kids.

Notaries Public are officials appointed not only to deter fraud but to serve the public in non-contentious matters including witnessing the signing of documents and verifying signatories and instruments such as probate of wills and conveyances among others. They are also authorized to authenticate documents such as Estates, Deeds, Powers of Attorney, Affidavits, Licenses, Contracts and Loan documents.

Thanking the Hon. Chief Justice on behalf of her colleagues, Dr. Tuma Adama Jabbi said they were gratified and extremely honored for the confidence bestowed on them.

She assured the Chief Justice that they’ll uphold the core values of their profession to the best of their abilities as officers of the High Court.

She said: “My Lord Chief Justice, we’ll definitely make you proud. We’re also aware that we’re officers of the High Court of Sierra Leone and I assure you on behalf of my colleagues that we’ll definitely continue to uphold whatever values that we’ve been upholding in the past that brought us here.”

At FY2022 Budget Presentation… NCRA Boss Assures of National ID Cards Soon

By Amin Kef Sesay

Director General of  the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA), Mohamed Mubashir Massaquoi has assured that the National Identity Cards will be issued to citizens by the end of this year, adding that the procurement process is being completed and that the proposal will be presented to Cabinet and then to Parliament for ratification. He added that the I.D Card will match international standards and will not be counterfeited. “The issuance of cards is going to be decentralized,” he noted.

He was speaking at the budget presentation by Ministries, Departments and Agencies at the Ministry of Finance. The National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA) made this submission on Monday 27th September, 2021 presented its FY2022 operational budget to the Risk Assessment Committee at the Ministry of Finance.

In his succinct presentation, the Director General of NCRA, Mohamed Mubashir Massaquoi, said they were at the hearing to give an account of what they did in 2021; their 2020 activities and what they plan to undertake in 2022 and to further state what the Authority needs for its effective operation.

In the midst of the several challenges that the Government has, D.G Massaquoi said he believes the NCRA is a critical priority in the governance and accountability framework of the country, in the sense that they are expected to account for the existence and permanent legal heads of every resident in this country, whether citizens and non-citizens, and as well the agents that characterized their existence such as marriage, divorces, adoptions as well as births and deaths.

D.G Massaquoi said it was necessary for the Government to invest in the country’s civil registration system so as to enable it have an accurate data that can neither be challenged nor questioned. He recalled how past data on Sierra Leone’s population had become subjects of intense questioning or suspicion, while stressing that his Authority was committed to putting together a reliable data .

Massaquoi outlined with clarity the activities they had done so far, stating that they have been able to account for the country’s population data in a precise manner. He also stated that requests for information on the country’s population from International Organizations like the UN and ECOWAS particularly in relation to SDGs have always been satisfactorily complied with.

The Director pleaded with the Ministry of Finance to be magnanimous as the Authority was challenged with the availability of adequate resources to support their interventions. He spoke about the NCRA’s partnership with the Ministry of Finance in working on areas such as the payroll regularization, the biometric verification of chiefdom functionaries, the recent verification of pensioners, and the farmers’ verification and more.

Massaquoi concluded by saying that the Accountant General had recently requested the NCRA to help them with data on the dead—a system by which every dead person is accounted for and get struck off the payroll the moment he or she dies.

NP-SL: Indisputable Leader in Enhancing Customer Care

By Amin Kef Sesay

It is strongly incontestable that the leading petroleum marketing company in the country, the National Petroleum- Sierra Leone Limited, is well known to stand tall within the realm of enhancing customer care by making it a key objective in its modus operandi. The Company cares for all irrespective of being considered high or low in society. This is indisputable when thorough cognizance is taken of how Management is very keen in optimizing customer satisfaction in its service delivery on different fronts.

Members of staff of the company are very mindful of the fact that it is the customer that comes first and therefore needs the utmost attention always ensuring that transactions are conducted under a congenial atmosphere that result into a win-win situation. For this brilliant and managerial initiative the company has been making positive headways positioning it to stand tall among other business entities in this part of the world.

With a capable and result-oriented work team, working collaboratively and assiduously, where even the cleaner is regarded as highly relevant there is bound to be positive outcomes and the company has mastered this by ensuring that synergy is enhanced.
One admirable quality that NP-SL Ltd possesses is working tirelessly and effectively, using its contacts with oil producing countries, in order to ensure that there is timely purchase and delivery of petroleum products of high quality to avoid shortages.

It goes without saying that fuel, for example, could be a political commodity in the sense that fluctuation in its price would make a Government likeable or unpopular. When the price goes up then people blame the Government for that but if it goes down it is kudos for the political administration.

Its timely importation of petroleum products has earned NP high commendations from various quarters simply because it helps to cushion unrest and other forms of disadvantageous effects one of which is increase in transport fares, increase in the prices of certain commodities. The pro-activeness of the company invariably has a direct impact on poverty reduction in variable ways.

Some who may not be aware of the fact that NP-SL Ltd is wholly owned by Sierra Leoneans vis-à-vis the visibility of the company and how it is remarkably striving could find it hard to believe that it a truly indigenous company.

However, it remains the plain truth when it is understood that it was 35 Sierra Leonean workers formerly working for the British Petroleum (BP) Company who pulled together their end of service benefits to purchase shares which were used to establish NP, which today is a success story , having branches in various parts of the country and in other four West African countries namely Liberia, Guinea, Ivory Coast and The Gambia. The company’s operations right across the spectrum is contributing towards revenue generation and job creation for many.

With gas as one its marketable products it thought it wise to start production of gas for cooking, popularly known as NP Gas, which could be accessed at their different filling stations.

According to investigation conducted NP Gas is cooking-friendly, safe and long-lasting. It is going at an affordable price and many are going for it.

When reference is made to Local Content, which by law is a Policy, the NP-SL Ltd. stands tall within that realm as nearly all its members of staff are Sierra Leoneans thereby making use of local talents everywhere they are operating. The Local Content Policy is indeed an engine of growth and NP is making full use of it.

The use of NP Smart Card has gained wide currency as it is used to purchase fuel in an easier and convenient way. As long as the NP Smart Card contains money it could be used to purchase any amount of fuel that an individual may require at a particular Filling Station. It prevents individuals and enterprises from moving around with huge sums of money for the purpose of purchasing fuel. It has now become trending.

Castrol GTX is said to be among the best lubricants that makes engines to perform very better giving longevity to the engines of vehicles and other equipment that do use engine oil. Going at affordable prices at NP Filling Stations it is one that vehicle owners will never regret securing for their vehicles.

By making their numerous customers feeling at ease and getting them comfortable, treated with dignity, friendliness it can never be disputed or contradicted that indeed NP-SL Ltd truly deserves the accolade of 1st for Customer Care.

Without any iota of doubt NP-SL Ltd is growing taller and taller as time flies while doing its level best to satisfy each and every customer.

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