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TEES Garment Factory Offers Mining Companies the Opportunity to secure PPEs

By Amin Kef Sesay

Mining companies operating in the country now have a golden opportunity  to secure their employees’ personal protecting equipment from TEES Garment Factory, a state of art business outlet situated on Wilkinson Road in the West End of Freetown and owned by Alhaji Musa Tarawally.

According to him, for now he is putting premium on three key areas namely industrial garment production, capacity building and printing.

He furthered that the main objective behind the establishment of the garment factory is to make it a component in this country that will tremendously contribute to overall socio-economic development adding that currently there are 18 experts from Pakistan, India, Cape Verde, Philippinesand their main task or focus is to transfer knowledge to Sierra Leoneans and make production faster.

According to him, the factory has the capacity to employ 250 workers and produce a minimum of 50,000 dresses monthly further revealing

how they are now training 250 Sierra Leoneans in industrial tailoring.

“Our product lines will be school uniforms, military, police, prisons, fire force and all security uniforms, industrial wears, wedding dresses and all fashion wears,” he disclosed.

Musa Tarawally stated that with a garment factory like TEES, fully equipped, it is but prudent on the part of Managements of various mining companies to procure all their workers’ personal protective wears from the factory.

He maintained that it is advisable that rather than buying personal protective equipment from overseas, some of which are of inferior quality, TEES Garment Factory can easily fit in to manufacture them as per specifications and supply them.

In as much as Government has the onus of deepening the country’s Local Content Policy in ways of promoting indigenous talents and skills as opposed on dependency on external resources or products it must ensure that the policy is meaningfully implemented to produce positive outcomes. Such could be deemed as far from protectionism but rather a deliberate attempt to create the enabling environment for local ideas and industries to thrive amidst stiff competition.

Musa Tarawally reiterated how the garment factory has the capability of manufacturing and supplying personal protective equipment for mining companies.

“In as much as it is in tandem with enhancing the Local Content Policy it is also very advantageous in the sense that such could be cost effective on the part of these mining companies simply because they will not be paying certain taxes on imported personal protective equipment,” he averred.

He said in the next two years they will expand the company’s production line and start cotton plantation all over the country in order to develop the textile factory and at the same time create 25 thousand jobs within 5 years of cotton plantation.

Musa Tarawally said that TEES Garment factory will not only offer employment opportunities to Sierra Leoneans directly and indirectly but will definitely boost the country’s economy in diverse ways including payment of taxes to Government.

The factory, according to him, will not only cater for the local Sierra Leone market, but also will be exporting its products to other African countries, America, Asia and the EU, and at the same time is expected to have contractual agreements from countries within the West African sub-region too.

He expressed optimism to make Sierra Leone the best country for professional sewing and garment production in West Africa.

AYV Programs Are Now Viewed on DStv Channel 399

By Amin Kef Sesay

Currently, the African Young Voices (AYV) Television is now linked to DStv, an achievement which came to fruition on the 17th September, 2021 when the launch took place during a well attended and auspicious programme held within the media empire’s  amphitheatre.

It must be noted that AYV’s coming onboard DStv materialized as a result of the collaboration between the Management of the Media Empire and MultiChoice Africa.  Viewers could now watch AYV programs via DStv Africa Channel 399.

For now, besides Nigeria and Ghana, Sierra Leone has now become the third country in the West African sub-region to attain such a prestigious opportunity to showcase the country’s rich culture and creative talents on the DStv platform with close to 20 million subscribers across the continent.

The Africa Young Voices (AYV) media empire has indeed made history in this country by being the first media outlet in this country that is now linked to DStv Africa. AYV is now live in thirty (30) countries across Africa and there are twenty four countries to be brought abroad. All the West African countries are now connected to view AYV programs apart from Ghana and Nigeria of which plans are underway for them to come on later but categorically it must be stated that other African countries are now on.

In a snap exclusive interview with the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of AYV Media Empire, Anthony Navo Jr, he intimated that, in the immediate past, in his ambition to link Sierra Leone to the rest of the world he approached the representative of MultiChoiceAfrica in Sierra Leone, Dr. Adonis Abboud, telling him that he is interested for his entity to come onboard the DStv platform.

He said that it took three years before AYV was endorsed by DStv further informing that the latter has their set criteria to approve any content for airing before giving the sending entity the okay to air it for public viewing. “It must be underscored that we cannot just air for viewing any content sent to us as there is a procedure of sending it to the parent company, MultichoiceAfrica for approval and that takes up to two months,” he explained.

He commended the Chief Executive Officer of Trans National Sierra Leone, Dr Adonis Aboud, who is also the representative of Multi-Choice Africa, for the guidance he provided during the nurturing days of his intension to create the media empire.

It must be underscored that this new development is a big boost for the country as there is now another platform through which the world can see and assess Sierra Leone. Foreigners now have the opportunity to learn about the country through the contents that AYV will be airing via DStv. Such will definitely generate immense benefits especially in the area of boosting tourism. Through watching Sierra Leonean contents there is the possibility that such will whet the appetite of foreigners to visit the country in order to experience what they have been seeing on screen first-hand. With a boom in tourism there will be a flow of foreign currency, more jobs will materialize within the hotel and hospitality industry, local artists will gain as their carvings and other products will sell among other benefits to be gained. The benefits are many.

Based on what was understood the linkage of AYV to DStv means that the Media Empire will now employ more personnel as more programmes will now have to be produced. Besides, it will offer those who have the ability to produce good contents the opportunity to have where those could be watched provided they are approved.

Besides, AYV presence on DSTV will serve as the gateway for the outside world to know the critical issues that emanate from the country. Such will somehow be an aid to international policy makers to discuss pertinent related issues in order to make informed decisions geared towards addressing certain concerns.

They say behind any major achievement there is a personality. The personality behind such a huge achievement in Sierra Leone’s broadcasting history is Ambassador Anthony Navo Jr who happens to be the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the African Young Voices Media Empire. Many have described him as the embodiment of inspiration.

His ambition to establish the AYV Media Empire started as a dream. He started with a newspaper and later used his private house as collateral to secure a loan of $1.2 million United States dollars from the Bank loan which provided the necessary funds for the purchasing of global standard equipment for setting up the television and radio stations and covering initial operations.

Over the years, Amb Navo Jr. invested single-handedly over $10 million United States dollars in AYV Media Empire with the  recent construction of a multi -million dollar complex hosting the Housemates – Salone Season-2.

From a small project, which started with a newspaper and 19 staff, today AYV Media Empire is the largest private media investment in Sierra Leone comprising newspaper, printing press (machines), film production, television stations, radio station and employing over 700 Sierra Leoneans at home and abroad.

It is the only Sierra Leonean owned television station with a broadcasting house in London.

100 Years Of The Communist Party Of China   …Progress Made So Far – Episode 1

Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone, His Excellency, Hu Zhangliang

Interviewed By Amin Kef Sesay (Ranger)

In the one hundred years since it was established in 1921 the Communist Party of China has made immense contributions to the phenomenal transformation of what was once an underdeveloped, feudal China and its more than 1.4 billion people.

In an interview with the Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone, His Excellency, Hu Zhangliang, he outlined in detail the formation of the CPC and its impact on China’s modernization since 1921.

Ambassador Hu started off by stating that the founding of the Communist Party of China was an epoch-making event that profoundly changed China’s history and the nation’s future. That, he said, had an enormous impact not only on the people of China but also on the rest of the world.

Ambassador Hu continued that as a galvanizing force for progressive, dynamic change of what before was a semi-feudal state ruled by hundreds of competing warlords, the CPC which came into being in 1921 has been at the vanguard of China’s bold step into a modern age of political, economic, social and cultural development, which has taken China and its people through a period of dramatic change.

During that process, Ambassador Hu continued, the CPC has grown from a small party with just over 50 members into the largest governing party in the world with more than 95 million members in a country with a population of more than 1.4 billion people.

Enjoying extensive support from the Chinese people, he further said that the CPC is a party of major international standing that has governed the world’s largest socialist country for more than seven decades.

Ambassador Hu said the Party has led the Chinese people onto the path towards national rejuvenation and modernization.

He maintained that as the political beacon for China and its engine of growth and development over the past hundred years, all the struggles, sacrifices and efforts made by the CPC and by the Chinese people under its leadership have been directed to one goal – the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. CPC’s leadership of China, he added, has witnessed profound and transformative change made possible by the CPC.

Thus, since 1921, enormous productive forces have been unleashed, social transformation unprecedented in scale, and huge advances in human civilization made while the rest of the world has been afflicted by devastating wars and suffering.

Outlining China’s ancient civilization, Ambassador Hu disclosed that China’s remarkable history dates back more than 5,000 years, during which it has made an indelible contribution to human civilization. He narrated that after the Opium War of 1840, China was plunged into a semi-feudal and semi-colonial society; enduring intense humiliation, its people pushed into darkness, and its ancient civilization lost its way.

Resiliently however, the Chinese people fought with indomitable spirit against repeated setbacks to save the nation from subjugation. On how the CPC came about, Ambassador Hu said the CPC was born out of Russia’s October Revolution in 1917 that brought Marxism-Leninism to China.

This epoch making event, he said, woke up the people and lit a torch for the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Ambassador Hu outlined that the CPC through its ups and downs in the last one hundred years has developed a great spirit of upholding truth and ideals, stayed true to its founding mission, fought without fear of danger and met the people’s expectations. That spirit, he said, continues to inspire the CPC to forge ahead.

On those that founded the CPC and kept it going in its formative days, Ambassador Hu named Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin, Hu Jintao and Xi Jinping as the chief representatives that adapted the basic tenets of Marxism to China’s realities and its traditional culture. This, he said, enabled them to go from victory to victory on their journey towards national rejuvenation.

On how the CPC has been able to politically emancipate China in the hundred years of its existence, Ambassador Hu said that to realize national rejuvenation, the Party led the Chinese people to fight with unyielding determination to achieve great success in the New Democratic Revolution from 1919 to 1949.

He narrated how the CPC’s armed revolutionaries through fighting the Northern Expedition, the Agrarian Revolutionary War, the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, and the War of Liberation defeated the counter-revolutionaries, shattered the three mountains of imperialism, feudalism, and bureaucrat-capitalism, and founded the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in 1949; thereby securing the independence and liberation of the Chinese people, allowing the people to determine their future.

This momentous victory in the New Democratic Revolution, Ambassador Hu said, brought an end to China’s semi-feudal and semi-colonial status and the disunity that plagued the country.

Having gained sovereignty over the entire country, Ambassador Hu said that all the unequal treaties imposed on China by imperialist powers and all the privileges they had accorded themselves were abolished. This created the fundamental conditions for realizing national rejuvenation.

Ambassador Hu ended the first part of the interview with him by stating that by successfully undergoing this dogged struggle, the CPC and the Chinese people sent a powerful message to the world: The Chinese people have stood upright, noting that the time of oppression and humiliation is over and would never return.

Govt. to Heighten Security for Business Enterprises as…   Pee Cee & Sons Faces Serious Threats from Community Social Misfits

By Amin Kef Sesay

 At this material time when the country is in dire need of investors, from both within and out of the country, it is highly imperative, on the part of the Government, to do all within its reach to protect business enterprises that are already well established in the country. The importance of this cannot be overemphasized when cognizance is taken of the fact that if it is known that Government is serious in protecting business enterprises such will motivate others who may want to invest in certain areas to confidently do so.

Realistically, there have been instances when some thorny situations have prompted ill-motivated individuals to take the law into their hands by violently attacking business enterprises resulting into damages that ran into millions of Leones.

Few days ago one of Milla Group Limited and PEE CEE and Sons’ manufacturing site or factory at Kissy, in the East End of Freetown by some young people, considered to be social misfits, said to be residing within the community in which the factory is located, among which were certain casual workers.

They were pelting stones and home-made missiles at the company’s personnel and assets backed by threats to burn down the factory.  The situation was really degenerating into one that was serious until the Management of the company alerted the Police who had to rush to the scene, led by the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Dennis Taylor who doubles as Local Unit Commander at Ross Road Police Station.

During the process of quelling down the situation some of the youth attempted to disarm a police officer of his gun and in the ensuing struggling the gun misfired with the bullet hitting the hand of one of the assailants. With the use of some force the volatile situation was eventually put under control but even with the presence of police personnel the irate youths still continue to make threats of further attacks on the company.

Retrospectively, what led to the ugly scenario emanated from the arrest of some workers of Milla Group Limited and PEE CEE and Sons for alleged stealing of the products that the company supplies to its different outlets within the country for onward sale to members of the public.

This medium learnt that some of the workers, who are assigned to transport the products, specifically  in this case bags of onions were in the habit of tampering with the bags, remove some of the onions, put them in other empty bags thereby reducing the real quantity that the real bags should contain. It was understood that this act had been going on for quite a considerable period of time now but because of the lack of evidence Management, at that time, could not take any decisive action.

However, recently the perpetrators ran out of luck when fourteen of them were caught red-handed along the Freetown/Masiaka highway re-bagging onions by reducing the 25 Kg bags to at least 18 Kg. The Police were alerted and they moved swiftly, arrested the fourteen suspects including drivers.

The accused persons were later charged to court and made their first appearance on the 20th September, 2021 at the Ross Road Magistrate Court. They were denied bail and remanded at the Male Correctional Centre in Freetown.

From what this medium gathered it was the arrest of the fourteen workers which infuriated some of their colleagues and other ‘area boys’, who are of the opinion that the arrest, detention and charging to court of those said to have been caught on the height of re-bagging the onions was completely not in place and called for their unconditional release.

The volatile situation was so serious that even though the Police were able to quickly quell it down some of the workers were too hesitant on the 20th September 2021 to report for work out of the fear that their lives will be engendered.

In as much as this is an isolated case, however, as it has been stated there have been other instances in the past when certain disgruntled individuals have attacked, with impunity,  business enterprises simply because of misunderstandings or other unacceptable acts which, in actual fact, should not warrant such a violent reaction as they can be settled amicably.

It is against such a backdrop that it is very significant for Government, through the Internal Affairs Ministry, to always be prepared to provide maximum security to business enterprises in order for them to operate in a very conducive environment.

Worthy of note is that business ventures or enterprises that do operate on a scale like how Milla Group Limited and PEE CEE and Sons are operating do provide direct or indirect employment opportunities to many Sierra Leoneans and even pay huge taxes to Government as well as support certain development programmes through the rolling out of its Corporate Social Responsibility.

Businesses can only thrive in peaceful situations or environment.

Pres. Bio Meets & Discusses with Senior Faculty Members from Harvard and MIT

By Amin Kef Sesay

President Dr Julius Maada Bio, the Chief Minister, Jacob Jusu Saffa, Chief Innovation Officer and Minister of Basic Education, Dr Moinina David Sengeh have met with faculty and academic leaders from Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to advance the cooperation between the two prestigious institutions and the Government of Sierra Leone.

Among the audience in the room were the Vice Provost of Harvard, Director of MIT-Africa and the Chair of the Centre for African Studies.

President Bio spoke to the faculty about the need to solidify the relationships and gains made since his last visit to Boston in March 2019. Over the past two years, Harvard has supported the government with the Partners In Health supported Koidu Government Hospital, and a new residency training programme for Global Mental Health was announced between Mass General Brigham Hospital and the Sierra Leone Psychiatric Teaching Hospital at Kissy.

Professor Zoe Marks at the Harvard Kennedy School observed that the labour and education data and records showed a closing gender gap over the last three years in Sierra Leone.

A representative from MIT’s Broad Institute observed that certain Covid-19 genomic diagnostics were happening in Kenema, Sierra Leone before many labs in Massachusetts, USA, were able to diagnose Covid-19.

President Bio assured the faculty of his Government’s commitment to using technology to enhance development and to focus on human capital development.

At the end of the discussions, a commitment was made for a joint team of faculty and students from Harvard and MIT to visit Sierra Leone to deepen the existing and ongoing collaborations and research.

2022 FY Budget to Mainly Finance all Existing Ongoing Priority Projects

By Foday Moriba Conteh

Dennis K. Vandi, the Minister of Finance  has stated that the focus of the FY2022 budget would be to consolidate and complete all ongoing priority projects especially, those that have to do with roads, bridges, hospitals, water, energy, and human capital development programs in education and health.

He made this disclosure during the Financial Year 2022 policy hearing process that is going on at the Ministry’s main conference hall, George Street, Freetown.

He further discouraged submissions of new projects from Ministries, Departments and Agencies when ongoing projects have not been completed. He emphasized the challenges procurement of goods and services has been posing on the management of the scarce resources of the Country.

According to him, MDA’s should be mindful and have a re-look and re-think in creating extra-budgetary expenditures, he warned that MoF will not issue a certificate of approval to any MDA to enter into a new contract until unfinished programs/projects are completed.

“To support reliable and credible financing of the 2023 general Elections in the fulfillment of government commitment to implement recommendations of the elections observer report, the MoF with support from the National Electoral Commission has established an Election Basket Fund at the Bank of Sierra Leone to support the timely provision of funds to meet elections-related activities,” Mr. Vandi revealed.

He urged all revenues generating MDA’s to liaise with the MoF and NRA in the drafting of the  2022 Finance Bill to incorporate the relevant charges to tax rates, fees charged, and fines that would increase the tax revenue collection rate.

As the government is striving towards achieving the Abuja declaration of 15% of expenditure on health, during their presentation, the Ministry of Health and Sanitation desires Le 774 billion to continue its ongoing Public Investments Programs (PIP) across the Country.

The Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr. S.M Kenneh said that the Ministry has spent more on the National Emergency Medical Services (NEMS) compared to what was budgeted for, noting that this cannot be compared to the expenditure in 2020, adding that NEMS has responded to 15,000 calls within 8 months of service provision and that a total of 84 ambulances have been distributed and are actively used, with a backup of 16 ambulances (1 per district).

He highlighted some of the PIP Priority projects for 2022 which include: The Kerry Town Warehouse of 7000m2 of high-end storage space and the National Emergency Medical service response.

He updated the gathering on the key deliverables and achievements for 2021, which are the UHC road maps that were launch, school health policy, free health care initiative expanded to include nutrition items among others.

He furthered that a bill has been drafted by the Law Officers Department and public consultations on the draft bill have been completed and an electronic tracing of pregnant women which is a joint deliverable with DSTI has been instituted.

The Ministry of Basic and Senior School Education (MBSSE) is also desiring Le 57,496 Billion for FY2022.

According to the Ministry, in FY2022, they are focusing on deliverables like the development and approval of the new Education Act, operationalize the School Fees utilization and school approval policy, develop a new West Africa Examination council ACT, develop National Programme for post-birth support to pregnant girls, Construct three Hostels for girls in three districts, establish additional Learning Centres for literacy programs, develop and roll out the Senior Secondary Education Curriculum and syllabuses, equip additional schools with science laboratories, strengthen education service delivery through staff capacity building and additional recruitment and phase out double schooling in some selected schools.

The FY 2022 budget discussions will continue till 4th October 2021 and the FY 2022 budget is expected to be read in parliament in early November.

For the 2nd Time…   Pikin Bizness Facilitates Heart Surgery for 28yr old Ali Kamara in France

Alie Kamara in 2008 flanked by Dr. Adonis and Mother

By Amin Kef Sesay

This medium was reliably informed that a humanitarian organization supporting vulnerable children along with its international partners, Pikin Bizness, will for the second time fly Alie Kamara, now 28 years old, to France for medical treatment; he was first flown out of the country for heart surgery to France in 2008 at the age of 15 years.

The Deputy Coordinator of the organization, Madam Katimu Christiana Rogers the organization is complementing the efforts of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation and that over the years they have facilitated a total of 37 free successful heart surgeries for children in Sierra Leone, including that of Ali Kamara.

Madam Katimu Christiana Rogers, in giving an update about Alie’s recent development, disclosed that Alie Kamara recently suffered a heavy hit on the chest which resulted in a serious complication warranting this urgent trip for medical attention abroad based on the Cardiovascular Doctor’s recommendation.

The child’s second trip to France on medical grounds, she noted has faced little hiccups due to the problem on the ground but however it has been resolved that she travel alone to Guinea based on the security issues to get the Visa for Alie and upon her return to Sierra Leone with the Visa Alie will then leave the shores of Sierra Leone for treatment in France.

FBC-SUG Launches Campaign Against Examination Malpractice

By Foday Moriba Conteh

Ahead of the commencement of the second semester examination and as part of their effort in eradicating examination malpractice at Fourah Bay College, the Fourah Bay College Students’ Union Government (FBC-SUG), through its Ministry of Education, on Tuesday 21st September, 2021 launched the Campaign Against Examination Malpractice. The launching ceremony was held at the Student Union Building on Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone.

Speaking during the launch, the Minister of Education of Student Union Government at Fourah Bay College, Alfred M. Sesay, noted that examination malpractice, also known as cheating, is the illegal action that students take during their examinations to try to make good grades by cutting corners of which he said that it is against  such a backdrop that the Fourah Bay College Student Union Government deemed it fit to launch such a campaign as part of their efforts in raising awareness on examination malpractice on campus especially as examinations will soon commence.

He recalled that in 2019 students were expelled and rusticated from the University of Sierra Leone due to examination malpractices and that the launching of the campaign will serve as a workforce in order to eradicate examination malpractice within the college.

Alfred M. Sesay maintained that examination malpractice has eaten into the fabric of the education system in the country, adding that the worst thing that can happen to students is not being able to defend their results, which he said is basically the case with those who are tempted to indulge  in examination malpractice.

He ended by urging all students to see reasons why they should desist from examination malpractice.

The former President of the Fourah Bay College Student Union Government (FBC-SU), Augustine Bona, also described the issue of examination malpractice as a serious issue that needs the collaboration of all ranging from the college administration, staff and students etc. in order to eradicate it.

He noted that when he took over in 2019 as President of the Fourah Bay College Student Union Government he had to face a Disciplinary committee established by the college to deal with issues of examination malpractice. Bona disclosed that at that time 64 students were facing trial for the said issue adding how the students admitted guilt before a Committee that was set up, pointing out that he felt disappointed as no sober-minded person will like to stand before such a Committee to plead on behalf of the students who have admitted quilt of examination malpractice.

Augustine Bona commended the current Fourah Bay College Student Union Government for the launch of the campaign geared towards eradicating the malpractice. He called on all students of Fourah Bay College and other institutions to discontinue indulging in examination malpractices.

President of the Fourah Bay College Student Union Government, Adama Sillah, stated that as a Student Union Government they do care for the welfare of all students on campus but said that inasmuch as they are fulfilling their mandate, however,  students also have the responsibility not to engage in examination malpractices.

She maintained that some students have perfected the various forms of examination malpractice, stating that some of the methods employed include bringing foreign materials into the examination halls, which according to her include prepared notes and materials written on their palms, legs, breast etc. She described such acts by these students as wrong and called on them to desist.

Adama Sillah also pointed out that the issue of examination malpractice is one that has eaten deep into the educational system of the country of which she used the opportunity to admonish students to embrace hard work and avoid depending on malpractice during examinations.

Giving the keynote address, Ibrahim F. Sawaneh Esq. stated that the fight against examination malpractice should be a national call, adding that the fight needs the collaboration of all including the college administration, staff, parents, students etc. maintaining that if these various sectors couldn’t put hands on deck to fight examination malpractice in the country the very objective of turning out educated graduates will be affected.

He said that the college administration has a responsibility to eradicate the malpractice within the campus by instituting policies that will prevent it taking place during examination periods furthering that the college also has an examination body that collects questions from lecturers, reproduce them to be distributed among the students on the scheduled dates but lamented that in most cases the examination body releases the questions before the scheduled dates for the examination which he said is one way the examination body also supports malpractices during examination.

Ibrahim F. Sawaneh Esq said that if examination malpractice must be curbed, a lot of work need to be done by all, adding that it is not only the work of the Student Union Government alone but the college administration which includes the lecturers, the examination body.

He called on all sectors to work together to fight examination malpractice saying when the educational sector of any society is messed up all other sectors will be directly affected.

WoNARPI Demonstrates Commitment to Promote & Protect Women In Agriculture

By Mary Kabay

Women’s Network Against Rural Plantations Injustice (WoNARPI) in collaboration with Sound and Arts for Change (SACh) on the 21st September 2021 convened an inaugural national leadership meeting of rural agricultural women affected by (large scale) plantation injustice.

Aminata Finda Massaquoi, the National Coordinator for WoNARPI in her statement intimated that the organization consists of women who are affected by large scale agricultural activities in different communities across the country and those that are seeking to change the status quo. Dilating on the significance of forming a network she maintained that women are affected the most when their husbands suffer rural injustice by certain investors furthering how they also suffer directly when they cannot cultivate their crops on farms and gardens.

She highlighted that one of the main aims of the organization borders around advocating for women in rural communities who are seriously deprived as a result of the setting up of large scale plantations. According to her, they are laying the foundation and building relationships, systems and structures geared towards addressing the numerous problems and adverse effects women in affected communities face as a result of many large scale investments.

The keynote speaker during the event was Charles Vandy, the Director of Gender Affairs within the Ministry of Gender and Children Affairs. He elaborated on the issue of gender and the inclusion of women in decision making in all facets of leadership positions. He also underscored that rural women suffer when it comes to issues that are  related to enjoying good facilities in the country stating that most times they are marginalized to the core.

The Director pointed out that the 2015 Land Policy of the Ministry of Lands put a stop to the disenfranchisement of women to access land further laying emphasis on women empowerment.

Statements were also made by certain stakeholders.  Hon. Siaka Musa Sama expressed delight to be part of the meeting saying he considers it as a fulfillment of purpose rather than opportunity.

He shared his experiences with the women and gave a statistics of women in labour stating that most of them have nothing positive to show as a World Bank survey mentioned.

Theophilus Sahr Gbenda from the Community Media Network Sierra Leone (CoMNet-SL) encouraged the women to reach out to their various communities and make their voices known assuring that as they have started working with them they will continue to do so.

The Executive President of Sierra Leone Women In Journalism (SLAWIJ) Millicent Kargbo said she is ready to throw her full support behind the organization adding that as her organization is female based one they are ready to empower and promote them at the national level. She informed that it was deliberate to do the formal launching of the organization on the same day that the International Day of Peace and Mono Culture Tree Plantation Day were observed. Millicent congratulated the Executive members of the organization and also pledged her organization’s support to women in agriculture.

The highpoint of the event was the formal launch of WoNARPI at the Council of Churches Sierra Leone Hall on Kingharman Road in Freetown by Human Rights Commissioner, Simitie Lavarly. Before doing so she briefly explained about the role of the Human Rights Commission- Sierra Leone and encouraged the women to empower themselves educationally or sponsor their children to be well educated. The event was climaxed with pledges and statements of commitment by the regional heads.

NP-SL Commissions New Filling Station In Kono

By Amin Kef Sesay

As part of continuous efforts in taking the lead in the downstream sector by ensuring that its petroleum products are accessible across  the country even within remote communities, the National Petroleum-Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL Ltd) has on the 19th September, 2021 unveiled a modern Filling Station in Koidu City, Kono District.

The aforementioned Filling Station is situated at Congo Bridge, Koidu City, Tankoro Chiefdom, Kono District named after the nickname of the owner of the facility, “Mortayorma” to as NP Mortayorma Kono Filling Station.

During the unveiling ceremony, it was clearly made known to all that the Filling Station is expected to commence sales within 72 hours, as the Sierra Leone Standards Bureau was supposed to do the calibration of the equipment, including the pumping machines, before they can commence sales.

The Proprietor of NP Mortayorma Kono, Aiah Boya, in his statement, revealed that his establishment has a diesel capacity of 40,000 litres, whilst the petrol is 45,000 litres which he said will able to address the issue of fuel crisis in the district and its environs.

He extended gratitude to the community stakeholders of Kono District for their support since the start of the project on to its completion stating that he is gratified that they stood by him, adding that after residing in the United States of America for sometime he then decided to invest in his country as a way of giving back to society.

Aiah Boya also expressed appreciation to her wife, Mrs. Koya and the Chief Executive Officer of NP-SL Ltd, Kobi Walker and the entire Management of the company for their tireless support in ensuring that the establishment of the Filling Station becomes a success story.

He promised not to engage in the hoarding of fuel in order to create artificial scarcity describing such an act as dishonesty and cheating.

On his part, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Sierra Leone Limited, (NP SL-Ltd), Kobi Walker, assured residents of Kono District that with the new NP-SL Filling Station the issue of fuel shortage will become a thing of the past.

He reiterated that the new Filling Station will not only make fuel available for them at all times but will also provide job opportunities for some residents as well, of which he said the company believes in empowering local entrepreneurs to thrive in business ventures who will then in turn contribute meaningfully to nation building.

Kobi Walker also informed the gathering that NP Mortayorma Kono will not only sell fuel but all their products like NP-SL Gas, NP-SL Castrol Oil etc. and also encouraged all to see NP-SL as their own pointing out that the company is owned by Sierra Leoneans.

He used the opportunity to inform residents that as a law abiding company the Filling Station is expected to commence sales within 72 hours.

The District Monitoring Officer for the Petroleum Regulatory Agency in Kono, Mamadi ‘Baghdad’ Kamara said PRA will always ensure that there is constant availability and supply of good petroleum products and also warned against fuel hoarding.

The Hon. Paramount Chief of Sandor, Kono District, Sheku Fasuluku Sonsiama III, also commended the Proprietor of NP Mortayorma Kono, Aiah Boya for taking the initiative to bring such a development to their district.

He called on other descendants of the district to emulate the footprint of the Proprietor and further encouraged residents to take ownership of the new Filling Station by patronizing with him.

A bike rider in Kono District, Yusuf Kamara, applauded the Proprietor of NP Mortayorma Kono, Aiah Boya and NP-SL Ltd for commissioning the Filling Station in Kono District, noting that as` bike riders they were faced with a lot of constraints in securing fuel especially during critical times but said with this new NP-SL Filling Station it will surely address those fuel constraints in their locality.

The event was climaxed by the pouring of libation followed by the unveiling of the new Filling Station by the Proprietor of NP Mortayorma Kono, Aiah Boya, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Sierra Leone Limited, (NP SL-Ltd), Kobi Walker, the District Monitoring Officer of PRA in Kono, Mamadi ‘Baghdad’ Kamara and representatives from the community.

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