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New Head of EU Delegation Presents Letters of Credence to President Bio 

By Theresa Kef Sesay

The new Head of Delegation of the European Union to Sierra Leone, Manuel Müller, has presented his letters of credence to President Julius Maada Bio, in a ceremony held at State House on the 7th September 2021.

In his statement, President Bio said that the EU is a strong partner of Sierra Leone and Sierra Leone is deeply grateful for the EU’s longstanding support to the country. He added that the Sierra Leonean Government is committed to continuing to implement the reforms that will make a “vibrant democratic nation”, and the Government will follow up on the implementation of the electoral reform recommendations of the EU Electoral Observation Mission deployed to Sierra Leone in 2018. He stressed that Sierra Leone values the support of the EU to address the challenges that lie ahead.

Ambassador Müller, on his side, said that the partnership between the EU and Sierra Leone is strong and based on shared values. He added: “The EU will continue to be a reliable partner of Sierra Leone, including democratic and electoral support”.

In this regard, after the Electoral Observation Mission deployed in 2018, an Electoral Follow-Up Mission led by a member of the European Parliament will visit Sierra Leone in October, which will be an opportunity to monitor and discuss together with the Sierra Leonean authorities progress in electoral reform before the 2023 general elections.

Ambassador Müller also said that the EU acknowledges the important efforts and reforms made by the Sierra Leonean Government to strengthen the rule of law and protect human rights, like the recent abolition of the death penalty.

It must be noted that the EU remains committed to continuing to work together with Sierra Leone to strengthen democracy, elections, rule of law, education (including girls’ access to education), an enabling business and investment climate, and job creation. The EU encourages the Sierra Leonean Government to continue progress in the aforementioned areas.

Following the work of his predecessor, the new Head of Delegation aspires to continue to deepen the EU-Sierra Leone partnership.

 

2 Sent to Life Imprisonment for Murder & 1 Freed

By Elkass Sannoh

Justice John Bosco Allieu, a Court of Appeal Judge, on the 10th September 2021 sentenced two convicted persons; 38-year-old Hassan Morray (alias Sani Med), an artist and a 58-year-old stone miner, Alimamy Bangura to life imprisonment for the offence of murder.

The judgment came after an eleven-member jury unanimously returned a guilty verdict against the convict, Hassan Morray.

The particulars of offence stated that the convict, Hassan Morray, on the 17th of July 2017, at Freetown in the Western Area of the Republic of Sierra Leone, murdered one 85-year-old Sia Matu Yobah.

In his address to the jurors shortly before the verdict, Hon. Justice Allieu disclosed that the standard in all criminal trials is for the prosecution to prove the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt.

He told the jurors that, if according to the totality of evidence before the court, they are satisfied that the prosecution has proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, they should return the appropriate verdict accordingly and vice versa.

He warned them not to concern themselves with any social media commentary or rumors about the matter outside the court but to strictly consider the evidence adduced before the court.

Justice Allieu said in addition to proving the guilt of the accused, the prosecution must also prove all the elements of the offence charged.

The Prosecution called 6 witnesses during the course of the trial including Pathologist, Dr Simeon Owizz Koroma.

The convict in his statement to the Police on the 22nd July 2017, five days after the incident, said he was in front of the gate of his house at Old School, West End of Freetown when he saw an old woman who asked him to give her medicine because she was sick.

According to him, the old woman took the medicines and entered his (convict) room to sleep, adding that he went away for a while only to return and found the woman swollen.

Morray said he used a knife and cut the throat of the deceased and constantly pressed her with the intention to reduce the swelling.

He however denied killing the deceased.

In his evidence, 5th prosecution witness Dr. Simeon Owizz Koroma, tendered his medical report on the cause of death, adding that the deceased died as a result of acute hemorrhagic shock due to profuse and torrential bleeding.

In his judgment, Hon. Justice Allieu said based on the guilty verdict reached at by the jury, the convict is sentenced to life imprisonment.

In another related matter, a jury panel unanimously returned a guilty verdict against 58-year-old Stone miner, Alimamy Bangura.

The convict was before the court on a one count indictment of murder.

The Prosecution had alleged that the convict on the 19th day of September 2017 murdered Alieu Kamara.

After the jurors returned a guilty verdict, the Hon. Justice Allieu sentenced the convict to life improvement.

Meanwhile, Hon. Justice Allieu acquitted and discharged Mohamed Kamara of the offence of murder after an eleven member jury unanimously returned a ‘not guilty verdict’ against him.

It was alleged that the accused on the 14th of August 2018 at Goderich Road, Lumley in Freetown, in the Western Area, murdered one Alfred Sama.

The prosecution led in evidence two witnesses in support of their case.

The cases were prosecuted by Lawyer Alberta Kargbo and defended by Cecilia Tucker.

For Failure to Fulfill Bail Conditions…   Kamarainba & Co-Accused Still in Detention

By Amin Kef Sesay

In a Press Release issued by the Judiciary of Sierra Leone and dated 10th September, 2021 it was categorically stated that the justice dispensing institution wishes to inform the general public that Mohamed Kamarainba Mansaray and co-accused, Marion Arouni, who are before the Sexual Offences Model Court on eight (8) count charges of sexual penetration, meeting a child for sexual purpose and conspiracy among others were both granted bail by the presiding Judge, Hon. Justice Samuel O. Taylor (JA) on the 7th September 2021.

Highlighted was that the Bail Conditions for the first Accused were as follows: Bail granted in the sum of 100 Million Leones and two sureties in like sum, one sureties must be a house owner with property situated in the Western area of the Republic of Sierra Leone and should produce an original Title Deed to the Master and Registrar, sureties should produce proof of residence, ID Cards, Passport Pictures and the accused person should deposit same to the Master and Registrar, he must report three times in a week to the Master and Registrar and sign the Attendance book reserved for that purpose and he must deposit to the Master and Registrar all travelling documents both foreign and national.

The Judiciary stated that pursuant to the aforementioned, one of the Lawyers of the first Accused approached the Master’s office for the first time at 2pm on the 9th September 2021 at around 2:00 pm. The two Sureties, Isha Baby Koroma (self-employed) and Swaibu A.K. Dumbuya, a retired driver were brought into the Master’s office after 5pm, on the same day for the first time.

Furthermore, it was mentioned that among the documents submitted were, one new Sierra Leonean Passport for the first Accused (Kamarainba) with only a Guinean Entry Visa, an affidavit sworn to by him(first Accused)stating that he does not own any other travelling documents aside from the new Sierra Leonean Passport submitted, a Title Deed with no Valuation Report and Identification cards for the Two Sureties.

According to the Judiciary their findings were as follows: that the first Accused has not produced his foreign travelling documents in total compliance with the Bail Conditions. Also one of the Sureties, Ms. Isha Baby Koroma, is not ordinarily resident in Sierra Leone, as she informed during an interview that she is an US citizen.

The legal entity said in compliance with the Bail Regulations, to qualify to be a surety the individual must be ordinarily resident in Sierra Leone.

“As maliciously claimed by those who are misusing the Social Media, the Master and Registrar, is readily willing to process or approve the Bail as long as the conditions contained in Justice S.O. Taylor’s ruling are met,” the Judiciary assured adding that it also wishes to state that no approach or document has been received for and on behalf of the co-accused Marion Arouni.

Also, it stated how they wish to further state that some months ago they discovered 29 fake sureties with fake documents submitted to the Master and Registrar’s office maintaining that such an act is not only criminal but also inimical to expeditious trials and the dispensation of Justice.

To Holistically Combat Drink Driving…   SLBL & SLRSA Sign Another Partnership

By Amin Kef Sesay

The 10th September 2021 marked another milestone in the relationship between the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA) and the Sierra Leone Brewery Limited (SLBL) as the two entities renewed their long standing partnership agreement on Drink Driving and Responsible Consumption of Alcohol through the signing of another partnership.

The signing ceremony took place at the SLRSA Conference Room in Freetown and was done by SLRSA’s Deputy Executive Director, James Bagie Bio and Albert Ojo Collier, the Corporate Relations Manager of SLBL.

The extension of the partnership is expected to run for another one (1) year and will cover outstanding campaigns from the previous plans to be covered and create more awareness on responsible consumption and sober driving.

It could be recalled that in 2013, the Sierra Leone Brewery Limited joined the road safety bandwagon through the signing of a partnership agreement geared towards combating drink driving and promote responsible consumption of alcohol among road users and provided well over 1000 breathalyzers to the SLRSA for the testing of drunk drivers.

According to the signed partnership the two institutions will draw up projects that will not only require funding but also non direct funding aspects. Amongst such projects will include: to implement the use of non-reusable breathalysers, plastic non reusable tips, Ethyway Electronic Ethytest breathalyser to be given to the SLRSA (and to provide adequate training where needed on the use of the breathalysers for SLRSA Traffic Wardens).

Another will be to conduct a baseline study to ascertain the number of drink driving cases in the city through random sampling in key prone areas using disposable breathalysers, print a good number of adhesive stickers, awareness T-shirts, create jingles and banners for the campaign.

The two will be engaging target groups through radio and TV discussion programs (SLRSA Hour on SLBC TV and Radio and five other radio stations in the country including Bo, Kenema and Makeni), to do mass sensitization on drink driving in major car parks, Bike rider stations with banners and PA system and the distribution of bumper stickers to commercial motor drivers, commercial bike riders, bus stations, bars/ consumers amongst other.

It was also agreed that comprehensive reports will be drafted by SLRSA during the partnership and at the end of the partnership to evaluate the value of the partnership, measure its impact and ensure that it is recognized.

By the End of 2021… Africell Assures of Network Coverage Countrywide

By Amin Kef Sesay

This news medium was reliably informed that Africell-SL, which is one of the telecommunications companies that has a huge subscriber base, is currently working assiduously to expand its network coverage to underserved and unserved communities in the country particularly those that are located in hard to reach areas.

According to John Konteh, who happens to be the Media Manager of the company, they are targeting all the sixteen districts in Sierra Leone in order to make quality telecommunications services accessible to every nook and cranny of the country adding that the telecoms company is very keen to ensure that residents living in hard to reach areas in the provinces are connected.

The Africell Media Manager intimated that currently Africell Mobile Company is constructing new sites expressing optimism that those sites will benefit over 1000 communities in the country with all the necessary services including voice and data.

He went on to disclose how Africell has upgraded its facilities and infrastructure with the latest technology in the sector as well as with the best equipment.

John Konteh further revealed how Africell is and continues to be one of the largest employers in the country contributing to nation building and providing livelihood supports to hundreds of Sierra Leoneans.

“I want to assure all that by the end of 2021, Africell would announce additional coverage areas in every part of the country,” he promised.

He then called on Sierra Leoneans to continue to patronize with Africell, stating that the company has the best network coverage with the fastest internet services.

AYV & MultiChoice Africa Collaborate to Inform Newsmen About Linkage to DStv

By Amin Kef Sesay

The Management of the African Young Voices Media Limited (AYV), in collaboration with MultiChoice Africa will be hosting a Press Conference and a media tour for the historic launching event of the AYV Channel on DStv that will take place on Friday 17th September 2021 at 5.00pm at the AYV Amphitheater.

It should be noted that besides Nigeria and Ghana, Sierra Leone will 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 forthcoming Press Conference is intended to officially inform the Press of the AYV Channel on DStv project and to give the Press an exclusive tour of set/production areas already being built.

It must be underscored that the Africa Young Voices (AYV) media empire will go down the annals of broadcasting history in this country as the first news medium in this country that has established a link with DStv Africa. For now AYV programs are now been watched via DSTV Africa Channel 399.

As a result of the materialization of this remarkable feat AYV is  live in thirty (30) countries across Africa for now and there are twenty four countries to be brought abroad. All the West African countries are now connected apart from Ghana and Nigeria of which plans are underway for them to be brought onboard later but importantly it must be stated that other African countries are now on.

This new development is indeed a big boost in the sense that it has now made it possible for the country to gain another presence within the international broadcasting landscape. Sierra Leoneans living abroad will be abreast with current events taking place in the country.

The big brain behind this great leap in Sierra Leone’s broadcasting history is no less a person than the patriot, the savvy entrepreneur and development oriented personality, 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.

Today AYV Television has a presence in London and Management is committed to make further inroads within the broadcasting landscape both locally and internationally.

 

Justice for Blessings Bengeh is Non- Negotiable!!

Blessings Bengeh,

The True Story

The gory video of a 19 year old female student of Fourah Bay College, Blessings Bengeh being paraded inside a “keke” continues to swamp social media for the past four days. Consequently, there have been mixed reactions on an incident that saw a half-naked and  visibly disheveled girl with a bitten arm and bruised face being pelted with invectives and described as a whore ……an “original raray girl…”

In any case, the assailant whom we have identified as one Mariama Tucker and married to Joseph Tucker, a senior staff of the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA), appeared to be convinced that parading poor Blessings Bengeh in a Keke, biting off her finger nails; burying her teeth on her right arm zombie style; threatening to kill her and making a short movie out of it would quench her thirst for vengeance against someone she probably had no evidence of having an affair with her husband. We have followed this story closely and this was what we gathered from impeccable sources.

On the morning of Wednesday, 8th September 2021 Blessings Bengeh, a First Year student of Economics at the University of Sierra Leone was literally abducted from her 77 Lumley Road residence at Wilberforce after she was lured into a Keke by Mariam Tucker.

Blessings had concluded morning prayers with her family and she was getting ready to leave for classes. Her Father, a clergy man had also left for the Pademba Road Prisons where he was to minister God’s word to inmates.

On that fateful morning, a knock at the gate alerted the family and   Blessings came out to meet Mariama Tucker whom she was pretty familiar with.

Despite being half naked with barely a wrapper tied on the lower and upper parts of her body, the unsuspecting Blessings obliged to climb onto the Keke outside her gate thinking it was going to be a private chat with Mariama Tucker.

As soon as she entered the Keke, the rider sped off. That was how her hellish ordeal began. By the time they get to Spur Road, the poor girl had been physically assaulted by a desperate housewife who had no evidence of the girl dating her husband other than a complimentary comment made by the husband that read; “Nice Finger Nails” on her Whatsapp status. The husband, Joseph Tucker himself has vehemently denied he has any relationship with Blessings Bengeh.

As the Keke slowed down to negotiate a curve, Blessings jumped off after Mariama spoke to someone on the phone instructing him/her to get a scissors and dry ‘kanya’ pepper because she was “going to kill her in front of the husband”.

As, it happened, Blessings is a close friend of Joseph’s niece, Mercy a student of UNIMAK. There have been instances when Joseph would ask Blessings to advise his niece to take her university work seriously. Both girls attended the International School until they separated because they chose attend separate universities.

Mariama has been detained at the Lumley Police Station since Thursday but while he has reportedly made a secrete apology to Behgeh’s family, we have also been informed of defiant and unremorseful statements she has made to friends and on social media.

As we continue with our investigations, we have learnt that Blessings Bengeh is in a deep psychological trauma barely able to communicate intelligly at the moment.  She was said to have dismissed the possibility of returning to the university because she could no longer infractious damage to her reputation.

However, since the incident occurred, there has been no statement from human rights or women’s advocacy groups. Many observers have described such deafening silence from civil society as a national disgrace.

Blessing Bengeh’s predicament is a case of abduction, assault with grievous bodily harm, cyber bullying and potentially, an attempted murder.

Our refusal to stake a stand and give her justice could mean the antithesis of what we truly want to achieve as a civilized nation where the law reings supreme.

Stay Tuned!!

 

 

Commemorating International Literacy Day…   CARL & Partners Urge Government to Regulate Private Schools

By Foday Moriba Conteh

In commemorating the International Literacy Day 2021 on the theme:  “Literacy for a Human-Centered Recovery”, the Community Action to Restore Lives (CARL) has on Wednesday 8th September, 2021 urged the Government of Sierra Leone to regulate private schools in the country. This disclosure was made during a press conference held at their Head Office on White Street at Brookfields in Freetown.

Giving the purpose of the gathering, Programme Manager of Community Action to Restore Lives (CARL), Aruna P.S. Larkoh, said that the event is staged to commemorate the International Literacy Day 2021 on the theme: “Literacy for a Human-Centered Recovery” in order to join other global bodies to discuss gains and challenges in the education sector, adding that the day is celebrated on  the 8th September every year and that it was declared by UNESCO on the 26th October 1966 at the 14th session of United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) general conference.

He said that they are using the day to submerge their ongoing Education Campaign Spike, which is principally looking at the rights to qualitative public education for all children in the country and calling on the regulation of private schools, which according to them when not regulated widens inequalities in the education sector.

Aruna P.S. Larkoh maintained that the inequality research conducted unearthed a lot of educational inequalities which captured private school education and domestic financing on private school as one of the forms of inequalities in education.

He added that the Education Campaign Spike makes provision for issues like the high fees in private schools, quality education, domestic financing, quality in fees and other related issues to be addressed, stating that the campaign makes it an obligation for Government schools to be prioritized and private schools to be accessible to all with affordable school fees with the fact that they are supported by the Government of Sierra Leone.

The Programme Manager further informed the gathering that an open letter has been written and signed by a consortium addressed to the Minister of Basic and Secondary Education on partners’ stance for Government to regulate private schools.

He ended by saying that OXFAM and its partners within the consortium on Education Campaign Spike are calling on the Government to use public aid money to support free public education in the country.

The Honourable Member of Parliament for Constituency 098, Dominic Tshombe, said that the International Literacy Day 2021 is very important and that the theme:  “Literacy for a Human-Centered Recovery” is very apt.

He said that as Government human capital development is one of their priorities he said that in the current financial setup the Government allocated 22 percent of its budget to education.

Dominic Tshombe said that there are a lot of challenges faced by Government schools ranging from lack of infrastructure which includes furniture, lack of professional teachers etc. which, he said, Government is working tirelessly to address those issues.

He assured CARL and partners of Government’s support and reaffirmed their commitment towards the development of the education sector in the country.

In his closing statement, Founder/Chief Executive Director of Community Action to Restore Lives (CARL), Madiana Nyanda Samba, commended His Excellency, President Julius Maada Bio, for putting premium on human capital development especially the introduction of the Free Quality Education Initiative for pupils.

She said that education is a public good and should not be left in the hands of the private sector for profit making, discrimination and deepens inequalities, adding that education is a right for every child including girls.

She also used the opportunity to call on the Government to use public aid money to support the Free Quality Education Initiative in the country.

Madiana Nyanda Samba noted that in order to increase revenue in order to support education in the country Government should allocate 2 percent of all GST to education and 1 percent of mining revenue to support education, noting that education should also be made affordable for children living with disabilities.

She used the opportunity to call on Members of Parliament to ensure, during the review of the Education Act, the issue of the regulation of private schools.

NCRA to Commence Confirmation and Registration of Personal Details in the Eastern Region

Director General of the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA), Mohamed M. Massaquoi

By Amin Kef Sesay

During the Ministry of Information and Communications weekly press briefing held on Thursday 9th September, 2021 at Youyi Building in Freetown the Director General of the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA), Mohamed M. Massaquoi, informed pressmen that the Confirmation and Registration of the personal details of citizens and non-citizens resident in Sierra Leone will begin in the Eastern Region covering Kenema, Kailahun and Kono Districts on the 21st September 2021 to the 30th September 2021.

He said that the Confirmation and Registration process can be done at any of the designated NCRA Centres in the Eastern Region during the period of the exercise, adding that to enable residents participate in the exercise, they are required to bring along their Voter ID Cards and any of the following documents which includes Birth Certificates, National ID Cards, Passports, NASSIT ID Cards, Driver’s Licenses, Certificates of Naturalization (Naturalized Citizens), Work and Resident Permits (Non-citizens), Certificate of Registration and Citizenship by NCRA, NCRA designed Attestation Form endorsed by Local Authorities (Paramount Chiefs and Town Chiefs).

Mohamed M. Massaquoi informed all that the exercise will enhance the acquisition of multi-purpose National and ECOWAS Identification Cards that will be used to facilitate personal transactions, movements and identification of people and those organizations that have been accredited to observe the exercise by the Authority can do so accordingly.

He therefore used the opportunity to encourage members of the general public to cooperate with the NCRA during the conduct of the exercise and that the Confirmation/Registration Centres will be opened from 08:00am through 6:00pm daily with Roaming Teams organized and maintained to support static Centres.

The Director General maintained that NCRA will continue to count on the cooperation of the public including stakeholders especially in the Eastern Region for the successful conduct of the exercise. He further advised all to observe all the COVID-19 measures prescribed by NaCOVERC especially masking up and maintaining reasonable social
distancing before an individual access any of the NCRA Confirmation/ Registration Centres.

During the press briefing, the Director also used the opportunity to clarify on the issue about the 44 Billion Leones which was alleged to have been allocated to them by the Government of Sierra Leone for Confirmation and
Verification Exercises.

He said that the NCRA has never received the sum of Le 44 billion from the GoSL, stating that such could be verified with the Accountant General’s Office.

Mohamed M. Massaquoi maintained that there are also rumors that  the NCRA has abandoned the Eastern Region during the exercise of which he said such an information is not only false but is aimed at misinforming the public.

He pointed out that as it is, the confirmation exercise is done by phases, from the Western Area to the North, South, and North-West. The exercise had to be put on hold in the East due to heavy downpour but they are pleased to inform all that the Confirmation and Registration of personal details of citizens and non-citizens resident in Sierra Leone will begin in the Eastern Region covering Kenema, Kailahun and Kono Districts from the 21st through the 30th September 2021.

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