Dr Francis Kai Kai Launches GHDR

January 20, 2020

KAI 2 — Dr. Francis KaiKai and Dr. Sam Doe present the GHDR and NHDR to the audience at the launch

By Amin Kef Sesay

During the launch of the 2019 Global Human Development Report (GHDR) alongside the National Human Development Report (NHDR) at the Ministry’s offices on 13th December, 2019 Minister for Planning and Economic Development, Dr Francis Kai Kai said: “We are very determined as a nation to change the landscape and narrative of our poverty and human development estimates within the framework of our current national development plans and the sustainable development goals.”

From when the Human Development Report was first published in 1990, Sierra Leone has made commendable progress in its human development trends more so when considering its recent stormy past. After an 11-year civil war that ended in 2002, the country experienced a slow but gradual economic recovery until 2014-2015 when the Ebola virus health emergency struck followed by the slump in iron ore (Sierra Leone’s leading export commodity) prices.

The effects of these crises have since continued to manifest in the slow economic recovery and growth but overall, Sierra Leone has been and remains resilient in its resolve to sustainably grow and develop better.

“Even in the face of several human tragedies and financial resource constraints, Sierra Leone has demonstrated resilience that defines a pathway to build on the country’s strength and minimizes vulnerabilities,” said UNDP Resident Representative, Dr. Samuel Doe, at the event.

Indeed, Sierra Leone has moved three places up in the Human Development Index (HDI) ranking from 184 in 2018 to 181 out of 189 countries according to this year’s GHDR entitled ‘Beyond Income, Beyond Averages, and Beyond Today’ based on the premise that, inequalities in human development are not just about disparities in income and wealth.

The 2019 Human Development Report (HDR) explores inequalities in human development by going beyond income, beyond averages, and beyond today. The proposed approach sets policies to redress these inequalities within a framework that links the formation of capabilities with the broader context in which markets and governments function.

‘Building Resilience for Sustainable Development’ was the theme of the Sierra Leone 4th National Human Development Report also launched at the same time inspired by the global theme and the country’s development trajectory over the past years and looking forward into a better future.

The report comes in the middle of the preparations for Sierra Leone’s ‘Roadmap to walk out of fragility by 2023’ undertaken by the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development supported by UNDP.

In Sierra Leone, there has been encouraging institutional reforms: many of the appropriate laws, polices, processes and structures for democratic governance and social and economic stability are in place according to the Mo Ibrahim Governance index 2019. Sierra Leone’s trends show commitment to address inequalities.

The human development lens is central to approaching inequality and asking why it matters, how it manifests itself and how best to tackle it. Imbalances in economic power are eventually translated into political dominance. And that, in turn, can lead to greater inequality and environmental disasters. According to the 2019 GHDR, actions at the start of this chain are far easier than relying on interventions farther down the track. The 2019 GHDR contributes to that debate by presenting the facts on inequalities in human development and proposing ideas to act on them over the course of the 21st century.

“We embrace the 2019 Human Development Reports. They indicate that Sierra Leone is making steady progress. They will strengthen our efforts towards achieving better results by providing data and guidance to tackle inequalities that hinder Development” the Statistician General emphasized.

The ‘twin launch’ of the reports, attracted widespread attendance and interest from Government officials from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and traditional stakeholders including the media, civil society groups, donors, UN Agencies, representatives of the diplomatic community and other development partners.

China Donates Rice to Govt. at Education Ministry

January 20, 2020

By Theresa Kef Sesay

A symbolic handing over of a consignment of rice took place at the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) in Freetown. 27,000 50 Kilos bags of rice were handed over to the World Food Program who has been entrusted by Government to champion the feeding of Sierra Leonean school children through the National School Feeding program. Another 30,000 50 Kilos bags of same rice is expected to be handed over to the World Food Program by February, 2020.

In his remarks to dignitaries, the Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Dr David Moinina Sengeh, registered his appreciation on behalf of the GoSL to the People’s Republic of China for the donation. He also thanked the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Denis Vandy for taking the donated rice away from farmers who are often the traditional beneficiaries of such donations and diverted it to the MBSSE for the national school feeding program. He expressed his appreciation to the President, HE Retired Brigadier-General Julius Maada Bio for his continued commitment to the Free Quality School Education.

The Deputy Minister of Finance Shek Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura spoke eloquently on Government’s position on the rice donation from the People’s Republic of China. He stated that the donation provided “cushion” in the national budget where monies that were to be used to purchase such quantum of rice can now be diverted to some other national priorities. On behalf of the Ministry of Finance, the Deputy Minister reaffirmed Government’s commitment to provide other financial resources that ensure that the World Food Program successfully carry out the school feeding activities without hindrance.

The representatives from the Chinese Embassy expressed their delight for successfully delivering on their promise to the President and people of Sierra Leone. The spokesman for the Chinese Embassy stated that the donation of rice to Sierra Leone is a decision that the two leaders of Sierra Leone and the People’s Republic of China agreed on. He continued to comment that China will continue to assist Sierra Leone whenever possible. He further cautioned the MBSSE and the GoSL not to monetize the donated rice, but rather ensure that it benefits the target beneficiaries.

The symbolic handing over was completed after one of the bags of the donated rice was placed on the conference table and formally handed over to the World Food Program’s Deputy Director Yasuhiro Tsamura.

Yasu, as he is fondly called, assured all about the commitment of the World Food Program in actualizing the President’s desire for school feeding. He expressed his gratitude to the GoSL for choosing his program as the program of choice for the national school feeding. He pointed out the benefits of school feeding on learning outcomes and the development of the human capital of Sierra Leoneans. He asked the GoSL to continue its commitment to support the program by providing the budget needed to augment the resources already at hand.

Fatmata Shaw who represented beneficiaries of the national school feeding from Masahun Kpaka, Pujehun District registered her appreciation for the donation. She asked Government to ensure all children hungry in the country must be fed in order to effectively participate in teaching and learning and achieve expected learning outcomes.

NASSIT Awards IAMTECH

January 20, 2020

By Salaam Deen Bundu

One of the country’s tertiary institutions that are offering various courses which many young people are pursuing, the Institute of Advanced Management and Technology (IAMTECH) recently was the proud recipient of a prestigious award from the National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT) for effectively complying with the NASSIT Act No.5 of 2001 in the 2019 Financial Year.

Presenting the award to IAMTECH, the Director of Public Affairs and Customer Service, Osman F. Kamara commended IAMTECH for receiving such an award from his institution, saying it shows that they are among the most compliant institutions in the country.

He further praised the Administration of the institution for what he describes as its commitment to pay NASSIT contributions for its staff also encouraging them to continue to do so also underscoring how such will help motivate the institution’s workforce. He, on behalf, of the Director General of NASSIT, presented the prestigious award to IAMTECH for fully honouring their NASSIT obligations for the financial year 2019.

Receiving the award on behalf of IAMTECH, the Head of Communications, Mr. Abdul Karim Kamara, stated that he feels very humble for receiving such an auspicious award. In an elated mood he stated “to us as an institution, we see this award as one won out of merit; we are grateful to God for everything we have gone through as an institution”.

He said they are dedicating the award to God Almighty, the Proprietor Prof. Dr. Paul Kamara and wife Dr. Mrs. Abie Paula Kamara, the Chief Executive Officer Prof. Roseline E. Uyanga, the entire Management and Staff of IAMTECH including the committed students both current and past.

He maintained that it was not a surprise to them to be awarded by no less an institution than NASSIT justifying how they have been paying their employees’ NASSIT obligations every month and on time giving them an edge over other institutions in the same category. He revealed that as an institution they have been with NASSIT since its inception and they are going to ensure that they meet all tax obligations set forth by Government because IAMTECH always puts country first.

He used the forum as an opportunity to advise sister institutions to always honour their NASSIT obligations as by doing so they will be helping in the preparation of a better future for their employees and by extension, contributing to the country’s revenue mobilization.

VP Juldeh Jalloh & UN NCRA Assessment Mission Team Meets

January 20, 2020

Vice President of Sierra Leone Dr.Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh & the Senior Statistician Ms. Fatouma Sissoco and the Legal Identity Management Expert United Nations Economic Commission for Africa

By Esther Wright

Senior Statistician Ms. Fatouma Sissoco and the Legal Identity Management Expert United Nations Economic Commission for Africa on 16 January 2020 had an interactive session with the Vice President of Sierra Leone Dr.Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh.

The team congratulated the Government and the people of Sierra Leone, as well as NCRA Director General Mohamed Massaquoi and senior government officials for the tremendous progress made in the establishment of the National Civil Registration Authority.

The mission noted that Sierra Leone’s CRVS system is exceptional as it has a system that integrates civil registration, vital statistics and ID management, which is in line with the UN Legal Identity Agenda (UN LIA) and UN statistics division standards and other international best practices.

Because of the Government’s commitment to strengthening the national CRVS and Id management system, Sierra Leone was selected as a pilot country of the recently launched UN LIA.

Internal Affairs Ministry & Conscience International End Training on Statelessness

January 20, 2020

Cross section of Participants at the training

By Sam Pratt

The Secretariat for Statelessness within the Ministry of Internal Affairs in collaboration with Conscience International, on 16 January 2020 ended a two-day training session for members and non-members of the National Steering Committee to deliberate on matters relating to Statelessness. Discussions during the two day training bordered on the Conventions Sierra Leone had acceded to and their domestication, the National Action Plan that has been drafted and the pathway to achieving the Five Commitments Sierra Leone made in the 2019 Excom.

The over 20 participants included representatives from the Ministries of Internal Affairs, Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Social Welfare, Immigration Department, the National Commission for Social Action, the Human Rights Commission, the Births and Deaths Office, Civil Society Organizations and the media.

The training took place at the Grassroots Gender Empowerment Movement (GGEM) Hall on John Street in Freetown.

Statelessness is the position an individual finds him/herself in which he/she is unable to produce proper documentations related to the citizenship of that country he/she has been domiciled nor for any other country. It may surprise readers to know that people are in this position and yet do not know until a situation arises that necessitates the tendering of documentation that speaks for his/her citizenship.

Consequently thereof, the Ministry of Internal Affairs which is the Secretariat for Statelessness in Sierra Leone thought it prudent to train the members and non-members of the National Steering Committee on matters related to Statelessness.

The representative of the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr. Andrew Kamara, in his keynote address, enlightened that there is a global fight to end statelessness particularly in Sierra Leone and West Africa, a fight the country is fully committed to but lamented that the country is facing many social challenges to end statelessness by 2024.

According to Mr. Andrew Kamara, some of the reasons for statelessness are porous borders, laws/legislations, discrimination and migration, nomadic people, children born to migrants, lack of identification documents. He affirmed that Government has made considerable strides to eradicate statelessness by appointing a Focal Person, acceding to conventions and treaties, undertaken civil registration reforms, visited border areas to identify groups and persons threatened by statelessness and pledged to continue working with various stakeholders to end the menace further underscoring that children and migrants are the most vulnerable to become stateless people.

He continued that a ten-year campaign (2014-2024) has been launched to eradicate statelessness citing the 2015 ECOWAS Abidjan Declaration, that Sierra Leone adopted its National Plan in 2017, disclosing that possible areas for stateless people are Kambia in the North and Yenga in the East revealing that there are 750,000 stateless people in West Africa and 10 million in the world.

Other issues participants highlighted were that Sierra Leone does not have a Migration Policy, that there is no statistics of stateless people in the country and that there is need for massive sensitization of the public on statelessness.

Lectures were delivered on the following topics, the Background to Statelessness in Sierra Leone, Concept of Statelessness Exercise, the Global Action Plan Exercise, Sierra Leone Nationality Law Exercise, the Abidjan Declaration Exercise, National Action Plan and National Commitment.

It is expected that participants will be Ambassadors of Statelessness by embarking on mass sensitization in the media, in town hall meetings as well as other forums as and when the need arises.

‘University Status is Overdue…’ -MMCET Students Lambasts

January 20, 2020

By Foday Moriba Conteh

Friday 17 January 2020 will go down the annals of history of the Milton Margai College of Education and Technology (MMCET) polytechnic as a turning point a date that will be remembered when aggrieved and frustrated students of the Polytechnic’s three campuses demonstrated peacefully over the undue delay by the authorities to transform the college into a Technical University which they asserted is long overdue.

However, the timely intervention of the Principal of the Polytechnic, Dr. Philip John Kanu, pacified the students as otherwise the situation could have degenerated into chaos and violence.

The students displayed placards some of which read, ‘Transformation of MMCET into a Technical University is long overdue,’ ‘Professor Aiah Gbakima Must Go,’ ‘We Are Tired With the Long Wait,’ ‘The Other Colleges That Have Been Transformed to Universities Are Not Better Than Us’ and ‘We are Tired with NCTVA.’

The students further stated that some of the best students at Fourah Bay College, the Institute of Public Administration and Management and other institutions of higher learning in the country are products of Milton Margai College and threatened to march along the main streets of Freetown to the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education in a week’s time if the college is not transformed into a Technical University accusing the college’s administration of doing little or nothing to pressurize the authorities to take action for which they would no longer listen to the administration.

The Governor of the Congo Cross campus, David Kamara revealed that the college has the manpower and facilities to be transformed into a Technical University citing the equipped workshops, the state-of-the-art laboratory that can even conduct DNA tests and refurbished classrooms, hotels and library in addition to the conducive learning environment in all the three campuses of the polytechnic.

Addressing the aggrieved students, Dr. Kanu articulated that President Dr. Julius Maada Bio values education, the reason education is his flagship project to create change in the lives of the people, assured them that their protests would not go in vain, entreated them to exercise patience as the college administration has appealed to the Tertiary Education Commission for a university status, observed that the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education recently issued a press release that the college, the Freetown Teachers’ College and the Eastern Polytechnic would not be transformed into universities that resulted to students at the Eastern Polytechnic protesting causing the Ministry to withdraw the unfortunate press release.

Dr. Kanu further guaranteed the students that Government would address the issue with priority, that there is light at the end of the tunnel, that students at the Brookfields Campus wanted to block Jomo Kenyatta Road as a sign of protest and appealed to them to continue with their classes asserting that the President is very sensitive to their plight reiterating that something would soon happen as the application is now with the Tertiary Education Commission and that nothing will stop the college from being transformed into a Technical University.

WFP Recognizes Sierra Leone’s Commitment to School Feeding

January 20, 2020

By Francis Boima WEF Sierra Leone

This medium has been intimated that the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) on Thursday 16^th January 2020 welcomed an important contribution of 2,850 metric tonnes of rice from the Government of Sierra Leone to support the implementation of the country’s national school feeding programme which is at the centre of the government’s “free quality education” initiative.

The rice donated to Sierra Leone by the People’s Republic of China will complement some US$ 3.6 million (35 Billion Leones) of Government budget allocated to WFP to buy food and provide meals to more than 300,000 primary school children in the districts of Kambia, Pujehun Bombali, Bonthe, Kailahun, Karene, Kenema, Kono, and Port Loko as part of the government-led programme.

The Government of Sierra Leone and WFP signed a Memorandum of Understanding in September 2019 aimed at improving school feeding activities in the country. WFP will focus on boosting capacity in the areas of monitoring, planning, sensitization and food handling, storage and transportation. WFP will also work with the Government to facilitate the gradual handover of the school feeding programme, and its integration into the national social protection basic package that is in line with the National School Feeding Policy.

“We commend the Government of Sierra Leone for including a dedicated line for school feeding in its national budget, which demonstrates its commitment towards this programme,” said Yasuhiro Tsumura WFP’s Deputy Country Director in Sierra Leone. “WFP is honoured to be a partner of choice for its implementation.”

The programme will ensure that children receive timely and adequate nutritious meals that meet their basic food and nutrition requirements, a measure that helps to increase school enrolment and retention rates.

WFP is the world’s largest supporter of school feeding – including in 41 African nations – providing technical and operational support to governments. WFP has handed over school feeding programmes to governments in 31 countries, where school feeding continues to this day.

WFP continues to work closely with partners, agencies and governments to ensure the success of the programme aimed at those who need it most — and especially safeguarding primary school children’s access to balanced, nutritious meals, promoting opportunities to diversify diets with local produce, and reinforcing skills and good habits in nutrition, health and hygiene.

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies, building prosperity and supporting a sustainable future for people recovering from conflict, natural disasters and the impact of climate change.

Justice Miatta Samba Nominated by Pres. Bio to serve as ICC Judge

January 20, 2020

ICC — Hon. Justice Miatta Maria Samba, Justice

By Brima Sannoh

The institution that is charged with the mandate to make recommendations on the appointment of Judges in the country, the Judicial and Legal Service Commission has recommended to His Excellency the President that Hon. Justice Miatta Maria Samba, Justice of the Court of Appeal, be nominated for election to the International Criminal Court (ICC) as a Judge for the period 2021-2030.

On the 10th of January 2020 the recommendation for Justice Maitta Samba to be nominated for ICC election as a judge received the approval of H E the President. This makes her Sierra Leone’s official candidate for nomination at the ICC Election of Judges to the International Criminal Court scheduled for the 7th to 17th December 2020 in New York.
Hon. Justice Miatta Maria Samba holds double Master of Laws degree( LLM) and possesses the required qualifications and experience as evinced by her established competence in Criminal Law and Procedure; relevant experience as a judge, established competence in International Human Rights Law and International Humanitarian Law and extensive experience in a professional legal capacity which is relevant to the work of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

She was Field Operations Officer ICC, Office of the Prosecutor, Uganda from October 2006 to October 2010 for the ICC, Associate Trial Attorney Special Court of Sierra Leone 2002 to 2006, Witness Management Coordinator and Investigator of Special Court of Sierra. Leone.

Legal Aid ED Updates Chief Justice on Assessment of Prisoners

January 20, 2020

LAD — Executive Director of the Board, Ms. Fatmata Claire Carlton-Hanciles briefed the Chief Justice on the findings

By Esther Wright

Chief Justice of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Justice Desmond Babatunde Edwards met with the Legal Aid Board in Freetown on the 16 January 2020 to brief him on work of the Board particularly regarding matters relating to trial of inmates. It is the first meeting held in this New Year.

The Executive Director of the Board, Ms. Fatmata Claire Carlton-Hanciles briefed the Chief Justice on the findings of the end of year meeting the Board had with 1,482 inmates at the Pademba Road Correctional Center in Freetown on the 18 December 2019.

Ms. Carlton-Hanciles said her team interacted with and took questions from all categories of inmates including those on death roll, the aged, mental health patients, those on long sentences, those on trial without bail, those on trial without indictments and those with indictments but not on trial.

She noted that overcrowding in Correctional Centers particularly those in Freetown and the regional headquarter towns continues to be a problem in spite of the ongoing efforts at reducing them. “I have witnessed inmates from Courts from Ross Road misbehaving at the Pademba Road Correctional Center because they have not been standing trial for quite a while,” she said.

Ms. Carlton-Hanciles noted that many of the sentences imposed at both Magistrate and High Court levels are too high. She therefore appealed to the Chief Justice to develop a sentencing guideline for all felonious offences which do not fall under death penalty as a short term measure. She drew particular attention to long sentences imposed on those convicted of Robbery with Aggravation even though the aggravating circumstances do not result in death or serious fatalities.

She raised the issue of bail at magisterial level and called on the Chief Justice to do more to ensure accused persons are granted bail. She further noted that the issue of mental health patients who have not been referred to the Kissy Mental Hospital is serious. She emphasized the need for age assessment to address the issue of juveniles who are treated as adults.

She noted that her team met with inmates at the Pademba Road Correctional Center in December 2019 who it is claimed are adults. “However, these inmates look like children to us,” she said.

Ms. Carlton-Hanciles disclosed plans to commission a study to look at the types of offences, length of sentences, age of inmates and the amount of money spent on them to help inform Government and policy makers on reform of the Sierra Leone Correctional Service.

The Chief Justice assured Ms. Carlton-Hanciles and team that he will continue to build on gains he has made in reducing the prison population. He welcomed the Presidential Pardon which has also reduced the prison population in no small way. He promised to send personnel to the Pademba Road Correctional Center to do a follow-up assessment. He disclosed that he is planning on having a Judicial Week similar to the one in 2019 to address the justice problems facing inmates highlighted by Ms. Carlton-Hanciles.

He noted that action is being taken to address the issue of jurors for capital offence. He added that his office is developing a paper to address the problem. He underlined the need for a Juror Management body which will identify personnel from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to serve as jurors. “We are targeting 300 jurors for Freetown and 50 for each of the other regions,” he said.

Speaking on the issue of inmates with mental health problems, the Chief Justice expressed surprise at the fact that they had not been referred to the Kissy Mental Home.

Both discussed the need for a sentencing regulation to address the issue of over-sentencing particularly those with very high sentences like the inmate serving a 90-year prison term.

Freetown City Council Undertakes Geo-Mapping Exercise

January 20, 2020

By Esther Wright

The Freetown City Council (FCC) is currently undertaking a geo-mapping of all properties with its enumerators visiting every property in Freetown to collect relevant information, take external photographs and record GPS locations. According to officials of the Council the exercise will enable FCC to ensure that all properties are captured in their property database making it possible for rate assessments to be made efficiently and fairly.

It was intimated that as at Friday 17th January, FCC enumerators have collected data from 53,110 properties.

Mayor Aki Sawyerr has so far expressed gratitude to Freetonians for their participation and support for the process which she said is critical to the success of #TransformFreetown. She also extended thanks to DFID, IGC and ICTD for the funding and the Western Area Rural Council (WARC) for managing the data collection exercise.

She also made it categorically clear to all existing FCC property rate payers that FCC will not be issuing new demand notices until the exercise is completed in March. She enjoined property rate payers to come to pay the same property rates they paid in 2019 saying they will be issued with receipts and provided with reconciliation statements when the 2020 demand notices are finalized at the end of March.