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NDMA Supports Kingtom Fire Victims with Assorted Food and Non-Food Items 

By Foday Moriba Conteh

As part of their support to the August 2rd, 2021 Kingtom Fire victims in order to alleviate their plight , the Government of Sierra Leone through the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) has on Tuesday 17th August, 2021 donated assorted food and non-food items worth millions of Leones to the Kingtom fire victims. The donation exercise took place at Kingtom Community in Freetown.

During the August 2rd 2021 fire disaster at the Kingtom community, 41 households and 13 houses were affected  of which the said donation catered for and each of the households received one bag of rice, 2 gallons of cooking oil, 1 blanket, 1 prayer mat, 1 drinking bucket etc. followed by 13 Tarpaulin for the 13 affected houses.

Welcoming the NDMA Team, the Chief of the Kingtom Community, Chief Haja Yalimamy Bangura, expressed appreciation to the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) for the gesture which she described as a laudable venture in alleviating the plight of the fire disaster on the victims.

She assured them that the donated items to the victims will be used judiciously in order to support themselves and their families.

In his address, the Deputy Director of Relief and Response at the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), Morlu Brewah, noted that they are pleased to make the donation to the victims on behalf of His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio whom out of his wisdom is trying to deal with disaster management issues in the country established the National Disaster Management Agency as a stand-alone agency.

He noted that they received a complaint about the August 2nd fire disaster at the Kingtom Community and the NDMA deemed it fit to undertake such a move in order to support the victims by donating the assorted food and non-food items to them.

Morlu Brewah revealed that the NDMA has been in existence as a stand-alone agency barely 9 months but said they have been embarking on several activities in order to deal with disaster management issues in the country.

He used the opportunity to inform victims that they have a role to play in mitigating disaster in their communities of which he encouraged them to desist from activities that will lead to disaster occurrence and these include the choice of living and their activities which he described as very important in dealing with disasters.

Disclosing the donation package to victims the Deputy Director of Relief and Response said each of the households received one bag of rice, 2 gallons of cooking oil, 1 blanket, 1 prayer mat, 1 drinking bucket etc. and 13 Tarpaulins for the 13 affected houses as part of their support towards alleviating the plight of the victims.

On his part, the Councillor of Ward 431, Constituency 125, Councillor Murray A. Conteh, expressed gratitude to the Government of Sierra Leone and National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) for the gesture.

The Sierra Leone People’s Party Constituency 125 Chairman, Alhaji Komba, also joined the beneficiaries to shower praises ton the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) for the support given to the victims which he described as not only important but a timely intervention.

He said that prior to the donation they received a team from the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) on a working visit in order to assess the impact of the fire disaster. He assured NDMA that the donated items will be used for their intended purposes.

Daniel Mark Kamara, one of the beneficiaries, applauded the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) for considering them at this crucial moment in their lives, adding that the fire disaster destroyed all what they had  leaving them with nothing.

He called on other organizations to follow the footprint of the NDMA as the Kingtom fire victims are in dire need of food and non-food items support considering the damages the fire disaster had caused to their lives.

PRA Boss Manifests Gross Incompetence as Local Tabloid Publishes Erroneous Article

Executive Chairman of the Petroleum Regulatory Agency (PRA), Brima Baluwa Koroma

By Amin Kef Sesay

Various instances have proven beyond all reasonable doubts that the current Executive Chairman of the Petroleum Regulatory Agency (PRA), Dr. Brima Baluwa Koroma, has sown seeds of discord within the petroleum landscape of the country. As head of a regulatory institution of an important industry in the country it is the expectation that he will always ensure that indeed sanity prevails within the petroleum landscape and all key players treated with respect in line with good and acceptable standards or practices but that is not the case as prevailing and emerging occurrences have manifested.

Dr. Brima Baluwa Koroma’s policies and actions have brought confusion within the petroleum landscape and thereby creating all kinds of unpleasantness in the downstream sector. One would expect any credible regulator to ensure that before issuing out a licence to any new player certain specific guidelines should be made available which the new player must strictly adhere to in order to ensure that sanity prevails.

Lamentably, that has not been the case, as was seen manifest recently when the PRA, under the leadership of Dr. Koroma granted permission to a new petroleum importing and marketing company, the All Petroleum Products (APP) Company to operate. Proper demarcation was not done or outlined by the PRA as to where and where are to be the areas of the new company’s operations at the Kissy Terminal.

According to information mounted by this Press, APP, an allegedly fictitious dealer in petroleum products, signed an MoU with the Government of Sierra Leone dated 12th July 2019 to rehabilitate and refurbish the storage tanks at the Kissy Terminal to aid sufficient storage of fuel for onward delivery within Sierra Leone.

However, since then the company has done little or nothing to actualize the said project. Instead, APP Ltd, allegedly supported by powers that be, has picked up an unnecessary fight against the reputable National Petroleum Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL Ltd) which has been in operation for quite a considerable period of time and contributed immensely towards overall socio-economic development.

It was further understood that APP approached NP-SL Ltd, which many hold in high esteem for its effective service delivery, to allow them to pass a pipe through the latter’s lease concession which the Management generously consented to, based on a mutually outlined plan of where the said pipe would pass through the oil marketing company’s concession at the Kissy Terminal.

After the route for laying of the pipe was agreed upon, to the surprise of the Management of the locally marketing company, APP chose, on their own volition, to violate the agreement reached with the marketing company as to where the pipe should pass. When an objection was raised, APP resorted to roughneck tactics common to criminal gangs in Mexico.

With this ugly incident rearing its head, it was the widespread expectation that the Executive Chairman could have swiftly step in and try to settle the impasse. He must have strongly cautioned the APP Company that they must limit their operations within the areas demarcated to them. To the chagrin of many he has up to this time kept sealed lips on the matter thereby giving the leeway to some officials within the Ministry of Trade to treat NP-SL Ltd with disdain and scorn even though the latter has the legitimate right to lay claim over its concessional area which the APP has now trespassed on.

In another botched attempt to tarnish the good image of the National Petroleum Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL Ltd), one of the most despicable and inconsistent local tabloids in the country, has made series of hollow, baseless and unfounded allegations which any right thinking individual could just dismiss as far from reality or the truth borne out of malice and total ignorance.

What does the writer of the article mean by saying that NP-SL Ltd and Leone oil are ‘macro managing’ the oil industry in Sierra Leone could only be a figment of his imagination or manifest his total lack of the nature of the petroleum landscape within the country.

For his understanding, NP-SL Ltd, for now, is the biggest importer and marketer of petroleum products in the country. It is a 100% indigenous oil marketing company that had contributed immensely to socio-economic development in diverse ways and still continues to do so.

The company operates according to laid down laws and there had never been an instance of its involvement in unsavoury deals. As for Leonoil, it is a new player and it is legally operating according to laid down stipulations.

NP-SL Ltd was formed by thirty-five Sierra Leoneans, former employees of the British Petroleum (BP) company out of their end of service benefits. It has been proven beyond all reasonable doubts that no politician has a stake in the company and where he got that information could also be a figment of warped thinking or imagination.

It is utter rubbish for the writer of the article to say, “Some oil dealers have complained that Leone Oil and NP have both teamed up to deprive them from getting petroleum products, even though they have been licensed by the PRA. The most frustrating aspect of this PRA, which has the statutory role to regulate the sector, is being playing underhand game in defence of the two major oil companies in the country.”

One thing that this medium is certain about is the fact that NP-SL Ltd, as a reliable and reputable petroleum company, is above reproach and had never and will never bribe anyone for undeserved favour.

It must be put into context that petroleum products are not manufactured here in this country but rather imported. As long as a company is granted license to operate it can import whatever quantity it requires to sell as long as it has the appropriate storage facility. For God sake how can NP-SL Ltd team up with another dealer to deprive other dealers from accessing petroleum products when all of them are buying from the world market?

Indeed, Dr. Brima Baluwa Koroma has proven his incompetence and his lack of understanding of the downstream sector. His style of leadership is completely incompatible to the proper functioning of the petroleum sector as he continues to ignite volatile situations that are inimical to national development.

Indisputably, it is apparent that the PRA Boss is allegedly working hand in glove with senior officials at the Ministry of Trade against NP-SL Ltd. Even NP-SL Ltd’s terminal is now manned by the Sierra Leone Police all in a bid to frustrate the highly regarded petroleum importing and marketing company.

The National Petroleum Sierra Leone Limited completely dissociates itself from the bad management of Dr. Brima Baluwa Koroma.

With regards to the yellow journalism that the author of the article, in one of our local tabloids published making baseless allegations against NP-SL Ltd and Leonoil Companies, the author just succeeded in exposing his malice, ignorance and warped mentality. It seemingly appears that he is a hired operative of those who are bent on frustrating NP-SL Ltd.

NCRA DG Assures of Reliable Data to Support Public Administration & Good Governance  

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

By Amin Kef Sesay

A three days National Electoral Legal Reform Conference  was organized by the National Electoral Commission, in collaboration with other stakeholders, at the New Brookfields Hotel at New England Ville in Freetown from the 10-12 August, 2021 bringing together  representatives from Ministries, Departments and Agencies, development partners, Civil Society Organizations, the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA), the Judiciary, the Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC) and the different political parties in the country.

During the conference, a panel was constituted to look at the electoral legal reform process that will lead to free and fair elections in the country. Members of the panel were drawn from the National Electoral Commission, the Political Parties Registration Commission, the National Civil Registration Authority, the Judiciary and from political parties.

During the deliberations, the Director General of the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA), Mohamed Mubashir Massaquoi, assured the public of his institution’s readiness to provide the requisite data on the population of the country for citizens and non-citizens to Ministries, Departments and Agencies, Development Partners including the National Electoral Commission, the National Social Security and Insurance Trust, the National Revenue Authority etc. based on when such information could be needed  and for what purpose.

He also used the opportunity to refute misleading information propagated by mischief makers that the data they are generating is purely for electoral purposes. Setting the record straight, the DG reported that before the conduct of the 2018 elections, data on citizens that have attained the voting age, amounting to 3, 178, 664, making them eligible to vote was extracted from the NCRA Civil Register by the National Electoral Commission in order to develop NEC’s voters’ register that was used to conduct the 2018 Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Council elections.

That practice, he intimated, is now new the world over where population Register is used to inform public administration, guide policy and other interventions among others.

He noted that since 2018 to date and with the ongoing nationwide confirmation and registration exercise in the country, the NCRA civil register had been and is still regularly updated or capturing the personal details of new registrants.

“New registrants captured in the ongoing exercise will be inputted in the civil register which could be useful to all public institutions including the National Electoral Commission,” the NCRA Director General assured further pointing out that such will save cost to conduct very expensive periodic registration or surveys.

Mohamed Mubashir Massaquoi assured of the reliability of his institution’s data with inclusiveness stating how they are assiduously working towards curtailing identity fraud as every citizen is entitled to just one National Identification Number which will not leave room for any form of identity manipulation or duplication.

He concluded by stating that the Identity Management Infrastructure of the NCRA was first tested in October and November 2018 by the European Union Technical Assistant Team and the report is available on their evaluation system, adding that another assessment was also done on the same system with support from UNDP and IrishAid in February and March 2020 of which he assured that both assessments of the system report indicate that the identity management infrastructure of the NCRA is  very good and data useable for various purposes.

The Director General extended invitation to any interest group to visit the NCRA in order to get first-hand information on how their system operates or works further assuring that the institution is more than ready to support any entity that needs data for national development thereby saving cost, guaranteeing inclusiveness, with facts on the country ‘s population.

Organized by GRAND…   IMTECH Student Bags 1st Prize in Tense Essay Competition

By Edward Vamboi

In order to avail young people the opportunity to come up with cogent ideas or meaningful national responses for a post COVID-19 Sierra Leone, the Grassroots Action for National Development (GRAND), a Non-profitable and Non- Governmental organization, on the 13th August 2021 held an Essay Competition Award Ceremony on the topic: “The Sierra Leone I want to See” which was inter alia conducted for students attending various tertiary institutions, during an event which was held at the institution’s Headquarters on Adelaide Street in Freetown.

The main thrust of the event was to officially present awards to certified winners of the GRAND 2020 Essay Competition meant for students in tertiary institutions.

According to the Acting National Coordinator of the Grassroots Action for National Development, Alie Tarawally, GRAND was initially established in 2016 by very committed Sierra Leoneans who were very passionate about enhancing development in the nation. He said since its formation in 2016 GRAND has undertaken a lot of interventions.

Alie Tarawally informed that they first intervened during the mud slide incident at Kaningo and Kamayama, in the West End of Freetown, during which time they targeted over One Hundred and Fifty victims affected by the unfortunate disaster.

He further disclosed how they also donated food items worth over Thirty Million Leones to victims of the Susan’s Bay Community and also offered awards to the best tertiary institutions that took place in an Essay Competition which includes giving out cash prizes to the first three winners.

The Acting National Coordinator stated that their latest activity was considered as very significant in the sense that as an institution they are just too passionate about education as they believe that it can create a platform for a lot of young people in the country to realize or discover their full potentials.

Alie Tarawally said during emergencies or tough times, people have time to sit, think and bring out sensitive innovations. He said they are very much certain that in the post COVID-19 period Sierra Leone will not be the same Sierra Leone before COVID-19.

He underscored that they decided to choose a topic that is related to what the universe in general and the nation in particular are  presently facing which, he said, is the COVID-19 pandemic.

Alie Tarawally said primarily students from ten tertiary institutions registered for the essay competition but only three were certified by the judges namely Emmanuel Suma from Fourah Bay College who took the  third position, Sulaiman Bonnie of Fourah Bay College who emerged in the second position and Simeon Harding from IMTECH who took the first position.

Alie Tarawally concluded by saying they as an organization they decided to choose COVID-19 as a topic to see how best young people can think out of the box saying because if they are going to survive in the post COVID-19 phase the nation must have a stable economy.

In his keynote address, Cecil John Kwesi Dadson extended sincere gratitude to the entire membership of GRAND for giving him the opportunity to address the occasion.

He said he is indeed humble to be given the privilege and responsibility to speak to young people on nation building  revealing how GRAND is a local humanitarian organization formed by students who went through Fourah Bay College (F.B.C) during the 90’s and the year 2000 adding how the organization had been making meaningful contributions towards development and nation building.

Cecil John Kwesi Dadson stated that the organization is mainly targeting the grassroots in society, whom they feel are the most vulnerable and direct victims of social injustice, humanitarian disasters and other ills of society.

He said among the group, young people make up the bulk of the membership which is why GRAND always designs its programs to address the needs and aspirations of young people.

Cecil John Kwesi Dadson further revealed how they have in the past organized a computer course program for school going children who have never had the opportunity to touch a computer keyboard.

He said they have given humanitarian supports to vulnerable groups in the form of food and non- food items to victims of floods, fire disasters etc.

Cecil John Kwesi Dadson concluded by stating that GRAND believes in the enormous ability of young people who have talents adding how they have recognized the challenges faced by young people and will continue to engage them in various aspects of society.

Simeon Harding, the student from IMTECH who won the essay competition extended his sincere and heartfelt gratitude to the entire membership of the Grassroots Action for National Development (GRAND) for availing him the opportunity to participate in the competition and offered him the platform in an event of such a magnitude.

Worth Celebrating Her Achievement… 2nd Lieutenant Luckey Morson Commissions from Royal Military Academy Sandhurst

By Amin Kef Sesay

2nd Lieutenant Luckey Morson, a young female Sierra Leonean, has made Sierra Leoneans, in and out of the country, proud by proving beyond all reasonable doubts that with determination one can translate one’s ambitious dream into reality in an excellent manner.

Since she was a schoolgirl, Luckey, dreamt of joining the Army and to one day become an officer. Indeed, that dream was fulfilled in style and ceremony when she became the first woman from Sierra Leone to complete her course and commission from the prestigious Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst.

According to an in-depth investigation conducted by this medium, sometime in the past, there was a female officer who attended the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst but could not complete the course program.

However, in the case of ,Luckey Morson, she successfully completed 44 weeks of intensive officer training at the world-famous academy and has now returned to Sierra Leone to take up her position in the Sierra Leone Army as a Second Lieutenant.

“We have so many different nationalities and cultures here. I have learned to respect everyone’s own opinions and uphold the British Army’s values and standards. They have not only guided me through Sandhurst but will also guide my lifestyle from now on; this has been a transformational year for me,” she recalled her days at the Military Academy during an exclusive interview.

The fulfillment of her ambition started through a chance meeting with soldiers who attended the funeral service of her best friend’s father that sowed the seed that eventually saw Luckey marching up the grand steps of Sandhurst to the tune of “Auld Lang Syne” to become a commissioned army officer.

“I have always admired people in uniform because it shows a lot of respect and they carry themselves with such dignity.
At the funeral some soldiers walked in and I had goose bumps. I noticed there were no women and I thought I wanted to be just like them, it awakened a sense of belonging for me,” the young female military officer expressed what prompted her wanting to be enlisted into the military.

She narrated that though her Mum never bought the idea of her joining before the completion of her university law course, however, in her own words, “I dropped my pen the moment I finished the last exam of my law degree and went to get the forms to sign up.”

Luckey finally got the opportunity to represent her country at Sandhurst through a tough and extended selection procedure.

Interestingly, it was over several weeks which eventually came down to Luckey beating off two men to claim top spot and a ticket to the United Kingdom. She put it down to her passionate belief of inspiring other women to join the Army.
Luckey freely admitted to being a little daunted when she first arrived at the academy.

“The first five weeks are hard, we all know about Ironing Board Sunday (day one where officer cadets arrive clutching their ironing boards) and then there is the first exercise attack and parading on the square; after that it really made me believe I could get through it,” she confidently narrated her days at the Military Academy.

Dilating on her experience over the 44 weeks at Sandhurst, Luckey explained that it had surpassed all her expectations.

Of course, the climax to any young officer cadet’s time at Sandhurst must be their Sovereign’s Parade when they parade for the final time in front of the iconic backdrop of the Academy’s Old College and inspected the Sovereign’s representative, and for Luckey it was British Prime Minister. Boris Johnson.

During the Prime Minister’s inspection he paused to chat with Luckey and even mentioned her homeland in his address. “The purpose of all our military professionalism should never be war, but peace and friendship and so it is fantastic that today there are soldiers from 22 other countries, from Sierra Leone to the US and I wish you the very best in your careers.”

Also there to watch Luckey pass out at the Sovereign’s Parade was her sister Cherry who had driven down from Scotland and shortly after the parade embraced each other before making the all-important, if not a little emotionally fueled, Facetime call to Mum back home in Freetown where she had been fervently watching the day’s events unfold via the livestream.

Luckey has now returned home to take up her position in the Sierra Leone Army with many fond memories of her time spent at Sandhurst.

Summing up, she said, “I would like to say a very big thank you to the Sierra Leone Armed Forces, the British High Commission and the Royal Military Academy for giving me this opportunity. I will use all I have learnt to inspire people to be better.”

One of Luckey Morson’s mentors, Don Marshall had this to say: “This girl from Sierra Leone has become the first Sierra Leonean woman to complete the officer training course at Sandhurst.”

He explained to this medium that she is like a daughter to him and his wife and they are her guardians while she was in the UK further stating that she has worked for their Makeup brand in Sierra Leone and been mentored and coached by his wife.

Don Marshall further informed that though she has had injuries and hyperthermia but never gave up, pushing against medical advice to stop and battle through.

“She scored great results in so many of the disciplines and succeeded where many failed,” he proudly said adding how it shows that it doesn’t matter where one comes from as determination, perseverance and a never give up attitude can help one achieves anything.

In a Letter of Complaint to PPRC Chairman…   C4C’s Hon. Saa Emerson Lamina Undresses Hon. Sahr Charles

By Amin Kef Sesay

In a letter dated 10thAugust 2021, written by Hon. Saa Emerson Lamina, Minority Leader for the C4C Party in Parliament and addressed to the Chairman of the Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC), he made mention of a letter of complaint that was sent to the PPRC Chairman by one Hon. Sahr Charles, dated 3rd August, 2021.

He said in the aforementioned letter, Hon. Sahr Charles purported to have done so in the name of the Coalition for Change (C4C) Political Party, but emphatically stated that the author of the referenced correspondence has no locus standi to do so saying his action is completely ultra vires to Article 14 (b) (111, V1, V) of the C4C party constitution.

Hon. Saa Emerson Lamina continued that in such a vein he will respectfully state the position of the Coalition for Change (C4C) party with regards the issues raised in that letter of 3rd August, 2021, both for the record and to serve as a stern warning to shenanigans like Hon. Sahr Charles and Co whose incessant ultra vires actions appear to undermine the integrity of the party and to jeopardize the matter of the party in the High Court.

He highlighted how  he wishes to therefore state that: the Headquarters and address of the Coalition for Change (C4C) Party has been formerly moved to No. 16 Main Motor Road, Congo Cross, Freetown, away from No. 1 Edward Lane, off Campbell Street, Freetown because the legitimacies of the administrators of that said office are in contention and the High Court of Judicature in the country has slammed an injunction on them making any of their actions in the name of the C4C party null and void.

He further stated that all the three (3) Contact telephone numbers of the party are authentic and are authorized by the leadership of the C4C Party.

Hon. Saa Emerson Lamina also mentioned that the logo so displayed on the banner at the C4C Party office on the second floor balcony of No. 16 Main Motor Road, Congo Cross in Freetown is legally used and was authorized for use by the leadership of the party.

The Minority Leader for the C4C Party said for the purpose of clarity he will state that like the SLPP’s National Executive Council (NEC) and the APC’s National Advisory Committee (NAC), the C4C’s National Coordinating Committee (NCC) is the second highest decision-making body in the party and has clearly spelt out officials who are members and this is similarly clearly articulated in Article 14 (b) (111, V1, V) of the C4C Constitution.

He intimated that among those officials, Hon. Sahr Charles is not a member but mentioned that as the Leader of the party’s Parliamentary representation, he is a member.

“For a person to be a member of the NCC, the approval must come either by authority of the NCC, by consensus, by acclamation or by secret ballot,” Hon. Saa Emerson Lamina highlighted adding how Hon. Sahr Charles did not meet any of those criteria for the appointments under whose authority he wrote that spurious letter.

The Legislator stated in his letter that the erstwhile C4C party Executive of Tamba Richard Sandi has not only raped Sections 24 and 25 of the PPRC Act of 2002 respectively by not complying to gazette the change of the C4C party’s address by its founding members but he is also recklessly strangulating the C4C Party to death as a result of:  Administrative shortfalls and incompetence;

None Compliance with Provisions of the PPRC Act; none maintenance of Party membership register as provided for in Section 25 of the PPRC Act; none provision of financial and fiduciary reports; incapability to organize the C4C Party to contest bye-elections in the country; perpetuation of anti-party activities and violation of the C4C Constitution by not constituting the NCC like the SLPP -NEC; the APC-NAC to name but few.

Hon. Saa Emerson Lamina said as the Parliamentary Leader of the C4C Party in Parliament, a founder-member and member of the C4C-NCC, he is calling on both the PPRC and the NEC to discountenance Hon. Sahr Charles’ letter and treat his so-called complaint with disdain because of its frivolity and its lack of legality and constitutionality.

“I therefore wish to encourage both institutions through you Mr. Chairman, to continue directing and sending all correspondences to the Party’s Original Address and or the Pigeon Hole of my humble self in Parliament thus: C/O Hon. Saa Emerson Lamina, Parliament Building, OAU Drive, Tower Hill, Freetown as we look forward to the conclusion of the court matter,” he concluded the correspondence.

Copies of the letter were sent to: the National Electoral Commission, Leaders of Political Parties, Diplomatic and Consular Corp, Leadership of Parliament, CSOs, the Media and the C4C Global Chairman.

IG Sovula Assures of Tougher Measures to Clamp Down on Drug Barons

By Amin Kef Sesay

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr Ambrose Michael Sovula, has on the 12th August 2021 disclosed, during a Press Conference convened by the Sierra Leone Police at the Police Headquarters on George Street in Freetown that the honeymoon for those involved in drugs deal is now over maintaining that proactive policing is now the priority and it is at its peak.

Dr Ambrose Michael Sovula categorised citizens into two, with the one sect he tagged “positive” and the other “negative” clients. He embraced and commended the former for making Sierra Leone a better place, and urged the latter clients to change out of their own volition now, warning otherwise, that no sooner one attempts doing the unlawful than he will be arrested and swiftly charged to court.

“The moves and trials to undermine national peace are unacceptable and anyone found culpable will face the full wrath of the law,” he forewarned.

The Inspector General also frowned at the daily negative social media reports about the country which he said have the potential to discourage foreign investment.

“No investor would invest his or her money in a country believed to be not business friendly,” said the IGP, noting that Sierra Leone is the only country citizens have and destroying her make citizens aliens in any other land.

The Director of Crime Services, Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) William Fayia Sellu, stated that the influx of Kush and the movement of cannabis sativa in the country has become a cause for concern, especially at a time the Government places premium on human capital development.

He said that the Police, together with ONS and other partners, have positioned themselves to cut off the supply chain of these drugs.

On different dates including Friday 6th and Monday 9th August 2021, he disclosed, a team of SLP, NRA and others conducted a search on containers at the Queen Elizabeth II Quay (Water Quay) and discovered 41 sachets of mash mallow, 3 litres of Acetone liquid and 19 electronic scales, used to weigh drugs.

Mash mallow, ASP Sellu explained, is a plant grown in Europe that cannot be found in Africa, adding that the said plant is the raw material which can be mixed with the Acetone liquid in a lab to produce Kush.

He informed that 5 people, namely, Komra Bai Kamara, Kassim Rahim Deen, Francis Tommy Pacher, Osman Deen and Ishaka Jalloh were arrested and are helping the Police with investigations.

The Director of Crime Services also recalled how on the 30th July 2021 at Fala Checkpoint around Bo, Ibrahim Abu Kargbo and Mohamed Sesay were arrested with 17 bundles of cannabis sativa weighing 213kg, which is equivalent to 4-50kg bags of rice.

The substance, he said was taken to the Police toxicology lab and was tested and found to be cannabinoids.

In his contribution, ONS spokesperson, Karim Will, stated that Sierra Leone will not be a safe haven for miscreants who are engaged in drugs, and warned those engaged in the trade or intend to join it to desist forthwith in their own interest.

Officials of Bank of Sierra Leone Must Revisit its Currency Redenomination -Seasoned Economist Avers

By Foday Moriba Conteh

Based on his expert opinion, one of Sierra Leone’s seasoned Economists, Prince Jacob Macauley, has come up with his views relating to the recent currency redenomination or appreciation by the Bank of Sierra Leone.

Prince Jacob Macauley commenced by arguing that officials of the Bank of Sierra Leone need to go back to school and study real financial economics and monetary theory instead of practicing what he has referred to as “Voodoo Economics”.

The Economist, who has a wealth of experience in the field of economics, continued by asking the rhetorical question: Why would any Central Bank arbitrarily appreciate the country’s legal tender or currency without appreciable assets to back up the currency or no exploitable resources or assets to be exported, from time to time, to improve the nation’s balance of payment and purchasing power?

The current value of the Leone, he said, is the true value of Sierra Leone’s GDP and GNP that underline the country’s purchasing power.

He maintained that knocking off zeros from the currency is considered to be arbitrary, saying such an action has the tendency of depreciating all assets value for all Sierra Leoneans. According to him, a house that is worth 100 million Leones today will worth 10 thousand more without any compensation to the home builder that bought building materials at the current prices without the zeros.

Giving an example, he said if someone has 1 billion Leones in the bank today it will worth 100 million Leones after removing the zeros from the country’s currency even though an individual had earned 1 billion at the current asset pricing.

Essentially, he furthered, the Bank of Sierra Leone is depreciating the real value of all assets, wages, goods and services by revaluing the currency without any parity pegging of the Leone to an international currency like the US Dollar, Euro or British pounds.

He added that since such pegging cannot be done because the country do not have an appreciable level of productivity of exportable resources to back the Leone, the Bank of Sierra Leone folks are doing such a tactical appreciation of the Leone to mask (put bandage on) the hyper- inflation in the country in order to qualify for the West African Monetary Zone current participation requirement.

Jacob Macauley additionally argued that Economics is a science not an art and officials at the Bank of Sierra Leone need to understand the impact of their policy decision on citizens and businesses in the country.

He said such a drastic arbitrary move requires a six months consultative public debate and transition to allow businesses to deplete current inventories and supplies already paid for or purchased at current high prices, allow employers to make adjustments for Labour wage rates and employees’ benefit differentials.

The Economist further stated how Sierra Leoneans will become poorer over night when this currency appreciation takes effect.

He said in hyper inflationary counties like ours, residents and businesses do not hold cash in the banks because inflation eats all returns on their cash money but instead prefer to buy tangible assets like land and/or build houses with their money because tangible assets hold their value and appreciate faster in value compared to inflation. Jacob Macauley concluded by stating that if the Government appreciates the inflated currency over night without any form of adjustments and/or compensation for lost value such will definitely impoverish residents and businesses.

 

Tabital Pulaaku International S/L Chapter Offers Scholarships to 60 University Students

By Foday Moriba Conteh

This medium was made to understand that the Tabital Pulaaku International Sierra Leone Chapter has offered scholarships to over 60 students attending various Universities and Colleges across the Country.

It further learnt that the scholarships offered will cover the full tuition fees of the beneficiaries throughout their course of studies.
The beneficiaries are residents of the various 16 districts in the country who are reading Law, Engineering, Medicine, Accounting, Economics and other courses in the Sciences and humanities from the University of Sierra Leone, Njala University, UNIMAK, UNIMTEC, Milton Margai University and other higher institutions of learning.

Alhaji Juldeh Sowe, the country’s President of Tabital Pulaaku is a renowned and successful businessman who is well known for offering hundreds of scholarships to students every academic year.

In fact, a credible source informed this Press that the recent set of students (the 60 beneficiaries) are not part of other hundreds of students whose fees are being paid by Alhaji Juldeh Sowe.

Tabital Pulaaku International is a recognized as an entity that is passionate about promoting education in the country as well as its involvement in modern cattle rearing/ranching.

NP-SL Commissions Ultra-Modern Filling Station in Kenema

By Amin Kef Sesay

In order to accomplish its commitment in making their petroleum products and services accessible to every Sierra Leonean across the country, the National Petroleum Sierra Leone Limited has on Saturday 14th August, 2021 commissioned a new Filling Station on Hangha Road within the Kenema District, Eastern Province of Sierra Leone. The event took place on Hangha Road within the Nongowa Chiefdom.

Welcoming the NP-SL delegation to Kenema, the Deputy Mayor of the Kenema City Council, Esther N. Kaisamba, expressed appreciation to the National Petroleum Sierra Leone Limited for the commissioning of the new Filling Station.

She underscored that with the commissioning of the said fuel station the issue of fuel crisis or to strenuously access fuel will now become a thing of the past and went on to encourage all to see NP-SL as their own, adding that the support and empowerment that the company is receiving from Sierra Leoneans, through the purchase of their products, will also be positively felt by Sierra Leoneans.

In his statement, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Sierra Leone Limited, (NP SL-Ltd), Kobi Walker, noted that NP-SL will continue to remain firm in optimizing customer care delivery stating that such is one of the main reasons why they are commissioning the Filling Station in Kenema in order to ensure easy access to petroleum products by residents of that district.

He stated that NP-SL is doing exceptionally well with regards the importation and marketing of petroleum products, including petrol, diesel, Gas and lubricants of which the most widely used is the highly regarded Castrol Oil that has been widely accepted for the proper functioning of  the engines of vehicles and other engines.

The CEO assured residents of Nongowa Chiefdom, within the Kenema District, that with the opening of the new filling station in Kenema such will not only make fuel available for them at all times but also provide jobs for some as well.

He thanked Hassan Sow for believing in the mission and vision of NP-SL which, he said, prompted them, as a company, to partner with him to commission the new Filling Station.

One of the Directors of the Petroleum Regulatory Agency (PRA), Victor Sawyer, also commended NP-SL, on behalf of the Management of PRA, for their continuous strides in making their presence felt across the country. He revealed that NP-SL is the biggest oil marketing company in the country and their optimization of customer satisfaction is exceptional.

He encouraged NP-SL to continue the good work in terms of efficient national service delivery by extending its operations to other deprived areas in Sierra Leone.

In his address, the Proprietor of the new Filling Station on Hangha Road within the Kenema District, Hassan Sow, expressed appreciation to the Chief Executive Officer of NP-SL Ltd, Kobi Walker and the entire Management of the National Petroleum Sierra Leone Limited for their tireless support in ensuring that the establishment of the Filling Station becomes a reality and success.

He added that, at present, it has created job opportunities for residents of Kenema and beyond noting that the new Filling Station will also address the issue of fuel crisis revealing how there had been constraints in securing fuel especially during certain crucial moments stating how with the commissioning of the filling station in the District such will reduce those constraints.

The Proprietor called on residents to take ownership of the Filling Station as majority of the residents of Kenema and beyond stand the chance to benefit.

ASP Bilkisu Kamara of the Sierra Leone Police Force expressed appreciation to the National Petroleum Sierra Leone Limited, (NP-SL Ltd) for contributing in the construction of the new Filling Station in Kenema adding that this has changed the face of Kenema noting that such an investment is not only important but timely for residents of the district.

He stated that since the commencement of the construction of the Filling Station they have been providing tight security in order to ensure that everything was intact and the work goes according to stipulated or acceptable procedures and processes. He also encouraged members of the public to see the investment as their own and stated that in that regard they are watchdogs for NP-SL.

Musa Moriba, a bike Rider of Kenema praised the Proprietor of the new Filling Station, Hassan Sow and NP-SL for the commissioning  noting that as bike riders they had been facing certain constraints to secure fuel especially in moments of crisis but said with this new NP-SL Filling Station in the Kenema district such will surely address those fuel constraints.

The event was climaxed by the recitation of the Holy Quran followed by the cutting of the tape by the Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Sierra Leone Limited, (NP SL-Ltd), Kobi Walker, the father of the Proprietor of the new Filling Station, Alhaji Sow,  marking the formal opening of the new Filling Station.

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