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INDIA CELEBRATES 75TH INDEPENDENCE DAY (special supplement inside)

On 75th Independence Day of India, High Commissioner Rakesh Arora hoisted national flag at the new Chancery premises in the presence of Indian community.

 

 

On 75th Independence Day of India, High Commissioner Rakesh Arora addressing the Indian community.

Spice up your Immunity

by

Gita Hari

Since time immemorial, traditional spices and herbs have played a vital role as immuno-boosters in Indian cuisine. Here’s a look at how these ingredients make their everyday food not just tasty, but also wholesome.

According to ancient Indian texts, aushadham ucchyathe sarvam, which means food is the absolute cure and healer. Traditionally, in Indian cuisine, vegetables and spices are used in a dish according to their nutritional benefits and their ability to strengthen our immune system, which in turn, can protect us from  ailments and infections. A reason why it is advised to include a balanced mix of spices and herbs in our daily meal plan to provide a regular boost to our immune system. Spices like turmeric, saffron, cloves, cinnamon, carom seeds, ginger and garlic are known to have a plethora of beneficial properties. Herbs like mint,  tulsi (Holy Basil), and leaves of neem and moringa trees are said to have several health benefits. In India, with diverse preparations being made from more or less the same ingredients, spices play a significant role in culinary preparations.

For instance, turmeric – the commonest of all Indian spices – is added in almost all dishes. It not only lends the dish a golden hue but is known for its antiseptic properties and in reducing existing metabolic syndromes. We have often had our mothers urge us to drink warm milk mixed with turmeric to treat dry cough, sore throat and purify the blood of toxins, thereby upping the immunity quotient. Today, this drink is available at many upscale cafes as turmeric latte. Ginger too has similar health benefits.

A Sattvik meal of cottage cheese fritters deep-fried with a layer of buckwheat flour
 (kuttu ka aata)

 There are many such examples of beneficial herbs and spices being added to dishes to lend a distinct flavour and also to make them healthier.  For example, moringa leaves and fruits (drumsticks) are used in curries across north India to help fight bacterial afflictions. Neem too is used in meals and brewed into a thick concoction called kadha. A special neem leaves chutney is prepared in Maharashtra during the festival of Gudi Padwa. Neem has proven remedy to cure loss of appetite, fever and also boost cardiac strength. Curry leaves, the staple garnish in Indian cooking across states, is a popular natural anti-oxidant. “Almost all parts of a Azadirachta indica or neem tree have beneficial properties – the leaves had raw or cooked, purify blood and aid digestion; the bark extract has been found to cure stomach and intestinal ulcers and neem oil reduces skin blemishes. The oil is also a cure to breathing problems,” says nutritionist Kavita Devgan.

According to Dr Pooja Thacker, Head of Department Dietetics at Bhatia Hospital, Mumbai, “The clinical trials of tulsi on humans have shown it to be a unique combination of anti-viral, anti-microbial, anti-fungal, anti-malarial. It can reduce hypertension, arthritic pain and depression. It acts as anti-epileptic, anti-inflammatory, hepato protective, anti-ulcer, and anti-asthmatic.” Asafoetida relieves bloating, flatulence and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) while fenugreek is known to control long standing ailments like diabetes. Cumin and bishop’s weed, the culinary equivalents of modern indigestion drugs, help digestion and check food-borne disorders. Pepper improves absorption of essential nutrients and promotes gut health. A pepper drink is often the go-to cure in many Indian homes to fight a flu.

Traditional South Indian meals, served on banana leaves are known to be rich in spices that prevent several ailments. Most Indian kitchens apply the concept of minimal wastage along with many ecofriendly practices

Asafoetida, fenugreek, black pepper, coriander and cumin seeds have anti-inflammatory properties, and are extensively used in Indian cuisine. Quintessential South Indian dishes like sambhar (lentil curry with vegetables), rasam (a clear sour soup) and even curries are flavoured with these spices. Bisibele Bhath of Karnataka is another classic rice and lentil preparation using various spices and nutritious vegetables to avert deficiencies. If dishes like pongal from the South uses crushed pepper and cumin, Gujarat finds its comfort food in khichdi – wholesome rice and lentil dish prepared with minimal spices like cumin and ginger. While restoring digestive enzymes, this one-dish meal builds up energy and resistance levels in the body to fight infections. Khichdi is often the remedy to dietary distress and is used to reset the digestive system with its simple albeit healthy ingredients.

Various dried and powdered spices and herbs in traditional Marwari preparations from Rajasthan like ker sangri and pitod ka saag ensure physical strength. These dishes, often heavy in the use of garlic and onion, ensure that the body is prepared against the heat in most parts of the desert state. Maharashtra has its share of wholesome meal in usal/misal, consisting of multiple sprouts in a spice-rich gravy that has loads of ginger and garlic and ensures essential nutrients like protiens. The liberal use of lemons and citrus fruits, which do not allow for thick gravy preparation, ensure the adequate dosage of Vitamin C and a strong defense against the hot and humid environs around Maharashtra.

Punjabi cuisine is hugely popular for the intoxicating aromas of spices and herbs used generously in its recipes. Just as the fragranced waft of garam masala (a rich mix of spices like cardamom, clove, star anise and cinnamon) from North Indian kitchens are simply irresistible they also burst with vigour. Cinnamon and cloves can be counted as immunity-warriors for their anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties. These dishes often include or end with a generous portion of fennel, ensuring that there is no acidity.

Plenty of star anise, bay leaves and saffron can be found in the dishes from Kashmir. Dr Thacker throws light on saffron’s benefits, “It helps in curbing asthma by reducing inflammation. Tests have proven that having saffron regularly can reduce Immunoglobin M and Immunoglobin G, which directly reduce asthma.” The star among the Valley’s contribution to India’s spice treasure is the Kashmiri red chilli, full of minerals besides black cumin (shah jeera), black cardamom and white pepper.

The signature lamb dish, rogan josh with curd and a variety of spices is a robust low-cholesterol delicacy. Embracing mindfulness while eating and fresh, home-cooked meals can help you kick off stress, discomfort, and depression. Experts say that ingestion of food within four to five hours of cooking is the best. It’s interesting that even today, the ancient concept of a balanced Sattvik meal, cooked fresh with a bouquet of spices, is considered one of the healthiest in the world.

 

The Technology powerhouse

by

Remya Haridasan

The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre has made unsurpassable contributions to all sectors of India’s nation building. From power generation and national security to agriculture, healthcare, waste management, water technologies and food processing, the research and innovations of the premier nuclear re-search institute have put it on the global map.

 

Nestled in the lap of Trombay Hills, on the shores of the Arabian Sea in Mumbai, stands India’s premier institution for nuclear research, the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC). True to its motto “Atoms in service of the nation”, the sprawling 1,100-acre establishment houses eight nuclear research reactors and several laboratories engaged in cutting-edge multidisciplinary research to harness nuclear energy for the benefit of the nation. It is imperative to say that BARC nurtures research not only to cater to the needs of the nuclear sector but also of the society at large, in the form of researches in agricultural, healthcare, waste management, treatment of water, food processing, etc. The vast applications that the research at BARC caters to make it a magnanimous institution of the country that is not only at the forefront of technology at a national level but has also helped India achieve a strong standing in the global arena of science and technology.

The Beginning

It all started with the futuristic vision of noted scientist and visionary Dr. Homi Jehangir Bhabha, to build a stronger India by harnessing the power of atomic energy. Dr. Bhabha, known as the “Father of the Indian Nuclear Program”, established the Atomic Energy Establishment, Trombay (AEET), in 1954, for promoting multidisciplinary research in nuclear science and engineering. After his demise, AEET was renamed as Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, in 1967.

The Kaiga Atomic Power Station (KAPS) in Karnataka, which broke the world record for longest continuous operation

The true legacy of BARC lies in its world-class research reactors, which provided the windows to study and understand nuclear radiation and its effects, and gave India the confidence to venture into nuclear power generation. BARC currently has two operational research reactors, namely APSARA-U (upgraded) and DHRUVA. Six older research reactors have been decommissioned, of which, the APSARA reactor was Asia’s first nuclear reactor set up in 1956. The new APSARA-U (its upgraded version) achieved criticality in September 2018.

The knowledge gained from the research reactors helped India to gain self-sufficiency in nuclear power generation and today, the 22 operating nuclear power reactors of the country, contribute 1.8 per cent (6,780 MW) of the total electricity generated in the country. In December 2018, a 220 MW unit of the Kaiga Atomic Power Station in Karnataka, broke the world record for the longest continuous operation (962 days) of a nuclear reactor. The previous record was of 940 days. This achievement is testament to India’s advancement in nuclear reactor technology, both in terms of the advanced electronics and instrumentation, which is responsible for the safety and control of the reactor, and the strength of the structural materials that can withstand extreme conditions of temperature, pressure and radiation.

Agriculture

In agriculture, BARC has developed 47 crop varieties, having improved characteristics like higher yield and improved disease resistance, which have been released for commercial cultivation in the country. Some of the very popular varieties are groundnut and rice, which are grown extensively. Other crop varieties include mustard, mung bean, cow peas, chick peas, etc.

Healthcare

Bhabhatron, the radiotherapy device developed by BARC, has revolutionised cancer treatment in the country by providing an affordable, high-performance Co-60 teletherapy machine. Bhabhatron units are installed in many cancer hospitals in India and are also exported to the Middle East, Africa, South America and Eastern Europe.

Food Processing

BARC does extensive research in radiation processed foods. Because of shelf life extension, such food products are both exported and sold in domestic markets. This has greatly helped in the preservation, storage, distribution and export of large quantities of agricultural produce. The wholesomeness and nutritional adequacy of irradiated food has been well accepted nationally by Ministry of Food Processing Industries and internationally by World Health Organiszation (WHO).

 Non-Nuclear Ventures

BARC has proven its mettle even in technologies that do not use radiation. Some of the noteworthy achievements include technologies for water treatment, waste management and material research. There are several technologies related to water, including ones that detect contamination and produce clean drinking water.Domestic water purifiers that are completely passive; kits for the detection of chromium and fluoride, and removal of fluoride, iron and arsenic from water, and a membrane pouch for water purification, which is especially useful during natural disasters, are some of the promising indigenous technologies developed by BARC and are being deployed at a large scale.

The Nisargruna plant is a successful technology developed by BARC for composting biodegradable waste to high quality manure and methane gas. It can be easily set up to treat wet waste directly at the source, like in kitchens or canteens of big hospitals, hotels, factories and residential complexes.In advanced material research, a recent feat achieved by BARC is the Bhabha Kavach, a light-weight bulletproof jacket for the armed forces. These are made of high ballistic performance composite sheets (called BARC Nano-Sheets) which make the jackets weigh only about 6.6 kg compared to the 17 kg weight of conventional jackets.

COVID-19 efforts

The major developments by BARC in the fight against COVID-19 include use of radiation for disinfection of PPE kits for sterilisation/reuse, design of high-quality masks and development of a low-cost diagnostic kit.

The International Stage

BARC, as a part of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) is contributing significantly to some of the mega-scale science projects being implemented through international collaboration. Some of these projects include the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) with CERN, Facility for Anti-proton and Ion Research (FAIR), India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO), etc.BARC, with a strong workforce of 14,000 employees including 4,500 scientists, continues to strive to achieve security for the nation in terms of energy, agriculture, health, water, food and homeland security, using the power of the most humble atom.

About the author: Remya Haridasan worked at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, for six years and is currently working as a scientist on deputation to the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, New Delhi.

 

The sun shines bright on Indian technology start-ups

by

Aashish Chandorkar

Backed by rapid digitalisation, tech adoption and liberal government policies, India’s technology start-up ecosystem is witnessing a significant growth trajectory. The next step will be global expansion.

A key tenet of Indian entrepreneurship growth in the last few years has been to support and catalyse job-givers in the economy. Given India’s fast workforce, it is critical that new employment opportunities are created by risk-taking first generation entrepreneurs, who dream of building strong global firms out of India. Technology start-ups have been at the forefront of this thinking.

Indian technology start-up innovators are now diversifying to such professional areas as commercial logistics, merchant automation, and construction management

There are 500 unicorns around the world. These are technology start-ups with more than USD one billion in valuation. Forty-four of them are now in India – about nine per cent of the total. Twelve of these unicorns got to the coveted valuation benchmark in 2020 – a year otherwise throttled by the global pandemic.

This shows that the Indian start-up ecosystem is not just innovative but also robust. The ability to scale up and demonstrate viable business models has set Indian start-ups apart. The 44 technology unicorns have been valued at more than USD 106 billion. To put this in perspective, the market capitalisation of the National Stock Exchange is USD 2.7 trillion. The top 44 technology firms are already valued worth four per cent of the old economy, some of them being global leaders in their own right.

These 44 firms have also created about 1.5 million jobs in direct or indirect employment. Many of these jobs have been in the Gig economy sector (a free market system in which temporary positions are common and independent workers are hired for short-term commitments), which directly benefits job seekers who may not have the best educational qualifications, but who are willing to work hard towards improving their and their family’s standard of living.  That the Indian start-up ecosystem has come this far should hardly be a surprise.

India has always had the brainpower behind some of the biggest technology firms globally. This brainpower used to make a beeline for foreign shores a few years ago. Now, many individuals are searching for opportunities locally and finding them.  The access to capital for Indian start-ups is also rapidly improving. With the world awash with liquidity owing to loose monetary policies of global central banks, India has attracted large investments. This is reflected year after year in the burgeoning Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) figures, where India is one of the hottest destinations.

The next stop for Indian technology start-ups is to expand globally, conquering new markets. Given India’s market, which is not just large but also diverse in terms of consumer behaviour characteristics – the global leap of faith may be a matter of when and not if.  To facilitate Indian start-ups getting a platform alongside similar firms elsewhere, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), which works under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, had organised Prarambh: Startup India International Summit in January 2021.

This two-day summit was attended by several participants from BIMSTEC countries. BIMSTEC or Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is an economic platform that India has been actively participating in. This event attracted investors, scholars, policy makers and start-up professionals from various member nations in a first-of-its-kind exchange of ideas.  Such global platforms are significant in the region, as many countries share a similar economic trajectory as well as consumer traits. The experience obtained in a large country like India can be transferred relatively easily to other markets, where it may be possible to apply the Indian success.

In fact, several Indian productivity applications are already being used in other countries in the region.  Especially in the areas of merchant automation, new-age mobility, and social commerce and networking, there are already enough proofs of concept that the mantra for commercial success in India and in the other countries in the region may not be too different. Such platforms thus provide the exploratory opportunities for Indian start-ups to expand geographically.

In the recently-presented Union Budget, the government has allowed Indian firms to list themselves overseas without listing in India first. The Indian securities market regulator is also working to create a facilitative environment to ensure such firms that opt to raise capital outside won’t be subject to dual jurisdictions and regulations. These steps are critical in ensuring that growing and promising Indian firms are not starved for resources.

In the recent past, the technology start-ups have also diversified. While the initial wave of unicorns came from FinTech (finance and technology) and consumer apps in food and mobility aggregation businesses, the recent success stories go much beyond. Technology innovators are now making a dent in varied areas like commercial logistics, merchant automation, construction management and healthcare.

This change is critical for Indian economy as a whole, too. As new players enter the market and start challenging long-time incumbents, yesteryear leaders are forced to respond in kind. This leads to new investments in research and development, and employee upskilling, which, in turn, leads to greater economic productivity and, eventually, higher wages. In this sense, start-ups also play a critical role in uplifting and modernising old economy players they compete with, creating a virtuous economic cycle.

With an educated workforce, well-integrated in the global ways of working, and a young nation comfortable with using mobile-first technology, Indian start-ups are on a fast growth trajectory. Some of these players will eventually become national and global business leaders in their own right.

 

Mighty millets:

Super Grains of Power

by

Prof Rajeev K Varshney

The United Nations General Assembly adopted an India-sponsored resolution to mark 2023 as the international year of millets. We delve into India’s millet production, their nutritional value and how the Indian government is promoting millets and its cultivation.

Super-grain, super-food and wonder-grain are some of the adjectives often used to describe millets, one of the oldest foods known to humans, and probably the first grain used for domestic purposes. The unanimous adoption by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) of the resolution to declare 2023 as the International Year of Millets, a proposal sponsored by India and supported by over 70 nations, underlines the international community’s support to recognise the importance and benefits of these grains for the global food system.

Speaking on the subject, India’s permanent representative to the UN, ambassador TS Tirumurti, said, “There is an urgent need to promote the nutritional and ecological benefit of millets to consumers, producers, and decision-makers, to improve production efficiencies, research and development investments, and food sector linkages”. He expressed gratitude to all the co-sponsors, especially Bangladesh, Kenya, Nepal, Nigeria, Russia, Senegal and all member states of the UN for their strong support.

In India, traces of millets have been found in the archaeological sites of Harappa and Mohenjo-daro, and several ancient Indian scriptures make references to millets. For many years, millets were a part of our daily diet. Today, there is a growing realisation among Indian farmers that cultivating millets requires fewer inputs and it is also an economically viable option, especially in harsh and dry environments. This is supported by the new-found knowledge on the health benefits of millets. Also, over the last few years, the Indian government has been making extensive efforts to encourage the cultivation of millets. The Union Government of India, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had declared 2018 as the National Year of Millets to boost production of the nutrient-rich grains.

A smart food

Millets are an important staple cereal crop for millions of smallholder dry-land farmers across Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. They are also called nutri-cereals or dry-land cereals, and include sorghum (jowar), pearl millet (bajra), finger millet (ragi), foxtail millet (kangni), proso millet (chena), barnyard millet (samvat ke chawal) and kodo millet (kodon), and offer high nutritional benefits. Millets are also referred to as ‘Smart Food’, which are good for the consumers, the planet and the farmers.

For instance, finger millet has three times the amount of calcium as in milk, and most millets have very high levels of iron and zinc, low glycemic index, good levels of protein and  fibre, and are gluten-free. Millets can also contribute to addressing some of the largest global issues in unison: poor diet (malnutrition to obesity); environmental issues (climate change, water scarcity and environmental degradation); and rural poverty. They have a low carbon footprint and have the ability to survive and grow in warm climate with very little water. They are climate-smart and hence constitute a good risk management strategy for farmers as compared to rice and wheat crops, which require higher quantities of water and fertiliser supplements.

Indian millets at the forefront

Efforts to bring Indian millets to the international forefront began in October 2017, during the Committee on Food Security event in Rome. A series of meetings involving the Government of India (GOI), the agricultural research body International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and other stakeholders were organised at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the UN to identify the process of promoting the idea with FAO departments and the Indian Embassy in Rome. Following this initial step, in November 2017, the Government of India’s then Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh wrote to the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, requesting the inclusion of the proposal in the UN General Assembly agenda for an International Year of Millets in 2018.

Although this process can typically take five years, the GOI, ICRISAT, the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) of the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and its millets research institute, ICAR – Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR), along with others pursued the cause, which came to fruition in 2021.

It is encouraging to note that the world is talking about depleting natural resources like arable land and water, and the pressing need to produce more to meet the food and nutritional requirements of the growing population. Staple crops like rice and wheat are part of our traditional diets but are known to be water guzzlers, challenging our farmers, consumers and policy makers to explore ways to diversify our cropping system. Millets suit this requirement.

bowl of healthy sorghum (jowar) salad

Easy to cultivate

Tolerant to drought and high temperature, and other climate change vagaries, millets are mostly cultivated on low-fertile land, mountainous, tribal and rain-fed areas of India like Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Telangana. As per the Food and Agriculture Organization’ data, the global millet production stands at about 90 million tonnes, of which India’s share is about 19 million tonnes.

However, as productivity for a majority of millets is very low, several Indian and international organisations have been working towards enhancing crop productivity by using multi-disciplinary approaches. For instance, the Pearl Millet Genome Sequencing Consortium, comprising 30 institutions, decoded the genome of pearl millet and identified genes for drought-and-heat-tolerance that may be useful not only for millets but also for other major cereals. These researches have contributed to developing several high-yielding hybrids and improved varieties of several millets that are grown by farmers in India.

Mission millet

At the national level, the Government of India has been promoting the cultivation of millets on a mission mode to achieve nutritional security, following recommendations by a committee headed by NITI Aayog. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated 17 biofortified varieties of eight crops, which included two varieties of finger millets and one variety of little millet, on October 16, 2020, on the 75th anniversary of the FAO. As a part of the government’s initiative under the National Food Security Act, state governments have been advised to procure millets at minimum support price and distribute them under the public distribution system (PDS).

India’s National Nutrition Mission, POSHAN Abhiyaan, has also advised state governments to include millets under large public system delivery channels such as Integrated Child Development Services, Mid-Day Meals etc. While the government and research organisations work towards higher productivity of millets, nutritionists and chefs are contributing towards the promotion of millets by creating unique millet dishes.

Promotions are being done on easy ways to cook millets, convenient tasty millet recipes, and word is being spread about their nutritional benefits and environment-friendly qualities among all stakeholders – both at the national and international level. The UN Food Systems Summit 2021 also offers additional opportunity to make the food systems sustainable and resilient. The declaration of 2023 as the ‘International Year of Millets’ will certainly support all these efforts and make millets a popular and healthy food choice for all.

 

Currency Redenomination Challenges and Implication in Sierra Leone: An Economics Policy Analysis Perspective

Dr. Ezekiel K. Duramany-Lakkoh

Dr. Ezekiel K. Duramany-Lakkoh

The problem is not redenomination, but how it is implemented.  Proponents of currency recalibration techniques have argued that, if implemented properly by introducing further counter inflationary and monetary policies, redenomination will lead to a new exchange rate which will create creditworthiness in the economy, and make Sierra Leone looks stronger in international capital markets.  I have spent some time to read through the literatures on evidences of redenomination and I find the article of Lianto and Suryaputra (2012) very intresting.

While the currency of Sierra Leone like many other countries within the sub-region and beyond remains volatile against hard international currencies like the United States Dollar, the British Pounds and the Euro, amidst the COVID-19, the country’s Central Bank has resorted to recalibrate the Leones, in a way that will reduce the volume and transactions cost, while maintaining the same value.  This technique will also attempt to address inflation, which might in turn address balance of trade, budget deficit and public debt maintenance costs.

The practice to redenominate the country’s currency would definitely be confusing in an economy like Sierra Leone, but other countries including Ghana, Russia, Hungary, Zimbabwe, Greece, Germany, Yugoslavia, China, Nicaragua, Congo, Bolivia, Peru, Angola, Turkey, Georgia, Ukraine, Venezuela, Taiwan, Ecuador, Indonesia, Austria, Argentina, Poland, Romania, and very recently in Belarus have redenominate their currencies, with some economic costs, and positive outcomes.

Interestingly, the discussion around social media and the press at large have still not discussed how redenomination would be useful to the overall economic performance and how the issues of reduced currency burden will quantitatively ease and manages transaction in the economy.  Like quantitative easing techniques employed by developed economies where interest rates are adjusted even to zero to address capital market structures, and hard currencies are introduced to buy off toxic assets, currency redenomination has its own impact on balance of trade, budget deficits, public debts maintenance costs and hyperinflation.  There will never be an economic recovery without a cost, especially in the short or medium term.

Actors within the national economic, political and social landscape should also understands that redenomination of the currency will not out rightly solved our economic situation, which I believe will only be solve by an expanded private sector, ready and willing to innovate human resource, with the ability to take risk within the framework of a decent business legal structures.

A perfect economy will only come with the right mindset, a disciplined private sector, combined with an innovative human resource that will be able to transact with very little political government intervention. This should be an understanding requirement of the average elite, regardless of our fields of study.

The world economy is at a crossroad, and most countries are technically on recession.

Economic jurisdictions are exploring avenues to adjust inflationary pressure at least to keep employment and basic standard of living during the COVID-19.  For the very first time, the world saw a negative oil price in 2020, and a bigger recession than 2007.  Therefore, multinational corporations, companies, SMEs, commercial outlets and even households should be spending more time to plan on how to absorb the operational shock and make the best use of the options available, while, government should pay serious attention to its phase rollout of its redenomination strategy, especially on pre-redenomination speculation transactions.

There is no outright answer to an economic crisis in the short term, and any measure taken by any government to make adjustment will have its on short term implications. However, those who are keeping the hard currencies will bring them out to the Banks.  Now is the time to know where the monies are hidden.

Reference https://reader.elsevier.com/reader/sd/pii/S1877042812006209?token

© Dr. Ezekiel K. Duramany-Lakkoh

Dean Faculty of Management Sciences

Institute of Public Administration and Management

University of Sierra Leone

 

Global Direct Sales up by 2.3% provingits value to local economies even during Pandemic

Malou Caluza, CEO of QNET

We are not yet on the other side of the pandemic despite vaccination drives around the world by local governments.  The IMF estimates that the global economy shrunk by 4.4% in 2020.Most world economies are struggling with rising unemployment. However, one industry, is holding steady. The latest Direct Selling Report, published by the World Federation of Direct Selling Associations (WFDSA), shows global direct sales increased by 2.3% year-on-year, from US$175.3 billion in 2019 to US$179.3 billion in 2020.

The report shows that the 3-year Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) is rising despite the devastation caused by Covid-19. From 2017 through 2020, the Direct Selling industry saw a CAGR of 3.0% (excluding China), demonstrating resilience where most commercial sectors are experiencing a downward trend due to the pandemic.

So what is direct selling?

It is a sales channel used by companies to promote their products away from a physical retail location, directly to the end consumer primarily relying on word-of-mouth promotion from existing users. In some ways, direct selling is an evolution of the traveling salesmen from the early 1900s. The direct selling business was the original gig economy business before tech companies made this form of flexible employment opportunities popular in recent years.

Many businesses around the world use the direct selling business model to promote unique products and services in categories such as wellness and nutrition, personal and beauty care, home care products etc.

For many people, direct selling offers them a great platform to become micro entrepreneurs and build a sales business promoting such products when they sign up as distributors of direct selling companies.

The direct selling industry’s continued growth is not surprising. Historically, this industry has always experienced growth during economic recessions. During shaky economic times, people have a renewed awareness of the need to establish more income streams and for those who are looking to start a business, direct selling offers an attractive opportunity to start one that does not require a lot of capital or the need to deal with operational and logistics hassles.

The Pandemic Effect

The foundation of the direct selling business is the relationship and personal touch that distributors build with their customers, and their own team members. With the lockdown forcing social distancing and long periods of isolation, the direct selling industry did take a hit in the initial days of the pandemic. However, most companies made a recovery soon after as they quickly adapted to the new normal with a shift to digital engagement tools and virtual events and training programmes.

The pandemic forced many businesses to expedite their digital adoption. For the direct selling industry which has traditionally relied on in-personal interactions this was particularly critical. Those who made the shift quickly and were able to engage with and support their customers and distributors, didn’t just survive, but thrived!

For example, at QNET, we saw record-breaking growth of up to 65% in some African markets. The increased demand for online shopping and the transition to digital played to our strengths: high-qualitypersonal relationships and a high-performinge-commerce platform. Our European business even won a Digital Business award for their swift implementation of digital solutions to support the network of distributors. These included online business presentations to social media workshops to training in virtual communication tools among others.

Africa and Asia: two markets to look out for

Africa has been projected to be the new frontier of direct selling. The regionhas one of the highest 3-year CAGR at 6%. The World Bank’s economic analysis highlights how African countries were quick to recover from the Covid-19 crisis.Locals are adopting digital technologies exponentially, boosting productivity and employment opportunities as e-commerce opens up new prospects for businesses. The road to strengthening Africa’s economy will lie in remote work and gig opportunities. How well digitisation is integrated into the current economy, allowingbusinesses to leverage their digital commerce infrastructure and local know-how to provide new gainful income opportunities, will be key to this process. The attractiveness of Direct Sellingis in the numbers: in 2020, the WFDSA report saw a 17.3% year-on-year increase in thenumber of individuals involved in this industry in Africa, bringing the total to 6.3 million distributors.

Region2020 Retail Sales in USD (millions)Percentage of Global Sales% Sales Change (YOY) in Constant 2020 USD3-Year CAGR in Constant 2020 USD (2017-2020)
Global179,300–2.3% ▲-0.1%
Asia/Pacific76,51643%-3.6% ▼-3.7%
Africa1,6241%3.5% ▲6.0%
Americas64,69136%10.6% ▲3.9%
Europe36,20220%1.0% ▲1.2%

Source: WFDSA 2020 Annual Report

Asia is the most significant contributor in global sales for 2020 at a whopping US$76.5 billion, constituting 43% of overall sales. Despite the drop in year-on-year sales by 3.6%, Asia maintains its position as the biggest market for Direct Selling.India, Malaysia, and Vietnam saw the highest percentage change in sales for 2020 in the region, with each country recording over 15% in year-on-year sales growth.

Asian Development Bank (ADP) estimates Asia’s economic outlook to rebound, with Gross Domestic Product (GDP) hitting 5.3% by 2022. This indicates that Direct Selling in Asia will see growth trends in the coming year as movement restrictions ease and traditional retail regains momentum. E-commerce will likely continue to grow due to the shift in consumption behaviour accelerated during the Pandemic. Southeast Asia’s online sector alone is expected to reachUS$300 billion by 2025.

Direct Selling: the future of regular and gainful income?

The increasing demand in the market for flexible work opportunities is not exclusive to Africa. Globally,people are actively exploring alternate sources of income as traditional forms of employment and entrepreneurship continue to be challenged causing arise inunemployment rates.

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) reported the loss of 114 million jobs in 2020 caused by workplace closures in countries with Covid-19 related restrictions.This is especially true for young people and women.As the numbers indicate, Direct Selling is proving to be a viable opportunity to build economic stability due to its low entry barrier. It provides an attractive and flexible income opportunity for those who are looking to make a supplemental income during challenging times by offering them a chance to become micro-entrepreneurs and active gig economy participants.

In addition to enabling people to become entrepreneurs and build their own business, direct selling companies also support a number of small and local businesses. Many direct selling companies develop their own products and set up manufacturing units in various places, especially emerging economies, which provides local employment. Several direct selling companies, including QNET, work with small businesses in different countries to develop exclusive products that can then be sold through our e-commerce platform around the world.

What is next for the industry?

Companies with health and wellness products experienced a significant boost in their sales thanks to increased awareness and personal health concerns brought on by the pandemic. These products took the lead in global direct sales at US$64.8 billion. This trend will likely persist in the following years.

In 2020, Direct Sellingbecame more agile in response to consumers’ behavioural changes. The industry had to reinvent itself to adapt to the fast changing global situation.While things such as social commerce, integrated lifestyle solutions through product offerings, and sophisticated technology driven tools are all good things for companies to adopt, I think it is important for the industry to go back to the origins of its concept and their efforts, focusing on community sharing of valuable economic goals and offering the opportunity for personal and professional growth.

Innovation is all around us, in the way people and companies generate revenue. Micro-entrepreneurship is on the rise. E-commerce is booming. As long as Direct Selling companies have adapted to the change and accept the paradigm shifts that will shape the future, there has never been a better time to join Direct Selling than now.

 

About the Writer

Malou T. Caluza is the CEO of QNET, a leading Asian direct selling company with an Asian heritage. She has the distinction of being named the first female CEO of the company who rose through the ranks over a span of 20 years. Malou started with QNET as the one of the company’s earliest employees as a customer service officer and went on to lead the function and grow it into a global team spanning three continents. She is the recipient of numerous awards for customer service and is presently a CRE Community Leader, Speaker, and Panellist in several APCSC events.

Malou Caluza is also a cancer survivor and an outspoken advocate for women in leadership. She has been featured in “Asia’s 15 Over 50” – a publication that recognises the most successful women in Asia.

 

Orange Foundation Request for Expression of Interest

Request for Expression of Interest

The Orange Foundation is requesting expression of interest for Modern ICT Equipment for its Fab Lab.

Interested suppliers should request for the tender document via email to OSL.Sourcing@orange-sonatel.com against the 12th August 2021.

 

Baby Dora Boyle vs. Mariatu Bangura Land Saga… The True Story unfolds

By Foday Moriba Conteh

During a Press Conference held on the 4th August 2021 at the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists Hall on Campbell Street in Freetown the family members of one Baby Dora Boyle now (deceased) brought to the attention of the public an issue relating to a land that is located at No 8 Upper Savage Square in the East End of Freetown between family members of Baby Dora Boyle now (deceased) and Mariatu Bangura.

Since then this medium mounted an independent investigation into the said land saga by contacting parties involved in the said matter.

The sister of the late Baby Dora Boyle, Lydia Cole, said that the piece of land with already houses on it was sold without their consent which prompted them to take this matter to court. She said  while Justice Babatunde Edwards was presiding over the matter, Mariatu Bangura, who is said to have brought the piece of land also took the same matter to Magistrate Court No 3 presided over by Magistrate Hannah Bonnie as Applicant Vs 7 Respondents which include Pa Yeremeh Sesay, Baby Dora Boyle, Peter M. Kamara, Dowu Peters, Yusuf Koroma, Sampa Koroma and Sento Bangura.

It was further learnt that on the 13th April and 18th July, 2015 Magistrate Hannah Bonnie gave rulings which are as follows:

Magistrate Hannah Bonnie in her rulings said that the said respondents herein Pa Yeremeh Sesay the 1st Respondent, the 4th respondent Dowu Peters, 5th respondent Yusuf Koroma, the 6 respondent Sampa Koroma, and the 7th respondent Sento Bandura hereby vacate the portion of the premises by each of them herein at 8 Upper Savage Square on the 31st May, 2015, adding that they must pay all arrears of rent, related bills and must vacate same in a tenantable condition.

She added that the applicant having failed to appear before her court to prove her case in respect of 2nd respondent, Baby Dora Boyle, the matter is hereby struck out for want of further prosecution.

Following that ruling, the 2nd respondent in the matter between Mariatu Bangura and the 7 respondent Baby Dora Boyle took the matter to Justice E K Cowan Jnr’s Magistrate Court and on the 20th November, 2015 Justice E K Cowan Jnr gave ruling on the said matter stating that upon listening to the applicant & respondent 6 in the action he ordered that respondent 6 gives up possession of the said property as agreed by both parties, stating that all other respondents should give immediate possession of the said property being they did not appear in court after notice of hearing was sent.

It must also be noted that Baby Dora Boyle took the said mater in the High Court of Sierra Leone as applicant against Ekudanyo Coker, Ernest Rowe and Cyrus Conteh as respondents of which on the 3rd October, 2014 Hon. Justice E.D Edwards said that he has read the original notice of motion dated 2nd February 2014 and the affidavit in support of the application sworn thereto and has heard from Musa Pious H. Sesay Esq, Counsel for the plaintiff/applicants.

He then gave an injunction restraining the respondents from selling, leasing or in any other way dealing with this property pending the conclusion/determination of the application.

The Sister of the late Baby Dora Boyle, Lydia Cole said that on the 10th July, 2021 a Bailiff, called Herro, swore to an affidavit and allegedly made a false statement that he served Baby Dora Boyle in June 2021; when in fact, Baby Dora Boyle died on the 8th May 2020. It was stated that he went to the said property and informed residents that they should quit the premises. However, she said she then told the Bailiff, called Herro that Hon. Justice E.D Edwards has put an injunction restraining the respondents from selling, leasing or in any other way deal with the property pending the conclusion/determination of the application.

She pointed out that upon resistance by family members of Baby Dora Boyle, who are currently occupying the premises, a troop of Police Officers attached at the Ross Road Police Station stormed the scene arrested and detained them at the Police Station furthering that while they were absent Police Officers break into their houses and removed their properties under the alleged command of  Lawyer Elvis Kargbo Esq.

She continued that Baby Dora Boyle, now deceased, was an applicant against six defendants and got a favorable ruling by Magistrate Cowan (late) in 2015, adding that in February 2021, Magistrate Cowan’s hand written documents were allegedly recreated by Lawyer Elvis Kargbo Esq in a typed copy brining in a completely new individual, Mariatu Bangura making Baby Dora Boyle one of the defendants instead of the complainant, as it was,  resulting into the eviction of poor orphans from the property and a demolition exercise is on course based on the court order as specified in the alleged falsified documents.

This new development or twist of the trends prompted the uncle of the late Baby Dora Boyle, Idris Turay, to write a letter of complaint bordering on  alleged corrupt practices of court officials to the Commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission, Francis Ben Kelfala.

As the Press Conference progresses  the Lawyer for Baby Dora Boyle, Musa Pious H. Sesay Esq. said  in 2015 Justice E K Cowan Jnr gave a ruling on the said matter of which her client, Baby Dora Boyle was the applicant and that Justice E K Cowan Jnr after hearing the applicant & respondent 6 ordered that respondent 6 gives up possession of the said property as agreed by both parties, stating that all other respondents should give immediate possession of the said property being they did not appear in court after notice of hearing was sent.

He maintained that he was informed by a family member of Baby Dora Boyle that a Bailiff, called Herro produced a Magistrate Court Order to evict them from the premises and that he believes that his clients have no matter at the Magistrate Court and that on his arrival at the place in the evening hours members of the Baby Dora Boyle family were behind bars of which he said he facilitated their release.

He added that on the following Monday he went to court before Magistrate Peter Gogra and requested for copies of the proceeding files. He also requested for the court ledger in which matters are recorded of which he went through the ledge specially for matters recorded on October 2015 and that he was able to learn that in the matter that came up  before Justice E K Cowan Jnr her client Baby Dora Boyle was the applicant but said the new order presented her client Baby Dora Boyle as a respondent.

He stated that he went further to find out if there was any matter before Magistrate Justice E K Cowan Jnr in which Mariatu Bangura was an applicant but said his findings prove that the only applicant at that time in 2015 was her client Baby Dora Boyle of which he said that the court order that was taken to Magistrate Peter Gogra in order to evict family members of the late Baby Dora Boyle was allegedly forged.

In order to get the side of Lawyer Elvis Kargbo, who happens to be representing Mariatu Bangura this medium contacted him and granted this writer an interview at his office on Wilberforce Street in Freetown. He, however, denied the allegations.

He told our reporter that no lawyer has the right to falsify court orders because those orders are written by a Magistrate and then signed by the DAR or written by a Judge and then signed by the Registrar.

He said that her client, Mariatu Bangura, is a petty trader who has this land suited at 8th Upper Savage Square in the East End of Freetown further explaining that according to the conveyance the land initially belong to four people, Ekudanyo Coker, Joseph Joah, Lydia Samuels and Ebenezer Boyle, adding that these 4 individuals decided to sell the said property through James Momodu Fornah-Sesay Esq. as their lawyer of which her client Mariatu Bangura decided to buy the said property and then contacted him (Lawyer Elvis Kargbo) to purchase the property on her behalf.  He said he then contacted lawyer James Momodu Fornah-Sesay Esq during which time they negotiated and agreed on the price.

This writer is in the possession of a signed consent agreement for the sale of the property to Mariatu Bangura dated 21st November, 2012 by the children of late Joseph Juah and the Children of late Lydia Samuels which was presented to this writer by  Lawyer Elvis Kargbo.

He added that after the consent of sale her client, Mariatu Bangura, paid the sum of One Hundred and Ninety Million Leones (Le190, 000,000) to James Momodu Fornah-Sesay Esq. and her client was issued a receipt.

He maintained that after the completion of the payment for the property and that Ekudanyo Coker, being the only person alive, signed their conveyance they asked the court to remove the tenants including Baby Dora Boyle in 2015. Lawyer Elvis added that Magistrate Hannah Bonnie in her ruling said all other respondents should vacate the portion of the premises by the occupants excluding Baby Dora Boyle, noting that Baby Dora Boyle took the matter to Magistrate E K Cowan Jnr in a form of a motion and after Magistrate E K Cowan Jnr listened to the motion gave a ruling that all respondents should vacate the premise.

Lawyer Elvis Kargbo said that they have gone to the property twice in order to evict them as per the court order but that the  youth within the community fought the Bailiff and the Police Officers, stating that after that development their lawyer (Musa Pious H. Sesay Esq.) went to the High Court of Sierra Leone of which Hon. Justice E.D Edwards on the 3rd October 2014 gave an injunction restraining the respondents from selling, leasing or in any other way deal with the property pending the conclusion/determination of the application but said in that judgment her client, Mariatu Bangura, was excluded.

He said that as the Counsel for Mariatu Bangura he filed to the High Court of Sierra Leone that Mariatu Bangura should be included as an interested Party/Applicant, adding that Justice AMY.J. Wright upon hearing the notice of motion dated 8th October 2019 made the following order: that an interim stay of all proceedings is hereby granted pending the hearing and determination of his application.

He said that he also ordered that the interested party/applicant Mariatu Bangura is hereby sued to the action as a party hereof to defend the action, stating that Justice AMY.J. Wright ordered that the court order dated 3rd October 2014 and all subsequent proceedings are hereby set aside.

Responding to the alleged forging of Magistrate E.K Cowan ruling, he said that after the order was given by Magistrate E.K Cowan in 2015 they went twice to the said property in order to evict the occupants but could not and after the ruling by Justice AMY.J. Wright he went to the Magistrate Court to ask for renewal of the court order that was given by Magistrate Cowan in 2015 in order to evict them from the said property which they are claiming that he forged.

This medium will continue to monitor the matter up to its logical conclusion.

APC to Convene National Delegates Conference

By Foday Moriba Conteh

The High Court Judge Honourable Justice Adrian J. Fisher who is presiding over the matter between the Plaintiff, Alfred Peter Conteh, and the Chairman and Leader of the All Peoples Congress (APC) Party, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma, and three others has in a ruling on the 9th August 2021 granted an extension of time sought by the defendants to hold a national emergency delegates conference in September, 2021 in compliance with the Court’s Order.

The Plaintiff (Conteh) had applied for an interim injunction restraining Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma (1st defendant) Alhaji Osman Foday Yansaneh (2nd defendant) APC Party (3rd defendant) from holding any conference, convention or meetings geared towards selecting or electing delegates or candidates into the party executive for the day to day running of the APC Party.

The ruling follows the noncompliance of the defendants with the Court’s Orders dated the 19th day of April 2021, made upon an application by the defendants, specifically the 3rd defendant for a variation of the injunction granted on the 26th day of February 2021.

The defendants being dissatisfied with the ruling, sought leave to appeal against it to the Court of Appeal.

Counsel for the Plaintiff, Jesse M. Jengo, filed an affidavit in opposition sworn to on the 3rd day of August 2021with 4 exhibits attached.

On the 28th May 2021, Hon. Justice Fisher refused the said application on the basis that he was satisfied that having reviewed the proposed grounds of appeal, same had “no arguable merits, principally on account of the fact that it was the defendants themselves who sought the variation of the injunction.”

Upon the realization that the defendants were in breach of the orders of the court dated 19th April 2021, Hon Justice Fisher noted that he did not accept the explanations provided by the 2nd defendant (National Secretary General) of the 3rd defendant as the evidence given on oath was inconsistent with his earlier sworn testimony in his affidavit and is therefore unreliable and not credible.

“I am satisfied that the real reason for breaching the orders of the 19th April 2021, was simply because the 2nd defendant and others were dissatisfied with the ruling and felt there was no need to comply as they believed they had good grounds of appeal and would be successful on appeal,” Justice Fisher stated.

He added that despite their noncompliance with his orders, he didn’t consider that the 3rd defendant should be punished for the conduct of the 2nd defendant for which he deemed it necessary to extend the time sought by the defendants.

Hon. Justice Fisher said, “I consider it appropriate to grant the extension of time sought by the defendants but upon the understanding that future breaches of the orders of the court would not be tolerated and where evidence of breaches of the orders are discovered of any orders I propose to make, I will not hesitate to apply the provisions of Section 120(5) of the 1991 Constitution.”

Delivering his ruling, Justice Fisher ordered that, “there shall be an emergency delegates conference Technical Planning Committee, consisting of 21 members, whose sole function shall be to undertake the planning and preparation leading up to the emergency national delegates conference.”

In his directions on the composition of the said committee, the Justice Fisher ordered that the 3rd defendant shall nominate nine (9) representatives, plus the Chairman, who shall not be a member of the current executive, but an elderly and respected member of the 3rd defendant, making a total of ten members.

He stressed that the nominated representatives shall not include the 2nd defendant.

The judge further ordered the plaintiff to nominate four representatives, one of whom shall be the secretary to the Committee that Diaspora membership of the party shall be entitled to nominate three representatives to serve on the committee and the NRM who previously commenced litigation on this issue shall be entitled to nominate two members to serve on the committee.

Hon. Justice Fisher added that the 2nd and 3rd defendants shall ensure that the elections for the 20 delegates for the Women’s Congress, the 20 delegates for the Youth League and the five delegates from each constituency shall be concluded no later than Tuesday 31st August 2021 across the country.

Key among the additional Orders were for the 2nd defendant to publish the final delegates’ list on Wednesday 8th September 2021 and that the 2nd and 3rd defendant hold an emergency national delegates conference commencing on the 17th September 2021 and ending on the 19th September 2021.

Guma Expresses Optimism for Positive Public Feedbacks on Proposed Tariff Increase

By Esther Wright

The Sierra Leone Water and Electricity Regulatory Commission (SLEWRC) on the 5th August 2021 held a public hearing on the proposed increase in water tariff by the Guma Valley Water Company at the Atlantic Hall, National Stadium during which members of the public, the Water Sector players and Civil Society Organizations actively participated.

Director-General of the Sierra Leone Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission, Dr. Emmanuel Mannah informed participants that his organization has the sole responsibility to determine, approve and review water and electricity charges in the country as stated in the Sierra Leone Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission Act of 2011.

He stressed the need for utilities and service providers to comply with the provisions of the regulations for the discharge of efficient and quality service delivery to consumers.

Chairman for the occasion, Ing L. S. Tani Pratt said the Public Hearing will provide an opportunity for Guma, Consumers, interested stakeholders, focus groups and the Regulator to discuss the proposed tariff in a peaceful atmosphere devoid of rancour. Ing. Pratt admonished that the discussion should be frank, insightful and informative.

SLEWRC Director of Economic Regulations, Brima Bah explained that Section 45 of the SLEWRC Act 2011 gives the Commission the authority to approve rates for electricity and water services.

He added that Sub Section 3 of the same Section also makes “provision for the consumers and utilities to be affected by the services to be given an opportunity to be heard.” He disclosed that the Commission shall take into account any representation made by the public before a final rate or rates is or are approved.

In accordance with the said provision the Commission has concluded a 21 days “Comment period” and the public hearing is the next step in the process to review the proposed tariff application submitted by Guma, Mr. Bah added.

Justifying the need for a tariff increment, representatives from Guma,   led by the Managing Director, Maada Kpenge did a presentation on the rationale for the proposed increase.

Guma argued that the surge in the population, lack of investment in infrastructure and low tariff are the primary reasons for the challenging water supply situation in Freetown.

The Guma team explained that their objective is to improve access to water supply, improve customer satisfaction and revenue collection by reducing leakages, improve response time to customers’ complaints, leverage alternative means of providing access (Boreholes, Bowser and Community Services), reduce Commercial Losses and improve on accuracy of customer information.

Guma currently sells a litre of water at Le2.50 and a 1000 litres is Le2,500 which is very low compared to a half litre of bottled water, which costs between Le3,000 to Le5,000.

The Guma team added that the company does not receive subvention from Government as the company is run by the revenue it generates from water rates.

“This is what we use as running costs to buy chemicals, pay staff salaries, electricity charges, pipes and fittings and take care of other liabilities. If we continue our tariff at Le2.50 per litre we would never be able to improve on the water access and infrastructure in Freetown,” the Guma team argued.

The Guma proposal involves increasing the life line tariff from Le 2,500 per 1000 litres of water to Le 7,000 for the year 2021 to 2023.

Feedbacks from the Hearing pertaining to the rate increase were duly noted by the SLEWRC Management.

For now Management of Guma says it awaits and hopes for a positive outcome from the hearing for the betterment of water supply in Freetown.

Bring them On-board the Campaign…   AIM Engages Artists in Bo and Kenema on FGM

By Patrick Kai

The Amazonian Initiative Movement (AIM), a notable Non-Governmental Organization that had been and still continues to campaign against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Sierra Leone,  held a two day engagement in Kenema and Bo with artists on the 4th and 5th July 2021 and 6th and 7th 2021 respectively.

Chairman of the event in Kenema, who also doubles as the chairman of Inter-Religious Council in the Eastern Region, Alhaji Sheku Kanneh, whilst addressing the participants at the Eastern Polytechnic Conference Hall in Kenema, first welcomed and appreciated the musicians for honouring the invitation of the organization.

He intimated that the Bondo Secret Society is a beautiful cultural practice that has many values, which according to him, must be passed on from one generation to the next adding that harmful practices like Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) must be eliminated.

Alhaji Sheku Kanneh emphasized the importance of the artists in the fight against FGM, hence the reason for their invitation to the deliberations.

The Chairman furthered that since the artists have wider listenership they should use their songs positively to preach against those harmful cultural practices that hinder the well-being of women in society.

The theme for the event, he revealed, is: “Entertain To Educate and Make a Change.”

He stated that the artists, who are referred to as “Artists for FGM”, are charged with the responsibility of educating the populace on the negative impacts of FGM on young girls and women at large through their songs.

Alhaji Sheku Kanneh emphasized that the aim of the project is not to criticize or to eliminate the Bondo Society but rather to refine it.

He maintained that any cultural practice that violates the human rights of others is not in conformity with the laws of the land and international laws.

On their parts, the two religious representatives from both the Muslim and Christian faiths said FGM is not acceptable in the sight of God.

Reverend Julius B. Sengovah, Chairman of the Council of Churches in Kenema puts it this way: “Cutting any part of the human body insinuates that God is not perfect in His creation. God made man perfectly in His image and likeness.”

He went on to say that the body is the temple of the living God and that anything done with the temple aggravates Him.

The Director of AIM, Rugiatu Neneh Turay nee Koroma stated that the artists were selected because their role is to entertain to educate with the aim of effecting a positive change.

Neneh Turay revealed that one of the quickest ways to spread information is through music and therefore they were selected to help preach against FGM.

She said the Bondo Secret Society is a respectable institution but lamented that the practitioners have made it disreputable by initiating under aged girls, commercializing it, as well as building Bondo houses in towns.

She warned older women to desist from initiating children below the age of 18 as well as separate Bondo from FGM.

Furthermore, she asked for the relocation of the Bondo houses into the bushes.

Likewise, she pleaded with the practitioners not to allow politicians to build Bondo houses for them but support their children to acquire education underpinning that education is more important to Bondo.

It was revealed by the Director that plans are underway to demolish the Bondo houses and replace them with schools.

She concluded by appealing to the artists to compose anti-FGM songs.

One of the renowned artists in the East, Musa Jaward commonly known as Jay-Shine, expressed his gratitude for the engagement.

He promised that they will disseminate all the messages received on FGM during the workshop in the form of songs in order for the odd parts of the culture to be expunged.

The hit maker confessed that singing such songs against a cultural practice may lead to the loss of fans, support among others, before he put forward a demand for some form of financial support from the organization to undertake such a venture.

Another prominent female artist, Patricia H. Conteh also known as Hawa Nyadebo said she learnt a lot during the two-day workshop relating to both the positive and negative aspects of FGM.

She vowed that none of her children will undergo FGM and committed herself to preaching against the negative aspects of culture.

In Bo the same issue was discussed and a resolution adopted to heighten the campaign against FGM.

The engagements were climaxed by the composition of anti-FGM songs, group work presentation, playing of documentaries on the negative impacts of FGM and sharing of t-shirts.

NP-SL Ltd Always Ensures that its Customers are Optimally Satisfied  

By Amin Kef Sesay

The National Petroleum Limited, NP (SL-Ltd) deserves praise as a resilient business entity that had been rated as the country’s foremost importer and dealer in petroleum products, which includes petrol, diesel, gas as well as lubricants of various types and is always poised to give its ubiquitous and esteemed customers the best in terms of giving them value in return for money.

The company’s competent and result-oriented Managerial think tank, currently headed by its indefatigable Chief Executive Officer, Kobi Walker, in tandem with the Board of Directors, have always endeavoured to be at the pinnacle of affairs within the petroleum landscape in this country, looking at best options, in order for effective service delivery to be executed timely, excellently, all geared towards enhancing good business relationships. If there is any outstanding feature for which the company is identified with then it is giving customers satisfaction to the fullest  which is why it has earned the enviable reputation of ‘1st for Customer Care’.

Prioritizing customer care is considered very paramount out of the strong conviction that the company will be nowhere without its cherished customers.

It is along that line that the company has a customer care unit that primarily interface with members of the public. Concerns and recommendations channelled through it are raised in certain management meetings, discussed and the way forward mapped out.

Regarding their customers as priceless jewels, NP-SL Ltd always ensures that to give them optimal satisfaction, value must be derived from their monies spent. It was thinking along that line that prompted the shareholders of the company to replace their old fashioned pumping machines to calibrated pumping machines of high standard which transparently pump the requisite quantity of petrol or diesel demanded for. Confidence is now high among its customers that they are getting exactly what they are paying for.

Still within the domain of 1st for Customer Care, the company is always in position to enter into payment plans with its reliable and dependable customers including Ministries, Departments and Agencies for fuel and lubricants supplies as long as all the necessary modalities have been put in place. When cognizance is taken of the fact that some of these institutions receive intermittent budgetary allocations then such an arrangement is very significant. Its significance in real terms borders on functional continuity of those institutions as they will be assured of supplies of petroleum products in as much as they keep honouring their obligations.

In this country today, for one to see a successful business entity that is owned mainly by Sierra Leoneans and having a maximum number of indigenes as members of staff is like trying to find a lost needle on the beach, although there are some that could be identified.

For NP-SL Ltd this has been a big achievement as the company is strongly adhering to the country’s Local Content Policy. Making use of local brains has been identified as one of the conduits through which developing countries like Sierra Leone could attain economic empowerment. Correspondingly, if there is a continuation of the colonial mentality that it is only by importing foreign ideas and skills that we will get there then such could be a very sad mistake.

By providing job opportunities for hitherto jobless Sierra Leoneans, NP-SL Ltd continues to help in alleviating poverty by putting monies into pockets which could be utilized to take care of responsibilities.

For those who have not tried NP Gas for the first time it is now time to give it a try. Designed in sizable varying cylinders and sold at various NP Filling Stations, this cooking device has been rated as one of the best that is on offer for sale. NP Gas is safe, user friendly and portable. Trying it will spur you to recommend it to others.

NP Smart Card is now in vogue and is one of the latest technological devices used to purchase petroleum products. Using it has attendant advantages as evident in procuring fuel at any time of the day even during times when monies could not be accessed from banks. It is secured, easy to use and very quick. It is now trending.

To crystallize proposed projects into tangible realities on the ground, Government needs the requisite financial resources to effectively do so and one sure way is from the collection of taxes which is the mandate of the National Revenue Authority (NRA).  NP is indeed one of the big time tax payers in the country and it is very compliant in that direction.

From all indications, it is crystal clear that NP-SL Ltd is here to stay in order to give the best and contribute tremendously to the socio-economic development of the country. Indeed the company is passionate and committed towards attaining those objectives.

Orange Money Partners With Western Union to Enhance Overseas Transactions

By Amin Kef Sesay

What many have described as a right move in a positive direction is the partnership that was recently forged between Orange Money Sierra Leone and the global money transfer giant, Western Union, entered into with the avowed objective of easing overseas transactions, especially in the form of remittances. This new partnership now means customers would be able to receive money directly from another country in to their Orange Money wallet.

The system works easily in the form that a sender of money can easily download the Western Union app, or visit their website, choose mobile payment options and follow the instructions. The money will now come directly into the receiver’s Orange money wallet.

Thousands of families in Sierra Leone depend on remittance inflow from Europe and the rest of the world to support themselves, whether to pay medical bills, school fees or construction. For businesses, money transaction is easy

With the new collaboration the steps to receive money have been made easier, empowering them financially.

It has been noted that the collaboration is much more crucial for those in rural communities where there isn’t any bureau or bank to receive money from. Transactions from anywhere in the world through Western Union can now be received directly, no matter where the recipients are in Sierra Leone.

Orange Money’s service is also well known for its reliability, giving customers access to their wallets even without any internet connection, and with any mobile phone device.

The collaboration is not just with Western Union. Orange Money has expanded its reach by collaborating with other emerging money transaction agencies like BnB, Small World, Omnex Group and more.

These collaborations reaffirm Orange Money’s contribution in leading the way in digitalizing cashless transactions in Sierra Leone.

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