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Celebrating CPC at 100… Voice of Friendship Magazine Features Mariatu Kargbo, President Lin Songtian Photo

By Amin Kef Sesay

Voice of Friendship, a widely circulated Chinese Magazine, in celebrating the Communist Party of China (CPC) 100 years anniversary, featured Mariatu Kargbo, who is a Sierra Leonean philanthropist, artist and cultural Ambassador to China and Africa. Popularly known as Maria the Black Pearl of China she is the President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.

A photo, which was taken during a presentation made by Maria, who is the founder of the Sierra Leone China Friendship Association (SiLCHA), on behalf of the Association and the youths of Sierra Leone on April 15 2021 to President Lin Songtian, was to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Sierra Leone and China.

The feature photo is to showcase the friendship of China across the globe. Other countries across the globe were featured in the magazine but Sierra Leone was more prominent on the cover of the magazine.

Sierra Leone-China Friendship Association carefully produced souvenirs that integrate the traditional cultural elements of the two countries.

Maria, on behalf of the Serbia-China Friendship Association, made a special trip to the Friendship Association to convey it to Lin Songtian at the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.

Maria thanked the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries for its long-term unremitting efforts to promote friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation between Sierra Leone and China, and expressed her willingness to take the CPC 100 years anniversary and the 50 anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries as an opportunity to actively promote youth exchanges between Africa and China, and promote the language and culture of Africa and China.

Exchanges have made new and greater contributions to the promotion of friendship and mutual understanding between the people of Serra Leone, China and Africa.

She thanked the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the Chinese Embassy in Freetown and the Government and people of Sierra Leone for establishing good diplomatic ties between the two countries.

She promised to continue in make the friendship grow from strength to strength.

 

Charcoal Burner Sent to Life Imprisonment for Gang Rape

By Foday Moriba Conteh

Hon. Justice Alhaji Mohamed Momo-Jah Stevens (JA), Appeal Court Judge presiding over cases at the Sexual Offences Model Court on the 30th June, 2021 sentenced on, Joseph Lamin, a Charcoal Burner, to life imprisonment for destroying the virginity and anus of a 9-year-old pupil in a ‘gang rape’.

According to the particulars of offence, Joseph Lamin, who was residing at York Road in Waterloo, on the 28th day of July, 2020 engaged in an act of sexual penetration of one Mary Wilson (not real name), a child.

He was brought before the Sexual Offences Model Court for sexual penetration contrary to Section 19 of the Sexual Offences Act No. 12 of 2012 as repealed and replaced by Section 4 of the Sexual Offences (amendment) Act of 2019, Act No. 8 of 2019.

Representing the victim, State Counsel, MP Sesay, applied for trial by a Judge alone instead of a Judge and Jury pursuant to Section 144 (2) of the Criminal Procedure Act of 1965 as repealed and replaced by Section 3 of the Criminal Procedure (amendment) Act of 1981. His application was granted.

The Medical report endorsed by Dr. O. Claudius-Cole revealed that the victim was in severe pain and was immediately rushed to the theatre room for surgery. It further revealed that there were several bruises on her cheeks and the left side of her face close to the mouth.

“Hymen was completely ruptured and the vaginia and anus was just one big hole. The rectum and anus were torn,” the medical report stated.

In her testimony, the victim told the court that after they were attacked by three unknown persons at around 3am in the morning, she escaped and took refuge in a nearby makeshift structure but she was chased by the accused person and two of his colleagues.

She went on to explain that she was ‘gang-raped’ wherein her virginity was destroyed. According to her, the two others ran away but the police later apprehended the accused, Mohamed Lamin. She said after the surgery, she was later hospitalised for one month and two weeks.

Four witnesses testified including the Police Investigator from the Waterloo Police Family Support Unit who explained their visit to the crime scene.

Accused Joseph Lamin who pleaded not guilty relied on his statement at the Police and there was no witness to that effect. He was represented by C. Taylor Young from the Legal Aid Board who later made his plea in mitigation.

Delivering his Judgment, Hon. Justice Momo-Jah Stevens said the accused is guilty as charged and the prosecution has proved its case. He referenced the case of Woolmington Versus DPP and re-emphasised that the accused is guilty.

He sentenced accused Joseph Lamin to life imprisonment based on the following aggravating factors; the accused committed the offence in the company of another person or persons, before or after the commission of the offence the accused used a weapon (knife) to threaten the victim and in the process caused bodily harm on the victim, and that the victim’s anus and virginity were destroyed.

 

Dr. Francis Kai-Kai Launches DSTI Ecosystem Mapping Report

Dr. Francis Kai-Kai, Minister of Planning and Economic Development

By Esther Wright

Dr. Francis Kai-Kai, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, has on the 30th June 2021 virtually launched the Directorate of Science Technology & Innovation Ecosystem Mapping Report that focuses on strengthening and growing entrepreneurial activity in Sierra Leone.

The Report would seek to provide data to policy makers needed to improve service delivery; providing opportunities for local entrepreneurs and investors to grow and scale business and also provide resources to producers and creators that promote the development of collaborative networks.

Rokya Ye Dieng, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, in her statement, expressed her delight at the launch of the report, noting that the UNDP together with partners have been working tirelessly to ensure the mapping exercise was done.

She said the ecosystem mapping would provide a holistic understanding of a digital and entrepreneurial environment in the country, identify gaps and provide the required policy direction for actions that would guide future planning in the digital agenda.

The Chief Executive Officer of SMEDA, Sharka Samuel Sannoh, said the data acquired would inform their program design and intervention. He said they would utilize the data to further understand the key challenges facing Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and what solutions they could proffer to make them better.

Team Leader for INVEST SALONE, Chukwu-Emeka Chikezie said that they would organize a roundtable to present the ecosystem map to investors and also present promising and invest-ready firms to potential investors, connecting the firms and investors to the pipelines.

In his keynote address, the Minister of Planning, Dr. Kai-Kai the New Direction Government recognizes a clear need for national entrepreneurship and digital tool launch that would enable government, development partners of Sierra Leone to engage in planning that would be informed by credible data.

He said the mapping would be needed for monitoring and evaluation and also inform coordination of the county’s economic development, which would guide and assist in preventing duplication of efforts.

Dr. Kai-Kai noted that the outcome of the Ecosystem mapping presented the country with numerous opportunities in pursuit of a sustainable development for Sierra Leone informed by credible data and as well driven by technology and innovations.

The Minister, then on behalf of His Excellency the President (Retired) Dr. Julius Maada Bio and Government of Sierra Leone symbolically launched the DSTI Ecosystem Mapping Report virtually.

Leadership Transition Takes Place at Njala University

By Ralph Sesay (PRO Njala University)

Njala University on the 1st July 2021 witnessed a leadership transition from Professor Osman Sankoh (Mallam O.) to veteran educationist and Physicist, Professor Andrew A. Baimba who until his appointment was Head of Physics Department, Fourah Bay, University of Sierra Leone.

The incoming had served Njala University for over two decades as Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Bo and Njala Campuses, Acting Vice-Chancellor, and Principal. He left Njala University in 2020 after his retirement to serve a sister University, Fourah Bay College.

He had played an active role in the University’s internal scoring and policy review processes. He has a wealth of experience in Educational Administration and had mentored a very good number of staff at Njala University including some who are now in top Management/Administrative positions.

His predecessor, Mallam O. while breaking the news of the transition some few weeks ago, had described the incoming as his Lecturer and that his appointment to take over from him was a blessing for Njala University.

Mallam O. who also doubles as the Statistician-General of Sierra Leone has been recalled by Government to fully concentrate and deliver the first-ever Midterm Census in Sierra Leone.

The ceremony to mark the transition was at the Njala University Secretariat, Njala Mokonde.

The Pro-Chancellor, Mr. David O. Carew and senior members of the Academic and Administrative Staff were in attendance.

Professor Osman Sankoh Aka Mallam O. was in charge since April, 2020 as caretaker Principal of Njala University.

He has been lauded for introducing wide ranging reforms at Njala University including the stabilization of the finances of the institution and for also putting staff welfare, fairness accountability, integrity and transparency as priorities to be addressed.

It was understood that the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education is pleased of his fourteen months’ tenure at Njala University.

Mallam O., it is said, has assiduously worked to promote the image of Njala University by strengthening the Public Relations wing to propagate whatever good that was happening at Njala University.

He showed great passion to change the narrative at his almamater by calling for a shift from the normal ways of doing things. His Administration advocated for improved students’ hostels and other basic services which they are paying for and hence entitled to.

His long term vision was to leverage private sector support to solve the perennial problems of the University and for that he engaged the Banks to invest in student’s/staff hostels and accommodation, water and electricity supply, agriculture and the huge retiree liability.

President of the Njala University Retiree Association (NURA), who also doubles as an Associate lecturer at Njala University described Mallam O.as an individual who had changed the face of Njala University to a humane one during his fourteen months’ reign.

He and his Executive have praised his passion to solve the retiree situation they praised him for as well as opening up an unhindered communication with his Executive with a view to solve thorny issues.

3 Mining Communities Receive Le400M Surface Rent from Kingho

By Abdul Malik Bangura

Kingho Mining Company Limited has on the 1st July 2021 paid a total of four hundred million Leones (400,000,000) to mining communities in Tonkolili District, Northern Province of Sierra Leone.

The move is in pursuance of the requirement for the grant of a Large-Scale Mining License and in relation to the company’s obligation prescribed in Section 34(a) of the Mines and Minerals Act 2009 for surface rent.

The event which took place at the Tonkolili District Council, in Magburaka Town, saw stakeholders from the three (3) iron ore mining chiefdoms of Dansogoia, Sambaia and Simiria converged to receive their monies from the company’s staff.

Madam Judith Kosseh, Director of Community Affairs, Kingho Investment Company Limited, during the event, said that the company is a community company and will always fulfill its obligations to the people of the operational communities.

She continued that such is what prompted the company to come and honour its financial obligations by paying the surface rent.

Whilst giving a breakdown of the sum, Director Judith said Simiria Chiefdom will receive the sum of one hundred million Leones (Le100, 000,000), Sambaia Chiefdom will receive another sum of one hundred million Leones (Le100, 000,000), whilst Dansogoia Chiefdom will receive sum of two hundred million Leones (Le 200,000,000) all to be shared in the following sequence: Landowners 50%, Paramount Chiefs 15%, District Council 15%, Chiefdom Administration 10% and Constituency Development Fund 10%.

Responding to the payment, Honourable Rose Marie Bangura of Constituency 055 covering Simiria and Dansogoia chiefdoms thanked the company for honouring their obligation. She called on the landowners to utilize the money properly and to also use the money for development projects that will further empower their communities. She said aside from the payment of the surface rent, the company should also look into other areas like skills training in their respective communities.

Whilst giving his vote of thanks on behalf of the people in the mining communities, Paramount Chief Alimamy Bockarie Yallan Koroma of Dansogoia Chiefdom said the payment of the surface rent shows that Kingho is sensitive to its obligations. He called on the company to do some minor local rehabilitation to the road leading from Magburaka to Bendugu Town in Sambaia Chiefdom.

The Paramount Chief then thanked the company and prayed that the relationship between the company and the people continue to grow.

Bio Faces Two Big Challenges… Inflation And Unemployment

President of the Republic of Sierra Leone Dr. Julius Maada Bio

By Amin Kef Sesay

Yesterday, as was widely speculated, Government added Le1, 000 to the price of fuel sold in the country. The ostentatious reason given was the price of oil going up in the international market. This is partly true. However, the main reason is the continued devaluation of the Leone. Since March last year, the Leone has lost nearly half of its value against the Dollar, Pound and Euro. People who work at the Banks know what that means for a country’s economy and its people’s purchasing power.

Inflation increases poverty. The problem of poverty is aggravated when the prices of both imported and locally produced commodities increase. Inflation is therefore considered as the ‘cruelest tax ‘on the poor as it reduces disposable real income.

The sources of inflation include Government spending, money supply growth, world oil prices and the nominal effective exchange rate. Inflation accelerates when there is a high Government spending and high oil prices.

Another very serious challenge facing Government is that of unemployment as it causes lower economic growth. Every year, more and more young people reach working age but can largely not find the jobs because the economy is not expanding enough to absorb new workers.

The effects of unemployment include over-exploitation of available labor, reduced rate of economic growth, reduced human capacity, loss of human resources and increase in poverty levels. However, one positive effect of unemployment is the availability of adequate labor at reduced market prices.

Empirical evidence shows that unemployment and poverty go side by side. Young people after a long time of unemployment find the wrong way to earn money. To get rid from the unemployment stress, they accept alcohol or drugs. For the individual, unemployment can cause psychological distress, which can lead to a decline in life satisfaction. It can also lead to mood disorders and substance abuse. The prevalence of ‘kush’ among youths these days is not surprising.

The unemployment rate is the proportion of unemployed persons in the labor force. Unemployment adversely affects the disposable income of individuals and families, erodes purchasing power, diminishes employee morale and reduces economic output.

Root causes of unemployment include poor education and training, lack of entrepreneurship and investment and legacy of bad management of key State institutions responsible for generating economic growth.

Unemployment is caused by various reasons that come from both the demand side – the employer and the supply side – the worker. Demand-side reductions may be caused by high interest rates, global recession, and financial crisis. From the supply side, frictional unemployment and structural employment play a great role. As such, unemployment has both individual and social consequences that require public policy interventions.

NP-SL Ltd Continues to Take the Lead in Petroleum Marketing  

By Amin Kef Sesay

One of the dominant companies that have been making steady progress, growing by leaps and bounds within the business landscape of this country is indisputably the National Petroleum-Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL Ltd). It is widely acknowledged that the company has dominated the petroleum trade in the country based on its proactive stance with regards the importation and marketing of high grade petroleum products including petrol, diesel, gas and lubricants of which one of the best is the widely used Castrol oil.

Being an indigenous company that cherish its numerous customers, NP-SL Ltd, over the years, has placed high premium on customer care, which it has effectively rolled out over the years to such an extent that it has earned the enviable reputation of 1st for Customer Care. It is within that realm that the initial shareholders of the company, thirty-five (35) of them, thought it entrepreneurially prudent to import and install modern calibrated machines at all its Filling Stations.

These are automated and high precision machines which have the capability of pumping the exact quantity of fuel that a particular buyer or customer requests for, displaying quantity (in litres) as well as the price(s). With these machines, contrary to what used to obtain in the past when less sophisticated pumping machines were used, customers have sincerely attested that they do derive utmost satisfaction whenever they do transactions expressing the belief that the process is really transparent.

Within that same domain of satisfying and providing care for its customers, the company made it a must that all its Filling Stations should have safety regulations. That is why it cautions its customers and others that they should not use naked flame, that mobile phones should be switched off, engines must also be switched off at Filling Stations when fuel is pumped among others.

In order to ensure that fuel is distributed timely to all its Filling Stations in the country, the company has maintained a fleet of tankers (vehicles that transport fuel) and they are regularly maintenance in order to ensure that they are roadworthy.

The company has also sustained an open door policy in the sense that it encourages customers to express their concerns as well as recommendations which the Management takes into consideration whenever major decisions are taken, geared towards the development of the company. It has been ascertained that whenever customers have the feeling that their inputs are well respected such does not only bring them closer but also gives them the satisfaction that they are indeed relevant and highly regarded. This is exactly what NP-SL Ltd does and that has been paying good dividends. As far as the Shareholders and Management are concerned their customers do matter.

With the avowed objective of making fuel transactions easier and very convenient for its esteemed and numerous customers, the company again introduced the brilliant idea of introducing the use of NP Smart Card. This is a cashless way of transacting business or in other words purchasing fuel without using physical cash. The holder of an NP Smart Card could present the card at any Filling Station, as long as it contains money, and request for the quantity of fuel he or she requires.

The card is then slotted into the pumping machine with the subsequent discharge of the amount of fuel into a car or jerry can. This method of conducting cashless transaction is very advantageous in the sense that a customer is saved the hassle of intermittently rushing to the bank to withdraw cash for the sole purpose of purchasing fuel. This is so because already his or her NP Smart Card is loaded with money for that purpose. Indeed, it also provides security as the card is securitized only having the particulars of the holder which cannot be used by another person.

Human beings cannot exist in the absence of food as it is a basic necessity of life. Food is prepared in various ways but one popular way of doing so is by cooking. In this part of the world, most households are dependent on largely using wood and charcoal for cooking purposes. However, the cutting down of trees to be used as wood and charcoal have been frowned upon by environmentalists on the grounds that such is contributing negatively  to the depletion of the environment and pose other adverse consequences on the ecosystem.

Against this backdrop, the Shareholders and Management of the company thought it fit that to assuage that they must introduce a safer way of cooking. It was out of this idea that the initiative of introducing an environmentally cooking device arose and NP Gas was borne. Manufactured in different cylinder sizes, NP Gas has a high precision performance and to refill it is simple as the gas could be accessed at all the company’s Filling Stations in the country. Many whom have tried them intimated this medium that it is worth having at home and one could never regret having it but would rather recommend it to others.

NP-SL Ltd has etched its name in the sands of time for embracing and effectively rolling out the country’s Local Content Policy. As one of its major priorities, the company has placed high premium on giving employment preference to Sierra Leoneans. It is only on rare circumstances that the company make use of expatriates and in most cases it is when local personnel cannot be sourced.

In a country where accessing a secured and suitable job is like finding a needle on the beach for a company like NP-SL Ltd to avail Sierra Leoneans the opportunity to access job is indeed commendable. This posture, on the part of the company, has given the beneficiaries the opportunity to live improved lifestyles and have a sense of believing that they are contributing to national development.

A company that has vibrant branches in neighbouring Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast and The Gambia speaks volumes of a serious business entity that is determined to grow. In all those countries, the company employs indigenes and is paying taxes to the Governments which in turn are used to fund various development programmes.

From what have been said so far, NP-SL Ltd is a company that is making Sierra Leoneans proud and is an epitome of selflessness with a strong passion to further climb higher heights. Indeed, the company is truly a success story!

Hassan Kamara: Missing & Wanted By the Poro Society

Hassan Kamara
Hassan Kamara

By Millicent Mannah

In the field of journalism sometimes one thing leads to another thing or issue and that was exactly what transpired when this news medium honoured an invitation to cover the commissioning of a school that was constructed by a philanthropist in one of the deprived communities in the rural setting in the outskirts of Makeni, Binkolo, Northern Sierra Leone to be precise.

One of our ace reporters who was designated to cover the event also filed in a story which we deemed is news worthy within the category of human interest stories. The issue bothers around an attempted violation of the Freedom of Association of one Hassan Kamara, who in June of 2021 was forced by his father, Mohamed Kamara, to become a member of a highly secret society for young boys and men, the dreaded Poro Secret Society as a rite of passage into adulthood.

Mohamed Kamara, father of Hassan Kamara is a senior member of the society, occupying the position of “Gbanabom”, which is a powerful position in the society. Because the father was advancing in age it was traditionally recommended, as the custom demands, for Hassan to be groomed as a “Gbanabom” in order to smoothly succeed his father. However, when the son learnt about the plan and what he knows about the things that his father does during initiation ceremonies he made up his mind not to associate himself with the secret society.

To translate the laid down plan into reality the father decided to bring the Poro Society members in order to take Hassan by force against his will but luckily he saw them coming from afar.  He quickly decided to hide and ran away from the house. However, he returned in the evening hours and was chastised by the old man for leaving the house without permission. He was severely beaten with a belt by the father especially for going according to his wish.

After a week, his father, Mohamed Kamara decided to bring the society members again to take Hassan but this time round he was sleeping inside so he didn’t see them coming but only heard the unique sound that is associated with the Poro Society. Hassan immediately got out of the bed and jumped through the window to seek refuge at the house of his uncle, Samuel Koroma.

While residing at his uncle’s house, Hassan decided to start going to church though he was a Muslim who hails from a strong Muslim background.

When the father and other members of the Poro Society learnt that Hassan was residing at his uncle’s place and he has now become a Christian they stormed the uncle’s house with machetes and bottles but were unable to enter the house and they disappointedly left.

After one week the society members came back to the house and did the same thing but were still unsuccessful in getting Hassan and they left again.

Sadly, the uncle, Samuel Koroma, died in a tragic road accident while trying to take Hassan Kamara to another location for safety.

However, according to a reliable source Hassan survived.

Up to this moment of going to Press the whereabouts of Hassan Kamara is not known. But what is certain is that the members of the Poro Society are desperately searching for him vowing that if he is seen they will kill him and sacrifice him to the Poro gods.

For now Hassan has been declared wanted in the country by the Police and the Poro Society members. The Police want to ascertain whether he was among the victims of the tragic incident and the Poro Society members for treachery especially for adhering to the dictates of tradition.

From what this medium learnt there are other young boys and girls in the country who are forced to associate themselves with certain traditional practices, some very harmful, against their wishes all in the name of preserving traditions or customs. In reality their basic fundamental human rights are violated with impunity which is why it is important for Rights Based Organizations in the country to step advocacy and raise their voices against those harmful traditional practices otherwise young people will continue to suffer in silence.

 

UNDP Continues to Support Capacity Building to Parliament

By Theresa Kef Sesay

The UNDP has continued its support on capacity building to Parliament in a resident workshop at The Place, Tokeh Beach Resort, spanning 23, and 27-29 June 2021. This came in the wake of a validation exercise that took place  at the Brookfields Hotel of the maiden curriculum of the Centre for Research for Parliamentary Studies.

Gilbert N’habay, Deputy Director, Centre for Research and Parliamentary Studies (CRPS), in welcoming participants said it is a training of trainers workshop to achieve specific outcomes including firming up the curriculum, development of training manuals and identification of potential facilitators to kick-off the Centre.

Director of Centre for Research and Parliamentary Studies, Mohamed Alpha Jalloh spoke on valuable inputs by participants during the continued validation process, identification of potential facilitators and the development of manuals to be supported by the European Union (EU). He noted, however, that the Centre is starting slowly, but firmly and that facilitators would constitute the future and history of CRPS.

Hon. Dr. Paran Umar Tarawally, Clerk of Parliament, declaring the workshop open, recognized the consultants as great purveyors of knowledge saying the day marked a significant milestone in the history of Parliament.

Following a review on parliamentary administration in May 2018, the Clerk of Parliament recalled how a vision was carved out for the setting up of a Centre for Research and Parliamentary Studies. The outcome of the said review resulted in the creation of a Centre to codify and strengthen capacity building in Parliament. He said the main aim is to create a corporate parliament by bringing the private sector into parliamentary administration, thus, the need to incorporate a corporate spectacle in running the affairs of Parliament.

Speaking on the need for including parliamentary studies in schools curriculum, the Clerk noted that colleges and universities are not offering specific courses on parliamentary studies and the need to roll out parliamentary studies.

The Hon. Clerk categorically stated that, he wants a curriculum that is 100 percent Parliament. To couch a curriculum that is specifically on Parliament and Parliament alone, he emphasized and added that other courses would be read in universities and colleges.

He further stated that, the creation and rolling out of a curriculum should be 100 percent focused on Parliament in respect of its administration.

He said EU had agreed to support the development of contents before training manuals.

Likened it to the Kenya model, the Clerk of Parliament said the Centre would deliver professionally certified programmes with linkages. It is intended to assist MPs to earn degrees from entry to exit Parliament through paid up and examinable courses, seminars, presentations, and workshops to be delivered by the universities in the Centre by accredited certificates.

He ended by thanking UNDP, Consultants and Staff for supporting the Centre and wished to see a galaxy of competent trainers to run the CRPS.

As it Emerges Victorious in Tense Regional Competition… Team Kenema Clinches Ibrahim Brima Swaray Trophy

By Amin Kef Sesay

In a Debate and Quiz competition that took place on the 19th June 2021 at the Karima Complex, Kenema City, Eastern Sierra Leone, teams from Kailahun and Kono were on top but  Team Kenema stood firm to defend its home advantage, taking the first positions in the debate and quiz competitions respectively.

The first tournament at close quarters between schools took place in December, January and March for Kenema District, Kailahun district and Kono District systematically.

Government Secondary school and College Secondary School- Kenema, Pendembu Vocational Secondary School and Luawa Islamic Junior Secondary School- Kailahun, Clunny Free Secondary School and Experimental Junior Secondary in Kono were champions at district levels in the debate and quiz competitions separately

After the primaries in all the three ‘K’ Districts in the East, qualifications to the regional stage was skewed to the best debating teams, best quizzing teams, first and second best debaters as well as first and second best quizzers for each district. However, due to falloffs by some invited schools of teams from Kono and Kenema for the quiz, in compositions, each district had three participants in their quiz teams and four debaters in their debating teams accordingly.

In what was considered a gathering for pulsating academic synergy, turned into a sturdy moot warfare as the debaters took not only the judges but the audience by storm with their marvelous performances, reactions and sequential exhibitions of their one-to-one team cases and the temerity with which they manifested their public speaking dexterities. Out of three topics, only one of them was presented by all teams as per the direction of the Honourable judges.

After all the teams had presented their team cases, the results from individual participants of each team were collated. In this episode, Team Kenema with 282 points was declared as champion as against Kailahun which scored 222 points and Kono 212 points.

Emmanuel K. Musa of Team Kenema with an individual score of 83 points was declared the best debater.

The quiz competition was also an attention-grabbing episode as participants from various districts were tough. After several eliminations, Umpha Lamin Koroma of Team Kenema and Yusif Turay of Team Kono met on levelled terms.

Realizing that they have mastered all the spellings in the script that was given to schools prior the competition, it was unanimously agreed that in order to have a winner, they should move away from the script and draft spellings in accordance with their syllabus.

It was during that round that Umpha Koroma manifested that he is a spot-on champion, as he rummaged in front trouncing Turay by a fringe variance, replicating the same feat he had accomplished during the district tournament in Kenema in December last year.

When the tight battle was finally settled and scores collated, Team Kailahun scored 61 points, Kenema 87points and Kono scored 79 points. Team Kenema was declared the winning team and at the individual stage, Umpha scored a high of 43 points against Yusif’s 40, thereby making Umpha the best quizzer.

During the course of the event, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Public Procurement Authority, Chief Ibrahim Brima Swaray, the sole sponsor of the competition was amazed by the varying degree at which the competitors expressed their skills and therefore raised the initial star prize to Twenty Million Leones (Le. 20,000,000) from  Ten Million Leones (Le10,000,000).

As the guest speaker of the occasion, the NPPA CEO, Chief Ibrahim Brima Swaray was greeted with a mixture of standing ovation and a deafening applause after he took the centre stage at the Karima Complex.

‘‘We are all gathered here this afternoon to celebrate academic excellence and not the usual pageantry that has beclouded the minds of many young people,’’ Swaray pointed out in his speech speaking to a crowd of about 800 people.

Speaking exclusively to teachers and students, the NPPA boss said one of his ambitions is to see education grow not only in the Eastern Province, where he has started supporting such activities, but throughout the country.

‘‘As long as I continue to live and the New Direction Government continues in power, I will always continue to promote education,” he maintained.

According to him, the Ibrahim Brima Swaray Foundation focuses on education through organizing and sponsoring debate and quiz competitions stating that such will help to broaden the horizons of students and enhance the research capabilities of students too.

He observed that some participants from Kailahun and Kono, who performed extremely at their respective districts, were unable to reproduce their exact performances.

The CEO attributed such a phenomenon to the fact that the competition was staged on a foreign land and they did not travel with cheer givers to boost their morale.

He assured participants from Kailahun and Kono that they will be accompanied by supporters to such competitions should they be organized away from their home grounds and concluded by commending the efforts of the teachers for preparing their candidates with precision.

The competition was climaxed with the presentation of prizes and award of certificates. Team Kenema received the sum of Eight Million Leones (Le. 8,000,000) for winning both the quiz and debate competitions. Team Kailahun received the sum of Eight Hundred Thousand Leones and One Million Two Hundred Thousand Leones (Le .800 and 1,200,000) for finishing third and second in the quiz and debate competitions respectively. Team Kono also received the sum of Eight Hundred Thousand Leones and One Million Two Hundred Thousand Leones (Le.800 and 1,200,000) for finishing third and second in the debate and quiz competitions accordingly. Umpha Lamin Koroma and Emmanuel K. Musa both of Team Kenema won One Million Leones (Le. 1,000,000) each as best quizzer and best debater.

The NPPA strongman was honoured with an award from pupils of the Eastern Region in recognition of his outstanding support and dedication to the Free Quality Education Program.

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