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Africell/CARE Launch COVID-19 Prevention & Response Project

By Amin Kef Sesay

One of the oldest operating International Non-Governmental Organizations in the country, CARE, has on the 23rd June 2021, partnered with the Government of Sierra Leone and Africell-SL to launch the COVID-19 Prevention and Response Project (CPR), an event that took place at the John James Complex on 48 Jenner Wright Road in the East End of Freetown.

In attendance were the Country Director of CARE, Michael Alandu, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, Rev. Titus Williams, Head of Afrimoney, Massa Mason Dennis Esq, Director General, National AIDS Secretariat, Director of Gender Affairs in the Ministry of Gender, a representative of NACOVERC, some members of staff of CARE, Afrimoney and beneficiaries of the project.

In her goodwill message, the Head of Afrimoney, Massa Mayson Dennis, stated that it is with great appreciation that she is joining all to launch the COVID-19 Cash Voucher Assistance Program.

“Afrimoney and CARE are playing a pivotal role in enhancing financial inclusion in the country with this partnership,” she outlined adding how Afrimoney was founded on humanitarian assistance initiatives during the Ebola crisis saying they will continue to embody that by playing a key role in the country’s social impacts projects such as disbursement of cash transfers to the disadvantaged in communities and other Corporate Social Responsibility activities.

She continued that the outbreak of COVID-19 has affected many people across the world especially women and the most vulnerable in communities. Massa maintained that as we saw in 2014 to 2016 the country can overcome any challenge provided if all work together with discipline and coordination.

“Based on the experiences gained during the Ebola period, public and private sector partnership is critical to managing national public health emergencies,” she underscored furthering how the partnership is a testament of the power of public and private sector partnerships to transform lives whilst deepening financial inclusion.

She noted that the cash transfer payment will ensure that beneficiaries receive the much needed financial assistance directly to their Afrimoney wallets which will allow them access basis financial services such as savings, lending, money transfers, bill payments etc.

“With this partnership Africell/Afrimoney reaffirms its commitment to working with all stakeholders in driving the Government’s agenda of financial inclusion and a cash-lite economy,” the Head of Afrimoney concluded.

Earlier, the Country Director of CARE, Michael Alandu, in his statement said that this year marks 60 years of the organization’s presence and intervention in the country further underscoring how the organization has been working alongside the Government and other partners to enhance development and reduce poverty.

He informed the audience that women are at the heart of most of CARE’s programs as they are primarily targeted in all their interventions in the various communities where the organization operates.

“By understanding and addressing the underlying causes of poverty we are focusing our efforts on long term goals to help the people of Sierra Leone improve their livelihoods, security, health and economic development.

Michael Alandu highlighted that the COVID-19 Prevention and Response Project is supporting President Julius Maada Bio’s national strategy on COVID-19 preparedness and response adding how it is designed to leverage the technical strength, positionality and access built from the Epidemic Control and Reinforcement of Health Services Project.

He explained that the Project will support the five pillars of COVID-19 response in the country in 10 districts namely, Western Area, Port Loko, Kambia, Bombali, Karene, Koinadugu, Falaba, Tonkolili, Kenema, and Bo, which includes coordination, logistics, surveillance, supporting community awareness of and resilience to COVID-19 through Social Mobilization and Risk Communication and community or household resilience through cash transfer to vulnerable households.

The Country Director disclosed that it is the German Government through the KfW Project that provided the fund, in the tune of Three Million Euro, to support the implementation of the project and will end in October 2021 targeting residents of Sierra Leone who are at risk of contracting COVID-19.

“The objective of this project is to strengthen the health system in Sierra Leone to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and support community awareness as well as resilience to COVID-19,” he told the audience.

In his keynote address, the Deputy Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Rev. Titus Williams, stated that he is aware of the role CARE is playing in complementing Government’s efforts in deepening development. He said there is a long history of the partnership with Government.

On behalf of the President and Government he congratulated CARE for its 60 years of its presence and intervention in the country especially in the strides they have made so far in catering for the vulnerable. He dilated on the efforts that Government has made in coordinating the activities of NGOs in the country through his Ministry.

“We will continue to create the enabling environment for NGOs to operate smoothly in the country, supervise and monitor their programmes as well as strengthen their relationships with residents in communities where they operate,” he informed.

He assured CARE of Government’s continued support and ended up admonishing the beneficiaries to use the cash they will be receiving judiciously.

Other speakers commended the German Government for providing the fund, touched on the efforts Government is making to combat the spread of COVID-19, the need the strictly adhere to the COVID-19 regulations, to be vaccinated and for the beneficiaries to use their monies wisely.

The vote of thanks was done by one of the beneficiaries on behalf of others all of them mainly women.

CEO Jennifer Thompson Sheds Light on Leone Stars’ AFCON Qualification

Chief Executive Officer of “Catch Them Young”, Jennifer A. Thompson

By Foday Moriba Conteh

During an exclusive online interview with the Chief Executive Officer of “Catch Them Young”, Jennifer A. Thompson, geared towards her shedding light on Leone Stars’ AFCON Qualification, she started by saying among other things, that the country has qualified for the African Cup of Nation after 25 years for which she congratulated the team on their victory.

She stated that for a quite a while the country had been divided along party and regional lines but maintained that because of the victory that Leone Stars brought home, there was a huge sign of unity, pointing out that football gives us a great opportunity to be united as a society and to empower children through the values that it brings.

Jennifer noted that it is appropriate to reflect on the positive, constructive roles the game of football can play to enhance peace and development in the county, adding that the contribution of sports to peace building in troubled communities cannot be over emphasized at the community level averring that at the community level, sports has the unique power to attract, mobilize and create an atmosphere where people can come together and work together towards the same goal and show respect for one another, furthering that Sports can contribute to development, create jobs, support the economy and promote gender equality which she said all have been manifested when the country qualified for the African Cups of Nations.

In the light of the above, according to the CEO, sporting activities like football among others, can be used to help build peace in troubled communities maintaining that the football family in the country must stand together rather than officials fighting each other stating that y doing so will open far bigger opportunities for the football family and the country as a whole.

Jennifer Thompson applauded Sierra Leoneans for supporting the team and encouraging the footballers and the entire football stakeholders to maintain the peace, unity and energy in pushing the country for bigger opportunities.

She urged football stakeholders to invest in community leagues which will contribute towards the development of football in the country as that will create the opportunity to showcase the hidden talents in young footballers.

It could be recalled that out of her passion for football, Jennifer Adeshola Thompson adopted a female football team in a village within Bo District which she intends to develop alongside other Bo players by bringing them together to make indelible impacts.

Jennifer Adeshola Thompson, who has demonstrated true philanthropy, whose compassionate gestures have left lasting footprints in the realm of development, especially positively impacting the lives of young people in the country, believes that “unity within the football family in the country will enhance growth of the sporting discipline”.

She categorically stated that she will continue to support football in the country especially by creating female football teams stating that when one invests in youth, one is investing in their future and the country as a whole because the youth are the future leaders.

In Commemorating International Widows Day… DOFA Dishes out Food and Non-Food Items to Aged Widows

By Foday Moriba Conteh

To commemorate International Widows Day 2021, with the theme: “Invisible Women, Invisible Problems” and in its quest to support the less privileged in society, especially Aged widows, the Dorwontony Organization for the Aged (DOFA), a charitable and non-Governmental Organization that advocates for the needs and rights of the aged, on Wednesday 23rd June, 2021 joined other organizations around the world to observe the day.

The commemoration, which took place at the Head Office of the Dorwontony Organization for the Aged (DOFA) on Pademba Road in Freetown, was followed by the donation of food and non-food items, which include rice, tomatoes, onions, sugar, toilet accessories and used clothing to Aged widows present during the ceremony.

Speaking at the event, the Founder of Dorwontony Organization for the Aged, Dorren Barrie, stated that the organization was founded in order to serve as the voice to advocate for the needs and rights of the aged across the country, adding that old people should not be considered as liabilities to society but rather should be given the care they deserve stating how they are the backbone of any peaceful society.

She added that as part of efforts in showing solidarity with women who have lost their partners, especially Aged Widows in the country, her organization thought it fit to commemorate this year’s  International Widows Day furthering that it is a global awareness day that takes place annually on the 23rd June every year, adding that the day was launched by the United Nations in 2010 to raise awareness on the violation of  the fundamental human rights that widows suffer in many countries following the death of their spouses.

Dorren Barrie pointed out that in many parts of the country women find themselves left in poverty when their husband dies and in some instances these women are denied the right of inheritance and land rights, evicted from their homes, and suffer from other forms of abuses noting that the children of widows also often find themselves affected, withdrawn from school and are more prone to abuses, especially in the case of girls.

She maintained that the ultimate goal of the day is to develop resources and policy to empower widows and allow them to have access to education, work, healthcare and lives free of violence and abuse.

Dorren revealed that it is against such a backdrop that they also decided to partner with a medical nurse from the United Kingdom, Anita L. Davies ,who conducted pressure checkups on all aged widows present and made referrals to a pharmacy where they will be treated free of cost.

The Founder of DOFA disclosed that the theme for this year’s International Widow Day is “Invisible Women, Invisible Problems” of which she said losing their partner can never be an easy thing for anyone but for a woman the hardship that comes along with the loss of their spouse is unimaginable.

She extended appreciation to Afri-Gas, Kabba Farm, Claudia Temple, Alpha Tanue for their support in making the event a success and called on the Government, the private sector and non-governmental organizations to support them in order to continue to provide more support to the Aged in the country, adding that old people are very important personalities in society and should not be neglected.

On her part, a nurse from the United Kingdom, Anita L. Davies, expressed appreciation to the Dorwontony Organization for the Aged (DOFA) for their strides taken in advocating for the needs and rights of the aged in the country.

She maintained that in a bid to empower women and safeguard the rights of widows, the UN General Assembly, on December 21, 2010, adopted a resolution and declared June 23 as International Widows Day saying she is very delighted to join the Dorwontony Organization for the Aged (DOFA) to commemorate this year’s International Widows Day with Aged widows.

Anita L. Davies said that as part of their contributions towards supporting Aged Widows she decided to conduct free pressure check-ups on all aged widows present, furthering that all those identified with high pressure will be put on treatment at a pharmacy free of cost.

Giving the vote of thanks, one of the beneficiaries, Sai Sesay, who resides at Congo Bridge, Tengbeh Town commended the Dorwontony Organization for the Aged (DOFA) and Anita L. Davies for their kind gestures.

She disclosed that living as a widow, especially them as old people, is not really  easy  as they are faced with a lot of challenges adding that some of them find themselves left in poverty when their husband dies and in some cases they are denied the right of inheritance and access to land , evicted from their homes and sometimes abused.

The event was climaxed by a free pressure checkup and referrals by the medical nurse from the United Kingdom, Anita L. Davies.

SLRSA & Bike Riders Union Sensitize Commercial Bike Riders in the Provinces

By Esther Wright

A Team of officials from the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA) and the Commercial Motor Bike Riders Union have ended a nationwide sensitization to Commercial Motorbike Riders across the country on the need to renew motorbike licenses and to operate within the framework of the law.

The team, which was headed by the Director of Safety and Enforcement of the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority, Augustine Kaitongi, disclosed how the objective of the sensitization exercise was to encourage riders to always be law abiding.

Kaitongi, while addressing stakeholders in Kabala, Koinadugu Districts, highlighted the negative effects of riding unlicensed motor bikes and called on riders to desist from such an act as it has the potential to undermine national security.

He pointed out that the Authority was undertaking the sensitization campaign in order to raise more revenue to fund road safety activities in the country and encouraged bike riders to regularly renew both their riders and motor bike licenses.

Kaitongi lamented over the large number of road traffic crash fatalities recorded in 2020 and appealed to his audience to be cautious on the road in order to reduce road crashes. He reminded them about the dangers of driving under heavy rains and other harsh conditions.

Speaking on behalf of the Motor Bike Riders Union, the National Public Relations Officer, Mohamed Nabieu, said the Union is in close collaboration with the SLRSA to address challenges faced by riders and encouraged his members to always operate within the ambit of the law.

Other members of the team included: A K Lansana, Manager, Safety and Enforcement Department, SLRSA, Lamin Yansaneh, Corps Admin, SLRSA, John Milton Konneh, National Auditor, BRU, Kailondo Banyah, Secretary General, BRU.

The team visited other strategic operational areas in Bombali, Kenema and Bo respectively.

Health Ministry to Develop Strategic Plan with Support from UNFPA

Officials and Participants at the conference

By Foday Moriba Conteh

To develop a five-year National Supply Chain Strategic Plan, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has supported the Ministry of Health and Sanitation.It will be a strategic document that provides a broader view of the current state of the supply chain, the strategic objectives of the Health Ministry and the roadmap for implementing high impact interventions for supply chain systems strengthening.

A five-day stakeholders’ consultative workshop commenced on Monday 21st June 2021 at The Place Resort, Tokeh Beach, where participants are expected to put together a comprehensive five years Strategic Plan that will help guide investments and coordinate the efforts of all stakeholders involved in Sierra Leone’s health supply chain landscape.

It could be recalled that the Ministry of Health and Sanitation with support from UNFPA commenced the development of the Sierra Leone National Health Supply Chain Strategic Plan which was divided into two phases. Phase 1 was completed between 2nd September and 31st October 2020 and the resultant output was the Diagnostic Analysis of the current state of the National Supply Chain, highlighted key priority areas, and proffer recommendations that should be addressed in the strategic planning process. Phase 2 was launched on the 25th February 2021 paving the way for the collection of the primary field data to further complete the Diagnostic Analysis and a deeper analysis of the key strategic areas identified in Phase 1.

UNFPA’s Officer-In-Charge, Dr. Stephen Mupeta told the conference that his organization is proud to support the process because it is aware of the fact that most maternal and child mortalities in Sierra Leone can be prevented if quality and lifesaving medicines are available at all service delivery points.

“A national integrated supply chain strategy should serve as a common framework for well-coordinated, well-aligned, and harmonized planning, implementation, performance monitoring, and reporting of supply chain interventions that ensure delivery of pharmaceuticals and health technology products to those in need. Such a common framework should also be used to structure and enhance existing multi-partner and multi-level financing and coordination mechanisms,” he said and furthered that Reproductive Health Commodity Security, whose key components will be integral to this national health supply chain strategy, plays a pivotal and strategic role in ensuring that Sierra Leone achieves its national health goals as enshrined in the Medium Term National Development Plan, the Sustainable Development Goals, and the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) commitments.

Dr. Mupeta said UNFPA appreciates the commitment of the Government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Health and Sanitation to ensuring effective governance of the national supply chain system. “We urge you to ensure enhanced data management to inform effective planning and program implementation along the entire length of the supply chain system; rational medicines use, and strengthened coordination mechanisms as reflected in the National Health Sector Strategic Plan and the National Medicines Policy. I would like to assure you of UNFPA’s continued support,” he noted.

Chief Pharmacist in the Health Ministry, Jack Lansana disclosed that the strategy will form a framework and a roadmap to specifically guide the Ministry and other line sectors to reaffirm the health supply chain vision, goals, strategies, and means of achieving its desired outcomes within a specified period.

“The strategy and its implementation plan will present a guideline for the priority areas over the next five years to all supply chain players in Sierra Leone,” he said and added that the consultative workshop will focus on the following areas: Describe the vision and mission of the national health supply chain strategic plan, aligned with national health sector plan; validate the findings on the current state of the health supply chain in Sierra Leone; define the strategic objectives for the national supply chain in the next 5 years; identify and prioritize the milestones and key interventions needed to achieve these objectives over the next 5 years; define the effective governance mechanism to monitor and manage the execution of the strategic plan; assess and address potential risks to the achievement of the strategic objectives and/or implementation of the milestones; and agree on the next steps to finalize the endorsement of the Integrated National Strategic Plan and the development of a costed Implementation Plan.

He admonished participants to remain focused and committed to making these five days stakeholder consultative workshop a success.

Philip Wambua who represented the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) described the supply chain in the health sector as very important to address various conditions and furthered that some widely discussed medical conditions like blood should be factored in the strategy. “I hope that this will be an evidence-based strategy”’ he said and recommended that the strategy addresses efficiency, data use for decision-making and it should be a strategy that builds national structures. He admonished stakeholders that the strategic plan is implemented and should also ensure that there are milestones to increase implementation and also a structure for accountability.

Though Making Steady Progress, Energy Ministry Has Much to Do

Minister of Energy, Alhaji Kanja Sesay

By Amin Kef Sesay

Access to energy is at the heart of modern day socio-economic development. Kudos should go to the much too appreciated Minister of Energy ,memers of Staff and Management of EGTC and EDSA as they put up with a barrage of public crioticism in the Western area, Bo, Kenema and other places for failing to provide them with cheap, constant, reliable and accessible electricity supply.

More than 80% of the population in this modern age still lives without electricity and those that have access in the capital city and other places live with unreliable or expensive power, which poses a key barrier to economic development.

The Ministry of Energy has developed a plan for both grid and off-grid solutions as vital for achieving universal access. This, however, needs the support of an enabling environment with the right policies, institutions, strategic planning, regulations and incentives.

The World Bank has for decades been committed to helping Sierra Leone work towards universal access to affordable, reliable and sustainable energy as a key part of delivering on its twin goals of eradicating extreme poverty and promoting shared prosperity. The result has not been too successful.

In a modern age of gadgets that help make work and living easier, the majority of the people live their daily lives without electricity. This represents a fundamental barrier to progress for a sizeable proportion of the population and has impacts on a wide range of development indicators, including health, education, food security, gender equality, livelihoods and poverty reduction.

To be fair to the Ministry of Energy, every effort is being made to increase every day the number of people gaining access to electricity. However, these efforts will need to accelerate if the country is going to meet Sustainable Development Goal 7 – ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all by 2030.

Why is reaching universal access still a challenge? The World Bank observes that those remaining without service are either remote or poor or both.

In urban areas, poor communities remain unserved. These should be easy to reach, although the informal settlements where many of these poor reside can be difficult to serve with permanent infrastructure.

For remote households, extending the main grid can be prohibitively expensive. Even using off-grid systems to serve these populations can be financially challenging.

Lack of sufficient power generation capacity, poor transmission and distribution infrastructure, high costs of supply to remote areas, or simply a lack of affordability for electricity, are among the biggest hurdles for extending grid-based electricity.

For off-grid electrification, including mini grids, the biggest challenges are poor policies, inadequate regulations, lack of planning and institutional support, lack of financing for off-grid entrepreneurs, and affordability for poorer households.

A number of countries have made clear progress on expanding electricity access in recent years.

Bangladesh, for example, has used both privately delivered off-grid solar home systems and publicly supported extension of the main grid through its rural cooperative program to increase the proportion of the population with electricity from 32% to 62% between 2000 and 2014.

Vietnam and Ghana, among other countries, have focused much more heavily on grid extension. China and India have also made excellent progress using a mix of technologies and business models, both on and off-grid.

In Kenya, 700,000 home solar systems were installed on the pay-as-you go purchase model, which is a flexible payment plan that makes electricity accessible to more people. Pay-as-you-go models have become increasingly attractive in many markets, expanding rapidly across Africa. One of the biggest advantages of this system is that people can pay in installments.

Christian Louboutin, Sabrina Elba, and Idris Elba Reinvented Red-Bottoms for a Cause

By Christian Allaire

Christian Louboutin’s iconic red-bottom heels are one of the ultimate luxury status symbols. But a new collaboration with Idris and Sabrina Elba, launching , is reimagining them for a thoughtful cause.

Like so many 2020 projects, Louboutin, Idris, and Sabrina’s new shoe partnership first began out of a virtual chat last summer. On June 15 of last year, the Black Lives Matter movement was at the center of the global conversation with protests occurring around the globe, and Idris and Sabrina went on Instagram Live with BLM’s cofounder, Opal Tometi. “We were having a conversation about what was happening in the world, and how we could contribute,” Sabrina tells Vogue. Louboutin tuned in to the chat, and he immediately saw an opportunity to partner with the Elbas to use fashion for more.

Together, the trio decided to produce a shoe collection that would directly benefit Black youth. Out now, the new Louboutin “Walk a Mile in My Shoes” collection was codesigned by the Elbas, and 100% of its proceeds will be donated to five non-profit organizations: Be Rose, Purposeful, Immediate Theatre, Gathering for Justice, and the Somali Hope Foundation. These organizations aid in making the arts accessible to all, ending child incarceration, and providing mentorship for girls, among other causes.

The line includes luxury sleek, pointy-toe pumps and mule sandals for her, high-top sneakers and oxford dress shoes for him, and leather top-handle bags. For the Elbas, it was a tangible way for them (along with their customers) to add to a good cause. “Our intention is to contribute to the moment,” says Idris. “Some people can contribute by protesting, by passing legislation, by offering money—but the intention of the contribution is what is important.” Sabrina felt it was important for the charitable components to be global in scope. “We wanted to do something that had an international reach,” she says. “With George Floyd’s murder, there was such a global outcry of pain; people realized this is a global issue.”

Together with Louboutin, the couple wanted to make sure the design process was just as purposeful as its core intention. Louboutin incorporated his signature red soles, of course, but he also collaborated with the Elbas on special, one-off details that touch on themes of empathy. Across some of the sneakers and pumps, for instance, reads, “Walk a Mile in My Shoes,” something Idris read while visiting the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial in L.A.; it struck the actor as a message of empathy. “The message we wanted to share with people is a message of solidarity and hope,” says Idris. Sabrina also had the idea of adding imagery of Strelitzia reginae plants to the pieces, which is a symbol of hope and freedom. “It’s something more lively and enthusiastic to say all isn’t dark. We can still find hope in this challenging time,” Louboutin says.

This is only the first of much collaboration to come between the Elbas and Louboutin too. In the future, they will be releasing more shoe collections together—all for a good cause. “Through this collaboration, and going into deep conversations about the actual situation we’re facing all around the world, it strengthened our relationship,” said Louboutin. For Sabrina, the partnership is simply a dream come true. “The first luxury designer shoe I ever bought was Louboutin,” she says (he also made her wedding shoes). “I saved up all my tips and bought a pair of So Kates. The first time I put those on, I was just like, a bad bitch.”

Credit: CELEBRITY STYLE

21 Students Set Free in Bo through LAB’s Intervention

By Amin Kef Sesay

At the High Court in Bo, 21 students were set free after their sentence and conviction were quashed by Justice Ganda following the granting of an application by the Legal Aid Counsel for the Southern Region, Kabbah Sei Coomber.

On the 28 May 2021, the students were arrested on allegations of Frequenting a place used for smoking Cannabis Sativa contrary to Section 49 (1) of the Pharmacy and Drugs Act 2001 and Loitering contrary to Section 7 of the Public Order Act 1965.

They were arraigned at the Magistrate Court No. 1 in Bo on the 31st May 2021 where the charges were put to them. They pleaded guilty to both counts. They were all convicted and sentenced to 1 year 6 months each. This is despite the fact that the above legislations make provision for an alternative fine in lieu of custodial punishment.

The sentence sent shock waves among parents of the students who were expecting the Magistrate to have warned and released the students because they had not wasted the court’s time and had shown remorse. Moreover, they were first time offenders.

Aggrieved parents of the convicted students approached the Legal Aid Board Office in Bo and appealed for help noting the education of their children could be destroyed for life after serving the sentence. “I still do not know how my son could find himself in this situation, he does not drink alcohol or smoke,” one of the parents said.

Counsel Coomber filed an application at the High Court pursuant to Section 5 of the Summary Review Act Cap 17 of the Laws of Sierra Leone 1960 for the said conviction and sentence to be set aside. He argued that Count 1 was defective in law and therefore incapable of sustaining a conviction against the accused persons. He furthered that the Pharmacy and Drugs Act 2001 does not contain any Section known as Section 49 (1). Also, he submitted that the proper charge should have been Section 49 (a) of the Pharmacy and Drugs Act 2001 which provides for the Offence of Frequenting a place used for smoking Cannabis Sativa.

Counsel Coomber noted that the Learned Magistrate erred in law in the exercise of his sentencing discretion by sentencing the convicts to 1 year 6 months each on Count 2 (Loitering) contrary to Section 7 of the Public Order Act 1965. He maintained that the Act is clear as to the required punishment for the offence. He added that Section 7 provides that on conviction, the convicts should be sentenced to a term not exceeding 1 month.

In light of the above, Counsel Coomber urged the Honourable Justice Ganda to set aside or quash the conviction and sentence of the convicts which was accordingly granted.

Ms. Fatmata Claire Carlton-Hanciles, the Executive Director of the Legal Aid Board has praised Justice Ganda for squashing the sentence and conviction noting that ‘Justice has been served’.

“Allowing this conviction to stand would have sent the wrong message to people, that they can waste the court’s time by not pleading guilty even though they know they are guilty of an offence. This is because at the end of the day they will be slammed with the maximum sentence.

Ms. Carlton-Hanciles said they have consistently called for the downgrading of these trivial offences so that people do not have to serve time in prison if found guilty. ‘What’s more, most of the victims of this law are female sex workers and homeless people’, she said, adding ‘A client of ours was arrested for loitering in the Lumley Area in 2019 after he became homeless because his relatives refused to accept him after serving time at the Pademba Road Correctional Center for a drug fuelled assault on her grandmother. This law criminalizes homelessness. It must be scrapped.’

Ending in the Western Area…   MTCA, NTB Wraps Up Consultative Workshop on Marketing & Branding  

By Foday Moriba Conteh

The Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs and the National Tourist Board with support from the World Bank Sierra Leone Economic Diversification Project having concluded the regional marketing and branding consultative workshop in the provinces, held a consultative Marketing and Branding Workshop with Journey and ACORN consultants at the Family Kingdom Resort on the 21st June 2021   in Freetown.

Fatmata Kroma, General Manager of the National Tourist Board, in her statement, noted that they have been doing a lot of marketing and Branding with special credence to Minister Pratt for putting so much emphasis and aggression in international marketing and promotion, and that as a result, Sierra Leone is now recognized globally in terms of tourism.

“Despite having a marketing initiative and tool, there is no marketing strategy for Sierra Leone, but with support from the World Bank we will be having a holistic and international marketing strategy with an implementation plan. For the document to have a national character, the consultants have consulted the regions to have their input into same,” she intimated.

Hon. Saidu Conteh, Deputy Chairman for the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Tourism, disclosed how he is excited to be part of the meeting noting that they will always give their support to the Ministry and the Board. He on behalf of the Committee in Parliament welcomed the Journey and ACORN Consultants for supporting the tourism sector.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Andrew Sorie, maintained that the workshop demonstrates what they want for the sector as the consultants will help lure more visitors to Sierra Leone. He added that the Ministry was excited about the activity and that they are hoping for positive results for Sierra Leone to compete in the highest level in world tourism.

In their presentation on the situation analysis, marketing opportunities and challenges during the regional workshops, the Lead Consultant, Mike Fabricius, said they had a wonderful experience and they felt energized.

He explained that the objective is to develop a national tourism marketing strategy and branding that is implementable which can resonates with tourism markets and embraces the importance of sustainability in order to kick-start implementation of rebranding the destinations, social media marketing strategy and production of key collateral and marketing training.

He furthered that the strategy would guide the marketing of tourism for the next ten years and that it includes a three – year action plan with corresponding activities, tactics, targets and budgets adding that it will be realistic and in line with the GoSL budgets and capacities and will focus more on digital marketing.

The workshop was climaxed by interactive group sessions where participants discussed the basis on which Sierra Leone can be differentiated from other competitors in terms of the type of travellers to be targeted, the packaging and presentation of product to travellers and the vision for Sierra Leone’s tourism in 2035.

The presentation further showcased  the slogan that summarises Sierra Leone’s brand promise, how to visualise the brand promise in a brand identity and what expression should be given to Sierra Leone in terms of sound, aroma, taste, texture and visually were all discussed by participants.

Minister of Higher Education Cautions Njala University Authorities

Professor Alpha Tejan Wurie, Minister of Technical and Higher Education

By Amin Kef Sesay

Professor Alpha Tejan Wurie, Minister of Technical and Higher Education, on the 21st June, 2021 called on the Administration of Njala University to do self-introspection on its programs since the creation of the institution as an independent University in 2005.

He made that statement during a presentation of teaching and learning materials to Njala University over the weekend.

Professor Wurie recounted that he was an architect for the creation of Njala University as an independent University some forty-one (41) years ago after its establishment in 1964.

Njala University, according to him, had mainstreamed Agriculture and Education as the core areas during its creation in 1964 but that it had grown and expanded so much in the last fifteen (15) years by creating more and more Schools and Postgraduate programs.

He encouraged the University Administration to rather consolidate and concentrate on staff strengthening rather than expanding into more disciplines. He maintained that expansion requires huge funding and an appropriate staff establishment to service such an expansion.

The Minister appreciated such academic prowess on the part of the University to expand and create programs in more emerging 21st-century issues but that this should be supported by funding and the required staff structure.

“I want Njala University to hugely collaborate with the Ministries of Health and Agriculture in the design of an appropriate curriculum that will serve the daily needs of these Ministries,’’ Minister Wurie stated.

The Minister paid a one-day visit to Njala University over the weekend, the first since his reappointment as Minister for Technical and Higher Education to get first-hand information on the challenges of the University and progress made so far since its creation in 2005.

He disclosed to the University authorities that by August 2021, the Government of Sierra Leone would convert Milton Margai College of Education and Technology and the Eastern Polytechnic into technical universities making the number of public Universities into five.

Professor Wurie also admonished that public Universities should try as much as possible to consolidate programs that are very core to their establishment.

Professor Bashiru Mohamed Koroma, while welcoming the Minister and his delegation, noted that Njala University has been able to meander through the inherent challenges it had faced since 2005 when it was delinked from the University of Sierra Leone.

He called on the Minister to be an Ambassador for Njala University that is hugely plagued with water, electricity, and other challenges.

The Outgoing Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Osman Sankoh likened Njala University to an adolescent that had survived both infant and maternal mortality rates and now strong enough to go even though he still needs support from his parents to grow into adulthood.

He thanked the Minister for using his wisdom just after his appointment as Higher Education Minister to quell a strike action by all the Academic Staff Associations in the three public Universities in the country and for also meeting the commitments made to these striking lecturers and the different administrations.

Mallam thanked the Government for giving him an opportunity to serve his institution and also extended thanks to the administrative and academic staff members for supporting him in the last fourteen (14) months as caretaker Principal.

He lauded the wisdom of the Ministry for appointing Professor Andrew Baimba as the new Acting Vice-Chancellor and Principal and was confident that he was the right choice to sustain the reforms already made at Njala University.

The incoming Acting Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Andrew Baimba was full of praise for Mallam O. and also thanked the Ministry for appointing him. He assured the Ministry that he would commit himself fully to the direction of staff strengthening and consolidation.

The University Registrar intimated to the Minister that his Administration is fully committed to restructuring and that a number of actions are now been taken in the various schools to restructure.

He praised Mallam O. for inspiring them in the last fourteen months and welcomed Professor Baimba to Njala University.

The climax of the ceremony was the presentation of teaching and learning materials to Njala University and a conducted tour of some of the facilities at the University then followed.

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