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President Bio Assures ECOWAS of Continued Support to Preventive Diplomacy Mechanisms 

By Theresa Kef Sesay

His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio, in Accra, Ghana on the 19th June 2021 told a meeting of leaders of the Economic Community of West African States that Sierra Leone is concerned about the security situation in the region but assured that his Government will continue to support preventive diplomacy mechanisms.

“Our region faces a myriad of security threats underpinned by political crises, religious and communal tension, growing insurgency, banditry, cybercrimes, transnational and other organised crimes. All hands must, therefore, be on deck to closely attend to the security situation in our community. We should do more, not less, to tackle persistent insecurity in our community,” he said.

He thanked the Governments of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Republic of Ghana for their contributions to the Terrorism Fund and committed to making their own contribution in short order.

“Sierra Leone will also continue to support preventive diplomacy mechanisms discussed during the 46th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Mediation Council at the Ministerial level in Accra on the 18th June 2021. Sierra Leone also notes the strengthening of Women, Peace and Security, which will give women more vital voices in peace and security,” he said.

He recalled that from Sierra Leone’s experience during the eleven-year civil war and the making of peace, the women, as non-state actors, played very important roles in preventive diplomacy and in securing lasting peace.

He also commended former President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan of Nigeria, for his continued mediation efforts on behalf of ECOWAS on the socio-political crisis in Mali, adding that they were encouraged by assurances of strict compliance with the decisions of the ECOWAS Extraordinary Summit held in Accra on 30 May 2021.

“A peaceful resolution and a smooth transition to democratic constitutional governance within the agreed timeframe are imperative given the humanitarian and security situation in our sister Republic and our community as a whole. Sierra Leone takes note of the Mediator’s report on the Socio-Political Crisis in Mali and applauds the Government for appointing Mr. Choguel Maiga as Prime Minister, and we strongly urge them to maintain the roadmap of the Transition Charter. We also encourage Colonel Assimi Goïta, President of the Transitional Government, to adhere strictly to the decisions of ECOWAS,” he urged.

In his welcome statement, Ghana’s President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS said he hoped that they could agree on the matters before them so that they would have the time to delve into and take decisions on issues like terrorism, violent extremism, democracy, peace and security, health and the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, and the rapid economic recovery of the region from the effects of the pandemic.

“Excellencies, the Agenda for this meeting has been well defined. At our Extraordinary Summit, in February 2021, you entrusted me with the task of leading the reflection on the institutional reform of our Organisation. The purpose of the reform is to improve the performance and operational efficiency of ECOWAS Institutions, in order to ensure the implementation of integration programmes for the economic and social development of the Region,” he said.

President of the African Development Bank (ADB), Dr Akinwumi Adesina, spoke about the significance of stability of the African economy and strengthening the security and health sectors in the sub-region. He called on the Heads of State to work toward the production of the COVID-19 vaccine in their efforts to tackle the spread of the pandemic.

Qualifying for AFCON… Leone Stars Receive President Bio’s Promise

By Amin Kef Sesay

A cheque of Le 4.1 billion was handed over to the Chairman of the National Sports Council by President Julius Maada Bio who also presented a conveyance to each of the 41 players and officials of the Leone Stars team during a dinner in honour of the players, hosted by the First Lady Madam Fatima Maada Bio at the Bintumani Conference Centre on the 20th June 2021.

The First Lady, in her welcome statement, congratulated the players and officials of the team and thanked them for making the country proud, adding that football should not be political because the country also needs sport to maintain a happy nation.

She further congratulated President Bio on the win and thanked him for his support to the team while also urging him to continue to give more support to the team ahead of the AFCON games in Cameroon slated for early 2022.

Speaking on behalf of his teammates, Kei Kamara who scored the qualifying goal expressed gratitude to the President and First Lady for hosting a presidential dinner in their honour.

He also appreciated the team’s coach, John Keister, for being patient with them and for ensuring that they had a victory additionally encouraging young people, who want to participate in sports, to take their education seriously and also urged his colleagues to be role models in society.

In his address to the gathering, President Bio noted that for a while now the country had been divided along party and regional lines but stated that because of the victory that Leone Stars brought home, there was a huge sign of unity. The President also said they were gathered to celebrate the team because the country is proud of its citizens.

He assured the players and officials of his continued support to make sure that the team is ready for AFCON, adding that it would definitely be an effective way of uniting the country again.

The President ended by thanking Sierra Leoneans for supporting the team and encouraging the footballers and their managers to do their best to maintain the momentum by showcasing themselves and the country for bigger opportunities.

“I want to thank all of you who played your parts in ensuring that we had victory. Going to Cameroon next year, I want to see you play classic football,” he urged the players.

Legal Link to Hold One Day Training For Church Leaders and Administrators Tomorrow

By Amin Kef Sesay

In a Media Update released on the 20th June 2021 by the Christian Lawyers Centre also known as LEGAL LINK it was revealed that in fulfilment of its education mandate and in a bid to address the growing concerns within religious institutions bordering on legal compliance issues, court cases, land and property disputes the organization will be convening a one day Legal And Compliance Training For Church Leaders And Their Administrators.

Topics that have been slated for discussions are as follows:

Legal Process to Open and Register a Church; Church Acquisition of Land, Estates and Properties; Preparation of Lease Agreement, Tenancies and Conveyance; Handling of Labour and Employment Matters, NASSIT, Minimum Wage and Income Tax Laws; Laws on Marriage and Divorce; Church and Ethics and Church vs Court Proceedings.

It was further disclosed that the all-important training will take place on the 24th June 2021at the Harvestfield Chapel International Church on Jomo Kenyatta Road, Freetown starting at 9:30am prompt.

The cost for the conference is FREE but delegates are required to purchase a registration form at the cost of twenty thousand Leones (Le 20,000) to register for the conference

Also mentioned was that Certificates and conference materials will be given to all delegates of the conference.

The Speakers at the Conference will be: Barrister Rashid Dumbuya (main speaker), Barrister Andrew Johnson, Bishop Barrister Mike Obot, Pastor Paul Ken Bockarie, Pastor Tunde Adeboyega.

According to the Legal Link, for bookings and reservations, please call on 079167457 or visit their office at No.89 Fort street, Off Circular Road Freetown from Monday to Wednesday between the hours of 10am and 3pm furthering that the use of facemasks and social distancing will be observed.

The Organization also stated that Pastors and admins in the provinces Must not register for the Freetown Conference as the same training will be replicated in the East (Kenema), South (Bo), North-West (Port Loko) and North (Makeni) later this year.

World Vision & Stakeholders Monitor Progress Under the Sustainable Water (WASH) Project

By Foday Moriba Conteh

Statistics has revealed that more than 800 children under age 5 die every day from diarrhoea caused by contaminated water, poor sanitation and unsafe hygiene.

However, World Vision, an international non-governmental organisation, believes the global water and sanitation crisis can be solved and that is why it is focused on ensuring clean water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) for every person in every community they work in, including the most vulnerable populations in the hardest-to-reach places.

For World Vision this work is more important now than ever, since clean water is essential for handwashing and disinfection to prevent the spread of diseases like COVID-19.

In order  to complement Government’s effort through the Ministry of Health and Sanitation and Water Resources, World Vision Sierra Leone in April 2021 under its Sustainable Water Project (WASH Project) handed over two water supply projects for Ola During and Princess Christian Maternity Hospital (PCMH) on Fourah Bay Road and the Macauley Street Government Hospital respectively to Guma Water Company and also handed over the work plan for the total renovation and rehabilitation of the Macauley Street Government Hospital to God’s Gift Construction and General Services.

In a bid to monitor progress on the water supply projects to Ola During and Princess Christian Maternity Hospital and Macauley Street Government Hospital, Senior Management Staff of the World Vision and officials from the Ministry of Water Resources and Guma Valley Water Company on Friday 18th June 2021 undertook site visits to the respective work sites and hospitals.

The World Vision team lead by the Country Manager, Sagane Thiaw, expressed their satisfaction with the work done so far by Guma Valley Water Company as there was running water supply to most of the hospital wards at Ola During and PCMH even though the works is about 70% completed.

Speaking on behalf of Guma Valley Water Company, the Area Manager East, Joseph Wandoh, said they are ensuring that a perfect work is done and a dedicated water connection taken from Kissy Road is laid through Easton Street.

He added that no customer will be connected to the water supply line being laid for Ola During and PCMH to ensure that there is adequate water supply in the two facilities at all times which would add to the positive actions that comes from the hospitals in terms of child delivery and care.

A lactating mother at the Sarah Koroma Ward at Ola During Hospital, Mayalie Bangura expressed her delight for the running water in the Ward which has been flowing every day since her child was hospitalized.

It could be recalled that few years back World Vision Sierra Leone with experts from Guma, the Ministry of Water Resources and Ministry of Health did a comprehensive fact finding at the Ola During Hospital, PCMH, and also the Macauley Street Hospital where they saw the real need for water and for the sake of the children and those in need, decided to provide such facilities which they have done.

Orange Foundation Donates Baby Packs to Lactating Mothers at Kroo Bay

By Foday Moriba Conteh

Lactating mothers at the Kroo Bay Community were the beneficiaries of baby packs donated to them by Orange Foundation on the 17th June 2021. The donation was done during the telecommunications company’s weekly visit to the maternal screening center at the Kroo Bay Community in Freetown where several screening tests were conducted such as blood sugar, malaria, MMHG, HIV and COVID-19.

It was learnt that the project is part of Orange Foundation’s commitment to support deprived communities through its Safeguarding Maternal Health Projects in partnership with ICAP and the Ministry of Health.

The presentation of the first 5 baby packs was made to 5 lactating mothers at the screening centre in the presence of community stakeholders and the Paramount Chief of the Kroo Bay Community.

The lactating mothers, in turn, extended gratitude to Orange Foundation for its timely interventions and touching the lives of the women in their community.

Orange Foundation says it is “Because They Care”.

Dr. Baluwa Koroma Sheds Light on Sierra Leone’s Petroleum Landscape

By Amin Kef Sesay

When this medium caught up with the Executive Chairman of the Petroleum Regulatory Agency (PRA), Dr. Brima Baluwa Koroma, for him to throw light on the current petroleum situation and landscape in the country, he started by saying among other things, that the country consumes 1 million litres of fuel products every day but, on the contrary, the country can only store 40% of what is used per day.

The result-oriented Executive Chair further intimated that up to June 2021 Government granted over Le100 billion in subsidy on fuel products just to keep the pump prices stable adding that pump prices of petroleum products  changed six (6) times since 2018 and out of those, it was reduced three (3) times during that period.

The indefatigable PRA Boss stated that it is good to note that in spite of the hike in global prices, the Government of Sierra Leone has, in the recent past, kept the pump price of petrol and diesel unchanged at Le8, 500 per litre which comparatively is far lower than per litre prices in the entire West African sub-region.

“In other words, the country’s fuel prices are the lowest in the sub-region,” he pointed out and gave a comparative analysis of sub-regional fuel prices converted in Le/Litre as at 31st May, 2021 taking into consideration: Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana and The Gambia:

Petrol– Sierra Leone Le 8,500.00, Guinea: Le 9,450.00, Liberia: Le 7,879.33, Ivory Coast: Le 11,728.05, Ghana: Le 11,240.11, The Gambia Le 11,453.17.

For Diesel the comparison is as follows: Sierra Leone: Le 8,500.00, Guinea: Le 9,450.00, Liberia: Le 9, 192.49, Ivory Coast Le 11, 728.05, Ghana: Le 11, 172.45, The Gambia: Le10, 904.09.

In terms of Kerosene the comparison is as such: Sierra Leone: Le 8, 500.00, Guinea -, Liberia: Le13, 279.25, Ivory Coast Le10, 583.85, Ghana: Le9, 076.84, The Gambia: Le 8,573.04.

The Exchange Rate source is the Bank of Sierra Leone as at June, 3rd 2021. What this tells us is that at the moment we have the cheapest fuel pump price within the West African sub-region.

Dr. Koroma informed that Sierra Leone does not determine its oil or pump prices as the prices of petroleum products are determined by a combination of the international Oil reference price (PLATTS) and the foreign exchange rate.

“In other words, the pump price of petroleum products, including petrol, diesel, kerosene etc. in the country, is efficiently determined by a +/-5% trigger mechanism of the landed cost and that is mostly driven by the combined effect of the International Oil Reference Price (Platts) and available as well as accessible Foreign Exchange,” he took his time to explain.

He said, however, the country’s pricing regime is well structured, transparent and is reviewed monthly.

According to him, in as much as there has been a rise in the price of refined crude oil on the world market, the rate and manner in which the Government of Sierra Leone will continue to sustain leveraging subsidy on petroleum products could largely depend on how much Government will continue to mobilize additional revenue over a specific period of time.

“The apprehension now is whether the intervening stance of Government will be maintained amidst competing funding for the implementation of various development programmes,” he told this news medium maintaining that for now it could be a wait and see situation.

He underscored that what for now is certain is the plain truth that conditions on the world market are not favorable in terms of seeing a downward trend in the prices of petroleum products and it is something that is bound to affect developing nations like Sierra Leone negatively leaving most people, who are oblivious of the market realities on the ground, blaming Government whenever there is an increase in pump price though the latter does not import and market petroleum products.

Asked whether we are to expect an increase in the pump price shortly, the PRA Executive Chairman said by the look of things there is the likelihood but was quick to say that the petroleum landscape is highly volatile and changes can take place at any time.

He used the opportunity to appeal to all and sundry that if there is an increase in the pump price some people must not use it as a leeway to just increase prices of essential goods with the lame duck excuse of increased transportation costs.

“We must be patriotic and learn to love ourselves as a nation,” he ended admonishing.

This interview was granted before he was hosted by Radio Democracy 98.1 Gud Morning Salone Programme on the 22nd June 2021 but the Executive Chairman said nearly the same things as mentioned above with few exceptions. He pointed out that a storage facility will be commissioned by December this year which will add to the current capacity for imported petroleum products.

Dr. Koroma also revealed that fuel farms will be built in provincial areas in order to ensure that there is timely availability of fuel in those places thereby reducing the heavy dependence on Freetown for fuel supply and that they now have in their employ field monitors which has enhanced their monitoring exercises and heightened compliance by key players in the sector.

NP-SL Ltd Continues to Maintain High Standards in Effective Service Delivery

By Amin Kef Sesay

One of Sierra Leone’s successful business entities, the National Petroleum (NP) Sierra Leone Limited, is really maintaining very high standards in terms of qualitative service delivery, as well as enhancing effective marketing strategies that have made it very sustainable and admirable to many.

The company is on record for importing and installing latest calibrated pumping machines, which have the capability of displaying the unit prices of certain petroleum products sold such as diesel, petrol, kerosene, thereby enhancing transparency in all its transactions.

“This is a marked departure from what used to transpire in the past, when what was pumped into the tanks of vehicles could not be properly displayed, leaving room for doubts and certain unsavoury games to be played. I am really impressed with how NP is today doing it,” Mohamed Mansaray, a Poda-Poda driver said with some amount of satisfaction.
The company has good tankers that move with fuel to different parts of the country where it is operating. With dedicated and highly motivated members of staff manning the company’s various filling station, dotted in different parts of the country, NP-SL Ltd is efficiently providing good services to its numerous customers and gaining widespread attention for timely qualitative service delivery.

“Offering accessible services to their numerous and cherished customers seems to be well maximized by Management and such is contributing immensely in enhancing visibility of the company,” Mohamed Barrie, an entrepreneur highlighted.
Though in the past some mischievous individuals have attempted to drag the good name of the company to the mud by fabricating falsehoods, history can testify that there has never been any period of time when NP has been named for illegality.
Rather it has been timely tax compliant and operates within the confines of business laws that are binding on companies operating within the country.

The company is held in high regard for availing Sierra Leoneans job opportunities, which have somehow helped in drastically reducing the unemployment rate in the country. If this country was to have had similar businesses owned by purely indigenous shareholders, then this problem of unemployment must have long been a thing of the past.

When reference is made to Local Content, which is a Policy in the country, then NP-SL Ltd stands tall within that realm as nearly all its members of staff are Sierra Leoneans thereby making use of local talents everywhere they are operating. The Local Content Policy is indeed an engine of growth and NP is making full use of it.

With gas as one its marketable products it was thought wise to be producing gas cookers, popularly known as NP Gas, which could be access at their different filling stations. According to investigation conducted NP Gas is cooking-friendly, safe and long lasting. It is going at an affordable price and many are going for it.

In this digital age, moving away from the traditional way of transacting business has now become the norm. It is along such a line that it was thought wise on the part of the shareholders and Management to introduce the use of smart cards. With these cards, customers can procure petroleum products of whatever quantity they do desire.

“Using NP smart card always makes transactions very easy and convenient for me,” a prominent entrepreneur informed.

A marked reality of the company’s viability is evident in its opening of branches in Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast, The Gambia and in all of those places it is providing qualitative customer care services to residents, making it a prime priority.

Without any iota of doubt NP-SL Ltd is growing taller and taller as time goes by.

As He Commends Bilateral Ties Between CPC & SLPP…   Chinese Ambassador Outlines Successes of the CPC on its 100th Anniversary

By Amin Kef Sesay

The Chinese Ambassador Hu Zhangliang said he is delighted to see certain Sierra Leonean Government officials online and even attending a symposium on celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Founding of the Communist Party of China co-hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Sierra Leone and the Sierra Leone People’s Party.

The Ambassador pointed out that 100 years ago, the CPC was founded with only 50 plus members but today it has grown into the largest political party in the world with more than 91 million members.

He continued that over the past 100 years, the CPC has developed from an emerging political force dedicated to saving the Chinese nation and people to a political party that has been in power for 72 years with rich governance experience and great accomplishments.

According to him, over the past 100 years, the CPC had rallied and led the Chinese people in toppling the “Three Mountains” of imperialism, feudalism, and bureaucrat-capitalism that were oppressing them, defeating the ferocious Japanese imperialist aggressors, overthrowing the reactionary rule of the Kuomintang regime, and founding the People’s Republic of China whereby the people become the masters of their own destinies.

He further underscored how over the past 100 years, the CPC has united and led the Chinese people in carrying out socialist revolution and socialist construction with notable achievements, launching the great new revolution of reform and opening up and blazing out a path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, transforming the poor and weak old China into an increasingly prosperous and powerful new China, and thus opening completely new horizons for the great national rejuvenation.

“The Chinese nation, after enduring so much for so long, has achieved a great leap from standing up and getting rich to becoming powerful,” he stated adding that in the past 100 years, the CPC has been staying true to its original aspiration and mission of seeking happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation.

The Ambassador  continued that it has been uniting and leading the Chinese people to work hard continuously and forge ahead unremittingly saying it has been constantly carrying out self-revolution, advancing with the times and pioneering innovation.

“It has also been consistently adhering to strict self-governance, upholding the truth and correcting its own mistakes or shortcomings,” he told the audience

Ambassador Hu Zhangliang also intimated that over the 100 years, the CPC had rallied and led the Chinese people in waging a 28-year struggle, completed the new democratic revolution and established the People’s Republic.

In the following 72 years, he said, the CPC has rallied and led the Chinese people in striving for a better life disclosing that  he People’s Republic of China inherited an impoverished and tattered society from the defeated old regime.

He narrated that in the early 1950s, China’s GDP ranked around the tenth in the world but by 2010, China has become the world’s second largest economy.

“In 2020, China’s total GDP exceeded 100 trillion RMB (approximately US$14.7 trillion),” he divulged saying  it only took a few decades for China to score the development progress that Western countries did in one or two hundred years.

The Chinese Ambassador informed his audience that over the past 40 years, more than 800 million people in China have been lifted out of abject poverty.

“In February 2021, His Excellency General Secretary Xi Jinping solemnly announced that China had secured a comprehensive victory in the fight against poverty,” he maintained stating that China achieved the poverty reduction goal of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 10 years ahead of schedule.

“In the past few decades, China’s democracy, technology, innovation, cultural and social undertakings, ecology, and national defense building have all yielded world-recognized accomplishments,” he asserted.

He said last year, in the face of COVID-19, under the strong leadership of H.E. General Secretary Xi Jinping, the CPC and the Chinese Government put people’s lives and health in the first place and launched a resolute nationwide campaign against the pandemic.

“There were countless moving stories and strategic victory was achieved in a short period of time,” he said adding that China’s success contributed greatly to the global fight against the pandemic.

He revealed that at present, China is standing at a historical intersection where the timeline of “Two Centenary” goals converge.

The Ambassador said the first centenary goal has been achieved and the realization of the second centenary goal has already commenced.

“Under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, China has embarked on a new journey of fully building a modern socialist country and is poised to basically achieve modernization by 2035,” he informed disclosing that by the middle of the 21st century, China will be built into a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious and beautiful.

He continued that China’s development achievements have proven indisputably that the CPC is the backbone of the Chinese people, the vanguard of the Chinese nation, and the core of leadership for all endeavors in China.

The Ambassador Continues: “It is totally correct for history and the people to have bestowed the cause of the Chinese nation’s rejuvenation to the CPC. The path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, which the CPC has led the Chinese people in opening, is totally correct. It is totally correct for the CPC and the Chinese people to have employed the strategy of taking root in China, absorbing the finest achievements of human civilization and independently achieving national development. These must be upheld and can never be waived.

As per some international surveys, the CPC and the Chinese Government enjoy over 90% of approval among the Chinese people, ranking the first in the world for many years.

“The success of the CPC and China has expanded the path for developing countries in their quest for modernization and provides a brand new choice for countries and nations in the world that wish to accelerate their development and at the same time maintain their independence. It is a solemn pledge made by the CPC and the Chinese people long ago to make new and greater contributions to mankind. Having come all the way through hardships, the CPC and the Chinese people fully understand the preciousness of peace and the value of development. China has been taking the promotion of world peace and development as its sacred duty.

“The purpose of China’s foreign policy is to safeguard world peace, promote common development and build a new type of international relations with win-win cooperation at the core and build a community with a shared future for mankind.

“The CPC has been pursuing exchanges and cooperation with political parties and organizations from all countries and regions on the basis of independence, complete equality, mutual respect, and mutual non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, so as to promote the development of state-to-state relations.

“The Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) upholds the philosophy of equality, inclusiveness and development results shared by all as embodied in its motto “One People, One Country”. It bears resemblance to the CPC’s goal of remaining committed to serving the people, relying on the people and ensuring that all the fruits of development are shared by the people.

“Over the past several decades, the CPC and the SLPP have conducted fruitful friendly exchanges and cooperation, which effectively contributed to the development of China-Sierra Leone bilateral relations.

“This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the SLPP, as well as the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Sierra Leone.

“Last month, H.E. President Xi Jinping held a telephone conversation with H.E. President Julius Maada Bio. The two leaders reached new and important consensus on developing our bilateral relations. Recently, H.E. President Julius Maada Bio, in his capacity of SLPP leader, sent a warm congratulatory message to H.E. General Secretary President Xi Jinping.

“The Chinese side cherishes its cordial relations with the Sierra Leonean side.

“China stands ready to further strengthen cooperation with Sierra Leone in all fields and steadily push the relations between the two parties and the two countries to new heights”.

During official launch… Realsalonean Children’s Foundation Donates Assorted Food Items to Blind School

By Foday Moriba Conteh

As part of their strides in building a global community with compassion, love and eliminating poverty where children and humans have the opportunity to reach their full potential with basic human necessities, Realsalonean Children’s Foundation has on Saturday 19th June, 2021 officially launched at the Milton Margai School for the Blind on Wilkinson Road in Freetown. The launching ceremony of the Foundation was followed by a donation of assorted food items to the Milton Margai School for the Blind.

The donated items include: 10 bags of rice (50kg), 5 Cartoon of tomatoes, 2 bags of onion, 2 gallon of Cooking oil, 2 gallon of palm oil, 1 bag of sugar and used clothes.

In her opening remarks as Chairperson of the programme, Founder of Dorwontony for the Aged, Dorren Barrie, applauded the Realsalonean Children’s Foundation for considering her organization as one of the key partners in their efforts to support and promote children’s health, education, human rights, and their general wellbeing.

She added that children are supposed to be sources of happiness and blessing to families, communities and the nation, but when they are badly nurtured due to neglect and lack of proper care for their development, they instead become liabilities and menace to the entire society of which she said they therefore behoove all to play a part in helping to mold their character so that they could meaningfully contribute to national development.

She stated that the Dorwontony Organization for the Aged – DOFA for short – is a local non-governmental organization established in 2020 with the goal to advocate for the rights and welfare needs of elderly people and their dependents, thereby contributing to their health and social development and that notwithstanding this, they are open to collaborate and participate in other worthy causes that are aimed at supporting vulnerable groups in society.

She maintained that they at DOFA look forward to work in partnership with the Realsalonean Children’s Foundation to ensure they provide the critical care and support vulnerable children in society desperately need to support the growth and that by doing so, they are helping to develop a cohort of young people that will be the future of Sierra Leone.

In his address, Founder of Realsalonean Children’s Foundation, Fredrick Tarawallie, disclosed that the Foundation was established this year  to provide food, supplies, and education to children in need.

He added that the official launch of the Foundation is a historic event for them, adding that they decided to launch the Foundation at the Milton Margai School for the Blind because this year also marks the 65th year celebration and so they decided to organize a party and fundraising event, plus donating assorted food items which includes 10 bags of rice (50kg), 5 Cartoon of tomatoes, 2 bags of onion, 2 Gallon of Cooking oil, 2 gallon of palm oil, 1 bag of sugar and used clothes to the Milton Margai School for the Blind furthering that funds that the  they are going to raise will go directly towards helping Blind School children.

Underscoring their mission, he added that they will work in partnership with organizations, children, and communities to create meaningful changes by supporting community development and promoting children’s health, education, human rights, and their overall wellbeing, adding that their vision is to build a global community with compassion, love, and eliminating poverty where children and humans have the opportunity to reach their full potential with basic human necessities.

Principal of the Milton Margai School for the Blind, Saliue Turay expressed appreciation to the Realsalonean Children’s Foundation for the kind gesture which he described as very important to them as a school.

He assured them that the donated items will be used for the intended purpose.

Launching the Foundation, Barrister and Solicitor, Rhoda Sufian Kargbo Nuni, applauded the Realsalonean Children’s Foundation for their efforts in building a global community with compassion, love, and eliminating poverty.

She assured them of her support encouraging them to be steadfast towards achieving their mandate as an organization.

High Commission of India Commemorates International Day of Yoga

By Amin Kef Sesay

The High Commission of India in Sierra Leone has on Saturday 19th June, 2021 join the world to commemorated 7th International Day of Yoga. The event took place at Radisson Blu Hotel in Freetown.

A number of Yoga Institutes and Instructors in Sierra Leone partnered with the High Commission to present a number of Yoga postures and their benefits for the body and mind, as prescribed in the Yoga Protocol, approved by the Government of India. The partner institutes/individuals included: Hatha Yoga na Salone, This is Yoga Sierra Leone, Brahma Kumaris, Mr Babardee Samura, Mr. Samuel Allieu, Mr Felixon Musa, Mrs Bharti Rajwani. T. Choithram & Sons sponsored yoga mats and T-shirts for the participants.

In his address at the event, High Commissioner Rakesh Arora said that “in 2014, when India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a proposal in the UN General Assembly to celebrate 21st June as the International Day of Yoga, nobody had imagined that this will become one of the most popular and widely celebrated international days declared by the UN.”

He added that “Yoga is a gift of India to the world but it has now been embraced by all and thus become a common heritage. It was a pleasant surprise to know recently when we began to prepare for this event that Yoga is immensely popular in Sierra Leone also.”

He further said that “Yoga is an effective tool for holistic living and can help us promote sustainable lifestyles. Yoga connects body, mind and soul. Its health benefits are well recognized.”

High Commissioner Rakesh Arora concluded by quoting the words of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, “The way to lead a calm, creative and content life is Yoga. It can show the way in defeating tensions and mindless anxiety.”

The event was restricted this year, due to Covid-19, and only the first 50 Yoga enthusiasts were allowed to participate.

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