Sierra Leone FBC Student wins 3rd Regional Universities Speech on Money Laundering

August 9, 2019

By Abibatu Kamara – 9^th August 2019

Eku Williams, a Final Honors 2 Law Student of Fourah Bay College (FBC), has emerged winner at the 3rd edition of the Inter-Universities Speech Contest on Anti-Money Laundering/Counter –Financing Terrorism (AML/CFT) Impacts on West African Economies.

This year’s edition, focuses on the theme: “Fighting Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing in West Africa: What Next?”

The speech contest was held at the University of Nigeria, Enugu, on August 6, 2019 and attracted students from Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Liberia and Gambia.

As part of its efforts aimed at ensuring the implementation of effective AML/CFT regimes in its member States, the Intergovernmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) has identified youths as an important segment in the fight against money laundering and corruption. This is because evidence abounds that the youths are highly vulnerable to the risk of money laundering and other related crimes.

In the past 10 years, GIABA has creatively engaged the youths and students in the region through a series of awareness and sensitization programs, such as Open House Forums, and Sensitization Campaigns, amongst others. In 2013, GIABA held its maiden Inter-University Speech Contest among undergraduates from the University Community.

The objective of this event was to serve as a platform for promoting knowledge of AML/CFT regimes and exchange of ideas on topical issues by directing the enormous power of human knowledge as a transformative force for the development of member States. It will thus be an avenue to mobilize youths against organized crime by providing them with opportunities to research, write and speak on different areas of AML/CFT in West Africa, thus providing an opportunity for youths to embark on advocacy by helping to disseminate AML/CFT messages to their peers and political decision-makers.

Through youth-focused programs such as the Speech Contest, GIABA ensures that its technical and strategic reports and other products, such as research, evaluation and other reports, are adequately disseminated and used by relevant stakeholders, including youths, to keep them well informed and elicit desirable responses from them as necessary.

A high point of the event was the Keynote Address by the Director General of GIABA, Justice Kimelabalou Aba entitled ‘Consolidating the AML/CFT Framework in West Africa’ aimed at showcasing the mandate, operations and achievements of GIABA in the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing in the region.

The Speech Contest will feature discussions on money laundering, terrorism financing, economic and financial crimes, organized crime, proliferation of small and light weapons, among others, and the efforts and strategies aimed at combating them.

At the end of the event in Enugu, youths formed a well-organized and highly sensitized alliance on AML/CFT regimes; that the number of people, particularly youths that have a thorough understanding of the consequences of AML/CFT, would increase; that there would be more effective collaboration in AML/CFT; and that there would be increased interest in research into topics on AML/CFT.

In his victory speech, Eku Williams thanked Lecturers at FBC for helping him put materials together to participate in the speech contest.

“I am humbled and happy to raise the flag of Sierra Leone high at the contest amidst other Universities in the sub –region”, he stated.

Williams further thanked GIABA for a wonderful and flawless arrangement of the contest which attracted over 300 students and educators from different universities in Nigeria.

Africell Sierra Leone launches Coding Boot Camp

August 9, 2019

Representative of the Geek Express Company, Mark Debbane

Chief Innovation Officer, Dr. Moinina David Sengeh

By Amin Kef Sesay – 9^th August 2019

One of Sierra Leone’s leading telecoms companies Africell has launched a Coding Boot Camp in order to promote coding among students in the country.

Computer programming (coding) is the process of designing and building an executable computer program for accomplishing a specific computing task.

The program which attracted students from different schools in the country was done at the Africell American Corner on Bathurst Street on 8th August 2019.

In his address, the Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Abass Joe Bangura disclosed that a week ago they attended a conference that was organized by NATCOM where one of the key issues discussed was the need for a digital economy in the country.

He said the Digital Economy is where you do not need to go across to shop and pay bills, but sit at the comfort of your house and conduct transactions using the internet. He said one of the major pillars to build the digital economy is to create a responsive educational system that responds to that environment noting that Africell has been doing such for the past years.

He commended Dr. David Sengeh for his tremendous efforts in pushing innovation forward and helping young innovators across the country.

Speaking to the students present, Chief Innovation Officer, Dr. Moinina David Sengeh said that their age does not matter, but rather they should realize that they are leaders. He encouraged them to see themselves as leaders and not kids.

He disclosed that the country needs minds that think competitively for ideas and that is why the Directorate of Science and Technology was established.

He stated that the launch of the Coding Boot Camp will help students learn innovative ideas which would change their lives and the lives of many Sierra Leoneans. He said the establishment of the Science and Technology Directorate by his Excellency, President Julius Maada Bio is to enhance the improvement of Science and Technology in the country.

He challenged the students to find solutions to problems that will help transform the country.

Representative of the Geek Express Company, Mark Debbane said that the world is changing and there is a need for improvement in the science and technology sector in the country adding that the jobs of the future are related with science and technology and it has many sides. In that regards, he said they are working in partnership with Africell Sierra Leone to ensure the growth of science and technology in the country.

He said the Coding Boot Camp will prepare them for the jobs in the future and developing what they would like to create which will transform the nation.

The meeting was chaired by John Konte and other participants. Students and the press also graced the occasion.

In Bo and Kenema: Orange Sierra Leone launches ‘Di Real 4G’ to Enhance Countrywide Connectivity

August 8, 2019

By Foday Moriba Conteh – 8th August 2019

One of Sierra Leone’s mobile operators, Orange SL on 6^th and 7^th August, 2019 launched Di real 4G in Kenema and Bo respectively.

Speaking at the launch, the Chief Marketing Officer, Orange SL Alimatou Mbaye disclosed that the launch of Di Real 4G in Kenema and Bo is in fulfillment of their promise to the people of Sierra Leone to connect every town and every village for better communication.

She emphasized that subscribers have been enjoying Di Real 4G experience with the largest mobile network that is more reliable than any other network in Sierra Leone.

She said Orange SL is a Sierra Leonean company and they choose what makes life easy for them. She encouraged consumers to swap their SIMs to Di Real 4G in order to experience the beauty of the service and wished them a wonderful time with Di Real 4G service.

Paramount Chief Saidu M. Kapuwa Marbe IV on behalf of the chiefdom and the people of Kenema City welcomed Orange Sierra Leone to their district, saying that he has been using their network.

He applauded Orange Sierra Leone for the tremendous work they are doing in the country, and that he believes that with the launch of the Di Real 4G it will enhance their internet connectivity in the district.

General Secretary Orange SL Haffie Haffner said the launch of Di Real 4G is in response to what they feel is very important at Orange as they believe in providing access to ICT as it is very important for the socio-economic development of any country.

She disclosed that in 2016 they realized that access to telecom services was limited as they had 55 percent mobile penetration which she said only 55 percent of Sierra Leoneans have access to mobile phones.

And that is why when they took over, she said they found that the network was in bad shape, and in that regard they have so far spent 55 million US dollars to upgrade their network as a company and they have connected 925 main localities for the very first time in the country. She further highlighted that Orange is proposed to spend another 24 million US dollars in expanding their network and establishing new sites and giving some 85% of Sierra Leoneans across the country the opportunity to have quality, faster and cheaper services.

Hon. PC Prince Lappia Boima who officially launched the Di Real 4G in Bo City applauded Orange Sierra Leone for giving job opportunities to young people across the country.

He said that he believes that with Di Real 4G internet it will give more access to internet connectivity in the district. He said with Di Real 4G they will be able to send mails easier.

Regional Police Commander South Kapr S. Kamara (AIG) disclosed that the police have been working tremendously to ensure that they protect lives and properties in that part of the country. Adding that they have been working with Orange in terms of providing security for them when they have their activities in Bo District

He assured participants that that they will continue to provide security in the district and make it the safest place for people in that part of the country.

Director of Audit Risk & Internal Control Alpha S. Bundu disclosed that Orange is committed to connect every part of the country as they are proud to say they cover 41 percent of Africa, adding that they have been working relentlessly in order to expand their network across the country.

He also revealed how they have so far spent 55 million US dollars in order to upgrade their network as a company and he further highlighted their proposed plan of spending 24 million US dollars in expanding their network.

He stated that the launch of Di Real 4G in Kenema and Bo will complement the launch of Orange’s Digital Revolution. This revolution ensures a truly high-speed broadband mobile internet and an unmatched life changing experience in digital communication.

He added that they are very proud as a company to say they have the widest network in Sierra Leone covering 80 percent of the country’s population and connecting 925 main localities for the very first time in the country with thousands of Sierra Leoneans now accessing data, voice and financial services.

Murder Suspect Fails To Appear In Court in Sierra Leone

August 8, 2019

By Karifa Sawaneh

Kallie Thoronka, a resident of Alikalia Town in the Koinadugu District, is reported to have disappeared from the township on the 6^th September 2017, after notice was issued by the Sierra Leone Police in the District on allegation of stabbing of one Amadu Sawaneh in Koinadugu district, who is said to have died later from his wounds.

According to the investigating officer in Kabala Town, Salifu Kamara, when the accused, Kallie Thoronka, heard that he is wanted by the police, he escaped from the district. He further disclosed that during their investigation of an alleged murder by the suspect, a team of investigators, led by him visited the scene of crime in Alikalia Town, where they discovered the body of Amadu Sawaneh (the victim) lying on the street. The body has wounds on the eyes and blood smeared over the victim’s head. The police officers then took photos of the scene and details about Kallie Thoronka from the Town Chief. After getting details from the Chief, they then took the corpse to the district head quarter town hospital.

However, according to one eye witness, Tamba Marah, who was also a member of a Secret Society (Nyenne Society), Kallie Thoronka had returned from Freetown, where he had lost his immediate Family members to the Mudslide that hit Freetown on the 14^th August 2017 and was staying with his uncle, Ferenk Thoronka, in the township. Adding that after staying with him for some time, his Uncle, Ferenk Thoronka, asked Kallie to join the Nyenne Society in the Township, but he refused to join them.

Explaining how the incident happened, another eye witness by the name of Foday Sawanneh, told this writer that Kallie Thoronka was in a room in Alikalia Town when a group of young men appeared, singing and dancing Society songs.

The witness further stated that Kallie, who does not understand the tradition and had refused to join the Society, opened his room window to enquire what was going on and in a matter of seconds, before he could close the window, bolt his door and hide, other members of the society had already seen him and immediately rushed into the room, kicking the door open.

Foday Marah further stated that members of the society who were outside began performing some ceremonies with the aim of forcefully initiating Kallie immediately he is brought out of the room. He disclosed that a serious scuffle ensued between Kallie and the other members who were in the room.

With tears in his eyes, he said that during the fighting between Kallie Thoronka and the group of society men in the room, Kallie stabbed one of the society men, who incidentally happened to be his close friend. “That is my close friend,” Foday said. He maintained that after an hour of fighting and into the compound, Kallie managed to escape and has since then not been seen in the Village.

The head of the police investigating team, Salifu confirmed to this Press that the murder case is still under serious investigation and a Warrant of Arrest has been put out for Kallie Thoronka plus a bounty or ransom for any information leading to his arrest.

Female Parliamentary Caucus in Sierra Leone Presents Fact-finding Report and Recommendations to President Julius Maada Bio

August 7, 2019

By Yusif Keketoma Sandi – 7^th August 2019

Sierra Leone Members of the Female Parliamentary Caucus have met with His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio to present recommendations from their visit to Parliaments in the East African countries of Kenya and Rwanda on Tuesday 6th August, 2019 at State House, Freetown.

Presenting the report of their benchmarking exercise at State House, President of the Female Parliamentary Caucus, Honourable Veronica Kadie Sesay, said the recommendations were products of the relentless efforts of the Caucus to support President Bio’s 2018 Elections Manifesto to the women of Sierra Leone.

She said the report pushed for the need to amend Section 74 of Act No.6 of the 1991 Constitution to include a new sub-section that would provide for two women Members of Parliament for each district who, subject to the provisions of the Constitution, shall be elected in such manner as may be prescribed by or under any law.

The Member of Parliament, representing Constituency 094 in the Moyamba District, continued that Government should develop programs to ensure that political, economic and socio-cultural factors that impede women’s participation in public life were addressed. She said they had also recommended for the amendment of the section of the Constitution dealing with resignation from public office from twelve to six months for women aspirants before elections, including other sections or provisions that limit women’s equal representation and effective participation at levels of public decision making.

“Government should review the country’s laws and policies to make room for corrective action with land reforms vis-a-vis women’s equal right to land ownership, retention and distribution. It should establish a campaign fund for women in politics, make resources available to women and girls to enhance their skills and prepare them for service and establish a National Women’s Council,” she added.

In his response, President Bio said he was pleased to see women taking the bold step to champion issues relating to their welfare. He said he was particularly concerned with women’s issues because women play important role in nation-building, adding that it would be a lip service to talk about development without including women, considering the fact they constitute the majority of the country’s population.

He disclosed that he had worked on a few of the submissions in terms of gender-based violence, especially as it related to rape. He noted that the declaration of a State of Emergency on rape was a way of protecting innocent girls that were being violated. He said he would look into the recommendations and discuss them within the framework of governance and assured of his continued support to women’s issues.

CAN Sierra Leone On Emergency Response Exercise in affected communities

August 7, 2019

By Foday Moriba Conteh – 7^th August 2019

On Saturday 3rd August 2019, the Citizens Advocacy Network (CAN) in collaboration with Office of National Security (ONS), Freetown City Council, Western Area Rural District Council, Democracy Sierra Leone and other local and international non – governmental organizations has undertaken an Emergency Response Exercise in communities that were adversely affected by the torrential downpour of rain on the 2nd August 2019.

Speaking to this medium in an interview, the Executive Director of Citizens Advocacy Network (CAN), Thomas Moore Conteh, disclosed that as an organization that has been working tremendously to promote the ideals of human right, the rule of law and good governance in our beloved country, they decided to join the initiative of undertaking an Emergency Response Exercise in the affected communities, adding that this exercise is to access the level of damage caused by the heavy rain of 2^nd August which claimed the lives of seven (7) people and the loss of properties.

He said that they visited Hamilton village, No.2, Mile 13 and its environs, where, according to him, the living conditions of inhabitants is unbearable, especially ‘San San Ground’ – Hamilton village, which he said is pathetic, as during their visit he realised that there are still people in the Western Area who live in mud and thatched houses, which he said is a human right concern.

He admonished the people living in those disaster prone areas to relocate to safer places until the rains cease, as their lives are at great risks.

He further called on the government and its partners to take robust, but reasonable actions in order to evacuate people living in disaster prone areas; he also called on the Freetown City Council, and the central government to improve on the flood mitigation project.

Marcus Bangura, Executive Director Democracy Sierra Leone, who was part of the team, disclosed that the state of Hamilton village is very deplorable, as he cannot imagine people living in those places.
He then called on the international community, the government and other human right organizations to put hands on deck in order to relocate these people living in disaster prone areas, as this is a very serious human right concern.

He encouraged people living in those areas, to migrate to safer locations in order to prevent further flood disaster in those communities.

Ibrahim Turay, a resident at Hamilton village, said that they have been living in San San Grun community for over 20 years, but said they are faced with lots of challenges as the community is deplorable.

He called on government to find possible ways in order to relocate them to safer places as their lives are at risk.

Death Trap Road Threatens Leicester Residents in Sierra Leone

August 7, 2019

By Alim Jalloh – 7^th August 2019

The current condition of Leicester Road to Komboh, Central Freetown, behind Albert Academy and Muslim Brotherhood schools is not only deplorable but a death trap.

At the moment, many people are trapped indoors, especially the elderly, pupils and the handicapped. The road has been neglected for many years by successive governments in spite of the fact that the community is inhabited by thousands of people, with the population estimated at over 800,000 (eight hundred thousand), including school children, who ply the route daily.

This is an emergency for which the people are kindly requesting and appealing to their new government, headed by President Julius Maada Bio to help and redeem them from this catastrophe and bondage as even 4-wheel drive vehicles cannot traverse the road.

It must be underscored that thousands of Roman Catholics are using this road every year on their pilgrimage from the Albert Academy to the Saint Paul’s Major Seminary at Regent but yet still the road has not been fixed.

Although a few residents in the community have invested funds into the youths to fix the road, the majority of residents in the community are not committed to the project.

However, motorbike riders who ply the route have been repairing the road over the years and without them the road would not have been motorable.

Others attribute the complacency to fix the road to political inaction.

The Bike Riders Association Chairman, Gbassay and some of his members revealed in an interview at Model Junction that a Mr. Cecil Lawrence Samba who resides in the community is one of those sincerely committed to the overall development of the area highlighting his numerous contributions to the development of dropout youths, job creation and fixing the road.

They also lamented that the community lacks a medical center, recreational and socialization centers and extremely poor water supply facility among the other challenges affecting them and appealed to government to swiftly come to their aid.

They reiterated that their major challenge is the road, asserting that the government that would fix the road need not campaign them in any election.

Twin Sisters Make Sierra Leone Proud Abroad

August 7, 2019

By Dauda Bangura – 7^th August 2019

Two Sierra Leonean twin girls have made their parents and country proud by excelling academically at the global stage. In 2015, Martha Soko and Mary Digba Tetema Tondoneh took the Basic Examination Certificate Examination (BECE) at the Modern High School, Brookfields in Freetown and scored aggregate 8.

In fact, Martha Soko Tetema Tondoneh had maintained an excellent scorecard as she came first throughout from Class 1 to Senior Secondary School 3.

While attending the Universal World College in Tel Aviv, Israel Martha Soko Tetema Tondoneh wrote a project on the challenges of Ebola survivors in Sierra Leone with special reference to those suffering from eyesight diseases for which she received $1,000 (one thousand dollars) to help 200 Ebola survivors with eyesight difficulties and she is now working with the Sierra Leone Association of Ebola Survivors to identify the 200 beneficiaries for which she has procured the eye medicines.

At 17 years, both Martha Soko and Mary Digba Tetema Tondoneh respectively applied for the Universal World College (UWC) scholarships awarded to adolescents between the ages of 16-18 who excel academically worldwide. Upon graduation they are placed in renowned universities globally.

Students in various parts of the world apply for the same scholarship and after a vigorous screening, interview and examination conducted by the UWC National Committee in Sierra Leone at the British Council Hall, Tower Hill in Freetown, Martha Soko and Mary Digba Tetema Tondoneh emerged victorious in first and second positions respectively among the about 5 applicants in Sierra Leone.

However, one of the criteria of UWC is that two applicants from the same biological parents cannot benefit from the scholarship and therefore the applicant who came third was awarded the scholarship.

This discouraged Mary Digba Tetema Tondoneh who refused to go without her twin sister, a development that swiftly mobilized and ignited debate among the family to find the way out.

The elder brother of the twin sisters, who is a medical doctor in America, immediately went into action in search of a scholarship for Mary Digba Tetema Tondoneh that landed her at the Eastern Mediterranean International School (EMIS) in Israel from where she was interviewed online and excelled although her parents have to pay part tuition fees.

EMIS, with the motto, ‘To Make Education a Force for Peace and Sustainability in the Middle East’, is the feeder school to prestigious universities like Oxford, Harvard, Cambridge and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and admits students from all over the world who study online.

Martha Soko and Mary Digba Tetema Tondoneh departed home in early August last year for Israel and Chaghun Province in China separately to study bio-chemistry and will graduate in March 2020. The two schools have the same recognition and facilities.

Mary Digba Tetema Tondoneh is the only black at EMIS and she is quoted in the college’s brochure as saying that “EMIS is not just a place for learning. It is a journey. A journey that challenges you to be the best you can be and see the world in a whole new dimension.”

This medium interviewed various stakeholders who appealed to the Ministry of Higher and Technical Education to formulate a policy to assist students who excel abroad underscoring that this should be a wakeup call for the Ministry.

Fixing the Exchange Rate in Sierra Leone is not Like Fixing a Broken Car

August 7, 2019

By Beresford Taylor – 7^th August 2019

Economists will tell you that the exchange rate is the heartbeat of any economy. Like the economy, heart beat changes as a result of factors external to the heart and not by the heart changing its size.

At least everybody agrees the economy of Sierra Leone is challenged, the exchange rate included and has been so since the outbreak of EVD in 2014.

As part of his primary responsibility, the Governor and the Bank of Sierra Leone manages the exchange rate, pretty much like a doctor will the treatment of hypertension. However, the doctor can provide the solution but its success is a factor of several other factors one of which is the patient’s own life style.

The Bank of Sierra Leone and its Governor has made it abundantly clear that the exchange rate is a factor of demand and supply. There is no magic except we; as a country, can generate foreign exchange; it cannot be printed by the Governor or indeed the government. Imagine the economy of Sierra Leone as a bucket and foreign exchange as sea shells.

To fill your bucket with sea shells you have to first find them. You can fill you bucket to its capacity if you can locate as much shells. In economics the currency for locating these shells are what you can sell to others in exchange.

Now here is the challenge, the economic bucket needs to be filled with things others need for them to give you shells. However you may get shells as gift from other people visiting, etc. You may drop shells into your bucket if you sell things to others. If you have your beaches awash with shells you can pick them up and drop into your bucket. In most cases you need to know how to locate them. This is the same as mining for gold and ore, except you have the technical capacity they are worthless to your economy.

Sierra Leone cannot generate much shell because we are not offering much to others to buy. Yet we want much more from others. So we take from the few shells we have. Without the sea or the beach can Sierra Leone make shells? The answer is no. we have to go find shells. The solutions of the central bank are simple, we will keep the few shells we have for the most important day in our lives – the rainy day and allow others to sell the few shells they have to those who want them and are willing to pay.

However, if the market gives the shells to those that do not buy anything from others outside or keep the shells so that those who need to buy things outside the economy cannot get them then the number of shells available for servicing the things we need and cannot produce will drop even further. To fix the problem we should rethink how we use the shells we have and how we can fill our bucket with more shells.

So here is the story, if we find dollars by increasing local production and export, more dollars will be available in the market to allocate, then supply will meet more demand and therefore fewer people will look for more dollars, the exchange rate will depreciate. If we stop spending the few dollars received in country from donors and remittances, on local transactions, such as rent, car prices etc. then there will be more dollars to service our imports of medicine, machinery and food stuff. Therefore, if the number of people and services needing dollars appreciate then the market will allocate the available dollars the way it knows best, more Leones for fewer dollars.

Now what should Sierra Leone do? First the central bank: the central bank cannot print dollars nor can it produce goods and services for export. Secondly, the central bank cannot make people stop spending the fewer dollars available in the economy the relevant authorities should. So even if a former chairman of the Federal Reserve board is appointed governor of the bank of Sierra Leone he will not change the situation for Sierra Leone.

So what can the bank of Sierra Leone do? The Governor has said severally that exchange rate depreciation will occur once Sierra Leone’s economy starts exporting. This means increased productivity and export in the mining, agriculture and manufacturing sectors. In the meantime, the central bank has said Sierra Leone should conserve the foreign exchange available, stop spending what is available on local transactions or saving fiduciary resources in foreign exchange and not the Leone

This means, the country, should work harder to increase productivity and export, enforce the laws relating to the use of foreign exchange in local transactions and save in the local currency

This is a simplistic explanation but it shows that the Governor of the Bank of Sierra Leone has been doing what ought to be done under the current circumstances and how astute he is in terms of his knowledge of economics and finance. The fluctuation in the exchange rate is caused not by the central bank adjusting the amount of foreign exchange in the market but by factors highlighted above and others external to the economy of Sierra Leone.

UNFPA, NYS Train Youth Corps in Bo & Lunsar in Sierra Leone

August 7, 2019

Corps members at the Lunsar Baptist Convention hall

By Elkas Sannoh – 7^th August 2019

With support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the National Youth Service (NYS) has embarked on capacity building training on sexual reproductive health and rights and the demographic dividend.

The training started in Freetown with over fifty graduate corps and has been cascaded to the provinces to enrich their knowledge and further encourage the corps members to become ambassadors in their respective communities.

It could be recalled that in September, 2018 the Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh inaugurated the first batch of 200 national youth graduate corps at the Peace Keeping Military Training Center at Rogbangba, Hastings in the east end of Freetown.

The graduate corps was deployed across the country after completing their 21 days rigorous training in fulfilment of the NYS scheme.

In his opening remarks in Bo at the District Council hall, the NYS Director of Communications, Elkass Sannoh, said the graduate corps is a living testament in fulfilling the dream of the country’s first Prime Minister, Sir Milton Margai. According to him, the enrollment of the first batch has proved that patriotism is alive.

He said the NYS history cannot be complete without them, adding that their sacrifices and selfless dedication can hardly be forgotten.

In his Power Point presentation on Demographic Dividend, the NYS Director of Programme, Recruitment and Training-Sylvester A. Bewie, said demographic dividend occurs when the working age population (15-64) is greater than the non-working age population. He added that harnessing the full potential of young people can make change happen quickly.

According to him, to achieve the country’s demographic dividend we need more people to be empowered, educated and employed.

He catalogued the four pillars of the demographic dividend as employment and entrepreneurship, education and skills development, health and well-being, rights, governance and youth empowerment.

In Lunsar, Northern part of the country, the District Health Management Team, Sister-Zainab Kamara-Bah, spoke on the national strategy for the reduction of adolescent pregnancy and child marriage.

The DHMT sister affirmed that the strategy is to fulfill the needs of young people for a brighter future. She disclosed that adolescent pregnancy and child marriage pose a dire threat to girls. She went further to state that preventing young girls from realizing their full potential in all aspects of development is another challenge.

She informed that despite government’s efforts to tackle these issues, through the establishment of a National Secretariat for the Reduction of Teenage Pregnancy in May, 2013 and the development of the National Strategy for the Reduction of Teenage Pregnancy in 2013 to 2015 yet the Government needs to do more.

She said adolescent pregnancy and child marriage are inextricably linked, adding that in many cases, child marriage is a driver of early pregnancy.

Sister Kamara-Bah quoted the First Lady, Mrs. Fatima Maada Bio who said that child marriage is wrong and must end at once.

One of the participants, Ishmael Kamara, with call-up number 151 said apart from the capacity building training which has positively impacted him, the NYS has served as a vehicle for national cohesion in the country.

He said even though he hailed from the North, his stay in the South has not been influenced by any negative factor such as tribalism.

Speaking on Gender Based Violence, the Communications Specialist from the Rainbow Center, Agatha Levi defined gender based violence as any act that is perpetrated against a person’s will and is based on gender norms and unequal power relationships. She further averred that this act can be physical, emotional, psychological or sexual in nature, and can take the form of a denial of resources or access to services.

She said gender based violence is prevalent in every society and is often experienced by women and girls because of their socially subordinate status in relation to men and boys.

Kamara said he is proud to be among the first batch of graduate corps to be recruited by the NYS. He appealed to President Julius Maada Bio to pay attention to the scheme with huge financial support. He said the training was timely and called on donors to support the NYS to be able to roll out more capacity development trainings.