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NP-SL Ltd: Highly Commended for Reliability & Prompt Service Delivery

By Amin Kef Sesay

It has emerged that among petroleum dealers in Sierra Leone, only the National Petroleum Company is being highly commended and respected for its reliability in terms of prompt service delivery.

It is indeed a remarkable feat that NP continues to maintain in order to ensure that there is sufficient high grade petrol, diesel, kerosene and other petroleum products available in the country to avoid shortage.

It is a fact that the National Petroleum (NP) Sierra Leone Limited is held in very high esteem for its progressive and steady provision of petroleum products to its numerous consumers across the country and even in the sub-region.

Indeed, this contention has been proven perfectly correct by this medium after conducting a thorough survey gauging the views of Sierra Leoneans from different walks of life. What came out clearly throughout the period of the survey was that NP is rated as one of the most successful 100% owned indigenous company that has stood the test of time.

“It is of course rare for one to see in this country a purely and result-oriented indigenously-owned company like NP with all its members of staff being Sierra Leoneans which is truly a testimony of commitment and resilience,” posited a seasoned economist who further said that ‘when we talk of optimizing the Local Content Policy, which is a sine qua non to overall national development, then the company should be given a pat on the back.

The selflessness and commitment of the shareholders have made it possible for the company to empower many Sierra Leoneans and at the same time put it at a vantage position to continue to open more filling stations across the country.

The company deals with individuals and various sectors of society, always ensuring that its various petroleum products are available and are sold at affordable prices. This keen symbiotic relationship with its customers has been paying huge dividends, always resulting in a win-win situation, making NP very endearing to all and sundry.

The regulatory institution of the different petroleum companies in the country, the Petroleum Regulatory Agency (PRA), has lauded NP-SL Ltd for its efficient service delivery wherever it is operating.

It is a fact that fuel is regarded as a political commodity and based on its availability and non-availability it has the potential of making a government popular or unpopular.

For too long this country has been contending with unemployment; one of the issues which the government should be addressing by creating avenues for young people to be gainfully employed. However, it is not only the prerogative of government to do this as the private sector too could play a vital role in that direction.

NP – Sierra Leone, operating in different parts of the country, has been very instrumental in availing Sierra Leoneans with jobs in various categories and from what was gathered, conditions of service are very satisfactory. Justifiably one can state that NP-SL has been greatly contributing to poverty reduction, putting food on tables which beneficiaries hitherto found tough to achieve.

NP-SL is not only thinking within the confines of maximizing profit but also is also thinking out of the box when performing its demand and supply chain, taking into consideration the harmful health consequences to humans and depletion of the environment by using coal and wood for cooking purposes. This is why NP Sierra Leone thought it fit to provide Sierra Leoneans with a safer and cleaner means of cooking devoid of inhaling carbon-dioxide which is the NP Gas Cooker. These are affordable and readily available in all NP outlets and from their agents.

To keep abreast with latest technological trends the company has availed its customers the opportunity to use Smart Cards for purchasing purpose meaning that buyers could top-up their cards to the tune of any amount which they can use intermittently to procure petroleum products. This has made it convenient for easy transactions to transpire and many are comfortable with that.

When we talk of an indigenous company that has put smiles on the faces of Sierra Leoneans and is making the people of this country very proud, the National Petroleum Company stands taller than the rest! For a company to move beyond the shores of this country and establish branches in Liberia, Guinea, Ivory Coast and The Gambia which are vibrantly operating is no mean feat. Indeed, NP has added another feather to its cap and is being copiously praised for such an accomplishment.

The company’s result-oriented managerial team will definitely and sustainably continue to put NP at the top.

NP-SL Ltd is doing exceptionally well in all the countries it is functioning and indeed there are prospects for further expansion.

It can therefore be justifiably asserted that the National Petroleum Limited is the country’s reliable fuel provider as it always ensures that its stockpile is always at an appreciable level.

It against this background is the reason why NP is believed to be one of the strongest backbones of Sierra Leone’s economy.

For any Government to match up with what is encapsulated in its manifesto in the direction of deepening national development through funding various projects then it must have sources of generating domestic revenue. NP is one conduit through which government past and present had and is deriving revenue as it falls within the category of being one of the largest taxpayers to the National Revenue Authority.

It goes without saying that the National Petroleum Limited-Sierra Leone continues to give confidence to its numerous customers and it is doing so excellently.

A Peaceful Solution to African Economies and Sustainable Peace

PRESS RELEASE
World Peace Tracts has started the process by creating the Pan African Peace Accords, which will help bring about an economic solution for peace through capital acquisition opportunities

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, June 17, 2021/ — World Peace Tracts (www.PeaceTracts.org) Sweden, 10th June 2021 The African continent is in need of sustainable peace. Although many countries have made some progress, there are still so many challenges that the people face on a daily basis. Africa needs a way to work together and find new ways to solve problems in order to grow economically and become prosperous for all its citizens. World Peace Tracts has started the process by creating the Pan African Peace Accords, which will help bring about an economic solution for peace through capital acquisition opportunities for capitaless families across Africa.

The new Pan African Peace Accords will design the process of capital acquisition for capitaless African families to make capital ownership economically purchasable and formally as a way to build sustainable peace.

This will allow people from all over Africa who have no access or are denied of the right to own land, natural resources, and property legally, an opportunity for economic prosperity and improved living conditions. World Peace Tracts is not an organization that exists just in theory; it is composed of experienced business leaders from around the world.

African economies have been torn apart by war and poverty. In the past 50 years, Africa has seen more than 500 conflicts that killed more than 10 million people. The Pan African Peace Accords has been formed to develop Peaceful financing tools that can build Chad, Sudan and South Sudan as pilot for building economies in Africa fall into several categories based upon the criteria used in selecting their ownership constituencies.

Peaceful Solutions to African Economies and Sustainable Peace provides an overview of the current state of Africa’s economy in relation to its sustainability, as well as potential solutions for peace building.

Yosef Yomotov, one of the leading global peace negotiators who participated in countless negotiations for peace-making efforts among other World Peace Ambassadors. Yosef is now reaching out to Sudanese people, as well as business leaders/investors and influencers in African continent, to become part of a new Pan African Peace Accords.

Yosef Yomotov is spearheading this Pan African Peace Accords which he hopes will end with some form of negotiated settlement between Chad, Sudan and South Sudan.

The World is Moving Towards Sustainable Development

Sustainable development includes a range of activities such as market-based economic policies, recycling or conservation to ensure that the needs of future generations are met and that environmental issues do not have long-term consequences. One form of sustainable development is called Green Zones which has been successfully implemented in developing countries including Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda by encouraging people to grow crops with less need for water or fertilizer.

African economies have been marred by violence and war. However, there are peaceful solutions to these economic problems that can provide sustainable peace for Africa. The Pan African Peace Accords has developed a new model of finance called “Peaceful financing tools” which is based on the three criteria used in selecting their ownership constituencies: 1) Supportive Local Governments; 2) Economically Progressive Investors; 3) Intelligently selected Philanthropists.

The Sustainable Development Goals call for a world without poverty or hunger by 2030. One of the most critical elements to achieving this goal is addressing development challenges through sustainable peace and economic growth on a regional level.

The Pan African Peace Accords intends to use four criteria in selecting the ownership constituencies: 1) Scale of economic activity (domestic or international); 2) Assets that can be mobilized; 3) Risk profile of business activities; and 4) Local knowledge. In developing these businesses, the Pan African Peace Accords will consider all sectors including extractive industries, manufacturing, agriculture, finance/banking.

The idea of peace bonds came from the concept that we are all in this together. The goal is to share the burden of rebuilding as best as possible. One way is a “Peace Bond” program intended to offer loans to businesses at low interest rates with payments deferred until peace is restored.

Another option is an equity participation where citizens of each country are offered stocks on equal terms with dividends paid out from the profits generated by those shares they own in companies operating there.

The following are the four proposed models: 1) The Democracy Model; 2) The Sustainable Development Model; 3) The Rural Development Model; 4) And the Equitable General Stock Ownership Plan.

It is with great honor that we introduce you to our work on sustainable peace, a solution that is sorely needed not only for Africa but also for the rest of the world. The initial step towards peace will be taken by using three different models to finance development in Chad, Sudan and South Sudan.

The Pan African Peace Accords Uses Different Types of Financing to End Conflicts in Africa.

In order to end conflicts in Africa, there must be sustainable peace. This can only happen if African economies are stabilized and rebuilt.

A post-conflict environment is an investment opportunity for many. There are trillions of dollars available in the world to invest and rebuild, but there needs to be a new set of tools in order to facilitate that type of investment. Chad, Sudan and South Sudan have all been subject to conflict over the past decade with years of upheaval and war leaving them unable to provide basic services like food security or healthcare for their citizens. It is not possible for these countries without outside support.

Community Ownership Is the Key to Financing

Ownership is a key component to financing. Ownership can be achieved through capital markets, agricultural development funds, clean energy production projects with community-owned utilities companies, educational scholarships for promising students who would otherwise not be able to afford college and women’s ownership in the workplace. Capital markets are very important because they provide funding for businesses which need it. This includes seed money as well as investments that enable growth of a company.

In order to be successful, any organization needs a sustainable revenue stream. There are many ways to generate income for an organization including through the provision of goods and services, government grants, private donations or from selling stocks and bonds. However, in some cases this may not be enough because these sources of income can often dry up. One way that has been proposed is community ownership where there is a financial stake in the company for members of the local community.

$4 Trillion Is Being Spent on Wars Every Year.

The United States spends $4 trillion on wars every year. In a recent study published by The Washington Post, it was found that although $4 trillion is being spent on wars every year, trillions of dollars could be saved if military budgets were cut by 50%. In addition to reducing the cost of war substantially there are other costs such as health. The more money we spend in warfare, the less we have for public services and essential needs like healthcare and education.

Africa is a continent that has long been plagued by violence and unrest. For decades, it was ruled by the colonial powers of Europe and North America who extracted natural resources from Africa without paying any benefits to the people of Africa.

AEEX Gold Coin Custodial Listing on SECDEX Exchange in June 2021

AEEX Gold Coin Custodial Listing on SECDEX Exchange www.SECDEX.net  in June 2021. The goal is to explore a Capital Market AEEX Gold Coin Custodial Certificate Listing on SECDEX Stock Exchange in Seychelles with a planned private sector Gold Coin minting facility to be set up in South Africa and potentially in Sudan, Chad or South Sudan for foreign direct inflows worth $1.9 Billion.

“Weownomy” To Launch New Gold Coin to Save Lives

Weownomy Social Currency is a new gold coin social currency with the objective of solving many of the economic problems that are currently being faced by developing countries.

The key to this goal is a new social currency for a new Weownomy social networking platform. This pilot gold coin program is also designed to provide African countries with a peaceful financing tool and increased foreign exchange as well as alleviate poverty in these nations through “weowns” gold coins.

Weownomy is a start-up social media company based in the United States with an innovative and altruistic goal: to provide financial aid for communities suffering from poverty. In order to achieve this goal, Weownomy has created a pilot program for Digital Gold Coin Electronic Payment System which will provide Chad, Sudan, South Sudan and other African countries with access to international trade markets.

The new social currency gold coin being launched by Weownomy offers investors from all over the world opportunities to invest in improving African communities.

The idea behind this new social gold coin currency system is not only providing countries in these regions with an alternative currency but also introducing them to the economic benefits of using an alternative Weownomy social network income platform www.Weownomy.global that will pay users for using it.

This new social currency will be used by the communities in these three countries who are marginalized due to poverty, unemployment or civil war. This social currency is backed by gold from (AEEX) reserve and could help save lives.

A revolution in the financial sector is coming to Africa. Weownomy, a new social gold coin currency and electronic payment system will be introduced to Chad, Sudan and South Sudan with the launch of Digital Gold Coin Electronic Payment System. The pilot project aims to provide peace financing tools for the region as well as increased foreign exchange which would allow people in these countries to save lives.

Weownomy is the first of its kind in the world, integrating gold coin into electronic payment systems. The pilot project which has been created by the initiative of Ssemakula Peter Luyima a World Peace Ambassador and philanthropists will be implemented on an experimental basis over a period of one year.

Weownomy Social Currency is a “gold coin” created by Weownomy to address poverty, food insecurity and financial exclusion in Chad, Sudan and South Sudan. A total of 1 million weowns coins to be minted by AEEX South Africa Ltd with a new gold coin facility to be set up in South Africa and Sudan.

“weowns” gold coins a new and revolutionary social currency which seeks to solve some of the most serious problems faced by many African countries. It will provide Chad, Sudan and South Sudan with a peaceful financing tool and increased foreign exchange.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Peace Tracts.

 

About World Peace Tracts:
Since 2006 World Peace Tracts has promoted peace in conflict zones across the world.

SOURCE
World Peace Tracts

Bank Governor Tenders Apology to the Judiciary

By Amin Kef Sesay

In an emerging issue in which it was reportedly stated by the Awoko Newspaper that the Governor of the Bank of Sierra Leone, Professor Kaifala Kallon on the 9th June, 2021 allegedly made a deriding statement against the Judiciary of Sierra Leone, thereby annoying members of that institution, including the Chief Justice, His Lordship Justice Desmond Babatunde Edwards, Supreme Court Judges, the Governor has claimed that he was misinterpreted by the Press.

The said statement, which the Bank Governor made, was: “if you have a private sector that people who go to borrow don’t want to pay, when you put their collateral they go and bribe judges. The Bank of Sierra Leone never wins a case in this country, you know why, because the Bank don’t bribe.”

That statement, which according to the Awoko Newspaper, the Bank Governor made at the Radisson Blu International Conference Center, did not go down well with members of the Judiciary from the Chief Justice down to the Supreme Judges, who considered it as a dent on their image.

It was further learnt by this medium that it prompted the Chief Justice to summon the Bank Governor to a meeting although he, the Chief Justice, was out of the country attending the 5th High Level Meeting of Chief Justices and Heads of Constitutional Courts in Africa that was held in Cairo, Egypt.

The said meeting, convened on the 10th June 2021, which was chaired by the Acting Chief Justice, Nicholas Browne-Marke was attended by Supreme Court Judges. Nicholas Browne-Marke categorically told the Bank Governor that there are evidences to attest that four commercial banks ceased operations in the country not as a result of bad decisions made by the courts naming ProCredit, IBTI and Meridian Banks.

Other Judges present expressed disappointment over the Bank Governor for making what they termed as an “unfortunate statement”.

Justice Miatta Maria Samba said the Bank Governor’s statement was an incitement to the public against the Judiciary. “Your statement is similar to what the journalists do. You do the harm and apologise but let me say that I feel very hurt by your comments,” she is said to have told the Bank Governor.

The President of the Industrial Court, Justice Sengu Koroma said that the Bank Governor’s remark about the Bank not winning any case was incorrect.

Justices Deen Tarawallie and Alusine Sesay expressed similar sentiments and said they were utterly shocked at the Bank Governor’s remarks.

On his part, the Bank Governor, Professor Kaifala Kallon, insisted that he was misinterpreted as he was only making reference to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report emphasizing that he was making an historical reference not meaning that what he said is referring to present times.

He therefore tendered an unequivocal apology: “I am very sorry. My intention was not to paint the Judiciary bad. My comment about the Judiciary was a historical interpretation as presented by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. I profusely apologise and I am very sorry. It was a mistake but let me say that I was misinterpreted.”

In response the Acting Chief Justice, Nicholas Browne-Marke, stated that he appreciates the Bank Governor’s immediate apology for his ‘unfortunate statement,’ and encouraged the Central Bank to continue to repose confidence in the Judiciary to build a better Sierra Leone.

At the end of the meeting the Supreme Court Judges told the Bank Governor that he will be invited to another meeting at which the Chief Justice would be present, so that the position of the Judiciary will be made clear about any possible line of action or resolution.

Meanwhile one of the Justices remarked that bad loans seem to convey the impression of unsecured Loans which in any case makes such Loans non recoverable “not because of actions by Judges but by bad actions of bank officials, plain and simple.”

However, the Awoko Newspaper which broke out the news of the Bank Governor’s statement that did not go down well with the Judiciary is now stoutly claiming that its report was not a misrepresentation or misinterpretation of what he intended to convey. The news medium even said it has a recording in its possession to prove otherwise.

Petroleum Pump Price Maybe Affected Due to External Shocks

By Amin Kef Sesay

Since Adam was an altar boy, we have heard of how Sierra Leone is sitting on a huge deposit of crude oil and at any time it is judiciously exploited then this country will automatically transform into becoming not a paradise on earth but a Utopia. There was even a story in vogue at that time that when the then seating President of this country, Siaka Stevens, contacted an overseas exploration company to quantify the crude oil that the country has, he was informed by Management of the would-be exploration company that during the course of the exploration work everything of value that they come across under the sea will be theirs.

The story continues that, Siaka Stevens, mindful of the plethora of other natural resources which the country is endowed with refused to concede to that condition marking a closure to the intention of exploring the said crude oil in order to strategize how it should be tapped.

Sierra Leone is not an oil producing country meaning that it largely depends on the importation of the petroleum products people consume which are mainly done by privately owned companies, with the Government, through the Petroleum Regulatory Agency (PRA), performing regulatory and oversight functions in order to ensure that sanity prevails within the petroleum landscape.

There was a time in the history of this country when we had an oil refinery company which means that only crude oil was imported and refined here to produce petrol, diesel, kerosene etc. Lamentably, during the 11 years senseless war that engulfed the whole country the Oil Refinery at Kissy in Freetown was totally vandalized beyond repairs. After that ugly incident and when the country gained peace and tranquility, importation of refined petroleum products commenced which on a comparative basis, as to when there was a functioning refinery, is very costly.

To make the situation even somehow protracted is the fact that at the moment there is inadequate storage capacity in the country and only one petroleum jetty, with two importers and two storage companies in the country.

Research has shown that the country consumes in excess of 1.1 million litres of petroleum products per day but the country can only store 40% of what is used per day. This means that there is frequent replenishment which is done every two weeks. This kind of situation has made certain unscrupulous individuals seize the opportunity to hoard petroleum products or speculate against the availability of petroleum products.

It must be noted that Sierra Leone does not determine oil prices. 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, that is the cost of landing the shipped petroleum products in the country and that is mostly driven by the combined effect of the International Oil Reference Price (Platts) and available as well as accessible Foreign Exchange.

However, the country’s pricing regime is well structured, transparent and reviewed monthly. From what  this medium gathered, pump prices of petroleum products  changed six (6) times since 2018 and out of those, it was reduced three (3) times during that period.

It is good to note that in spite of the hike in global prices, the Government of Sierra Leone has 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. See the comparison:

Run-down of the prices of petroleum products on a comparative basis of former regional fuel price converted in Le/Litre as at 31st May, 2021 taking into consideration Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana and The Gambia are as follows: 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.

This medium was further made to understand that between May and December 2020, although there were oil price increases all over the sub-region and in the world, the Government did not allow the high costs to be passed on to the poor consumers. At first Government suspended the automatic pricing adjustment mechanism since May 2020 to date.

Government intervened by injecting about Le66bn during that period and Le17.43bn in January 2021 to support the pump price stabilization. Again, since May 2020 to June 2021 Government has subsidised about Le132.11bn.

One thing that kept coming up throughout our investigation was that a significant portion of benefits from fuel subsidies are not received by the intended beneficiaries in Sierra Leone. Rather, these petroleum products are captured by smugglers and black marketers.

It was discovered that it is more profitable for smugglers to buy subsidized fuel domestically on the black market, and then smuggle it and sell at market rates in neighbouring countries thereby depleting our stocks faster leading to shortages and panic buying.

Against the backdrop of the rise in the price of crude oil on the world market as it is at this material time, 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. This is worthy of note when cognizance is taken of the fact that there are other areas that need urgent Government financing to foster overall national development.

However, what is for now certain is 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 the most with Sierra Leone not being an exception.

 

NP-SL Ltd: Very Keen on Taking Customer Care to a Higher Pedestal

By Amin Kef Sesay

 It is strongly incontestable that the leading petroleum company in the country, the National Petroleum- Sierra Leone Limited is highly known for being the first in the realm of customer care. This is indisputable when cognizance is taken of how Management is very keen on optimizing customer satisfaction in its service delivery on different fronts.

Members of staff of the company are very mindful of the fact that it is the customer that comes first and therefore needs the utmost attention always ensuring that transactions are conducted under a congenial atmosphere that result into a win-win situation. For this brilliant and managerial initiative the company has been making positive headways positioning to stand tall among other business entities in this part of the world.

With a capable and result-oriented ‘Team NP’, working collaboratively and assiduously, where even the cleaner is regarded as highly relevant there is bound to be positive outcomes and the company has mastered this by ensuring that synergy is enhanced.

One admirable quality that NP-SL Ltd possesses is working tirelessly and effectively using its contacts with oil producing countries in order to ensure that there is timely purchase and delivery of petroleum products to avoid shortages. It goes without saying that fuel, for example, could be a political commodity in the sense that fluctuation in its price would make a Government likeable or unpopular. When the price goes up then people blame the Government for that but if it goes down it is kudos for the political administration.

Its timely importation of petroleum products has earned NP high commendations from various quarters simply because it helps to cushion unrest and other forms of disadvantageous effects one of which is increase in transport fares, increase in the prices of certain commodities. The pro-activeness of the company invariably has a direct impact on poverty reduction in variable ways.

Some who may not be aware of the fact that NP-SL Ltd is wholly owned by Sierra Leoneans vis-à-vis the visibility of the company and how it is remarkably striving could find it hard to believe that it a truly indigenous company.

However, that remains the plain truth when it is learnt that it was Sierra Leonean 35 workers formerly working for British Petroleum (BP) who pulled together their end of service benefits to purchase shares which were used to establish NP, which today is a success story of an indigenous company, having branches in various parts of the country and in other four West African countries namely Liberia, Guinea, Ivory Coast and The Gambia. The company’s operations right across the spectrum is contributing towards revenue generation and job creation for many.

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.

When reference is made to Local Content, which by law is a Policy, 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.
Without any iota of doubt NP-SL Ltd is growing taller and taller as time goes by.

ALARMING!!!   261 New COVID-19 Cases Recorded in Ten Days

Amin Kef Sesay

It was officially reported that three COVID-19 deaths were recorded two days ago in the country after a total of 245 new cases of the virus were announced by the Government. On the 5th June 2021, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases was 4,188, rising to 4,433 on Monday, 14th of June 2021 and on the 15th June, 2021, 16 new cases was reported shooting the total number to 261 cases just within ten days making the total cumulative confirmed cases 4,449.

For now this marks a new and growing surge in the virus in Sierra Leone, after weeks of relative calm which many say is due to massive under-reporting of the extent of the pandemic in the country, as officials are accused of massaging the figures.

Although the Government says it has stepped up testing, this falls far short of what is expected, with less than 0.5% of the population of 7 million ever tested for the virus.

On the 14th June, 2021, 45 new cases were reported, after 37 cases were recorded on the 13th June 2021. On the 12th June 2021, 20 new cases were reported.

So far, only 184 of the 4,433 cases recorded so far since the start of the pandemic last year, have come from new arrivals into the country through the airport, despite fears of a growing number of passengers from abroad potentially carrying the more aggressive Indian variant.

The total number of COVID cases recorded in Western Rural Area has grown from 569 to 617, an increase of 48 new cases since Saturday 5th of June 2021.

On the 14th June 2021, an African Cup of Nations football match between Sierra Leone and Benin was once again called off, after six of the Sierra Leonean players were reported to have tested positive for COVID in Guinea where the match was to be held.

This is a statement issued by the SLFA media team from Guinea: “CAF has directed that the pending AFCON Qualifiers match between Sierra Leone and Benin originally scheduled to be replayed today at the Stade de Lansana Conte in Conakry Guinea be postponed to tomorrow Tuesday June 15 at the same venue.

“This follows controversies around alleged COVID-19 positive results of six players and two officials in the Sierra Leone delegation after the CAF designated Security Officer, Andy Quamie, had officially communicated to SLFA a hundred percent negative test result this morning. The six members of the Leone Stars delegation have been retested for a second opinion.”

Africell Appoints Ambassador Pham to Board of Directors

By Amin Kef Sesay

Ambassador J. Peter Pham, according to Africell, has been appointed to the Group’s Board of Directors. His appointment is deemed to boost Africell’s expansion strategy and reinforces the company’s status as the leading US-owned mobile network operator in Africa.

Ambassador Pham is a recognized global authority in Africa. In addition to being a non-executive Director of Africell Group, he is a distinguished fellow at the Atlantic Council think tank, where before his recent Government service he had been Director of the Africa Center and Vice President for Research and Regional Initiatives. Between 2018 and 2021, Ambassador Pham was a senior diplomat and policymaker at the US Department of State.

He served first as US Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region, encompassing Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Angola, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and Kenya; and then as US Special Envoy for the Sahel with the personal rank of Ambassador, responsible for a region encompassing not only Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger, but also the West African coastal states from Senegal to Cameroon. In these roles, Ambassador Pham was directly mandated by the US Secretary of State to coordinate and implement regional US policy on economic, political, and humanitarian issues.

In May 2019, Africell and the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), then known as the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, OPIC) agreed on a US$100 million loan facility, in a partnership reflecting the US Government’s strategic goal to deepen US investment in Africa and support US businesses operating in high-growth sectors of the African economy. Africell is the only US-owned mobile communications operator in Africa and is the first to receive financing from DFC.

Africell currently operates telecommunications networks in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, and Uganda.

In February 2021, Africell won an international public tender process to launch a new network in Angola. Angola is one of the largest economies in sub-Saharan Africa with a population of over 30 million people, and the move to award Africell a universal electronic communications license was driven by the Angolan Government’s desire to accelerate Angola’s economic performance and give consumers better access to world-class mobile technologies and other value-added services. The terms of Africell’s investment from DFC were amended in May 2021 to bring the transformational Angola opportunity within its scope.

Africell’s Chairman and CEO, Ziad Dalloul, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Ambassador Pham to Africell. He is a top expert on Africa and brings a unique blend of experience from his eminent academic career and his position as an influential Africa-focused US policymaker. As the only US-owned mobile network operator in Africa, Africell is setting an example for what can be achieved by international investors on the continent if they have the right people, vision, and strategy. Appointing Ambassador Pham to Africell’s board is a testament to the scale of our ambitions, and we expect his impressive standing, expertise and network in Africa to help our business capitalize on the extraordinary growth opportunities emerging in Angola and our other markets.”

Ambassador J. Peter Pham said: “Africell operates at the forefront of the telecommunications sector in Africa. My experience serving in Africa tells me that it is a continent worth investing in – and I believe that developing its private sector is key to unlocking its enormous potential. Africell is an illuminating case study for how the US and other international companies can achieve sustainable growth in Africa through bold investments and transparent business activities. I am pleased to be joining Africell Group’s board because it has proven that it is a company which has a positive long-term impact not only on its direct customers but also on the wider communities and societies in which it works.”

Saving The Environment… Has Bio’s 5 Million Trees Project Started?

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

By Amin Kef Sesay

Forests are too precious to lose. President Bio in one of his policy statements last year told the nation that his Government was going to plant 5 million trees to re-green the country. Ghana has taken a step towards the achievement of such a national program with the starting of planting five million trees each year.

With environmental degradation and climate change real everyday existential threats to the long-time survival of the human race, halting deforestation and enhancing biodiversity become looming.

Forestry and Agriculture Ministries should now work together – as transforming food systems is key to reverse forest and biodiversity loss while feeding ever-growing number of people.

Deforestation and forest degradation are among the key contributors to greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity loss. Yet, the world continues to lose tropical forests at an alarming rate. Reversing this trend also requires taking actions outside the forest sector, notably by transforming food systems and agricultural practices.

Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry must be addressed together; otherwise, the global agreements on sustainable development, climate change and biodiversity will not be met.

This emerging human challenge demands dynamic debate around the key challenges and opportunities to turn the tide on deforestation and transform food systems so that the country can feed the ever-growing population without losing precious forests. The Ministries of Land, Environment, Youth, Rural Development, Agriculture and Forestry working in tandem should reflect seriously on working with triggers for win-win solutions and share lessons learnt from scaling up on-the-ground actions and modernizing policies and regulations.

This is because land and forest are at the crossroads of different agendas: food and energy security, jobs and growth, stability, peace and security, biodiversity and climate action.

In terms of global warming and climate change, forests are cost-effective solutions for carbon sequestration, vital sources of biodiversity and of livelihoods for nearly 25% of the world’s population. In Sierra Leone, there has been little or no progress towards sustainable forest management, balancing environmental, socio-cultural and economic aims. The question is how can we reduce and stop deforestation and forest degradation to instead conserve biodiversity, enhance forest carbon stocks and ensure sustainable socio-economic development?

Land degradation is a related issue. This affects the entire country and is a major cause of forced displacement, conflict and further environmental damage, including ecosystems loss.

One of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)  precisely aims to combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, and achieve neutrality. Managing landscapes sustainably combines environmental, climate and livelihood/development considerations, and is therefore an effective way of sustainably managing natural resources.

How can these three dimensions be balanced to ensure productivity, efficient use of resources and ecosystem and people resilience?

These are what the above name Ministries, their Agencies and international development partners should work out in saving our environment from further degradation and damage.

 

To Evaluate PWDs Act 2011…   ‘One Family People’ & Partners Hold National Consultative Meeting

By Foday Moriba Conteh

With a view to evaluate the 10 years existence of the Persons with Disabilities Act 2011 in the country, the One Family People in collaboration with the Sierra Leone Union on Disabilities Issues with support from Liliane Fonds has on Tuesday 15th June, 2021 convened a National Consultative Meeting to look at the successes and challenges of the Act. The event was held at the Peace Museum on Jomo Kenyatta Road in Freetown.

In her statement, the Operations Director of One Family People, Hadiatou Diallo, described the evaluation of the 10 years operations of the Persons with Disabilities Act 2011event as a move in the right direction towards addressing issues of disabilities in the country.

She noted that the One Family People is a strategic partner of the Liliane Foundation, adding that members of the Foundation have been working together with local organizations in Africa in order to make children living with disabilities stronger and their environment more accessible of which she encouraged other organizations to emulate the footsteps of the Liliane Foundation in supporting local organizations.

The Operations Director divulged that one of their strategies, as an organization, is advocacy, furthering how they believe that advocacy can contribute greatly to change norms, policies etc, adding that it was through advocacy that the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities was established, and that it was also through advocacy that the Persons with Disabilities Act 2011 was enacted of which they are gathered to evaluate its10 years of operation in the country.

Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disability, Saa Lamin Kortequee, expressed appreciation to the One Family People for the laudable venture in bringing Organizations of Persons with Disabilities together to evaluate the 10 years operations of the Persons with Disabilities Act 2011 with the objective of reviewing its successes and challenges.

He also emphasized the need for the establishment of a disable unit in institutions in order to include persons living with disabilities in the design, implementation, and monitoring of their activities, noting that there are some institutions like the Human Rights Commission, NCRA etc. that have already created units but lamented that some are not too disable friendly.

Saa Lamin Kortequee revealed that disability is not a charity issue but it is about rights and that as citizens with disability in the country they are entitled to every right like non-disable citizens.

On his part, President of Sierra Leone Union on Disabilities Issues (SLUDI), Santigie Kargbo, applauded the One Family People for convening the National Consultative Meeting to look at the successes and challenges of the PwDs Act 2011 which he described as a stepping stone in addressing issues of disabilities in the country.

He said that they will listen keenly to the Consultant for the Review of the PwDs Act 2011 after which they will have discussions on recommendations towards the review of the PwDs Act 2011, adding that although there are certain sections in the Act which should be reviewed there are also things which should be added that will impact the lives of persons living with disabilities positively.

Evaluating the ten years operations of  the PwDs Act 2011, highlighting successes and challenges, the Consultant for the Review of the PwDs Act 2011, Hon. Julius Nye Cuffie, said that Chapter II of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone (Act No.6), which is the highest law of the land only passively mentioned persons living with disabilities (PWDs) under the rubric, ‘Fundamental Principles of State Policy’ of which he said those said provisions are not justiciable, meaning that one cannot enforce them in the courts of law in Sierra Leone.

He added that disability issues were not treated as rights issues under the human rights provisions of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone, adding that the legal omission is that where the rights of PWDs is about to be infringed, are been infringed or have been infringed, a PWD cannot invoke Section 28 of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone to assert and enforce his or her right.

Underscoring the successes of the of the PwDs Act 2011 Hon. Julius Nye Cuffie said one of the successes is that Sierra Leone now has a legal framework mostly tailor-made from international law, recognizing, protecting, promoting and catering for the enforcement of the rights, dignity and worth of PWDs and to create equal opportunities for PWDs and the setting up by Government in 2012 of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities.

On the challenges of the PwDs Act 2011 the Consultant revealed that the Government of Sierra Leone only tabled in Parliament for ratification the   UNCRPD and not the additional Protocol to the UNCRPD which he said affects the disability development in Sierra Leone.

He added that the PwDs Act 2011 was supposed to have domesticated the ratified UNCRPD to the latter.

The original draft PWD Bill which was popularized and validated by Disabled Persons Organization (DPOs), INGOs and NGOs at the time, which was comprehensive and all-encompassing, was significantly trammeled by the Government of Sierra Leone before the same was tabled in Parliament for enactment, he also intimated.

Climaxing the event was a discussion on recommendations towards the review of the PwDs Act 2011.

Orange Sierra Leone Empowering Entrepreneurs

By Amin Kef Sesay

In line with Government’s human capital development agenda, one of the leading mobile networks, Orange Sierra Leone understands the need to invest in the young people of Sierra Leone so they can realize their dreams and entrepreneurial aspirations. That is why the company has increased the prize money for the winner of the Orange Social Venture Prize (OSVP) by four folds.

The OSVP is an initiative that was launched by Orange to promote businesses and give entrepreneurs a shot at success. That support has been crucial to their survival and has given them a good start in a very competitive business field.

Young people in Sierra Leone are aspiring to be business leaders, but taking the first step has been the most difficult part. Understanding the vision of young people and believing in them is the most crucial part, and Orange has consistently shown the willingness to take that risk and invest in the dreams of these young people.

Public Relations Manager for Orange Sierra Leone, Annie Wonnie Katta said: “This year we are going big, because the prize money has increased by 400% compared to two years ago when the money was Le20 to Le25 million. This year the star prize is Le 100 million, so that is why we want the message to go far, so young people with innovative ideas and start -ups will apply for this grant.”

This year Orange also encouraged applicants to develop ideas to tackle a problem like climate change and other environmental sustainability issues. The application for OSVP was open since February and was closed in the first week of June.

OSVP is a competition that accepts proposals with the best innovative business ideas that are impactful to communities. The winner will get Le100 million as prize money and if the winner is a woman, she will get Le50 million extra, taking her prize money to Le150 million.

All these interventions have taken CSR to a whole new height in Sierra Leone with investment in to long lasting and impactful programs that will change the lives of people.

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