Home Blog Page 907

Prof. David Francis Holds Productive Diplomatic Talks With Russian Foreign Minister

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov holds diplomatic talks with, his counterpart, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Sierra Leone David John Francis. (Photo supplied)

By Foday Moriba Conteh

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has held substantive and productive diplomatic talks with, his counterpart, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Sierra Leone David John Francis during his first foreign visit in his new post to Moscow, Russia.

According to official reports, David Francis has visited the Russian Federation, and last participated in the first Russia-Africa summit in October 2019. His mid-May visit was to find ways to expand relations forward between Russia and Sierra Leone, the country that marked its 60th independence on April 27.

Historically, Soviet Union and now Russia has had good relations with Sierra Leone. Diplomatic relations between Russia and Sierra Leone will be 60 years, precisely in January 2022.

While in Moscow, Minister David Francis interacted with Russian businesspeople – those who are already working in Sierra Leone and those who plan to invest in this promising economy. He met with representatives of the academic community and NGOs engaged in relations with Africa.

He had a meeting at the Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry and with Sierra Leone students studying at RUDN University. This university established in 1960, the most popular among foreigners, is one of the leading state higher educational institutions. Russia continues to provide assistance in this area of education and training through higher education grants each year.

Russia and Sierra Leone signed an intergovernmental agreement on visa free travel for diplomatic passport holders. Lavrov and Francis touched upon the possibility of opening a Russian Embassy in Freetown, the capital city of Sierra Leone.

Russia and Sierra Leone, both however want to lift trade, economic and investment cooperation to the level of political dialogue. So far, achievements in trade have been modest, or best to describe it as very tiny.

Russia is now eyeing prospects offered by mutually beneficial projects in mining, the fuel and energy complex, infrastructure, and fishing. Sierra Leone has untapped natural resources, especially diamonds. It is among the largest producers of titanium and bauxite, is also a major producer of gold, and has one of the world’s largest deposits of rutile.

With this in mind, Minister Lavrov emphasized this point during their joint media conference – “We will continue our discussions to ensure that Russian businesses enjoy a favorable working environment in Sierra Leone. D J Francis reaffirmed that this matter will be on his list of priorities.”

Both Ministers stressed the continuation of the Working Group on Energy, which was created following President of Sierra Leone Julius Maada Bio’s attendance at the Russia-Africa Summit held in Sochi in 2019. The group has already held its first meeting. This year, its second meeting is tentatively planned.

On the general situation in Africa, Lavrov and Francis understandably noted a clear position that there should always be an “African solution to African problems” and that “all external actors must create the best conditions for the African countries, their sub-regional organizations and the African Union to draft common solutions on overcoming crises in the most effective way.”

“We share Sierra Leone’s approach to the current situations in the Sahara-Sahel Region and West Africa, the Horn of Africa and the Central African Republic. As a permanent UN Security Council member and a friend of Africa, Russia will contribute to the strengthening of regional security and stability by supporting, let me emphasize this again, the efforts of the African countries themselves,” reaffirmed Lavrov.

In addition, Lavrov described the measures taken by the Russian Federation to implement the summit’s agreements and create systematic, permanent mechanisms for cooperation through political dialogue and encouraging economic and investment cooperation.

In the end, the parties thoroughly discuss cooperation between Russia and African countries in light of preparations for the second Russia Africa summit. With high hope and expectation that President of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio, who attended the first summit, will also take part in the second Russia-Africa summit planned to take place in 2022.

To Display Investment Opportunities… Mines Ministry, NMA to Launch Geodata & Hold Exhibition on Monday

By Amin Kef Sesay

It was disclosed on the 20th May 2021 that the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources (MMMR) and the National Minerals Agency (NMA) will launch the Geodata and Exhibition Event on the 24th May 2021 at the Bintumani International Conference Centre in Freetown.

The event will entail the launch of the deliverables from the Nationwide Airborne Geophysical Survey (“NAGS”) and the Enterprise Geoscientific Information Management System (“eGIMS”) and the NMA Strategic Plan 2020 – 2025 (“SP 2020-2025”).

Sierra Leone is richly endowed with minerals such as iron ore, rutile, diamonds, bauxite, gold, platinum, zircon, ilmenite, chromite and columbite-tantalite (coltan).

Since April 2018, the Sierra Leone Government has issued three large-scale mining licences (i.e., Seawright Mining Company Ltd, Wongor Investment Mining Company Ltd, and Meya Mining Company Ltd) in Kono District, in addition to Koidu Ltd.

Also, for the first time since 1961, the Government has issued large-scale mining licences in Bo District (i.e., FG Gold Ltd); in Kenema District (i.e., Sierra Diamonds Ltd); in Koinadugu District (Cheng-Li Mining Company Ltd for gold); and in Kambia District (Supreme Mining Ltd for bauxite). In 2020, mining operations also re-started in Tonkolili District by Dayu Mining Company Ltd and Kingho Mining Company Ltd.

The number of large-scale mining companies has increased from six in April 2018 to 13 in April 2021. This includes operations in Moyamba and Bonthe Districts by Sierra Minerals Holdings Ltd and Sierra Rutile (Iluka) Ltd. The number of small-scale mining companies has increased from six in April 2018 to 17 in April 2021.

The main legislation that governs the sector is the Mines and Minerals Act of 2009, which, though widely perceived to be very competitive, is currently being reviewed to ensure that its provisions are transparent, stable, comprehensive, and consistent with industry best practice.

In 2019, the Government launched three key policies: the Minerals Policy; Artisanal Mining Policy; and Geo-Data Management Policy, to promote and protect investments; ensure that Sierra Leone derives maximum benefits from its mineral wealth; promote value addition and economic linkages; increase geological knowledge; improve environmental and social management; and formalize the artisanal mining sector.

The country maintains a sophisticated Mining Cadastre Administration System (MCAS) and an Online Portal that support the effective, efficient and transparent administration and management of mineral rights. The Portal displays revenue and other useful data and information pertaining to mineral applications and rights. This Portal can be easily accessed from anywhere, at any time and on any internet-based device free of charge.

The Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources (MMMR) and the National Minerals Agency (NMA) have designed the Geodata Launch and Exhibition Event to celebrate and showcase progress made in Sierra Leone’s mines and minerals sector.

It is an opportunity for investors, mining companies, banks and financial institutions, legal firms and various product/service providers to join Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, Development Partners and other key stakeholders to share experiences and ideas on the investment opportunities and challenges in the mines and minerals sector.

The Event will provide varied networking platforms for delegates to make meaningful connections for long term partnership and collaborations. It offers a platform for presentations, interactive discussions, business matchmaking, networking and exhibition of products and services.

Through collaborative efforts, there are so many initiatives ongoing as integral part of a successful mining industry in Sierra Leone. These are the opportunities the Government, through the MMMR and the NMA, seeks to actively promote.

Girls Advocacy Development Network Raise Awareness on Gender Based Violence

By Edward Vamboi

As a way of raising awareness on Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV), the Girls Advocacy Development Network (GADN), a non-profitable and Non-Governmental Organization that advocates against Gender Based Violence, with support from UNAIDS and the Rainbo Initiative, on the 18th May, 2021 convened a two day training workshop for in and out of school teenage boys, an event which was held at the Africell American Corner in Freetown targeting pupils from six Secondary Schools in Freetown. The focus of the workshop was on how to combat Gender Based Violence.

The main thrust of the workshop was to deliberate on issues relating to the Sexual Offences Amendment Act of 2019 and to come up with strategies as to how to drastically reduce the rate of Gender Base Violence that is especially perpetrated against girls in society.

Hannah Kargbo, the Chief  Executive Officer and Founder of  the Girls Advocacy Network intimated journalists that there is plan afoot that Government will organize a Social Legal Empowerment Training Workshop  to bring boys in schools and at the community level to raise awareness on the 2019 Sexual Offences Amendment Act.

She also disclosed that the proposed training workshop will last for days in order to engage boys and raise awareness on Gender Based Violence (GBV), the Sexual Amendment Act as well as Sexual Reproductive Health.

Hannah Kargbo underscored that Gender Based Violence is a global phenomenon further stating that most of the perpetrators or people who are involved in inflicting violence against girls in society are men and boys, adding that according to statistics the data base shows that men are more involved in perpetrating such acts of violence.

She said, as an institution, they thought it fit to promote male engagement seeing the need to engage boys in society as a step taken that is geared towards eradicating or minimizing Gender Based Violence especially against the Girl Child.

According to the representative from UNAIDS ,Semion  Saffa Turay, who happens to be the  Strategic Information Adviser of that institution,  disclosed that the workshop on Gender Based Violence (GBV) is very important expressing the view that he is of the firm conviction that at the end of the two day workshop most of the beneficiaries would have learnt a lot and later on serve as trainers in their schools and communities .

He maintained that the country is making progress in the direction of combating GBV and mostly to ensure that girls and women are treated humanely, with respect and dignity saying otherwise they will be at a disadvantageous position.

Semion furthered that they are getting positive feedbacks about the Government’s efforts in the direction of fighting SGBV. He dilated on some of the harmful effects emanating from SGV on the victims such as stigmatization, contracting venereal diseases, saying those are public health concerns appealing to put shoulders to the wheel in order to kick out the societal menace.

He ended up by expressing gratitude to the Girls Advocacy Development Network for coming up with the initiative to engage the participants and Africell for providing the venue for the training workshop.

According to the Senior Communications Officer of Rainbo Initiative, Bob Lamin, 90% of Gender Based Violence cases are perpetrated by boys and men. He added that if we want to put a stop to it then we must use different approaches.

Bob revealed that they have branches in Freetown, Bo, Makeni, Kenema and Kono adding that the Rainbo Center is where anyone who has suffered sexual violence could be diagnosed for free.

He said according to a survey that was done in 2020 the SGBV survivors that went to the Centers were up to Three Thousand Five Hundred and Forty Eight out of which there were twenty six men who were sexually molested and abused.

He concluded by encouraging participants to help combat GBV in their various communities by reporting such crimes and spreading awareness.

PARHA Presents Draft Safe Motherhood Bill to Stakeholders

By Foday Moriba Conteh

As part of their aim to engage and collaborate with relevant State institutions and professional bodies to take forward the campaign on the enactment of a Reproductive Health Law in the country, the People Alliance for Reproductive Health Advocacy (PARHA) on Wednesday 19th May, 2021, presented the draft Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Bill to stakeholders during a one day stakeholder’s consultation meeting held at the New Brookfield’s Hotel in Freetown.

The draft Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Bill, which has been presented to stakeholders, was to avail them the opportunity to discuss what are imbedded in the draft Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Bill and make recommendations before the final Bill is presented to Cabinet and then Parliament.

Giving an overview of PHAHA’s activities, Co-founder and Chairman of PHAHA, Fodie P.O Kamara, revealed that the issue of unsafe abortion continues to plague us as a nation, adding that women and girls are dying further highlighting the need for collective approach in engaging key stakeholders on issues relating to the Bill.

He pointed out how they do appreciate the effort made by the Inter-Religious Council for taking part in the stakeholders’ consultation as, according to him, such is a manifestation that they are in the right footing.

The Chairman also stated that tracing the journey of the Safe Abortion Bill from 2012 unto the day former President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma refused to sign the Bill in 2015, they looked at the Memo and realized that there were less consultations among stakeholders, stressing that the reason for this key stakeholders’ consultation is to address that gap and see how they can achieve the Safe Motherhood Bill.

He revealed that they had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Inter-Religious Council followed by a meeting with them on the 31st January, 2019 wherein, they agreed to establish a Joint Advocacy Working Group, adding that concerns were raised during the first engagement with the Council and they have addressed those concerns.

The Head of Media of the Inter-Religious Council Sierra Leone, Rev. Tamba Bric Mbayo, expressed gratitude to the People Alliance for Reproductive Health Advocacy (PARHA) for the consultative meeting and the presentation of the draft Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Bill to them as stakeholders which he descried as a move in the right direction.

He said that as a Council they were not totally against the Safe Abortion Bill which former President Ernest Bai Korma refused to sign in 2015 saying, however, it was an understanding that some portions of it must be expunged.

Rev. Tamba Bric Mbayo added that since recommendations were proffered they never went back to the Council with the Bill underscoring how probably the issue would have been laid to rest.

He said, as a Council, they are very happy to be part of the consultation on the proposed Bill adding that they will take the draft bill to their constituents for further deliberations and recommendations which will be communicated to PARHA.

Delivering a statement, Deputy Minister of Health 1 applauded the People Alliance for Reproductive Health Advocacy (PARHA) for convening the meeting which he described as not only important but timely stating that the issues at hand need consultation and deliberations among relevant stakeholders.

He noted that the issue about the Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Bill is a national one considering the high and unacceptable mortality rate in the country adding that all hands must be on deck to fight towards the reduction of mortality rate in the country.

The Minister said the Ministry of Health and PARHA cannot do it and therefore collaboration with all stakeholders is significant.

He said as a Ministry they will sit together in order to look at the draft Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Bill and see how the Ministry will come up with recommendations.

In his presentation on the Proposed Draft Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Bill, the Consultant of the Bill, Idressa Kargbo, said the country needs a law on sexual and reproductive health in order to comply to obligations under the Maputo protocol, adding that it will also implement one of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation’s national target under outcome 5 of the MTNDP.

Underscoring the purpose of the Bill he said it is to recognize and promote sexual and reproductive health rights of Women in line with the Maputo protocol, noting that it will make sexual and reproductive health services safe, accessible and qualitative in order to respect, protect and fulfill the right to sexual and reproductive health of women in the country.

Idressa Kargbo concluded by stating that there is an urgent need to complete the incorporation of the provisions of the Maputo protocol by enacting the Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health bill into an Act of which he added that there is need to consolidate laws on reproductive health.

The event was climaxed by a plenary session during which period participants made meaningful contributions on the proposed draft Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Bill followed by the adoption of action points.

Open Bribe Taking By Police Greatly Undermines Fight Against Corruption

By Amin Kef Sesay

It is no hidden secret that every day at the checkpoints that they man across the city and along the highways and roads in the provinces, Police nakedly and shamelessly demand and receive bribes on a daily basis in the form of booking from commercial vehicle drivers.

What is most appealing about this disgraceful practice is that traffic Police Officers have been joined by Traffic Wardens in carrying out these blatant dastardly acts of corruption; with the victims being passengers and conveyors of goods, forced to pay high transport fares.

We have several times drawn the attention of the Inspector General and the Police Executive Management Board to the undermining of the fight against corruption by this act of shamelessly demanding money for rendering their services which is also rampant among officers at Police stations in investigating matters taken to them by members of the public with no positive response towards addressing it.

This age old unaddressed corruption within the Police Force has made many citizens to state that the Government’s fight against corruption is mere lip service as the Police Force which should enforce the law is deeply corrupt and only interested in money making.

Many citizens complain that given the method of recruitment, wherein relatives and those who pay money to be taken are favored, many junior Police Officers do not follow what they were taught in training school and thus engage in bad policing. As a result, crime is high and public confidence in the Police is low.

The Police, in the performance of their duties of protecting lives and properties and deterring crime are accused of lacking proximity to the citizens and disrespect for human rights and the rule of law. In addition, a lack of transparency causes corruption and abuse of power. As a result, the instability of the State is intensifying.

In terms of equipment, the Police have inadequate equipment and logistics. Police officers do not receive sufficient training to carry out their tasks professionally and diligently within standardized organizational and accountable working processes.

In terms of prosecution, there is a need for better cooperation between the Police and the Judiciary in terms of providing prima facie evidence for prosecution and ensuring that the right for bail is not violated.

In order for the Police to be seen as professional, the institutional and human resources capacity of the Police as an institution responsible for maintaining law and order has to be strengthened; based on the principles of rule of law. Strengthening human rights in police work is a particular focus.

In order to build stability, there is a crying need to strengthen the legitimacy of the Police Force by increasing transparency, professionalism and partnership with citizens.

In this context, procedures for internal control, accountability and managing complaints should be brought to the fore by the EMB in order to enable prompt action on reports of bad policing from the public. The involvement of civil society and citizens in Police decision making will go a long way in improving the population’s trust in the security authorities.

Several solutions and actions to create fair and effective policing practices have been recommended:

1) Create use of force guidelines and ensure that they are followed to the letter by both rank and file in the performance of their duties

2) Hold Police departmental heads strictly responsible for negligence.

3) Screen recruits for intelligence, bias and aggression

4) Focus on employing robust collaborative community approaches to policing

5) Encourage consistent monitoring and screening of officers in the field; particularly with regards this Press’s repeated whistle blowing on traffic officers and wardens having turned bribery and corruption in the commercial transport sector into a very lucrative business; albeit totally illegal and deplorably unacceptable by the citizenry.

Farming Communities benefit from WHH Cooking Classes

Community Multipliers being trained to cook six nutritious recipes in Mbeanahun village in Kailahun District

By Tamba Borbor, Public Relations Officer, WHH SLE 1079

Farming communities in Tanenahun and Mbeanahun sections in Luawa Chiefdom, Kailahun District have benefited from two days of cooking classes organized by Welthungerhilfe (WHH) on Friday 14th and Saturday 15th May 2021.

These activities organized under the Covid-19 Fair Trade Emergency Initiative for Sierra Leone (SLE 1087) which is implemented by Welthungerhilfe with funding from GIZ, are aimed at educating and training farmers about the nutritional value of locally available foodstuff grown by the farmers themselves whiles also ensuring a well-balanced diet habit within target communities.

Community multipliers were given the opportunity to learn how to prepare a total of six nutritious recipes which includes: Orlehleh made from cow pea beans; LANN Pumpkin flat bread; Pumpkin bread; raw banana and ripe plantain with potato leaves sauce; pigeon pea with ripe banana, white yam, cocoa yam with Krain Krain sauce.

According to Hawa Bockarie, the Manager of the LANN Plus component under the SLE 1087 project, , the essence of these cooking classes is to teach the farmers about various food that are readily available to them and how to prepare same in order to boost their immune system to enhance child growth and a healthy life.

“We want to diversify their diet and make sure they eat most of what they grow instead of always selling the products and eating only rice,” Hawa explained; adding that the community multipliers earlier trained by WHH are engaged in training this new set of farmers.

She noted that farmers who are been trained during these cooking classes can raise income from selling these recipes in their communities.

Tamba Gbondo, WHH SLE 1087 District Coordinator for Kailahun highlighted cocoa value chain and LANN as integral components under the project which sets out to target 3,800 farmers and 15,000 beneficiaries, respectively.

“There are six recipes being promoted during these practical cooking demonstrations which have socio-economic value. We also encourage them that these local products are readily available in their communities with more nutritious value,” Gbondo explained.

He urged the farmers to “eat more and sell less” which is the LANN flagship approach aimed at boosting farmers’ immune systems with emphasis on a balanced diet.

One of the Community Multipliers from Tanenahun section, David Kamara expressed thanks and appreciation to WHH for the knowledge and skill acquired which now gives him the opportunity to train farmers in other communities.

“These local foodstuffs we prepare in various recipes gives us more vitamins and nutrients that boosts our immune system and provides us a range of food choices unlike in the past,” Kamara stated.

He noted that they can also generate income from selling the various recipes to support their families and personal needs, acknowledging the role of Lizard Earth as a partner to WHH for brining about the invaluable support.

Miatta Ellie, a female Community Multiplier said they are now well equipped to pass on cooking knowledge to other farmers in the community having been trained by WHH before.

She named the various local products used in preparing the six nutritious recipes which includes Corn, Flour, Banana, Plantain, cow peas, ginger, garlic, palm oil, groundnut oil, pumpkin, yam, etc.

“I can now engage in business by selling these local food recipes in my community to generate income for myself while catering for my children’s needs,” Miatta informed.

During the two-day cooking demonstrations, there was plenty of food available to the community with every household having more than enough to eat after all the recipes were prepared.

The remaining raw foodstuffs and condiments were also shared amongst the community people by WHH Field Staff as a policy of boosting the local farmers.

UBA Sierra Leone 2020 Financial Year Records Sterling Performance

The MD/CEO UBA Sierra Leone Usman Isiaka

By Amin Kef Sesay

  • 71% Growth in Total Assets to Le1.32 trillion
  • 65% Growth in PBT (Profit Before Tax) to Le123.7 billion
  • 54% Growth in Shareholders Funds (Equity) to Le264.13 billion

UBA Sierra Leone recently received Bank of Sierra Leone (BSL) “No Objection” approval to publish its Year 2020 Audited Financial Statement which was earlier approved by its Board of Directors on the 17th of March 2021.

In a note of appreciation to all staff of the bank, the Managing Director/CEO, Usman Isiaka noted that the bank recorded an impressive performance in the financial year with significant improvements across most parameters amidst the challenging 2020 Calendar year characterised by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Specifically, UBA closed the year 2020 with a balance sheet size of Le1.32 Trillion a growth of Le544.7 Billion representing a 71% increase compared to Le771.5 Billion in 2019.

This growth was largely driven by growth in deposits from customers. Despite the challenging market situation, the bank recorded growth of 67% in customer deposits to close at Le787.4 Billion at the end of the year compared to Le 472.5 billion in 2019 by leveraging on its digital prowess to provide 24/7 service to its customers via electronic channels to defy the COVID- 19 constraints.

The bank recorded a remarkable profit before tax of Le123.7 billion and profit after tax of Le92.8 billion representing impressive year-on-year growth of 65% and 81% respectively. The 2020 profit after tax translates to a 42.6% post-tax return on average equity and 8.9% return on total assets.

Gross earnings increased by 49% for the year ended 2020 accounting for the year-on-year increase in net interest income by 63% from Le 86.9 billion to Le141.9 billion. The bank also leveraged on its transaction banking channels, digital banking products, trade and foreign exchange offerings to grow non-interest income to 35% of gross earnings. We remain optimistic that our investments in alternative channels will continue to support the growth of our non-interest income lines to continually increase our gross earnings in the medium term.

The bank’s operating expenses increased by 40% in 2020 following the 27% rise recorded in 2019 due to increase in our operations.  However, it is also pleasing that our cost-to-income ratio, one of our crucial key performance indicators, further improved to 33.8% from 37.4% in 2019. We expect this to be sustained in the coming years as we leverage on the increasing digitalisation and process improvement initiatives of the bank.

UBA Sierra Leone remains very liquid and adequately capitalized, with capital adequacy ratio of 112.7% (2019: 112.0) which is well above the regulatory minimum. Our capital buffer remains strong to support our business growth and branch expansion plan, particularly as we are also leveraging internally generated capital by way of prudent and pragmatic earnings retention with Zero Dividend payment over the years.

We want to use this opportunity to thank our esteemed customers for their loyalty and continuous patronage that contributed significantly to this sterling performance and the Board for their unceasing support that is a source of encouragement to all staff and management of the bank in our journey towards making UBA Sierra Leone the undisputable leading and dominant financial service institution in the country.

UBA Sierra Leone is a subsidiary of UBA Plc, a leading Pan-African financial institution headquartered in Nigeria, offering banking services to more than twenty-five million customers, across over 1,000 business offices and customer touch points, in 20 African countries. With presence in the United States of America, the United Kingdom and France, UBA is connecting people and businesses across Africa through retail; commercial and corporate banking; innovative cross-border payments and remittances; trade finance and ancillary banking services.  Website: www.ubasierraleone.com.

Caritas Freetown & Partners Hold Policy Brief on Women, Property Rights and Land Reforms

By Foday Moriba Conteh

As part of their strides to intensify advocacy on women, property rights and the need for land reforms in the country, Caritas Freetown, in collaboration with their partners, has on Thursday 20th May, 2021 held its 3rd Policy Brief of Sierra Leone Land Alliance dubbed: “Women, Property Rights and the need for Land Reforms in Sierra Leone” at the Saint Anthony’s Hall on Skye Street in Freetown.

In his welcome address, the Executive Director of Caritas Freetown, Rev Fr. Peter A. Konteh, extended gratitude to all for attending the 3rd Policy Brief of the Sierra Leone Land Alliance dubbed: “Women, Property Rights and the need for Land Reforms in Sierra Leone’’.

He stated that working on sustainability issues through the lens of land is key to finding integrated and long-lasting solutions to reducing poverty and boosting shared prosperity, which according to him are the two corporate goals for Caritas Sierra Leone and partners.

Rev Fr. Peter A. Konteh pointed out that the Policy Brief session will provide an opportunity to develop a comprehensive action plan to engage law and policy makers at the local, national and regional levels and the affected communities, adding that the event is a platform for discussing a corporate driven development narrative, enhance advocacy for sustainable use of land resources, strengthening a link among various faith-based organizations, civil society groups, and the media in addressing the problem of land grabbing and its effects.

He revealed that at the Sierra Leone Land Alliance, Caritas Sierra Leone and Amnesty International, are supporting Government’s policies that recognize and record all forms of legitimate tenure, while paying particular attention to the land rights of women and indigenous people and supporting the strong land governance policies and institutions that can help prevent large-scale land acquisition or mitigate its negative impacts.

In his presentation on the 3rd Policy Brief on Women, Property Rights and Land Reforms, Director of the Sierra Leone Land Alliance, John Paul Bai, disclosed that land is the foundation of all human activities both social and economic. He said that is particularly so in agrarian economies such as Sierra Leone.

“In these economies women are central to economic production in agriculture and livestock sectors,” he pointed out.

He added that women’s right to land is a critical factor in social status, economic well-being and empowerment. Land is a basic source of livelihood providing employment, the key agricultural input, and a major determinant of a farmer’s access to other productive resources and services.

“Land is also a social asset, crucial for cultural identity, political power and participation in local decision-making process,” he informed.

In his policy recommendations, John Paul Bai said Government should conduct a sustained advocacy on land rights in an attempt to address the negative cultural practices and attitudes that marginalize women stating that such has been proposed in the National Land Policy of 2015.

“Land is a fundamental asset for the economic empowerment of the poor. Women’s land rights should be treated as fundamental human rights. Women have been systematically marginalized from full participation in the development process despite their active participation in the production process alongside men,” he concluded.

Delivering a statement on why do women’s Land Rights Matter, Director of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Human Rights Commission, Gloria Bayoh, noted that human rights are enshrined in the law and protected by the State that is why they remain very crucial to have issues on women’s land rights rooted in the law for protection, and make access legally binding and thus removing all discriminatory aspects that prevent women from acquiring land as a personal property.

He said that women’s Land Rights matter because land rights are human rights and because they are human rights it simply means that everyone is entitled to it and should be enjoyed by all without any form of discrimination.

She pointed out that the survival of women in Africa are mostly characterized by subsistence farming to provide for their families especially children of which she said taking land from them means depriving the home, furthering that it is very obvious that women, just like men do have rights to own property especially land for their survival.

Assistant Representative of FAO, Harding Wuyango,  disclosed that people can be condemn to a life of hunger and poverty if they lose their tenure rights of their land, fisheries and forests and their lives because of corrupt practices if implementing agencies fail to protect their internal rights.

He, however, noted that in May, 2012, the Committee on Food Security endorsed voluntary guidelines on the responsible governance of tenure of rights, fisheries and forests in the context of national food security, VET and all member State made a commitment to implement them of which he said the Government of Sierra Leone made high commitment towards the implementation of the VET.

Harding Wuyango said that upon the commitment made by Government FAO supported the development and implementation of the 2015 land policy, adding that they also established a vibrant multi-stakeholders’ platform to support the coordination of the VET and they also piloted the systematic demarcation and mapping of customary land rights.

The event was climaxed by an official launch of the 3rd Policy Brief on Women, Property Rights and Land Reform in Sierra Leone by Professor Joe Turay of which he also highlighted the need for land reforms in the country followed by Audience Participations/Q&A.

Judiciary under Chief Justice Has More Qualified Women   -President Bio

By Elkass Sannoh

President Bio, on the 18th May 2021, reaffirmed the massive reforms ongoing in the Judiciary of Sierra Leone under the leadership of the Hon. Chief Justice His Lordship Justice Desmond Babatunde Edwards.

Speaking in the Well of Parliament during the State Opening of the Fourth Session of the Fifth Parliament of the Second Republic of Sierra Leone, President Bio insisted that “every citizen should benefit from a fair, impartial, and effective justice system”.

He said in order to increase access to justice his Government has supported the appointment of 15 more High Court judges and 11 more Magistrates, adding that “there are now regular High Court Criminal Sessions in Pujehun, Tonkolili, Bonthe, Kambia, Koinadugu, Kailahun, Moyamba, Port Loko, and Kono Districts.”

He went on to note that the Judiciary under the Hon. Chief Justice, now has more qualified women to serve in senior management positions in the judiciary including the Master and Registrar, Court Operations Manager, Human Resource Manager, Deputy Master and Registrar, and Court of Appeal Registrar.

According to President Bio, 2 female judges in the Supreme Court, 5 in the Court of Appeal, and 5 in the High Court have been appointed in line with his gender policy to empower more women.

“Through Constitutional Instrument, the High Court has been divided into eight divisions with three specialised courts adjudicating corruption cases, dealing with industrial and social security disputes, and handling sexual offences cases,” he said, stressing that, “digitalisation of court processes is ongoing.”

Impressed with the current leadership provided by Hon. Justice Edwards, President Bio said his Government has improved the landscape for commercial law by acceding to international instruments. He went further to disclose that a small claims commercial court has been set up to fast track cases in Magistrate court with claims of under 50 million Leones.

Rainbo Initiative Engages Two Oversight Committees & Female Caucus

By Mary Kabay

Two outstanding parliamentary oversight committees on Health and Sanitation and Gender and Children’s Affairs and some members of the Female Caucus were engaged in a day’s workshop by the Rainbo Initiative on the 19th May 2021 at Country Lodge Hotel on Hill Station in Freetown. The workshop which focused on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) has as its theme: “The Role of Service Providers and Parliament to End Sexual and Gender-Based Violence”.

Rainbow Initiative (RI) is a national organization that is passionate about ending sexual and gender-based violence in Sierra Leone through the provision of free medical, psychosocial services, and national advocacy to influence policy change.

Welcoming MPs, the Executive Director  of Rainbo Initiative, Daniel Kettor said, “we are here to discuss sexual offences that are strongly affecting the development and growth of women in Sierra Leone”, adding that the Government has taken serious actions aimed at addressing gender-based violence and commended MPs for the enacting into law the Sexual Offences Act and called on MPs to work directly with Civil Society Organizations to address gender-based violence in the country.

Dr. Christian Williams, a Physician working directly with Rainbo Initiative highlighted her role in the promotion of issues relating SGBV.

The Director, Center for Research and Parliamentary Studies, Parliament of Sierra Leone, Mohamed Jalloh highlighted the importance of the Center regarding capacity building in Parliament. He said the Center is supporting both MPs and Staff in terms of research and training and the need to use research  evidence  in their work, adding that the Center is aimed at collaborating with other organizations to foster a positive partnership.

Alison French, Advocacy and Communications Coordinator outlined the historical background of Rainbo Initiative and it achievements since its inception and presented statistical data on sexual and gender-based violence in their operational areas.

Lead Facilitator, Hon. Dr. Bernadette Lahai, former Minority Leader in Parliament presented an abridged version of the Sexual Offences Amendment Act of 2019 and spoke on effective oversight by Parliament and the use of data to enhance effective Parliamentary oversight.

1...906907908...1,368Page 907 of 1,368