No Respite for Gender Based Violence Perpetrators in Sierra Leone

September 29, 2019

United Methodist Women carry placards with inscriptions calling for an end to violence against females as they march through the main streets of Freetown on July 27. The women from the Sierra Leone Annual Conference took to the streets to protest against the growing violence against women and girls in the country. Photo by Phileas Jusu, UMNS.

By Amin Kef Sesay

In modern day Sierra Leone, the rate at which Gender Based Violence is ascending has become so alarming despite the fact that various rights-based and feminine groups have been mounting incessant advocacies to ensure that stringent measures must be instituted to stem the tide at which it keeps increasing.

Before delving into the nitty-gritty of what are the propelling forces responsible for this unpalatable phenomenon, let us contextually try to actually know what it is and the various forms it takes.

According to research, Gender-Based Violence or GBV, as it is commonly known, simply refers to any violence that is directed at an individual based on his or her biological sex or gender identity. It includes physical, sexual, verbal, emotional and psychological abuse, threats, coercion and economic or educational deprivation whether occurring in public or private life.

In a poverty- riddled country like Sierra Leone, women and girls suffer from the worse forms of gender violence. They are still in bondage and shackles, being objects of male domination and maltreatment. They bear the brunt of sexual exploitation, rape and sexual penetration. Our courts are currently awash with startling cases bordering on rape and sexual penetration perpetrated against especially innocent teenage girls and women.

The most frustrating thing is that even when such cases are brought before the court the vast majority of them do not end up in any good footing and justice in some instances is never meted out to them as they do deserve.

Statistics, over time, have revealed that the number of gender Based Violence is fife in the provinces where access to justice is hard to come by. In those places women are deprived economically by their so-called husbands who out of sexual proclivity have other intimate partners they tend to care for paying less attention to taking care of responsibilities.

The wives are left alone to do all the domestic chores, sell under the hot burning sun and forced to take part in sexual activities against their wishes. The spiral effects are deepening the poverty rate and impinging negatively on the well-being of the children.

What became staggering and disturbing was that even though President Julius Maada Bio declared rape as a national emergency sometime ago, however, the number of reported cases kept increasing.

This ugly scenario called for sterner measures to be put in place to deal with perpetrators, some of whom have the effrontery to even tamper with kids as young as five or eight years of age. And what was so disturbing is that some of the perpetrators are family members of the victims.

The ramifications of Gender-Based Violence are very severe on the victims ranging from unwanted pregnancy, dropping out of school, stigmatization, feeling guilty, withdrawal and other post traumatic experiences.

What again is discernible is that though women in this country have been calling for a 30% space for participation in State decision-making activities, however, there is still much to be desired. Political intimidation has sometimes scare women away from taking part in politics.

Rights-Based groups and women groups have been rigorously campaigning for the enactment of both a gender Equality and Women’s empowerment Policy.

The first Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Policy was drafted in 2014, but was not presented to Cabinet before the exit of the previous APC led Government. With the entrance of the current SLPP led administration, emerging, national, regional and global issues and concerns, among others, necessitated a review of the policy before it can be presented to Parliament.

However, the pressure for such to materialize keeps mounting but there were all indications that it will finally come to pass.

For Sierra Leone’s strive for sustainable peace to be achieved, women have to be active and effective players in all spheres and their economic empowerment must go together with the country’s economic growth and development.

This is why the Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs (MSWGCA) and partners have seen it necessary to develop the GEWE Policy as a lawful reference point for addressing gender inequalities by all stakeholders at national and community levels and family units throughout the country.

The policy seeks to empower women to make choices at all sectors of the development paradigm and calls for equal access for women and men to opportunities across all areas of the economy. Furthermore, it clarifies the roles and responsibilities of the institutions that comprise the Gender Management Structure.

It also ensures that gender perspective is considered in national development plans, sectoral policies and strategies supported by monitoring and evaluation indicators that are designed to benchmark the performance of stakeholders on gender equality and equity. In addition, the policy emphasises the need for gender responsive budgeting in the public and in private sectors.

The GEWE Policy calls on the President of Sierra Leone to take full leadership for gender equality and women’s empowerment by outlining key steps that can be taken at the highest level of government to ensure that the fundamental principles of gender equality and women’s empowerment cascade down to all facets of society right through to the local communities.

The GEWE policy is designed to follow a multi-sectoral approach in implementation to ensure gender equality and women’s empowerment.

It is incumbent on the Government, since it is a signatory to various instruments geared towards dealing with the hydra, to ensure that our womenfolk have respite from Gender Based Violence.

It is welcome news that on the 19^th September 2019 the Sexual Offences Act was passed in Parliament to become law. The Sexual Offences Act of 2012 provides for the increase of the maximum penalty for rape and sexual penetration of a child from fifteen years to life imprisonment; and make provision for the introduction of the offence of aggravated sexual assaults.

Gender Based Violence must be uprooted in this country. It is understandable that it cannot be totally eliminated but it could be minimized and the time is now as our women and girls continue to suffer in silence.

The campaign to disseminate different instruments on women’s peace and security; capture and showcase women’s contribution to governance and peace building efforts was implemented by the Media Reform Coordinating Group (MRCG) and its constituents members WIMSAL (Women in the Media Sierra Leone) and IRN (Independent Radio Network) with support from UNDP (United Nations Development Programme).

Sierra Leone President Calls for Reconfiguration of UN Security Council

September 29, 2019

President Julius Maada Bio addressing UNGA

By Amin Kef Sesay

Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio during the 74th session of the U.N. General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York, on Thursday 26, September, 2019 demanded that the U.N. Security Council reconfigure itself to add permanent representation for Africa, saying the continent’s ”patience is being tested” by its long-standing exclusion.

Julius Maada Bio used convincing words in his annual U.N. General Assembly speech to amplify calls by African countries that they have a more robust voice on the body that represents the most powerful political and global-security authority of the United Nations.

Bio, who also advocated for two additional non-permanent seats to be held by Africans, was anything but indirect. ”Africa’s patience is being tested,” he said.

For decades, there have been calls to expand the U.N.’s most powerful body. It has 10 members elected for two-year terms and five permanent members: the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France.

Competing national and regional interests have prevented Council reform so far.

Africa has no permanent seat on the Council, and three non-permanent seats are allocated for the continent of more than 1.2 billion people.

”The legitimacy and effectiveness of the Security Council’s decisions, as well as the relevance of the United Nations, will continue to be questioned if urgent action is not taken to make the Council more broadly representative,” Bio said.

”Africa’s demand for two permanent seats with all the rights and prerogatives of current members, including the right of veto and two additional non-permanent seats is a matter of common justice and the right to have an equal say in decision-making on issues pertaining to international peace and security,” Bio said. “This long-standing injustice … ought to be addressed.”

There’s little doubt that Africa’s more than 50 nations would benefit from a permanent voice on the Council. They have long struggled in global forums as they try to commandeer resources and attention in the face of behemoth nations whose economic and political dramas suck the oxygen out of the room at meetings like the General Assembly.

Still, the voices for Africa’s increased representation have increased over time — and not all of them are African.

”We continue to witness an historic, unjust underrepresentation of Africa, which was still ruled by colonial powers when the U.N. came into existence and the Security Council established,” said Michael D. Higgins, Ireland’s President.

”Africans must be allowed to have a fair say in Council decisions affecting their own continent,” Higgins said Wednesday. Ireland is running for a 2021-22 Council seat itself.

African nations have taken different approaches to increased Security Council representation. Some, like Kenya, vie for an upcoming non-permanent seat. Others are more keyed toward establishing a permanent seat for the continent and its nations and interests.

We reiterate the need to increase the number of permanent members of the Security Council, including in particular Africa and South America,” Angolan President Joao Lourenco said in his speech.

The current composition, he said, which was largely built around the winning powers after World War II, ”does no longer reflect the need for a fairer global geostrategic balance.”

Zambia’s President echoed those sentiments. ”Time has come for the Security Council to be representative, democratic and accountable to all member states, irrespective of status,” Edgar Lungu said.

”Given that Africa constitutes the second-largest bloc of the U.N. membership,” he said, ”proposals to reform the Security Council should heed Africa’s call.”

As It Strikes Another 1st… Africell Sierra Leone Stuns Subscribers with E-Sim Technology

September 29, 2019

Station Manager of AfriRadio, John Konteh

By Amin Kef Sesay

On Friday 27^th September, Sierra Leone’s leading and innovative Mobile Network Operator, stunned its subscribers as it introduced the first ever E-Sim technology in West Africa. With the launch of this latest technology in Sierra Leone, Africell registers its prowess in the telecommunications business.

Speaking during the launching ceremony, the Station Manager of AfriRadio, John Konteh, explained the way the system can be accessed and used. He maintained that this system is the latest to be introduced in West Africa and Africell is the only company with this type of technology in the region. This system provides all the services offered by the normal sim card, but in this case, the user will not be having any sim in his phone, hence the name E-Sim (.i.e. Electronic Sim).

He further stated that it can only be accessed through the use of an iPhone or Google Phone, as these are the only two manufacturers that have the technology. With this service, subscribers will be able to make and receive calls and access the internet.

On how subscribers can be connected to the system, John Konteh explained that as the name implies, there is no need for the normal sim card to be inserted into the phone.

He said that subscribers with iPhones or Google phones need only go to any of the Africell outlets across the country or its headquarters at Wilberforce to get his/her sim card swapped for the E-Sim service. At the outlet, the subscriber will be required to choose from among 5 platinum numbers or migrate his original number. A Bar Code, he added, will then be generated and later, details transferred to the E-Sim service and the subscriber will then be able to make and receive calls and browse the internet without any sim card.

For subscribers using Africell for the first time the usual regulatory practice of collecting their bio-data will be observed and this demands the provision of an identification card and other details of the customer. The customer will have to choose from 5 platinum numbers and a bar code will be generated and this will then be scanned on the phone and he/she is immediately connected to the system.

For those using Africell number, they should also go to any Africell outlet and their sim can be swapped to an E-Sim, but they will have to have another device if their phones are not part of the two brands of phones adaptable to the system.

He advised corporate customers to also visit their outlets or the HQ at Wilberforce where they will be able to swap their ordinary sim card for the E-Sim following the same procedure outlined above.

Sierra Leone Tourism Ministry Celebrates World Tourism Day

September 29, 2019

By Foday Moriba Conteh

The Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs on Friday 27^th September, 2019 joined the world to celebrate World Tourism day with the theme: “Tourism and Jobs: A Better Future for All” at the Youyi Building car park in Freetown.

Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs Memunatu Pratt addressing the gathering said that her Ministry is working tremendously to ensure that they put Sierra Leone on the map in terms of Tourism and called on Sierra Leoneans to support her in the drive to revamp the tourism sector in the country.

She disclosed that celebrating World Tourism Day with the theme: “Tourism and Jobs:A Better Future for All” shows that the tourism sector has the potential to create jobs that will reduce the employment rate in the country which in return will contribute to the economy of the country.

She thanked His Excellency President Bio for making tourism one of his major priorities in the New Direction Manifesto, adding that Sierra Leone was ranked 136 out of 139 countries in the global index but disclosed that she is proud to say that the ranking has changed due to the relentless work her Ministry has been doing.

She added that her Ministry has been making numerous moves and strategies for the past one and half year to place Sierra Leone tourism on the international platform, and presenting it as one of the preferred tourism destinations in the world, adding that marketing the country’s tourism potentials and making efforts to reduce barriers of travelling to Sierra Leone, through the implementation of the visa on arrival which many consider is a laudable initiative.

She thanked the World Bank, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through the Government of Sierra Leone for their tireless support towards the Tourism Ministry.

Special Adviser to the President, Raymond de Souza George who represented the Vice President said Sierra Leone joined member countries of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) to celebrate the successes the tourism sector has made globally in alleviating poverty.

He added that the purpose of celebrating this day is to inform and raise awareness to the various communities about the importance of tourism and its socio-cultural, political and economic values which resonates with His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio’s New Direction Agenda of diversifying our economy through tourism and the other growth sectors.

He said that the theme for this year’s celebration “Tourism and Jobs: A Better Future for All” is a clear manifestation of Government’s preparedness in addressing emerging issues by aligning national interventions to that of the country’s international partners. It aims at providing more jobs for the youth and women in a bid to continue to reduce poverty.

He furthermore said “Tourism and Jobs: A Better Future for All” is exactly synonymous with the nexus of our fiscal year budget which is the provision of jobs and the development of human capital, adding that this serves as an inspiration and clarion call to our youths and women to prepare themselves to take up both skilled and unskilled jobs to address the various unemployment challenges, especially in the informal sector.

He said that as a Government they will continue to reaffirm their commitment in diversifying the economy through tourism and other growth sectors with the sole aim of improving the living standard of each and every Sierra Leonean. He called on the local and internal business people to invest into the industry which ,he said, is a rich market, adding that their investment in this direction will enhance socio economic growth by stabilizing and increasing our foreign exchange earnings.

Manchester United Sierra Leone Fan Club Donates to Blind School

September 29, 2019

By Foday Moriba Conteh

The Sierra Leone Manchester United Supporters Club on Friday 27^th September, 2019 donated food items worth millions of Leones to the Milton Margi School for the Blind at their school compound on Wilkinson Road in Freetown.

Speaking during the event a member of the Board of Trustees, Barton Cole, disclosed that the donation to the school is in fulfilment of the vision of the organization as one of their main aims to engage in charitable work, help the needy and bring smiles to the faces of young people.

He disclosed that they were touched by an appeal made by the Principal of the school few months back asking for support for the school saying as a Foundation they decided to come to their aid by donating food items as a way of rendering support.

“We hope to leverage the status of the parent club as well as use the auspices of the Manchester United Foundation to provide help to various vulnerable groups although a large part of our focus will be providing sporting opportunities for children,” he maintained.

Giving a brief historical synopsis, he said in 2014/ 2015 during the outbreak of the dreadful Ebola virus, when screening of football matches was banned, small groups of fans got together in homes and the idea of forming a supporters’ club was born,

In this regard, he said, it was a big deal when they finally fulfilled all the conditions needed for admission as an official Supporters’ Club and in doing so they became the first country in West Africa to achieve that feat and the 3rd in Africa after Egypt and South Africa.

Chairperson of the Sierra Leone Manchester United Supporters Club, Rugiatu Bangura disclosed that as an organization they will continue to work assiduously to ensure that they support less privileged children across the country. She added that it is a pride and prestige for her to belong to the officially recognized Supporters’ Club in Sierra Leone.

She said that the club will benefit members living abroad as well as other members who visit the UK stating that such include an entitlement to tickets based on a person’s total membership contribution, discounts at Manchester United shops, free entry to under 23 games, discounts on stadium tours etc. He added that they are also looking forward to create a Manchester United Club House where members will be entitled to free screenings.

Matron of the Milton Margai School for the Blind, Wuriatu Conteh, expressed profuse thanks and appreciation to the Sierra Leone Manchester United Supporters Club for the gesture which she said is not only important but timely as the school is really challenged with basic food necessities.

She revealed that the school caters for 90 children and it has not been easy for them, adding that every day they cook a bag of rice as the children are fed three times a day.

She called on other humanitarian organizations to support the school in order for them to continue to empower the children.

NP Sierra Leone Demonstrates its Posture as True Partner in Development

September 29, 2019

By Amin Kef Sesay

The National Petroleum Sierra Leone Limited, NP (SL-Ltd), keeps demonstrating in practical terms that it is a true partner in fostering the socio-economic development of Sierra Leone, thereby complementing the development interventions by Government to improve the well-being of citizens in this country.

This result-oriented and highly indigenous petroleum entity has proven, on several occasions that it is committed to give back to society despite the varying challenges it has been weathering over the years.

Its enviable contributions to ensure Sierra Leone regains its past glory again came to the limelight on the 26^th September 2019 when the company commissioned a water facility it solely financed to be constructed at the National Fire Force Kissy Branch with the avowed intention to capacitate the Force to be better equipped to carry out its fire extinguishing operations within Greater Freetown.

This latest move on the part of the company was heartily lauded as a very goodwill gesture as the water facility encompasses 4 water storage tanks with a capacity of 10,000 litres each making it possible for a minimum of 4 fire engines to be on standby with 40,000 litres of water at any given point in time for prompt response to fire emergencies. The facility also has an electronic pumping machine and a brand new 9KVA generator for the supply of power to it.

As a matter of fact it was not the first time that NP-SL has come to the aid of the National Fire Force as it did the same, commissioning of a water facility handed to the Force on the 15^th November 2019 at Tower Hill.

Understandably many heaped praises on NP-SL, including the Chief Fire Officer and his Deputy, Naizer Alie Ahmed Kamanda Bongay and Taluva respectively, as well as the Ministry of Internal Affairs which oversees the National Fire Force, for what they described as a timely gesture and service to the people of this country.

Indeed, there is currently a shining peacock feather on the cap of NP-SL for its drive to continue to be a partner in development ,one that it deserves for its strict adherence in effectively implementing the Local Content Policy as evident in the shareholders maintaining the company as a true indigenous entity not only in having Sierra Leoneans as owners but ensuring that its gives primary preference to have in its employ a maximum number of our nationals as against foreigners as long as they possess the requite academic qualifications and technical skills. What this really means, in real terms, is the company’s contributions to job creation and poverty alleviation.

Presently, many families are directly and indirectly at vantage positions to take care of basic responsibilities out of the remuneration they derive from what they earn from services rendered.

In this 21^st century, human existence would have been seriously skewed or affected if man could not have had access to petroleum products and in this regard we are referring to petrol, diesel, kerosene, gas, lubricants among others.

We need them to power our vehicles, generators, machines, to power thermal plants and for domestic uses. For an indomitable company like NP-SL to always ensure, by putting sound modalities in place, that there are qualitative products on the market is indeed no mean feat. To import quantities of fuel that will be stored to last over a period of time indeed requires incisive management decisions and prudent financial discipline.

NP-SL has been on top of situation always making sure that shortage of these products must be averted. When cognizance is taken of the fact that fuel is a political commodity that can make and break any Government, depending on whether it is available at affordable prices or not then it falls into bracket.

The role of NP-SL in preventing political unrest cannot be overemphasized and commendably it has maintained a politically neutralist and non-aligned stance to such an extent that it could only be unreasonable for anyone to fathom that it has in anytime engaged in subversive activities in that direction.

In terms of treatment of its esteemed customers throughout the length and breadth of the country, then, NP-SL is unmatched. The name NP is synonymous with “1^st for Customer Care”. To the Shareholders, Board of Directors and Management all their customers, big or small, are very important and they should be treated with the due respect they deserve.

They are very mindful that the very survival of the company hinges on good rapport with their customers which therefore behooves that the latter’s concerns, inputs; requests and complaints are seriously taken into consideration to make informed decisions which always culminate into a win-win situation and optimal satisfaction on both sides. This is a plus to the company for optimizing prime relationship with customers.

NP Smart Card and NP Gas products are the latest making the rounds and they are taking the nation by storm. Catching up with innovation the company is making use of modern technology by availing its customers a convenient means of purchasing petroleum products without any physical cash transaction.

By merely having an NP Smart Card, containing varying amounts of money, a particular customer can easily access the quantity of fuel he or she wants at various Filling Stations. It has been proven that for convenience and security sake it is a very modern way of transacting business preventing intermittent withdrawals of money from bank accounts for fuel purchasing purposes. NP Smart Card is now trending and highly appreciated by many.

When we talk of utilizing a device that is quick, clean and less hazardous for cooking purposes then NP Gas comes into play. They are in different cylinders, available at most of their Filling Stations across the country and going at affordable prices. Hence owners adhere to directives as to how to optimally utilize them they could last for quite a considerable period of time. Above all they are so designed in ways that makes them safe for use.

Without any gainsaying, NP-SL is undoubtedly one of the largest taxpayers to the Government of Sierra Leone. It contributes one of the largest to the Government’s revenue coffer (Consolidated Revenue Fund), monies, which in turn are used for the implementation of varying development programmes.

Without much ado, it can be safely concluded that NP-SL is indeed a true partner in enhancing the socio-economic development of the country.

Sierra Leone Commercial Bank Launches Western Union Service

September 29, 2019

By Amin Kef Sesay

On Friday 27^th September 2019 the Sierra Leone Commercial Bank (SLCB) launched Western Union Money Transfer service at its main headquarters on Siaka Stevens Street in Freetown.

During a snap but well-attended press conference to advertise the launch, Managing Director of Sierra Leone Commercial Bank, Abdulai .F. Turay, pointed out that the primary function of Western Union is to remit monies to families as well as to other business entities here in Sierra Leone from any part of the world.

He added that remittances contribute largely to any country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), adding that as a banking institution they are exploring various avenues to provide efficient and timely services to its esteemed customers as well as potential customers.

“We always do things with style and our Public Relations (PR) department will ensure the service is rolled out in a fast manner making it convenient and reliable for all and sundry,” he said and underscored how beneficiaries can collect monies that are transferred to and from the different branches of the Bank, adding that they will ensure more collection or transaction outlets are opened at different locations.

On his part, Dr. Orlean Cole, who is the Project Manager at the Sierra Leone Commercial Bank highlighted that those who patronize with the bank to carry out this service will have no regrets as they will derive optimal satisfaction, saying it will be an easy way to receive cash overseas even if the recipients do not own bank accounts.
Western Union operates one of the world’s largest money transfer networks, with more than 500,000 agent locations around the world. For sending money abroad, or receiving money from outside the country, Western Union provides a variety of options to help individuals and businesses transfer money around the globe and right here in our own country.

The variety of options Western Union offers is unusual in today’s mostly online-based money transfer providers.

“With Western Union, your recipient can collect the cash you send by: Cash pickup – Cash transfers sent online, by phone or in person and these are all available for pickup within minutes at any agent location worldwide,” the Managing Director said.

Undoubtedly, SLCB is rated as a very dependable banking institution that has various products and promotions that make banking very attractive, simple, profitable and very convenient which is why its customer base keeps increasing.

3 Key Issues The UN 74th Session Discussed…

September 29, 2019

=COMMENTARY=

By Amin Kef Sesay

As it comes to an end, the U.N. 74^th General Assembly Summit has been a very interesting one indeed. While there was some progress at this year’s UNGA, action on financing, climate change, and universal health coverage still fell short of what’s needed to place the Sustainable Development Goals within reach by 2030.

The week paired multiple urgent priorities with largely incremental action, and the result was a clearer picture of challenges, rather than solutions.

Speeches and more than 300 side events ushered in a groundswell of momentum to speed up responses to tackling climate change, UHC, the SDGs, and development financing. But the energy was not necessarily synonymous with optimism. Government, civil society observers, and multilateral leadership alike had a common refrain throughout the week: We’re falling short on the SDGs.

At the same time, some development leaders expressed hope about new ways of approaching development work, from using digital health tools to mainstreaming climate change. Partnerships that may have seemed unlikely even a few years ago are now becoming the norm. As Greta Thunberg said during her General Assembly address to world leaders, “We’ll be watching you”.

The High-level Dialogue on Financing Development brought about a familiar refrain about the lack of progress and the need to accelerate efforts to mobilize capital — from domestic resources to private investment.

“Financing is the test of our seriousness. Without resources we will simply not deliver for people or planet,” said U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres.

Three important achievements were made at this year’s UN summits:

A high note. A key success was the high-level participation by government officials, with numerous heads of state and ministers weighing in on efforts to finance the SDGs.

“One of the challenges of financing for development and a lot of the work is that it hasn’t remained at the level of heads of state and major decision-makers,” said Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of the financial-reform focused alliance Jubilee USA.

Illicit financial flows, taxes, and debt, oh my. These combination of issues ruled the day. The focus was not so much on new money but on tracking and harnessing the trillions of dollars already in the system that are being illegally transferred across borders, misreported, or simply not paid — depriving governments of key revenues needed to finance critical services and fuel economic growth. Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo called for an improvement in poorly designed contracts and illicit financial flows that have “siphoned billions out of Africa every year”.
Operationalizing the finance agenda. The U.N. and EU are partnering to help countries create integrated national financing frameworks, which aim to help countries lay out financial strategies, set priorities, manage risk and make the most of their financial resources in pursuit of the SDGs.

The “value of INFFs is in bringing together the different elements of the Addis Agenda and the country level,” said Neven Mimica, European Development Commissioner. UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner noted that such frameworks will help move financing away from abstract notions and instead focus on assessing what is preventing money from meeting development needs.

Sierra Leone President Talks on Development Financing in the Least Developed Countries

September 29, 2019

By Alim Jalloh

President Dr Julius Maada Bio on Thursday 26 September 2019 in New York city stated that to ensure sustainable financing and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, we need to invest more in ensuring a conducive environment in the Least Developed Countries, LDCs.

The interactive dialogue – moving the money to fill the climate action and SDGs financing gap – moderated by Financial Times’ Gillian Tett, featured a small number of institutional investors having an engaging discussion on removing the obstacle to attract private capital with select Heads of States or Government.

The President also stated that to attract the trillions of dollars we need for our transformation, more needs to be done in the regulatory environment, improve macroeconomic fundamentals such as well-managed exchange rates, inflation and public debt so as to provide the right signals for mobilising private capital.

“While we in Sierra Leone are trying to move the money to fill the climate action and SDG imperatives, we are also issuing a clarion call to the global business community on the need for ensuring environmentally friendly and responsible business practices so as to protect our country and the broader planet in which we all live.

“With the right structural reforms and institutions, other investment bottlenecks such as lack of energy, water, ICT and transport infrastructure will become more of an investment opportunity than an impediment to attracting private capital. While we need to overcome credit and finance challenges encountered by these critical enterprises, more important is the need to overcome the digital and physical infrastructural impediments to our economies,” he said.

President Bio, who was one of only two presidents in Africa to take part in the dialogue, said his government had prioritised Information and Communication Technology, ICT, to drive a range of financial and other services in the West African nation. He recalled that very recently, his government launched a Blockchain National Digital Identity System, to enhance financial inclusion, including expanding access to needed capital in rural communities.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, with regard to responding to the falling official development assistance to our countries and other traditional sources of financing, we have recently completed a comprehensive Development Finance Assessment to identify multiple financing options for financing our National Development Plan with a current gap of US$ 1.5 billion for 2019-2023. And we are in the process of preparing a comprehensive Integrated National Financing Framework to pursue the multiple options we have identified,” he said.

He noted that while Official Development Aid remained important to LDCs, especially in curbing illicit financial flows, they were prioritising it towards supporting policies aimed at increasing government capacity to increasing domestic revenue mobilisation and strengthening their economic diversification efforts.

Other participants were Mathew Rycroft, Permanent Secretary at DfID, United Kingdom, Anne Finucane, Vice Chair and CEO of the Bank of America, Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank and His Excellency Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Senior Minister of the Republic of Singapore and Chair of the G20 Eminent Persons Group on Global Financial Governance, who gave the keynote address.

As the Poro Secret Society is getting out of hands… Abdul Kargbo lost his life

September 28, 2019

The corpse of Abdul Kargbo taken for burial

By Karifa Kello Thoronka

The Kargbo family of Makarie Community in the Bombali District, Northern Sierra Leone have reportedly lost their son’s life during an initiation ceremony by the Poro Secret Society in Sierra Leone.

According to the Makarie tradition, every young man above eighteen years of age must compulsorily be a member of the male Poro Secret Society as a way of keeping sacrosanct the customs of the community and as the name implies to adhere to the oath of secrecy of the society.

When one of our reporters got in contact with a close family member of Abdul Kargbo he revealed to this medium that Abdul was forcefully taken into the Poro Bush where he was conscripted to be initiated. He intimated that it all started when Abdul travelled from Freetown on holiday to the Makarie community and after few days he was severely beaten by a group of Poro members on the pretext that he has reached the ripe age for him to be initiated.

The family member continued to narrate that Abdul Kargbo had a scuffle with a young man who is also a member of the secret society and after few hours of fighting Abdul lost his life during the process of taking him through the final stages of the initiation ceremony.

It was also revealed to Calabash Newspaper that their beloved son, Abdul was buried without the participation of family members which did not went down well with the latter.

It could be recalled that in September, 2016, one Augustine Turay of the same village who is currently on the run was also forcefully taken into the Poro society bush for the similar initiation ceremony in the same Makarie Community. Augustine Turay, who was a former employee of Africa Minerals Limited, narrowly escaped in the hands of the initiators of the traditional Secret Society and fled away from the completion of the Poro initiation rites out of fear that he might be lose his life.

Madam Isatu Turay, who identified herself to this medium as the biological mother of the missing Augustine Turay explained her ordeal in the hands of the Poro men since the mysterious disappearance of her son [Augustine Turay].

She disclosed that she has been facing a lot of intimidation and harassment perpetrated by the Poro men. While explaining she burst into tears intimating that with all her complaints made so far to protect her liberty in the community unfortunately no action was taken by local authorities in that community to remedy her plight.

On that note she decided, together with some of her relatives, to ceremoniously abandon Makarie community out of fear of future attacks, as the members of society are now furiously searching for her to produce her son, Augustine Turay.

Augustine was also accused of having an affair with one of the society member’s marital wife, Kadiatu, who incidentally carry the same name with the mother of Augustine Turay’s daughter.

There was a physical confrontation and in no time about a dozen member of the Poro secret society descended on Augustine Turay, overpowered him and dragged him to a thick forest reported to be the secret shrine of the Poro society where he was subjected to the initial stage of initiation. Augustine reported that the process was inhuman, barbaric, painful and unenduring. By stroke of luck, he managed to escape.

While explaining to the Press a friend of Augustine Turay noted that Augustine traversed dangerous terrain and finally arrived in the East End part of Freetown. Augustine sought refuge with family members at Grassfield. Few weeks later while he was in his hideout at 18 Davies Street in Freetown, two young men materialized and attempted to grab him and in the process one of the men removed from his pocket a wrapped plastic that he quickly slacken and blown on his face a strange substance which immediately paralyzed him and he lost consciousness.

When he regained consciousness, he was feeling heat and pain all over his body and was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was hospitalized.

A senior member of the Makarie Poro Society, who disclosed to this medium, on condition of anonymity, said the Poro fugitive, Augustine Turay, fled completion of his initiation rites after a teenage boy who was taken through his final rites nearly died that same day in 2016 before completion of the ceremony.

Dilating on the penalty of betrayal, Pa Yamba Kargbo, a seventy-two years old man, who is the adviser to the Paramount Chief disclosed to this medium that those found guilty of such an “offence”(escaping from the Poro bush) are often killed through unconventional means that leave no room for police investigation.

Till press time Abdul’s Family are still in tears while Augustine Turay’ family are on self exile.

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