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Send SL Organizes Validation Workshop on Scorecard Report On SRHS For Kenema District

By Patrick A. Kai
SEND SL, a National Non-Governmental Organization, in partnership with the Alliance for Reproductive Health Rights (ARHR), with funding support from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) has on March 16, 2021 conducted a one-day validation workshop on scorecard report on Sexual and Reproductive Health Services (SRHS) in Kenema.
The validation workshop, which was held at the Paloma Hall in Kenema, brought together the District Council Chairman and other members of the Council, health workers, Civil Society Organizations, traditional authorities and the media.
Explaining the purpose of the meeting, the M&E Manager intimated that they were gathered to discuss and validate the scorecard report on SRH Services in 4 PHUs in Kenema District.
Aminata Akeratu Tholley informed that the survey, which targeted adolescent girls, PHU staff and older women was conducted in four Peripheral Health Units (PHUs) at Ngelehun, Hangha, Kpandebu and Gao in the Kenema district.
She said the report seeks to keenly look at the health service delivery in eight Sierra Leonean communities. She maintained the study prioritises citizens’ experiences and perceptions with special reference to their Sexual and Reproductive Health (SPH).
According to her, the survey will enable the organisation and its partners from the State, international and civil society sectors to assess the contributions of the research as well as draw lessons for effective citizen-led advocacy.
She added that the efforts are expected to increase the health sector’s appreciation of clients’ views and needs, strengthen citizens’ capacity to hold their duty bearers to account for the quality of service delivery and challenge health service providers to deliver services more responsively and effectively.
Presenting the draft report on the scorecard, the Project Officer-Alhaji F. Kamara revealed that the research, which was conducted by SEND Sierra Leone in partnership with Alliance for Reproductive Health Rights, used the community scorecard as its principal tool for data collection and analysis.
Alhaji said based on the study’s objective of influencing change in service delivery, the scorecard was identified as a suitable action research tool, one that would provide an avenue for citizens to engage constructively with service providers in a systematic way, supported by simple scores which reflect citizen’s experiences.
He furthered that the community scorecard builds on practices that are common to the participatory rural appraisal research tradition.
The field work, according to him, took place in May 2020 with eight PHUs in Kailahun and Kenema districts.
The scorecard revealed a lot of mishaps in some PHUs ranging from unfair accessibility of SRHS, availability of medicine and consumables, availability of equipment, cost of consultation, cost of medicine, citizens experience on the quality of the Free Health Care and services to respect for clients to accessibility of services amongst others.
In an interview with the Kenema District Council Chairman, Mohamed Amodu Sesay, he lauded the efforts of the Alliance for Reproductive Health Rights and SEND SL for such a great work. The report, he said, gives an insight into the plights faced by citizens which will enable them as Government to proffer solutions to those problems.
He admonished the health providers in the respective PHUs not to take vengeance because of claims made by the community people and further admonished them to serve humanity with good consciences.
Journalists from Kenema, Kailahun and Freetown are expected to engage policy makers and hold them accountable to Women, Newborn, Children and Adolescents Wellbeing projects on commitment and the findings of the Community Scorecard Assessment in Policy and implementation.
On their part, the journalists at the training, vouch to effectively report and disseminate the findings and advocate in holding stakeholders accountable for development.

No one is above the law… Armed Police Must Stop Killing Civilians

By Amin Kef Sesay

Last week Thursday 15th April 2021, at Hastings village, armed OSD personnel shot dead an unarmed civilian during a land dispute.

In an unrelated matter, during the notorious Makeni riot, the opinion of many citizens was that the police, in putting down the unrest, used disproportionate force that resulted in the death of several unarmed rioters.

With dozens of unarmed civilians having been killed in cold blood by armed police officers in the past three years, it becomes necessary for the police force to be refreshed in the basic principles on the use of force and firearms.

Without denying that the work of law enforcement officials is a social service of great importance, they should, in the performance of their duty of protecting lives and properties, be always conscious that they also have a vital role in the protection of the right to life, liberty and security of the person, as guaranteed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and reaffirmed in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

The Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials provides that they may use force only when strictly necessary, and to the extent required for the performance of their duty. Thus, the police must adopt and implement rules and regulations on the use of force and firearms against persons.

The police should develop a broad range of means, and equip their OSDs with various types of weapons and ammunition that would allow for a differentiated use of force and firearms. These should include the provision of non-lethal incapacitating weapons for use in appropriate situations, with a view to restraining the application of means capable of causing death or injury to persons.

For the same purpose, OSDs must be equipped with self-defensive equipment such as shields, helmets, bullet-proof vests and bullet-proof means of transportation, in order to decrease the need to use weapon of any kind.

The development and deployment of non-lethal incapacitating weapons such as tear gas and rubber bullets should be carefully evaluated in order to minimize the risk of endangering uninvolved persons, and the use of such weapons should be carefully controlled.

OSDs, in carrying out their duties, shall, as far as possible, apply non-violent means before resorting to the use of force and firearms. They may use force and firearms only if other means remain ineffective or without any promise of achieving the intended result. Whenever the lawful use of force and firearms is unavoidable, law enforcement officials shall:

(a) Exercise restraint in such use and act in proportion to the seriousness of the offence and the legitimate objective to be achieved;

(b) Minimize damage and injury, and respect and preserve human life;

(c) Ensure that assistance and medical aid are rendered to any injured or affected persons at the earliest possible moment;

(d) Ensure that relatives or close friends of the injured or affected person are notified at the earliest possible moment.

Where injury or death is caused by the use of force and firearms by law enforcement officials, they shall report the incident promptly to their superiors, in accordance with statutory rules.

Government must ensure that arbitrary or abusive use of force and firearms by law enforcement officials is punished as a criminal offence under their law.

Exceptional circumstances such as internal political instability or any other public emergency may not be invoked to justify any departure from these basic principles.

OSDs must not use firearms against persons except in self-defense or in defense of others against the imminent threat of death or serious injury.

They can use force to prevent the perpetration of a particularly serious crime involving grave threat to life, to arrest a person presenting such a danger and resisting their authority, or to prevent his or her escape, and only when less extreme means are insufficient to achieve these objectives.  In any event, intentional lethal use of firearms may only be made when strictly unavoidable in order to protect life.

In the circumstances provided for, OSDs must identify themselves and give a clear warning of their intent to use firearms, with sufficient time for the warning to be observed, unless if to do so would unduly place the law enforcement officials at risk or would create a risk of death or serious harm to other persons, or would be clearly inappropriate or pointless in the circumstances of the incident.

Access Now & CHRDI Caution Speaker, Info. Minister on Cybercrime Bill

By Amin Kef Sesay

Access Now and Campaign for Human Rights and Development International (CHRDI) have written to the Honorable Speaker of the House of Parliament, Dr. Abass Bundu, and Minister of Information and Communication, Mr. Mohamed Rahman Swaray, to express their concern over the soon-to-be passed Sierra Leone draft Cybercrime Bill.

In a letter dated 16 April 2021, Access Now and CHRDI, commended efforts by government and public authorities geared towards promoting a safe digital space for individuals and to better safeguard their rights.

They added that it is clear that laws such as the one in question are far-reaching and could result in human rights abuses, adding that more engagement with civil society, human and digital rights experts, and Parliament is therefore needed.

They argued that this law does not come into existence in a vacuum and that Sierra Leone has, in the recent past, decriminalized libel and sedition.

They stated that while State authorities are responsible for protecting the human rights of those in their territory and law enforcement should be enabled to assist victims of harmful cyber activities, they are deeply concerned about the practices by some States of asserting excessive control over the Internet under the pretense of ensuring national security, while disregarding international human rights law and the principles of an open, free, secure, interoperable and reliable Internet.

In the same vein, the Freedom Online Coalition (FOC), in a February 2020 statement, provided specific recommendations to States in this area, of which the following are directly relevant to the current discussions in Sierra Leone, that states need to comply with their obligations under international human rights law when considering, developing and applying national cybersecurity policies and legislation; that states need to develop and implement cybersecurity-related laws, policies and practices in a manner consistent with international human rights law, and seek to minimize potential negative impacts on vulnerable groups and civil society, including human rights defenders and journalists.

This includes building, where appropriate, supporting processes and frameworks for transparency, accountability, judicial or other forms of independent and effective oversight, and redress towards building trust. It may also include embedding the principles of legitimacy, legality, necessity or proportionality into policy and practice; that cybersecurity-related laws, policies, and practices should be developed through ongoing open, inclusive, and transparent approaches that involve all stakeholders.
They went on to note that they are concerned that the under-consideration Cybercrime Bill falls short of the government’s own strategy, including its position that “all measures taken under this Cybersecurity Strategy will be consistent with Sierra Leone’s international, regional, and national human rights obligations”.

The present cybercrime bill, according to them, grants sweeping powers to the executive arm of government without establishing a check and balance system that is essential to application of laws in democratic settings and is the very foundation of separation of powers.

For instance, section 2 of the act presently states that the President need only consult with the respective minister to institute frameworks that have an effect on the subjects of this law; and even then, the consultation remains optional. In effect, the President can issue legal frameworks on the wide topic of cybercrime without having to seek approval and scrutiny of the legislature. The same section further accords unilateral powers to the President to designate ICT systems as critical infrastructure.
Section 48 establishes the National Cyber Security Council that is littered with appointees, whose independence may be brought to question since their tenure, both in their qualifying capacity and in their capacity as members of the council, is reliant on the President’s discretion.

The Cybercrime Bill also outlines several legal processes without regard for the rule of law and protections for human rights. Making provisions such as in sections 5 (1) and 7(1) that provide for institution of court proceedings without expressly stating the need and importance of open, adversarial proceedings, and specifically the right to be heard, is dangerous territory and serves the possibility of arbitrary application of provisions that fall under those rules.

They argued that the Cybercrime bill, in addition, establishes imprisonable offences such as in sections 5(7), 7(5), 9(6), 10(6) and Part 5 (on offences) of the act, without defining the specific terms of imprisonment accruing to those offences. The bill leaves it to the Minister concerned to enact subsidiary legislation to address imprisonment terms and, in some cases, fines. It is not acceptable that the framing of punishments for crimes is sub-delegated for the executive branch to define; this has to be done by lawmakers in the main bill itself. Several provisions of the act also encroach on evidentiary law, which would be better dealt with in the country’s evidence laws to avoid conflicting application of laws.

Access Now and CHRDI are appealing to Members of the Parliament of Sierra Leone to desist from passing the Cybercrime Bill in its current form, adding that lawmakers must conduct a deeper review of the bill, with sufficient mechanisms to allow citizens and impacted communities –including human rights defenders and journalists among others – to be able to provide their views, along with soliciting further input from experts.

EU Doles Le1.2 Billion Aid to Freetown Fire Victims

By Amin Kef Sesay

In response to the devastating fire incident in the capital Freetown on 24 March 2021, which left 1,600 families homeless and more than 400 people injured, the European Union has provided €100, 000 (1,218,912,700 Sierra Leonean Leones) in emergency funding.

The funds will help the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society in assisting the victims with emergency support for shelter and basic non-food items through cash, but also food, psychosocial support and safe water and sanitation to prevent waterborne and hygiene-related diseases outbreaks.

Families also need support to restart their daily activities to avoid slipping into extreme poverty and hunger. The aid will benefit the 1,000 most vulnerable among them who have lost their homes, food stocks, money and other valuables. Priority will be given to families who have members with disabilities, to the elderly, lactating mothers, pregnant women, children under 5 and households headed by women.

This funding to the Sierra Leone Red Cross is part of the EU’s overall contribution to the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

With Police Brutality on the Rise…  SACK IG Sovula NOW! – Citizens Demand

By Amin Kef Sesay

 Citizens across Sierra Leone are of the view that it is unfortunate that even though the latest report by the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone, which pointed at police heavy-handedness in managing the Institute of Public Administration Management (IPAM) students’ protest at their Tower Hill campus in Freetown on Monday 12 April, 2021, there is yet again another incident involving a police officer shooting dead an unarmed, innocent civilian at Hastings.

It could be recalled that a fatal shooting at Hastings village, east of Freetown, left at least one person dead on Thursday’s 15th April 2021.

As we went to press, the SLP issued a press release confirming the unfortunate incident and identifying the deceased as Alpha Kargbo, who reportedly was killed over a land dispute by an OSD officer.

According to the video circulated on social media – it appears the young man was shot at least twice. Eye-witnesses say there was an argument between the OSD officer and the deceased over a portion of land both men are laying claim to. However, it is unclear what ignited or incensed the OSD officer into firing his weapon twice; an incident which was described by eye-witnesses as deliberate, because had he only fired one shot, it could have been taken as a mistake, but two shots in almost rapid succession cannot be described as a mistake.

All that transpired at the scene of crime was revealed to the world through the use of a mobile phone. Someone with a mobile phone videoed the scene as it unfolded and released it on social media. This could not have happened without a mobile phone.

However, the government is proposing to make into law the Cybercrime Bill, which critics say will curtail citizens’ right to use their mobile phones to record and share their experiences, as well as images and public scenes that are of public interest, and this might impinge on civil liberties. But it is a fact that this story was corroborated by a short video recording of the event by an onlooker.

But questions are now being asked once again about heavy-handedness of the police and the fatal use of guns at every opportunity. There are now calls from the citizenry for the sacking of the Inspector General of Police.

According to the police statement, the personnel responsible for the fatal shooting has been suspended from duty and placed on administrative and criminal investigations. Thirteen people were arrested and the police officers named in the fatal shooting were also arrested and are helping police with their investigations.

The SLP is however appealing to the public to remain calm and trust it to conduct fair and expeditious investigations into the incident.

Meanwhile, there has been resounding condemnation of Sierra Leone Police brutality, following Monday’s April 12, 2021 protest by students at the IPAM campus, which became violent, as heavily armed police officers fired tear-gas and smoke bombs.

A young female student – Fatmata Binta Jalloh, who was protesting for her right, was allegedly manhandled (beaten, molested, and stripped almost naked) by police officers and arrested together with four other graduating students of IPAM, prompting calls for the sacking of the police officers involved, and the immediate release from detention of Fatmata Binta Jalloh and four other students who feel disadvantaged and were left with no option but to protest against what they referred to as “unfair” treatment by the IPAM administration. According to them, they have completed all the necessary requirements for them to graduate, and the university has accepted some of these claims.

The matter is now before the Magistrate presiding over Court No.1 and the case has been adjourned to Monday, 19th April, 2021.

On April 13, 2021, the country’s Human Rights Commission (HRCSL) published its report into the violence, calling for an investigation and the sacking of police officers found wanting of professional misconduct. This is what the report says:

The Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone (HRCSL) is concerned about the spontaneous violence that erupted on 12th April, 2021 between protesting students and the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) at the Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM) Campus following the publication of a partial list of would-be graduates published by the college administration on the said date.

As a statutory institution mandated to protect and promote human rights of all in Sierra Leone, HRCSL has been monitoring both mainstream and social media and has subsequently engaged key stakeholders to fully grasp the factors that led to the protest.

The HRCSL undertook a fact-finding mission to the college campus (IPAM), the Central Police Station and the Kingtom Police Hospital. Engagements were held with the Students Union Executive and other students who are not necessarily members of the Student Union Government, the Deputy Registrar, Examination Officer, the Senior Assistant Finance Officer, Lockup and Crime Officers at Central Police Station, and the Medical Superintendent at the Kingtom Police Hospital. HRCSL also engaged detained students at the Central Police Station and visited one female student at the Kingtom Police Hospital.

During their engagements, the HRCSL noted that a partial list of would-be graduands was published by the college administration which contained about 350 names when over a thousand students are expected to graduate; that following the protest, a second list was published later in the afternoon but was also found to be faulty as students who had left the University were also included on the list while the actual students were not listed; that there were issues of missing grades and also reference examinations which were in fact only conducted on Saturday with only four days left to the proposed graduation ceremony scheduled for the 14th April, 2021. In addition, there were issues of outstanding reference exams to be taken; that there were students who were yet to fulfil their financial obligations with the University; that there were insufficient academic gowns in supply by the college administration which some students had already paid for and this further infuriated the students.

It also noted that the students failed to exhaustively engage the relevant stakeholders in the university and then took the laws into their hands; that the police on the other hand failed to apply professionalism in handling the situation on their arrival at the scene. For instance, a female student was seen manhandled by several police officers as captured in a video widely circulated on social media; that five students were arrested and detained including the female student mentioned above; that there were delays in the publication of sessional and final results which created uncertainty on the part of the students as to their status / level in their respective courses of study; that there were also delays in the verification of entry requirements / results and that the Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) had agreed with the Academic staff of the University to improve the conditions of service of lecturers with an increment of 75% to be applied incrementally effective end of April 2021.

The HRCSL however recommended that the SLP should immediately release all the students in their custody on bail pending any investigations; that time and again, HRCSL calls on the SLP to be always professional in their line of duty and refrain from using excessive force in quelling down riots and protests; that extreme care be exercised in dealing with women and girls at all times in such situations; that the SLP should immediately institute an internal investigation into the conduct of those police officers who were seen in the video manhandling a female student and if found wanton should immediately be dismissed from the SLP and this should be communicated to the public.

According to the HRCSL, students should use existing structures within and without the university (e.g. HRCSL) in seeking redress and should always resist any temptation to take the law into their hands. To this end, students are admonished to read Section 13 of the Constitution of Sierra Leone, 1991 with specific reference to paragraph (j) which states as follows: “Every citizen shall … render assistance to appropriate and lawful agencies in the maintenance of law and order.”

It added that students should treat their academic work with the seriousness it deserves and endeavor to meet their financial obligations on time, which they normally sign up to upon admission.

In light of the findings and recommendations above, the HRCSL unreservedly condemned every form of violence and unprofessional conduct that have the potential to undermine the enjoyment of fundamental human rights, as enshrined in the Constitution of Sierra Leone 1991 and other regional and international instruments.

HRCSL called on the police in particular to exercise restraints as professionals whenever engaging the public as required by ‘UN Guiding Principles on the Use of Firearms’ and also the ‘UN Code of Conducts for Law Enforcement Officials’.

David Patrick Cole Guns for SLPP W/Area Regional Chairman

By Amin Kef Sesay

The astute and dynamic engineer, David Patrick Cole, a humble candidate for the position of Western Area Regional Chairman for the Sierra Leone people’s Party (SLPP), has vowed to win the whole of the Western Area for the SLPP if he is elected Chairman of the Western Area Region – SLPP.

His supporters are calling on the general SLPP membership to vote for him, as he is a new kid on the block who can deliver the goods if given the opportunity.

Among those that have shown keen interest to contest for the position of Western Area Regional Chairman in the upcoming Regional Executive Elections is Engineer Patrick David Cole. But who really is Engineer Patrick David Cole?

Patrick David Cole is a born Freetonian with humble beginnings at Leicester Village in the Mountain Rural District, with his father, Mr. Cole, and mother, Mrs. Victoria Cole.

He attended a public primary school in Gloucester, and later proceeded to the Albert Academy (AA) in Freetown. He later moved to Fourah Bay College, emerging with a First Class degree in Civil Engineering, and later gained his Masters Degree respectively. Ing Patrick David Cole is a Professional Civil Engineer with several professional and international Certificates.

Ing Patrick David Cole is a household name within the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), with a proven track record geared towards being the fittest for the position of Western Area Regional Chairman. He has the political and technocratic experience to mobilise support bases of both young and old to raise the profile of the SLPP party within the Western Area.

He has innate potentials, coupled with available human resource capacities, to put the Western Area under the control of the SLPP Party.

This, he has demonstrated in his proven ability of empowering ordinary people to become champions of their communities, instead of hand-out victims of circumstances.

Ing Patrick David Cole is very much strategic in his approach to national politics, and he is very passionate about unifying and consolidating the Western Area supporters with a solid foundation for the Sierra Leone People’s Party to regain former and build new support bases within that axis.

He joined the Sierra Leone People’s  Party (SLPP) in 1997  and has served in different capacities with over 22 years’ experience in National Politics to positively influence support for the SLPP Party within the Western Area.

Ing Patrick David Cole contested in the Parliamentary Elections in 2007 within Consistency 092 and did remarkably well, though he narrowly lost the elections.

Mrs. Victoria Cole, mother of Ing Patrick Cole, served the Sierra Leone Peoples’ Party (SLPP) as Constituency 092 Chairlady from 1996 to 2008. During her tenure of service, she contributed immensely towards the elections in 1997, 2002, and 2007 subsequently. However Ing Patrick Cole also helped to establish the SLPP foot prints in the Western Mountain District and spent personal resources to promote a strong foundation for the SLPP.

He has helped to create employment for over 200 youths, as the MD of CL Group LTD, in a bid to advance the job creation vision of His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio’s New Direction.

Ing Patrick Cole has been working assiduously to train young people within the Western Area Region in-readiness for employment.

He has worked as a Consultant for Plan International Sierra Leone, UNFPA, and several other Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies. He has worked and implemented several projects.

Ing Patrick Cole has attained high national & international accolades in project development and project management.

In his capacity as Young Generation Leader in Constituency 092 at the time, he promoted the interests of young people in the Western Mountain District.

As MD of CL GROUP LTD, he designed and constructed the Kerry Town Ebola Treatment Center, designed the King Harman Road and Rokupa Government Hospital and the Kenema School of Midwifery.

Ing Patrick Cole is by no doubt the right man for the position of Western Area Regional Chairman.

He is an extrovert whose brilliance can be beneficial to all residents of Freetown and beyond.

Ing Patrick Cole is extremely energetic, outspoken and has the capability of coordinating people in the Western Area, under difficult and challenging circumstances, to produce quality results during opposition and in governance.

He is a God-fearing man, and above all, loves all people, regardless of their various regional, political and religious proclivities.

Patrick is calling on all regional delegates within the Western Area to vote diligently or wisely for him in the upcoming Regional Executive Elections as the Western Area Regional Chairman.

NP-SL Smart Cards Doing Wonders! – Customers Say

By Amin Kef Sesay

With the introduction of NP Smart Cards, which has gone viral, the Cards can be credited with money, and the amount of money utilized to buy fuel is debited after every transaction. With the use of NP Smart Cards, customers are saved the hassle of having to always move with physical cash to purchase fuel, and indeed, there are times when one may not have time to rush to the bank to make withdrawals. Customers using this modern technic say the NP Smart Card is doing wonders in their lives.

Meanwhile, the National Petroleum Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL Ltd), it has been confirmed, is a successful enterprise that is hugely contributing to the socio-economic development of this nation.

This assertion could be justified when cognizance is taken of the company’s serious deepening of the country’s Local Content Policy, as vividly evident in giving exceptional preference to employing indigenes, contrary to bringing in foreign expatriates to execute certain tasks. This laid down policy that is strictly implemented has created room for the employment of Sierra Leoneans who have the requisite qualifications and skills, giving them the opportunity to take care of personal responsibilities.

“I cannot find words to express how delighted I am, as I can proudly say that NP-SL has changed my life completely since the company employed me,” one of the workers at NP Cotton Tree joyfully intimated The Calabash, when this medium went out on a fact finding mission.

“As far as I have assessed in this country, it is only NP-SL Ltd that has such a pragmatic policy of maintaining a policy that gives job preferential treatments to Sierra Leoneans, and I have great respect for the indigenous company,” Raymond Cole, a Social Commentator eulogized.

Customers, who are holders and users of NP Smart Card, are at the vantage position to properly budget, through the amount that is contained in the card, to buy fuel, during a considerable period of time, say a week or a month. Indeed, NP Smart Card has become trending.

In order to ensure that their customers derive value for money, it was thought prudent on the part of Shareholders and Management to make use of the state-of-the-art and highly modernized calibrated pumping machines, which were installed at the company’s different Filling Stations, capable of pumping the exact quantity of fuel, be it petrol or diesel, that a particular customer desires.

This fine move by the company has helped to instill confidence among customers that they are really dealing with a very transparent business entity and getting what they are paying for. This singular business strategy has got many glued to a petroleum company that is considered to be marketing the best of petroleum products, which include petrol, diesel, gas and high grade lubricants, one of which is the most sought out Castrol oil, said to be very good for the proper functioning of engines.

The company also markets NP Gas, which is a cooking device that is manufactured in different cylinder sizes and sold at the company’s Filling Stations across the country. It can be easily refilled with gas, and is said to be non-hazardous to the health of individuals and easy to operate. Its performance has been rated high and many are indeed going for it.

One yardstick that could be used to assess the potency and vibrancy of a company is how well it is entrenched or established. With regards NP-SL Ltd, one can actually see that the company, over the years, has grown by leaps and bounds, as seen in its opening of branches in neighbouring Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast and The Gambia. All these NP branches within the sub-region are functioning very efficiently and contributing immensely towards the socio-economic development of those host countries. Through their operations, the company is paying taxes to the various Governments, and indirectly boosting the revenue bases of those countries, to roll out different development programs.

An admirable quality that NP-SL Ltd has been exhibiting throughout the years is the proper implementation of the country’s Local Content Policy. This policy is geared towards giving preferential treatment to indigenes or making use of local ingredients, in the form of human and material resources, instead of depending on those that are acquired through importation.

The company has the laid down policy of giving preferential employment considerations to indigenes instead of relying on expatriates.  As long as Sierra Leoneans have the requisite qualifications and skills; they are first considered for various vacant positions in the company. The greatest advantage is that the policy has made it possible for indigenes to be gainfully employed and live improved standards of living.

From all that have been said so far, it could be argued with all amount of certainty that NP-SL Ltd is indeed a highly successful and very competitive petroleum company that continues to stand tall within the business landscape of this country. And from the look of things it is poised to reach further higher heights.

Orange Foundation Supports Disabled Women with Foods Items

By Foday Moriba Conteh

As support to vulnerable people, especially women living with disabilities across the country, Orange Foundation Sierra Leone, on Friday 16th April, 2021, handed over assorted food items worth millions of Leones to the Disability Rights Movement for women with disabilities in the four districts of the country. The handing-over ceremony took place at the Ministry of Social Welfare conference room, New England Ville in Freetown.

The donated items include: 100 (50kg) bags of rice, 100 cartoons of tin tomato, 95 (20 liters) gallon of cooking oil, 100 bags of onions, 100 bags of sugar, and 100 bags of medicated soap. These are to be distributed to women living with disabilities in Freetown, Bonthe, Bo and Port Loko

In her statement, the Minister of Social Welfare, Baindu Dassama, applauded Orange Foundation Sierra Leone for the donation, adding that it will help support women living with disabilities in the country. She assured that her Ministry will work with Disability Rights Movement to distribute the items meant for vulnerable women living with disabilities in the four selected districts.

She went on to say that her ministry is established to serve as the voice of the needy and vulnerable people across the country, adding that people living with disabilities should not be considered as a liability to society, but rather they should be given the care they deserve because they are the backbone of any peaceful society.

Baindu Dassama said her ministry cares for all, especially people living with disabilities, and called on all to see people living with disabilities as very important people in society who should be given the care and attention they deserve.

She applauded Disability Rights Movement for being transparent in their activities, adding that other organizations are receiving huge amounts of money in the name of giving support to vulnerable people in the country, but which is actuality not reaching the beneficiaries.

Handing over the food items to the Disability Rights Movement, the Director of Orange Foundation Sierra Leone, Jestina Betts, said Orange Foundation is very happy to hand over the assorted food items to Disability Rights Movement to support women living with disabilities, adding that as a company they want to be touching their lives and making sure they continue to support them during difficult periods.

She added that during this pandemic they were faced with requests from DRIM for support, and it was granted based on the fact that their situation is a call for concern.

Jestina Betts pointed out that they have been working with the community for some time now on different projects and platforms, adding that the donation to DRIM is to support women who are Physically Challenged, furthering that they will also be supporting the Deaf & Dumb, Blind School and the Autism Community with food items in the coming days.

The Director stated that the donation is evidence that they do not take their Corporate Social Responsible lightly, which is pivotal to their business as a Telecoms Company. She further revealed that they have been supporting different vulnerable groups, partnering with different Organizations, Corporate Institutions and Government MDAs, adding that in 2015, they collaborated with the Ministry of Social Welfare in supporting 50 Ebola Orphans that were taken to the SOS Villages for care in Freetown, Makeni and Bo, furthering that the Foundation and SOS are jointly financing the welfare of the kids until they turn 18 years, which includes Resident, Lodging, Feeding, Clothing, Medical, & Schooling.

Executive Director of Disability Right Movement (DRIM), Dr. Vandi Konneh, expressed appreciation to Orange Foundation for the kind gesture, which he described as not only important, but very timely to support women living with disabilities.

He assured Orange Foundation that the donated items will be distributed to women living with disabilities in Bo, Freetown, Bonthe and Portloko.

He maintained that such gesture by the Foundation shows their commitment towards supporting women living with disabilities in the country.

Mabinty Kamara, a beneficiary, expressed her appreciation to Orange Foundation for donating the assorted food items to DRIM in order to support them as women living with disabilities in the country.

She noted that such donation to them is not only important, but a very timely intervention in sustaining the livelihood of these women within the four targeted districts.

She assured all that they will use the donated food items in order to support their families.

NRA Commences Installation of Electronic Cash Register Gadgets

Electronics Cash Register Machine.JPG
Commissioner-General of the National Revenue Authority (NRA), Dr. Samuel Jibao

By Amin Kef Sesay

 In a Public Notice signed by the Commissioner-General of the National Revenue Authority (NRA), Dr. Samuel Jibao, it was stated that the Authority has commenced the installation of the Electronic Cash Register (ECR) Machines in the business premises of all registered GST taxpayers such as supermarkets, hotels, guest houses, restaurants, bars, night clubs, building materials stores, boutiques, saloons, general merchandise, and other services providers, among others.

It furthered that the use of those machines is compulsory as provided for by the Finance Act of 2020 and other related legislations and therefore all registered GST taxpayers are mandated to input all transactions into those machines and generate a receipt for each transaction.

According to the Commissioner-General, it is an offense if a taxpayer fails to issue a GST receipt generated from the ECR Machines even without being requested for by the customer.

“Any taxpayer who fails to issue an electronically generated receipt from the ECR machines or other related software for this purpose or tampers with the installations of these systems, or refuse to allow NRA staff to install these machines or wilfully, recklessly or carelessly damage these machines and systems will be construed as impeding tax administration for which a fine of up to Le 500 Million Leones and or an imprisonment term of up to five years will be imposed on conviction or both such fines and imprisonment term as appropriate,” it was made known.

The Release continued that all registered GST taxpayers must notify the NRA in an event of fault or problems with the installation and operation of the said machines and equipment within twenty-four hours so that remedial actions will be taken by the Authority immediately.

“All registered GST taxpayers must regularize their registration information with the NRA for the issuance of a new Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) and must ensure that the ECR Machines are installed immediately,” it was stated adding that all must support the NRA in mobilizing the much-needed revenue for effective State governance.

SLAJ & MRCG Present Position Paper on the Cybercrime Act 2020

By Amin Kef Sesay

The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) President, Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, on Tuesday 13 April 2021 presented to the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) the media’s official position on the Cybercrime Bill 2020.

Nasralla noted that the presentation is done in the same spirit of dialogue, cooperation, collaboration and sincere exchanges that characterized the media’s relationship with the MIC during the repeal of the Criminal Libel Law and the passing of the IMC Bill 2020 into law.

He described the cybercrime bill as highly technical and therefore needs expert perspectives from professionals in human rights, media, cyber security, ICT, and the law, to name but a few.

“Our concern is mainly on provisions in the bill that have the potential to interfere with free speech, free media and privacy rights,” says Nasralla, and called on the Parliament of Sierra Leone to ensure these fundamental rights are always protected.

The media’s position  was informed through consultative meetings led by SLAJ and the MRCG of all media groups in the country as follows: IMC, RAIC, IRN, GoNE, SLRU, WIMSAL, SWASAL, SLCRA, PPG, SLBC, Mass Communications Dept. FBC- USL, VEJU and photographers Union.

It could be recalled that on the 29th March 2021, the MRCG and SLAJ held a consultative meeting by bringing together key media stakeholders in Sierra Leone to discuss provisions of the Cybercrime Bill 2020.

This follows Parliament’s directive to the Ministry of Information and Communications to have further engagements on the cybercrime bill that was being debated. The Bill seeks “to provide for the prevention of the abusive use of computer systems; to provide for the timely and effective collection of electronic evidence for the purpose of investigation and prosecution of cybercrime; to provide for the protection of Critical National Information Infrastructure; to provide for facilitation of international cooperation in dealing with cybercrime matters and to provide for other related matters.”

The consultative meeting sought the views and opinions of the stakeholders on the Cybercrime Bill 2020 and focused on issues relating to free speech, journalism and press freedom in Sierra Leone.

Following the deliberations and consultations, including presentations from lawyers who argued for and against certain provisions of the bill, the media stakeholders resolved that they were not averse to the enactment of the legislation consistent with international obligations that seek to enhance protection, security and responsible use of cyberspace, but were concerned about the certain provisions of the Bill saying the title of the bill should be rephrased as Cybersecurity Bill, 2020 as opposed to Cybercrime Bill, 2020.

It was decided that any section that may criminalize freedom of expression and of the press and the work of journalists and researchers should be decriminalized and made civil including Section 35.

Also, the bill should include safeguards that protect journalists (especially investigative journalists) with regard their data, identity and confidential sources.

A Data Protection law should be enacted to accompany the Bill.  Protection of sources of information should be guaranteed in the Bill.

A Fact-checking mechanism or team should be setup comprising SLAJ members.

The National Cybersecurity Advisory Council should include SLAJ, RAIC, IMC, civil society members and relevant experts.

Clarifications should be made on the Data storage infrastructure and Section 10 of the Bill which deals with ‘interception of content data.’

The sections in the bill that vested powers in the Minister to make regulation, determine fines and punishment for defaulters should be expunged.

All terms and expressions in the Bill should be clearly defined and spelled out. There should be safeguards to ensure that one cyber investigation does not lead to another unrelated investigation.

The Bill should be consistent with similar existing laws like the Rights to Access Information Law, Independent Media Commission Act 2020 and the Public Order Amendment Act 2020.

SLAJ and MRCG urged the Ministry of Information and Communication to look into the valid points highlighted in this position paper and act accordingly.

According to what this medium learnt , SLAJ and MRCG believe that all the points raised, if acted upon, will promote good governance and guarantee freedom of expression.

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