Sierra Leone: SLP, ACC Brace Against Corruption

July 28, 2019

“We are not stopping at declaring our assets, incomes, and liabilities. We are taking further steps to reengineer ourselves, to re-commit ourselves to serving the people of Mattru Jong with fairness and honesty in our operations, to install integrity at traffic, to re-command respect in the eyes of the public, and to pledge our commitment to supporting and strengthening the fight against corruption,” ASP Umaru Turay in charge of operations said in a Parade Talk hosting the Anti-Corruption Commission.

His statement comes barely twelve days following release of the Global Corruption Barometer report 2019, which increased dramatically the percentage of people believing that there is less corruption in the SLP as compared to 2015.

“It is not by a mistake the figures have increased, nor is it by a puerile work, and nor is it through some slapdash programme,” ACC Southern Regional Manager told officers at the Parade Talk. Musa Jawara said the Pay No Bribe campaign continues to pay off, and tackling bribery in the SLP is seriously a huge task, but it is surmountable.

He said the monthly technical working group meetings held across the country – where MDAs review each other’s anti-corruption efforts; the sporadic sting operations – where at checkpoints in Freetown, Moyamba and Rutile half a dozen officers were arrested, and at Tikonko checkpoint in Bo and elsewhere several officers were nabbed; the parade addresses – where the petite distance between officers and ‘Pademba Road’ or their dismissal is emphasized; and partnership meetings – where CDIID and ACC strengthen collaboration to tackle graft, have been huge success to producing a desirous perception held by the public of their police force.

The ACC believes asset declaration can as well add to the effort at apprehending corruption and bribery in the force. Senior Public Education Officer, Sulaiman Sowa said when officers at Mattru Jong declare it continues to inform residents there that they are being policed by accountable personnel.

He said asset declaration offers protection against finger-pointing in respect of ownership of assets (vehicles and houses) and incomes. Some officers live a spectacular life style, and may be accused of creaming in an unexplained wealth.

Sowa said only asset declaration can save one’s neck. The forms may prove that the wealth is acquired lawfully.

According to the Anti-Corruption Act 2008, Section 119 (1) mandates public officers, within three months of becoming a public officer, to deposit a sworn declaration of their incomes, assets, and liabilities with the Commission and should also make such declaration yearly. Officers should also declare when they leave office.

However, the ACC proposed amendment bill laid before Parliament exempts public officers below grade seven from declaring. It means more than half of the police force by law will not declare, except officers by the nature of their routine administer finances. Therefore, the ACC is calling on the public to encourage their Members of Parliament to support the Bill in order to make the Commission stronger in the fight against corruption.

The ACC, which was on a three-day tour to Bonthe District, held a similar parade talk with the Sierra Leone Correctional Center (SLCC). The Commission admonished correctional officers – who can be exposed to temptation to indulge in malpractices such as transporting of unwanted materials or articles to inmates, offering preferential treatment to some, allowing inmates access outside the facility at odd hours, and receiving and soliciting bribes from visitors – to guide against perpetrating malpractices.

The Commission said it will sustain the district tours by making them quarterly.

Sierra Leone: FCC Signs Flood Mitigation Agreement

July 28, 2019

The Freetown City Council in collaboration with central government have signed an agreement which states that the central government will fund the implementation of the second phase of FCC’s Flood

Mitigation Plan. The signing of MoU between FCC, SLRA, RSLAF & ONS happened under the supervision of the Minister of Finance.

The funding will enable FCC, in collaboration with RSLAF and ONS, to clear and desilt gutters, drainages, bridges and culverts in 62 flood prone locations over the next three months. The implementation will start on Sunday 28th July, 2019 with supervision from SLRA, who will also map out locations that would need long term engineering works.

FCC in a press release says it is grateful for the financial support, which will be provided by the Road Maintenance Fund Administration (RMFA), to build on gains that were made when 52 locations were covered in phase 1.

The Flood Mitigation activities are complemented by community engagement to increase awareness of flooding risks and FCC’s ongoing drive to plant over 20,000 trees this year, particularly in upper catchment areas.

FCC went on to state that it recognizes that addressing the issue of flooding in Freetown goes way beyond clearing waterways in the city. We will cooperate with the relevant stakeholders to tackle the underlying issues that cause flooding, including undertaking engineering works where needed and fighting against deforestation.

Sierra Leone: MOHS Drills Health Workers for 3 Days

July 28, 2019

The Ministry of Health and Sanitation in collaboration with the Sierra Leone Armed Forces Joint Medical Unit on Thursday 25^th July 2019, at the Sierra Leone Army’s Peace Mission Training Center (PMTC) in Hastings, conducted a simulation exercise in order to prepare health workers in the country in case of any serious medical outbreak.

Welcoming the participants, Colonel George Mohamed Bangura, the Commandant at PMTC, informed that the institution was established in the late 1980s and it was initially known as Hasting Camp but later transformed to an Infantry Training Center, Battle School for Western Area Brigade and now PMTC to meet the obligations and aspirations of the Government of Sierra Leone.

The vision of the PMTC is to gain international recognition for excellence in Post Security Operations training and education in emerging threats to security and applied research, Colonel George Mohamed Bangura stated.

He said during the Ebola Outbreak in West Africa it was the general outcry and a strong recommendation of the public health community that exercises of such nature should be conducted to ensure that the public health emergency response systems are intact.

In his statement, Lieutenant Colonel, Dr. Stephen, Commanding Officer, Joint Medical Unit 34 Military Hospital disclosed that the Rapidly Deplorable Isolated and Training Center Facility was established in 2016 by RSLAF with support from the British with the main purpose of responding appropriately in case of any outbreak, especially Ebola, underscoring how the facility staff can be deployed within 72 hours in anywhere there is an outbreak in Sierra Leone. He stated that can uphold 36 cases and provide treatment without any external intervention for 36hours.

“The simulation exercise will strengthen collaboration, coordination and communication,” he stated furthering how the exercise will continue to help and prepare the capacities of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation staff and other partners for rapid responses.

Director of Health Security in the Ministry of Health and Sanitation said they are responsible to protect the people of this country health-wise saying with the help of donor partners they have lined up programs that they are about to implement all geared towards strengthening the health sector.

“When the Ebola epidemic started all cases were taken to Kenema and during that period the entire hospital was used as Emergency Treatment Center which posed high risks of transmission of the disease but now we are trying to change the narrative. We must also commend the Minister of Health and his team for continuously giving us all the necessary support we need to improve on our efficiency,” he noted.

In his statement, Deputy Defense Minister, Dr. Anthony Sandi, said the simulation exercises are part of the Post-Ebola contingency plan and the proper coordination and collaboration between the Military Joint Medical Unit and the Government has raised hopes for more success stories within the Health sector.

He thanked President Bio for the increased budgetary allocation to the Joint Medical Unit pointing out how such will facilitate the maintenance of hospital equipment and undertake other infrastructural improvements.

The Deputy Minister of Health and Sanitation explained that a simulation exercise is a form of practice, training, monitoring and evaluation of the capabilities of health workers and systems to handle any form of outbreak including an Ebola outbreak. “We want to use it as a means of preparedness and pre-planned storyline,” he highlighted.

He admonished the health workers to take the exercise serious pointing out how it is a test on whether we have ability in undertaking Surveillance, Risk Management, Distresses Assessment and Rapid Responses especially now that there is a Re-outbreak in Congo where the World Health Organization has declared a Health Emergency.

He went ahead to disclose that Lesser Fever used to be a predominant disease within the Kenema District but stressed that it has gone nationwide.

“So it is only when we prepare well that we can be at a vantage position to overcome whatever outbreak that occurs in Sierra Leone,” he admonished ending by thanking the US, Chinese and British Governments for their contributions to the health sector also appealing for such to continue.

Sergeant Dr. Foday Sesay, Site Manager of the Ebola Simulation Center stated that the exercises have helped them to be more prepared and learned new skills on how to apply Chlorine which is 0.5, more improved ways of using modernized technology like the Insertion Machine in preventing the Ebola virus to become more active.

Dr. Sesay added that most of those involved in the simulation exercise are medical personnel stating that some of them were with them during the Ebola outbreak adding that others are new staffs. “ We are doing all what is required to do in treating patients including the use of Thermometer , Donning, Doffing, Triage and emergency cases. We did all these in an advanced response manner as compared before when the expertise was absent,” he expressed optimism.

The simulation exercise will last for three days.

Sierra Leone: =COMMENTARY= A Crying Need for SLPP to do Practice on Political Tolerance

July 28, 2019

With due respect to His Excellency President Bio and the ruling SLPP Government, it is high time that they as the government of the day practice to the latter and spirit what he has repeatedly told the nation, that we should have peace and national cohesion by letting bygones be bygones and embrace each other as Sierra Leoneans.

It can be recalled that in the aftermath of the highly contested 2018 elections, the country’s political atmosphere became highly charged as the defeated All People’s Congress accused the winning Sierra Leone People’s Party of intimidating, attacking, brutalizing and even killing their supporters, they said out of malice, grudge and need for revenge.

It was then that the phrase “political tolerance” started to be bandied around and was on the lips of all country’s main political actors; including our concerned international development partners who have stood staunchly behind us since the mid –when a very weakened state and its traumatized people were desperately seeking peace with their rebellious RUF (now RUFP) brothers and sisters, and who up to now continue to assist us generously financially and morally, with the aim of helping us consolidate our hard-won peace and outgrow the causes of the eleven years civil war.

The events of the past one year discouragingly seems to show that Sierra Leoneans – Government, Opposition and many of us partisan Sierra Leoneans – have not learnt anything of our ugly political past – that divided as we continue to be, we can only be of grave harm to each other, and no good to ourselves and the state.

Without intending to draw fire with the ruling SLPP, we want to believe that there are troublesome people within that party that do not want peace and harmony to reign in this country.

This accusation has nothing to do with the ongoing Commissions of Inquiry into the conduct of the former APC Government – truth is, they had the opportunity to set the stage for responsible, accountable governance when they took over power in 2007 by rigorously pursuing the line of action that the SLPP government has now taken to hold past officials accountable for their stewardship of the state, its resources and finances.

Rather, it has to do with allegations that more and more, SLPP is disrespecting the rule of law and behaving towards their political adversaries in the APC as if they are above the law and untouchable.

We however commend APC for controlling their tempers and for strenuously maintain the peace in the interest of the greater good which is the peace, security and development of the country for the betterment of one and all.

This observation is not far-fetched when we consider that few months back, tension between SLPP and APC got so heated, that four Ambassadors of the countries that provide us with development assistance had to against protocol issue out a terse statement calling for peace to prevail.

Truth of the matter is that many people believe that it is not the ruling SLPP that should be provoking any confrontation with APC and the opposition generally. In fact, they maintain that it is SLPP which in the truer Christian sense of turning the other cheek that should let bygones be bygones, forget totally about whatever wrongs they believe APC when in power did to them and show that they are magnanimous enough to extend a genuine brother hand to APC and the opposition generally on the strong belief that no one man, no one party, no one tribe, no one region can alone develop Mama Salone except all of us, in spite of our political and ideological differences, pulling together like the crew on a rowing boat towards the same development destination.

As a nation, divided we stand, united we shall continue to perish as has been happening to us since out independence in the 1960s when if we were united like Botswana, like Singapore, pulling together in the same direction how wealthy, peaceful and admired we would have been in the community of nations.

Let us please learn from our past – united we stand, divided we shall continue to perish as we do now.

More Attention Needed on Combating Hepatitis in Sierra Leone -Health Minister

July 28, 2019

Health Minister, Prof. Alpha Tejan Wurie

Minister of Health and Sanitation has called for a sustained awareness-raising campaign on viral hepatitis for the public to be aware so that they will not be infected or affected by the disease.

July 28 of every year is commemorated as World Hepatitis Day with the aim of increasing awareness on viral hepatitis and the impact it has worldwide.

“Our hygiene status is critical and vital to help in reducing the spread of the disease. We should continue washing our hands after most things that we do. Hepatitis B is a major public health problem and prevention should be paramount,” Prof. Alpha Tejan Wurie said.

He told a press conference room of the ministry yesterday that even though there are five types of hepatitis, the B and C are the ones that are likely to affect the liver.

He said people may die much earlier from liver cancer as a consequence of hepatitis, and that the infection rate of hepatitis is almost ten times that of HIV.

“Even though there has been no statistics, the prevalence rate of 6% to 21% of hepatitis is huge and the media must help us to let the public know. We will be embarking on a zero prevalence survey as a ministry,” Prof. Wurie noted and disclosed that the advocacy of the disease will be taken to peripheral health units.

Although there has been no national representative data on the disease, Director of Disease Prevention and Control, Dr. Samuel Juana Smith, stated that a substantial burden has been observed in the different sub-populations of the country.

He revealed that the general laboratory and blood bank registry of the Koidu Government Hospital shows that hepatitis B is roughly 10-15% of all diagnosis or blood screened on random request.

“On the Koidu Government medical wards, there are at least 10 cases a month of an end stage liver disease due to hepatitis B virus infection. Children infected during birth or under five years of age are one of the most likely groups to develop a chronic form of the infection in adulthood,” he said.

He said infected mothers often transmit the virus to their babies during pregnancy and delivery and that healthcare workers are at risk of becoming infected when exposed to the blood of hepatitis B patients.

Dr. Smith disclosed that a free screening for hepatitis will be conducted on Saturday July 27, 2019 at Connaught and 34 Military hospitals respectively and urged members of the public to make use of the opportunity to know their status.

Sierra Leone: NPPA Boss Woos IPAM Students

July 28, 2019

Chief Executive of the National Public Procurement Authority (NPPA), Ibrahim Brima Swaray

At an annual general Seminar of the Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM), the Chief Executive of the National Public Procurement Authority (NPPA), Ibrahim Brima Swaray, spoke of Foreign Direct Investment in Sierra Leone.

Standing on all existing policies he mentioned, “There is no country that can attract foreign investors if the models listed below are not seriously controlled and by achieving them also the government of that particular day is termed as a successful government.

Accountability
Transparency
Responsiveness
Equity
Effectiveness
Respect for rule of Law
People’s participation
Solid and cogent Orientation.

‘Demystifying them one after the other, the CEO stated boldly that the government collects our monies and later provides goods and services for the citizens which he posed the rhetorical question to all students. Have we ever thought of the many reasons why we have spoken so much about FDI and it does not reflect in the economy,’ he asked.

He added that the NPPA does not buy for the government, but rather ensures that the money given for a particular purpose is met within the ambit of the rules of the NPPA. He pointed glaringly that the NPPA and the anti-corruption are working closely as the NPPA is on the preventive side of corruption whereas; the ACC is on the enactment side of corruption. The NPPA ensures that there is value for money.

“I took over office where procurement officers just buy at any price they feel,” he stated. He added that over the months, the NPPA has saved the government a huge sum by advising them on buying goods that are not of economic benefit which will be a liability to the government, because of his level of transparency he has established price norms in which there is uniformity among MDAs in the Procurement process.

In his exact words, there has been no room for competition and improvement which he swiftly spoke on the reason why many MDAs do Procurement without allowing due processes all in the name of corruption which they coin as urgency that is one of the many reasons for the dwindling of the then NPPA.

He added that many governments have played their parts and gone and that the sitting dispensation and that the NEW DIRECTION because of these fabulous projects in not so many days from now Sierra Leone will officially open the DIRECTORATE OF ELECTRONICS and GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT which will accommodate all procurement activities to be done using electronics to enhance the confidence of the people, to enhance donors trust and to enhance confidence by Foreign Investors.

This session which many called not just educative, but motivational because of the CEO’s speech on behalf of NPPA which he climaxed by saying, “I did not leave the shores of Sierra Leone to acquire education elsewhere all I have now I owe it to IPAM and therefore if you think you are small then you will not start, believe in yourself and move away from your comfort Zone”.

The students busted into spontaneous ovation for a masterpiece presentation of the CEO of NPPA.

MMCET Sierra Leone Principal Talks Tough On SU Presidency

July 28, 2019

The three presidential candidates with the winner (right)

Anthony During of the Special Camp, who scored 629 votes, was on Friday 26^th July 2019 was duly elected Federal President of the Milton Margai College of Education and Technology (MMCET) Polytechnic Students’ Union (SU) Executive for the 2019/2020 academic year.

The runner-up, Ahmed Sesay of the Students Inclusive Movement (SIM) polled 244 votes while Fatmata Kamara of the Liberty Camp secured 377. The three presidential candidates are all qualifying year Bachelor in Education students.

The entire process was widely acclaimed as a novelty due to its orderliness, peaceful, transparent, accountable and credible nature.

The acting Principal of the Milton Margai College of Education and Technology (MMCET) Polytechnic, Dr. Philip John Kanu credited the Ministry of Higher and Technical Education, lecturers, staff, students, the police force and the college’s security for the peaceful, transparent and accountable conduct of this year’s elections which he attributed to the collective efforts of all stakeholders reminding students that acquiring quality education should be their topmost priority for which his administration would force them to become responsible citizens.

The major decision taken by the college administration that was applauded by all stakeholders was that all students should vacate the campus immediately after voting and listen to AYV and Star Radio for the election results.

Dr. Kanu also revealed that his administration examined the causes for last year’s botched elections that resulted to violence and destruction of college property, the reason they consulted all stakeholders this year as well as the three presidential candidates to take decisions underscoring that all external factors such as past students, lecturers and staff, that influenced past elections, were removed in addition to firmly warning them to stay out of the entire process revealing that campaigns and manifestoes were conducted and declared in the open to the satisfaction of all parties, underscored that his administration provided all the support to adequately prepare the presidential candidates and commended the management of AYV and Star television stations for the opportunity given to the presidential candidates to debate and campaign through their stations.

Dr. Philip John Kanu also revealed that this is the second Students’ Union election conducted since his appointment a year ago and clarified that he is not interested in any of the candidates but the one who would seek the best interest of students recalling his days as President of the National Union of Sierra Leone Students (NUSS) and disclosed that some students who were arrested last week during the campaign period have been suspended indefinitely until the matter is thoroughly investigated intimating that the culprits were shown the CCTV footage of their disorderly behavior but stressed that not all students are bad as 99.9% are very good, the reason the bad ones will be weeded out.

He further informed that the three presidential candidates “are all matured and solid”, that they slept in the same place on the eve of the elections, ate breakfast and lunch, voted and even travelled together in the same vehicle to the two other campuses of Congo Cross and Brookfields on election day accompanied by the Warden of Students to demonstrate peace, tolerance and non-violence to their supporters affirming that this is the turning point in the history of the college and frowned at the use of the word camps but groups to which the various candidates belong.

According to the Acting Principal, the responsible Chairmen of the presidential candidates handed over the students who were involved in skirmishes and commended all for their unflinching support to the conduct of the credible elections.

The Regional Police Commander West, Acting Inspector General of Police Thomas Mustapha Lahai said the three campuses of the polytechnic were peaceful which he attributed to through planning to curb indiscipline that has the potential to undermine development affirming that there was police presence before, during and after the elections reiterating that police presence was very visible all over the three campuses.

All the representatives/observers of the presidential candidates asserted that they are satisfied with the electoral process revealing that there were 600 eligible voters for the governorship election and 500 for the presidency but clarified that only fully paid up students were qualified to vote and must present their identity cards.

Sierra Leone: NATCOM Holds Commonwealth CTO

July 28, 2019

Director- General NATCOM, Maxwell Massaquoi

Sierra Leone’s National Telecommunications Commission (NATCOM) will host the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organization (CTO) conference on the theme “Broadband for Inclusive Digital Transformation” on the 30^th July to 2^nd August 2019 at the Bintumani International Conference Centre Freetown.

The event is expected to attract Heads of Telecoms Regulators, Private Sector Investors, the Media and Civil Society Organizations, to engage with local policy makers and enhance developmental opportunities that can be harnessed through the use of ICT.

The conference will focus on the following thematic areas: Rural Connectivity, Analogue to Digital Broadcasting, Big data, Youth and ICT, Data protection, Broadband and Infrastructure sharing. Experts will discuss and share their experiences on how to improve internet connectivity and broad access to quality ICT services.

According to the Director-General of NATCOM, Maxwell Massaquoi, hosting the international conference of such magnitude is quite essential, pointing at ICT being prioritized by President Dr. Julius Maada Bio as part of his governance agenda.

“We are proud as a nation and a regulator to host this international conference and hope to share our experiences with our friends across the world all in the spirit of exploring partnerships to solve our common challenges in providing effective and efficient ICT solutions to build our respective countries,” the DG stated.

The DG further stated that the event will showcase investment opportunities as well as address some of the ICT challenges the country is experiencing, especially in the area of the provision of rural broad band connectivity.

A member of NATCOM Event Management Committee, Hannah Bangura said all necessary arrangements have been put in place to host this international conference. She further lauded the collaborative effort and support given to NATCOM by other MDAs and mobile phone operators to promote this international event.

“We are excited to receive over fifty international delegates and to use the conference as a platform to market our beautiful country, Sierra Leone,” Mrs Bangura concluded.

The CTO is the largest and oldest Commonwealth membership organization committed to using information and communication technologies (ICTs) appropriately and effectively for development (ICT4D). The CTO seeks to work collaboratively with other Commonwealth bodies to build mutually beneficial synergies in the interests of its members. The CTO has a key role to play in leading ICT4D initiatives across the Commonwealth, and it is committed to working together with other Commonwealth entities to reduce overlap and replication of activities.

The CTO is an organization that is renowned for its involvement in providing ICT support to countries in the Commonwealth nations. Sierra Leone through NATCOM in 2013 benefitted with support from CTO, five multi-Purpose ICT centres in the towns of Kambia, Pujehun, Makeni, Mile 91 and Lungi.

President Weah Honors Sierra Leone President Bio

July 28, 2019

His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio has been conferred as one of the highest honors in Liberia by His Excellency President George M. Weah Sr.

On Friday 26th July 2019, His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio has been conferred as one of the highest honors in Liberia by His Excellency President George M. Weah Sr. during the official commemoration of his country’s 172^nd Independence Anniversary, at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex, Montserrado County, Monrovia.

Reading the citation for the conferment of the honour, the Chief of Protocol of the Republic of Liberia, Jervis A. Witherspoon paid glowing tribute to His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio for his democratic credential as the former military Head of State who laid the foundation for peace and the return of multi-party democracy in Sierra Leone in the late nineties.

“His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio presided over the conduct of the first democratic elections in Sierra Leone in nearly three decades. He voluntarily handed-over power to the democratically elected Government of the late President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah and initiated the Sierra Leone Civil War Peace Settlement. He is also the first former military Head of State to be democratically elected as President of the Republic of Sierra Leone,” the citation stated.

The Chief of Protocol also spoke about His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio’s efforts in peacekeeping in Liberia as part of the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG). His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio’s peacekeeping mission in the early nineties in Liberia through ECOMOG demonstrated the love and commitment he has for the country and people of Liberia.

Mr. Witherspoon also catalogued His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio’s humanitarian efforts in Sierra Leone through the Maada and Fatima Bio Foundation. He singled out the Foundation’s work during the Ebola outbreak in supporting victims. Over the years, the Foundation has also supported victims and families affected by natural disasters such as the flooding and mudslide.

During the citation, His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio was also praised for his tremendous achievements over the last one year in championing human capital development, demonstrating political will in the fight against corruption, restoring fiscal credibility to Sierra Leone among others. He has also shown great leadership at the African Union as Chairman of the Committee of Ten Heads of State and Government for the reform of the United Nations.

After reading the citation by the Chief of Protocol, His Excellency President George M. Weah, Sr. conferred on His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio the honour of Knight Grand Cordon, Most Venerable Order of the Pioneers (KGC – MVOP). Amidst the ovation from Liberians at the Sports Complex, His Excellency President George M. Weah decorated his colleague and brother, His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio with the insignia of the honour as he was flanked by his wife, Her Excellency the First Lady, Madam Fatima Bio.

His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio, the First Lady and other members of his entourage returned to Sierra Leone after the official commemoration of 172nd Independence Anniversary.

Five Heads of State from Sierra Leone, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Ghana and Nigeria graced the 172^nd Independence Anniversary celebration in Monrovia.

In separate engagements, His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio held private meetings with his host colleague, His Excellency President George M. Weah, Sr. and the President of the African Development Bank, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina.

As a President who uses every travel abroad to attract investors to Sierra Leone, His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio also held a private meeting with a Qatari investment group which expressed interest to invest in Sierra Leone.

The streets of Monrovia were decorated with the Liberian flags and pictures of the visiting Heads of State ahead of the official commemoration of 172^nd Independence Anniversary celebration on Friday, 26^th July 2019.

His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio and Her Excellency Fatima Bio were accompanied to Monrovia by a delegation including the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Hon. Dr Priscilla Schwartz, State Chief of Protocol, Ambassador Fatmata Edna Kargbo and Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman, Yusuf Keketoma Sandi.

Newfield Sierra Leone Starts $30.5M Mining Business in Tongo

July 28, 2019

NewfieldTongoDemoplant-1680x600 — Newfield Resources has announced a positive Final Investment Decision (FID) for its flagship Tongo Diamond Mine development in Sierra Leone, Western Africa.

Newfield Resources has announced a positive Final Investment Decision (FID) for its flagship Tongo Diamond Mine development in Sierra Leone, Western Africa.

The company also announced the issuance of $30.5m worth of bonds to commence development at Tongo.

To fund the development of the mine, the company has signed binding agreements to issue two tranches of unlisted, unsecured corporate bonds.

Tranche A, which will raise $20m, to be drawn down on a quarterly basis, with first draw-down expected by the end of September this year. Under Tranche B, A$4.5m ($3.14m) has been received, with residual bonds to be issued on draw-down of the remaining funds over the second half of this year.

Construction on the Tongo mine with underground portal blasting is expected to commence in next few weeks, while the first diamonds are expected within a year of initial portal blast.

Newfield Resources Executive Director, Karl Smithson said: “We are delighted to have agreed a funding package that allows us to commence construction of the company’s flagship Tongo Diamond Mine Development.

“We will now move to commence development activities at Tongo following the positive Final Investment Decision made by the Newfield Board. This will start with completion of the box cut excavation and first blasts for underground portal and decline development.

“Consistent with the recently completed Tongo FEED Study development timeline we expect to be mining first diamonds within 12 months of initial portal blasting,” he said.

Last March, Newfield signed an agreement to acquire the entire issued and to-be-issued share capital of Stellar Diamonds for £7.74m.

Newfield owns gold projects in Western Australia along with Sierra Leone’s advanced diamond project, comprising four exploration licences spread over an area of 780.9km².

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