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Strategies Anti FGM Campaigners Apply to End FGM

Anti-FGM Campigner Rugiatu Nene Turay and other activists visit villages to dialogue with Soweis (FGM Practitioners) explaining to them the adverse physical and physiological effects associated with the prtactice.

By Saidu Bah, Freelance Multimedia Journalist

On a hot sunny evening at Mafurka, a tiny village in the remote Mountains of Tonkolili District in northern Sierra Leone, Mabinty Gbla a 13-year-old school girl speaks proudly with a smile for knowing she will no longer be worried about getting cut during her initiation into the Bondo society – an all female secret society ceremony that involves Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) which customarily happens during the month of December in her village.

UNICEF estimates that 90% of Sierra Leonean women are subjected to genital mutilation.

The Sierra Leone Government in March banned female genital mutilation (FGM) as part of a wider clampdown on secret society initiation ceremonies to limit the spread of Coronavirus in the country.

For the past two years in Mabinty’s village an astonishing turnaround has been brought about to end FGM practice by a growing local movement of feminist activists, anti FGM campaigners, community elders, religious leaders and FGM survivors.

The Mafurka community in 2018 decided to destroy their secret society bush where girls are initiated to build a school a few meters outside their village.

Although FGM may seem like an act that women inflict on each other, men actually have the final say, according to Amidu Gbla a 40yrs old father of nine children. His eldest daughter, Aminata, was initiated into the women’s traditional secret society. A decision Gbla now regrets, as he recalls how the family spent all their fortune and took loans to perform a customary rite that hurt girls.

“We are suffering in this village just to sustain these harmful traditional practices,” Gbla said. Gbla joined the anti FGM movement in his village to advocate for the freedom, dignity and safety of girls.

“We destroyed the Bondo bush to construct a school for our children,” Amidu Gbla said. He continued by stating that fathers have the responsibility to protect their daughters, sisters, and wives from harm.

Joe AD Alie, a professor of African studies at the University of Sierra Leone, says more than 90 percent of the country’s population was involved in ancestral and secret rites. Bondo society still plays a leading role in the social, religious and political life of communities, Professor Alie said.

The Government of President Julius Maada Bio plans to launch and fully implement a National Strategy on the elimination of FGM that was developed in 2016. According to Deputy Director of Gender in the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Goodie Sowonie, “The National Strategic Plan on FGM when launched will establish a National Committee to work closely with all activists and communities to end FGM and achieve long-lasting and positive change”.

 A groundswell of support to end FGM is leading to real change

All this is triggered by a growing local movement that challenges the values, narratives and institutions that perpetuate FGM on girls in Sierra Leone.

“Educating people is empowering them. It is only through their minds that you can change their attitude,” the leading Anti-FGM Campaigner in Sierra Leone who recently won the German Theodor Haecker Human Rights prize for fighting female genital mutilation, Rugiatu Neneh Koroma said.

Neneh and other activists visit villages and engage in dialogue with the Soweis (FGM Practitioners) explaining to them the adverse physical and physiological effects associated with the practice. They encourage the Soweis to maintain the initiation but to replace the cutting with an alternative rite of passage that keeps girls  free from harm. “We have been able to get about 800 practitioners from 111 villages to put down their knives and embrace a new and safe way of initiation” she said.

“We don’t want to eradicate the Bondo society – it’s our culture – but we want to make sure that FGM is removed from initiation.” she said.

Purposeful a feminist African-rooted global hub for girls activism is partnering with Neneh’s  grassroots organisation – Amazonian Initiative Movement (AIM) and other Anti FGM Campaigners including survivor leaders,  girls and young women to push back against FGM and other forms of violence perpetuated against girls in communities across Sierra Leone. Purposeful is resourcing and documenting the resistance of these grassroot campaigners as they scale up their strategies.

Although the Government of Sierra Leone has undertaken various legislative reforms to address gender equality, with the signing into law the Domestic Violence Act, Child Rights Act and Sexual Offenses Act, but none of these, however, legislate against FGM.

President Julius Maada Bio’s Government faces a delicate balancing act over how to manage the increasing outcry against FGM.

“FGM has nothing to do with preserving culture. It is about maintaining the patriarchal system that oppresses girls and controlling female sexuality – shrinking that girl-power before it hits puberty. This is a gross violation of our human rights. It’s time to end it,” Josephine Kamara, the Advocacy lead at Purposeful added.

But convincing people that this ingrained tradition is wrong is an uphill struggle in a country where 66% of the population is illiterate.

According to WHO, every year three million girls are at risk of being subjected to the practice worldwide.

Rugiatu Neneh Koroma was featured as the main protagonist in a twenty-five minute film produced by Purposeful titled “A Bloodless Rite” which documents AIM’s alternative initiation ceremony into the Bondo Society for over 70 girls without mutilation otherwise phrased as Bondo without Blood/Cutting.

“We want people to drop their knives, so that the government knows women are ready for a change” Neneh said.

Neneh recalls the pain she felt the day she and four of her sisters were mutilated. “They used a crude penknife, it was so painful. I bled excessively for two days and fainted when I wanted to walk,” Neneh said, describing how at the age of 11 she was subjected to female genital mutilation.

The twenty-five minutes bloodless rite film was screened during the 16 Days of Activism to end violence against women that ended on December 10, 2020., At every Town and village where communities gathered for the screening, the film  sparked a debate among locals and FGM practitioners on how and what can be done to end FGM and still preserve the Bondo tradition?

Ya Marie Kamara who has seen changes in her community laments that before the campaign started, an average of 60 girls were cut during the Bondo ceremonies. But today, you hardly hear of any girl being cut in our village.

“The group meets weekly to take stock of their achievements as well as discuss new strategies of supporting other communities to abandon the gruesome practice that leaves victims scarred for life,” she said.

In the past people didn’t talk openly about FGM. But now it has become a concern to everyone, remarked Sampa Milla Kamara an FGM practitioner after watching the film at Mafurka village.

In Port Loko Town and Mathaska village where the Bloodless Rite film was shot, an interactive discussion began among local authorities on how to end FGM in their communities. Soweis who have given up the practice and taken up the alternative rite took over radio stations in Port Loko, Kambia, Tonkolili and Bombali Districts to raise awareness and gain public support for an alternative rite of passage.

New research from Save the Children Sierra Leone shows that 13% of Girls are uncircumcised because their families have chosen to opt out of the Bondo society to protect their girls from Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).

“All these towns and villages used to practice FGM, but because of the increased sensitisation led by activists and communities themselves, some soweis are now making public declarations against the practice and calling on others to join the resistance to  protect girls” Rugiatu Neneh Koroma said.

A fundamental belief at Purposeful is that the collective power that comes from membership to girls and women only spaces could offer the key to a feminist future free from violence. As such, the African-rooted Feminist organisation values the Bondo Society as a critical space for women and girls and are committed to working with partners like Neneh and others to understand what a feminist re-imagining of this space- free from violence and full of intergenerational dialogue – could look like.

A Bloodless Rite is being screened on all the local television stations and across rural communities in Sierra Leone.

Visit www.https://youtu.be/dQtl2g_muhU to view it today.

Mabinty Gbla (standing ) with her father Amidu Gbla at their residence

A Hero Goes Home…   

Late Mr. Edward Baimba Sesay

By Edward Vamboi

Indeed, they always say that there must come a time in one’s life when one will surely depart from this earth. Of course it is always a sad moment but death is inevitable. For now the Sesay family  is in grief as they have lost a big “Cotton Tree” in the family  in the person of the late Edward Baimba Sesay.

The late man was born on the 26 September, 1940, in Kamabai , Bombali District to the late Mr. Edward Baimba Sesay was born on the 26th September 1940, in Kamabai, Bombali District to the late Mr. Ernest Numeh Sesay and Mrs. Mae Sesay, and died on the 25th January 2021, at age 80.

Pa Sesay, as he was lately called, is survived by his wife Mrs. Fatu B. Sesay and ten (10) children; Pastor Edward Ezekiel B. Sesay, Mae Sesay, Ndamoh Kanu (Nee Sesay) Jenny Sesay, Esther Sesay, Ayorinde Sesay, Posseh Sesay, Numeh Sesay, Joseph Sesay and Mercy Sesay. He is also survived by his adopted son, Dr. Alfred Kamara.His siblings also included the Late Mrs. Alice Koroma, Reverend Jenny  Sesay, Mrs. Hellen Kuyembe, Mr Joseph Sesay, Mrs. Esther Conteh, Mr. Kalawa Sesay and Mr. Soraque Sesay (all of blessed memories). Mr. Martin Sesay, Mrs. Kadiatu Kanu, M

rs. Hellen kamara, Madam Yabu Sesay and Mrs. Amie Conteh are his surviving siblings. Pa Sesay, spent the early years of his life with his uncle Pa Wundeh, with whom he was trading with. At age 13, his elder sister, the late Reverend Jenny Conteh demanded that he stopped trading to start schooling. He was then enrolled into standard (Class) 1 at the Kabala Primary School, Given his high intellect and maturity (the age at which he was enrolled – age 13), he spent less years than were required for primary education, and sat to the common entrance examination for the UCC St. Andrews in Bo.

Following his secondary education, he commenced work at the DELCO Marampa mines, and became the youngest National Workers Union President at that time. After several years of work at the mines, the Company rounded up and Mr. Sesay, from his savings bought a taxi which he called “KANUNANKI (Na God dae gi)”.

In 1978, he acquired a scholarship to study pharmacology in Budapest, Hungary, and returned to Sierra Leone in 1983. Upon his return, he worked at the Sierra Leone Medical Stores as a Pharmacist for decades till his retirement in 2006. Given his love for is profession, Pa Sesay opened his Pharmacy at Bright Street Brookfields, and called it gain, “KANUNANKI”, by which he was fondly called till his demise. KANUNAKI, the pharmacy was merely his hub for having company. Most times, he used the returns from the pharmacy to buy food for the less privileged, give transport fares and would even give free treatments/medication to some people.

Mr. Edward B. Sesay was very passionate about God and humanity and he served both with so much ease and enthusiasm till his last breath. He was one of the founding members of the Lunsar Baptist Church (European Baptist Convention), and for those who were opportune to have heard his story, he would have proudly told them of their experience of the “Night of Pentecost- Visitation of the Holy Spirit and Speaking in tongues during a three (3) days period of fasting and prayers in the land that was given to them by the Chief to build the church and the eye clinic. That was a glorious experience for him and he was always happy to tell the story.

He was also a faithful member of the Wesleyan Church of Sierra Leone, Brookfield’s Branch and ensured to attend all church services and programs for which he was chanced. Till the last week of his time on earth, he attended church services and finally, a worship concert on the last Saturday before he passed away on a Monday.

He had a unique character blend that made him to be loved, admired and respected by many that crossed his path. He loved passionately, very humorous but was quite disciplined and had a strong character. He would stood his ground for what he believed in with so much passion.

He was a loyalist. He was however quite humble, comfortable to be around and a great company. This attracted his children, relatives, nephews and nieces, of all ages, including neighbors, friends and church members to him. He was giving without expecting – a philanthropist. Pa Sesay raised countless children including relatives and none relatives. He respected education to a point that he would not save a dime to ensure he assists anyone he believed desires education that do not have the means. He was also a happy man, free spirited and loved life; he lived it to the fullest.

Even though he was blatant about the truth, he was very peaceful, a unifier and rendered advice effortlessly and endlessly. He will be greatly missed by his family, the church, relatives and friends.
May his gentle soul Rest in Perfect Peace.

3 Sierra Leoneans Off to Belgrade University On Scholarship

By Amin Kef Sesay

Three Sierra Leonean students have been awarded scholarships to study in various fields at the Belgrade University in Serbia, facilitated by the Dr. Adonis Abboud, the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Serbia.

The three students are Dauda James, who will travel to pursue his Master’s study in the field of Agricultural Economics, Massah Feigbo Daboh and Doris Augusta Tarawallie  both going to study Medicine and they will stay for six years until they complete their course at the University of Belgrade.

Dr. Adonis Abboud, the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Serbia in an interview disclosed that the scholarship program started in the 1970 and the 80s, furthering how till now a total number of twenty-six Sierra Leonean students have benefited from the scholarship program. According to him, many of the graduates are now in strategic stations in life ranging from the Civil Service, among others and they are contributing immensely to national development, as a way to give back to the country what they have learned abroad.

He further disclosed that the selection process is always done in Sierra Leone by the Ministry of Education, and the recipients would undergo several procedures and medicals in order to adapt to the weather conditions while they are studying in Serbia.

Dr. Adonis Abboud added that the students will act as Ambassadors whiles in Europe and advertise the beauty of Sierra Leone which will attract tourists and investors.

“Education is a primary tool for the development of Sierra Leone and this is one tiny contribution among others,” Dr. Adonis said maintaining that in terms of available healthcare and health status, Sierra Leone is rated very poorly.

Globally, infant and maternal mortality rates remain among the highest, he revealed adding how the health service has recently been described as “stretched far beyond capability”.

“Many of the senior doctors had succumbed to Ebola and the Corona pandemic. Forty out of 60 students at the University of Sierra Leone’s Provost of the College of Pharmacology, Medicine and Allied Health Sciences were forced to abandon their studies after many ran out of money to pay their fees,” he informed.

Dilating on agriculture, he said, it is the economic and cultural mainstay of Sierra Leone – rice and cassava, drought-tolerant crops, are staples in a typical Sierra Leonean diet.

He said although agriculture is crucial, sustainable agriculture in Sierra Leone is unfortunately inadequate.

Talking to the beneficiaries, this scholarship program will help improve the country’s medical and agricultural sectors among others when they would have completed their courses.

They also thanked the Government of Serbia, the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Serbia and the Government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Education for giving them such a golden opportunity to study abroad.

Bread and Butter + High Taxes…   Citizens Demand Review of 2021 Finance Act

By Amin Kef Sesay

Citizens have raised hue and cry over the astronomical increases in the prices of essential commodities, especially foodstuffs which is attributed to increased taxes imposed when containers are cleared at the Quay. They are therefore in that regard demanding for a review of the 2021 Finance Act, which it is believed, to be the source from which the increased taxes, in the form of excise duties, are said to be emanating from.

Indisputably, in any nation, the private sector is considered to be the engine for growth as opposed to the public sector as it creates jobs as well as contributes towards internal mobilization of revenue through the payment of taxes which, in turn, forms part of the funds that Government uses to finance various development programmes.

It cannot therefore be overemphasized that the enabling environment must be created by any Government that is in power in order to see the thriving of a buoyant private sector, including the business sector or community, that will in turn contribute immensely towards overall national development.

If on the other hand, there is a weak business sector that is choked by certain policies or laws then such will be inimical to the rapid attainment of development and consumers will have to bear the brunt reflective in high prices of goods and services that are produced locally or imported.

This medium was recently intimated, by aggrieved importers of various products, that their businesses have been seriously affected as a result of inconsiderate imposition of taxes that are levied on them contrary to what they have been used to paying before.

Importers of Margarine butter, especially, have raised a serious concern over the new Excise Tax of 10% on the Cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF value) that they used to pay before clearing a container at the Queen Elizabeth 11 Quay in Freetown.

The embittered importers explained that the Finance Act of 2021 has imposed additional Excise tax of 10% on importation of Margarine butter which is consumed every day by individuals from all walks of life in society.

According to them before this time, importers used to pay about 50% of CIF value as tax to the National Revenue Authority (NRA) on importation of Margarine butter.

However, on the 1st Feb 2021 the NRA commenced the implementation of the Finance Act 2021 which imposes additional 10% Excise on importation of Margarine.

Because of this, importers now have to pay about 65% of CIF value as tax to NRA instead of 50% paid earlier.

Based on what this medium learnt, this new increase in tax will definitely shoot up the price considerably as importers shall have to pass on the additional Excise tax to consumers.

According to what was intimated, before May 2018 there was a 20% custom duty levied on importation of Margarine, which was increased to 30% in May 2018.

Lamentably, it has now been increased by 65% which has been deemed as a big blow especially at this material point in time when most business entities have been seriously affected by the prevailing corona virus.

It could be recalled that margarine butter has been consumed in this country for quite a long period of time now and many people love it especially children.

However, with this astronomical rise in  excise duty it now seems that it will be out of the reach of many because it is obvious that the price of one packet of margarine butter will definitely go up.

A Social Commentator has averred that during these difficult times when cost of living is going up every day Government should consider reducing tax on daily needed items like margarine.

“Margarine is consumed by ordinary citizens everyday – as bread and butter is considered to be the second staple food after rice. Why increase tax on stable food?” he asked rhetorically noting that such is inappropriate especially when import duty was increased from 20% to 30% in May 2018.

Indeed it is understandable that the Government is in dire need of revenue which could have influenced the National Revenue Authority (NRA) to increase custom duties. However, it must be remembered that the bulk majority of Sierra Leoneans are grappling to make ends meet and astronomically prices could deepen poverty.

It is therefore against this backdrop that it is prudent on the part of Government, especially the NRA, to have a rethink and do the needful.

If the Government, headed by President Bio, is keen on wooing investors then it is high time that the right enabling environment is created in a win-win manner so that development could materialize quickly and the standard of living of the majority is enhanced.

It must be underscored that where the cost of living is high then the standard of living will definitely sink low.

Legal Link Denounces Formation of National Union of SLPP Lecturers

By Amin Kef Sesay

In a position statement issued by Legal Link on the 9th February 2021 on Political Lecturers Associations within the University of Sierra Leone, the rights based organization stated that while it is true that Universities across the world do allow for and/or maintain political parties students Associations within their respective campuses, it is highly unlikely however to find political party lecturer’s Associations operating lawfully within a University academic environment.

It furthered that the reasons for such scarcity and /or dis-allowment of these kinds of political associations are obvious:

First, it is to prevent Universities from becoming politicized as a result of the politicization of its workforce.

Secondly, to prevent the victimization of students by lecturers who may not necessarily share the same political views, orientation and associations with them and finally, since the University serves as the last beacon of hope towards the reformation of a student’s mindset, character, enlightenment, independent thinking and perspective in life, allowing for such open politicization of lecturers is not only dangerous for learning but will further bring political chaos to an environment that is supposed to be conducive and ultimately undermine the core objectives of the University; which is to impart knowledge, build capacities and promote research.

It is against this backdrop, according to Legal Link, that many Universities across the world have set out clear policy guidelines and directives regarding the open involvement of its staff and lecturers in political activities.

Giving an example, the organization cited a renowned University policy guidance on the involvement of its staff and officials in open political activities:

“The University shall not, through its officials or units, participate or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for public office. This prohibits the University from donating to political candidates, political campaign organizations, political parties, political action committees and political Organizations. This policy also prohibits the University’s direct or indirect payment or reimbursement of costs incurred by University officials, administrators, faculty and staff to attend a candidate campaign event, such as a breakfast, lunch, dinner or gala. In addition, University officials, administrators, faculty, and staff are not authorized in their official capacity to make public or media statements in support of, or in opposition to, a political campaign or candidate for public office. When making such statements in their capacity as private citizens, such persons must indicate clearly that they are not representing the University or speaking for, or on behalf of, the University.”

Legal Link said flowing from the above University policy guidance therefore, they outrightly condemn in the strongest of terms the just formed National Union of SLPP Lecturers and urgently demand for an immediate dissolution of same.

“We further call on the University of Sierra Leone and all other tertiary institutions to issue out policy guidance or directives regarding the open involvement into political activities of its staff and lecturers forthwith,” the organization further demands.

It continued that at a time when academic learning particularly within tertiary institutions is facing serious setbacks, such open politicization by lecturers will finally succeed in sending university education into perpetual coma; immersed into the deep abyss.

Legal Link ended by stating that such a move therefore by a few SLPP university lecturers must be resisted, abhorred and condemned by all saying it is not only disgraceful to the academia but also has the proclivity of undermining the operations of ASA and place politics over merit as the ‘new normal’ assessment standard within higher institutions of learning in Sierra Leone.

ACC Commences Investigation into Office of the First Lady

By Foday Moriba Conteh

Over the BBC last week, the Editor of the Africanist Press, Chernor Bah, alleged that the Office of the First Lady, Madam Fatima Jabbie Bio, spent more than Le7.89 billion (over US$780,000) of public funds on personal shopping needs and on travel and hotel expenses for foreign guests she invited to Sierra Leone to witness the launch of her flagship program, the ‘Hands Off Our Girls Campaign’, launched in mid-December of 2018 and which was also captured in the Auditor-General’s Report 2019.

It against such a backdrop that the Anti-Corruption Commission is informing the general public that its attention had been drawn to reports in the Auditor-General’s Report 2019 and various releases on traditional and social media on issues of budgetary allocations and expenditures of funds relating to the Office of the First Lady of Sierra Leone.

The Commission says it wishes it to be known that it had commenced full and comprehensive probe into the Office of the First Lady, past and present, dealing with matters of budgetary justifications for allocations and expenditures of State funds to that entity and the legal and regulatory framework, if any, for them furthering that Preliminary findings show that the entity known as “Office of First Lady” had been receiving Billions of Leones of State funds yearly, spanning 14 years to date – and most of the payments were either directly made to the holders of that office or channeled, through the Presidency, as normal presidential official expenditure signed-off on by respective Secretaries to the President.

The ACC maintained that it is similarly reviewing Section 39 of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016; which gives the State, authority to expend State funds to unallocated Head(s) of expenditure to a certain threshold, to “necessary” public cause(s), and whether such threshold was used and/or breached in making payments such as the ones under review, over the years.

The Commission said therefore at the stage of collecting and analyzing records of accounts, official approval documents and any legal or regulatory framework around such payments; and the conclusions reached will assist in determining progress on the issue. The ACC will also interview persons of interest in that regard, where necessary and that they shall keep the public fully informed on the findings, conclusions and next steps.

As Africell Seals MOU with JobSearch… 500 to Receive Functional Literacy Skills    

By Foday Moriba Conteh

As part of their continuous support towards human capital development in the country, Africell Sierra Leone has on Monday 8th February 2021 signed a Memorandum of Understating with JobSearch which seeks to teach functional literacy skills to 250 female traders and domestic workers, 125 persons with disabilities and 125 youth within the Freetown Municipality using a mobile phone. The signing event took place at the American Corner on Bathurst Street in Freetown.

In his address during the signing, Managing Director for Africell SL, Shadi Gerjawi said that the signing of the MOU with JobSearch shows their commitment to be in line with the Africa Literacy Project, adding that the project is targeting 500 market women, youth and persons with disabilities in Freetown with the aim is to teach functional literacy skills by leveraging on the existing mobile technology to scale literacy projects across Africa.

“Sadly, the data provided shows Sierra Leone is among the countries in the world with the lowest adult literacy rate. According to the most recent data by World Bank over 50% of the population are illiterate and according to UNESCO report in 2018, 58% of adult women were recorded as illiterate,” he lamented.

He revealed that Africell, as the leading mobile operator in Sierra Leone, is also pleased to be partnering with JobSearch and Freetown City Council to roll out the pilot phase of the project by contributing to the education and learning of these women, young people and people living with disabilities adding that Africell had and will continue to support projects initiated by Sierra Leoneans for Sierra Leone.

He said that their Support to this project will be in the following forms: Data (Mb), Human Resource, Equipment, Advertising and Media Space.
On data, he said, Africell will provide up to 1,000GB worth of data to participants and coaches as and when required and on Human Resource Africell shall from their HR Department provide up to 10 employees to volunteer as coaches for the pilot.

On Equipment, Africell shall donate 214 mobile phones and free SIM cards for all non- Africell participants for the Pilot Programme and finally on Media Space Africell through AfriRadio shall grant access to the project for media appearances and free promotion on AfriRadio based on the available existing programs schedule, Africell will also base on schedules postings; make available their social media pages to promote all activities relating to the programmes and events of the project etc.

On her part, Founder and Managing Director of JobSearch, Edleen Elba speaking briefly about the Africa Literacy Project, with particular emphasis on the pilot Programme, disclosing that 213 million is the number of illiterate people in Sub-Saharan Africa, as part of the continent reported to have one of the world’s lowest literacy rates, adding that according to UNESCO, literacy is defined as one’s ability to read and write a short simple statement about their everyday life.

Edleen Elba disclosed that in 2018, the average world literacy rate was 86%, while Sub-Saharan Africa’s was just 67% and that Nigeria has the largest proportion of illiterate people in Sub-Saharan Africa, with over 41 million people unable to read and write furthering that Sierra Leone has a literacy rate of 43%, with 58% of the male population being literate, compared to 42% of the female population with 63% of persons with disabilities have never attended school.

She pointed out that this is the problem The Africa Literacy Project seeks to solve stating that the Africa Literacy Project is a partnership between Platform Capital Group and JobSearch that collaborates with Governments, literacy centres, private sector organizations, development partners and TVET providers to offer literacy courses en masse to vulnerable social groups.

She stated that the Africa Literacy Project’s goal is to teach functional literacy skills to 100 million Sub-Saharan Africans by 2030 and their pilot program, funded by Diatom Impact, in partnership with Freetown City Council and Africell seeks to teach functional literacy skills to 250 female traders and domestic workers, 125 persons with disabilities and 125 youth in Freetown, using a mobile phone. Training will be delivered using Cell-Ed’s unique technology (a voice and text-based app) that offers 3-5-minute micro- modules via SMS, app and WhatsApp.

“For our pilot, we will use only WhatsApp. Content will introduce learners to the alphabet, phonetics, numbers, reading and writing skills, life skills and COVID-19. The pilot was launched on International Literacy Day, 8 September 2020, after which Cell-Ed completed development of the Introduction to the English Alphabet course for us,” she revealed.

She added that the Freetown City Council collected data from interested youth living in Susan’s Bay, female traders at three markets – Krootown Road, Lumley and Congo Water, and persons living with disabilities within the United Polio Brothers and Sisters Association Inclusive Training Centre, PWD Disabled Home and Cotton Tree Disables Organization.

She added that while the pilot is ongoing, they will use the feedback to design follow-up projects and seek more funding, to enable them include more learners across the country and the continent.

Project Lead, Freetown City Council, Salieu Kanu expressed appreciation for the partnership, adding that in 2019 the Mayor of Freetown launched Transform Freetown priorities were grouped within four clusters: Resilience, Human Development, Healthy City and Urban Mobility of which he said Human Capital Development drives into this functional literacy skill.

He assured them that as a Council they will support the project in order to impact the lives of Sierra Leoneans.

Jennifer A. Thompson Cautions Parliament, Calls on Football Family to Embrace Unity

Chief Executive Officer of No Child Left Behind Initiative, Jennifer Adeshola Thompson

By Foday Moriba Conteh

As the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Sports, headed by Hon. Alusine Alu Conteh, has on the 5th February 2021 put a halt on the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) electioneering nomination process which will culminate into the February 26th and 27th Elective Congress in Makeni  until further notice, a situation which has the tendency to divide the football family in the country, the Chief Executive Officer of No Child Left Behind Initiative, Jennifer Adeshola Thompson, has added her voice to the impasse by cautioning the Committee and calling for unity among the football family.

Commenting on the impasse relating to the SLFA Electioneering process, the humanitarian cum philanthropist, who has been changing lives through her Foundation, especially those of underprivileged kids, has cautioned the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Sports of the Sierra Leone Parliament not to politically interfere in sporting activities stating that by doing so will be contrary to the SLFA Electoral Code of 2012.

She emphasized that political interference also runs contrary to a FIFA policy which if imposed could negatively impinge on football in the country and somehow dampen the spirit of young people who may want to take football as their career.

She disclosed that Article 2 Sub-Section 2 of the SLFA Electoral Code of 2012 states that nobody including Government has the right to interfere in the work of the Electoral Committees within the Sierra Leone Football Association.

According to her, such  is normally described as a third party or political interference which normally will lead to a ban or suspension by FIFA as it previously happened to Sierra Leone when the Anti-Corruption Commission set aside the SLFA President and Secretary on corruption allegations.

Against such a backdrop Jennifer said she is making a passionate appeal to the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Sports  to ensure that they refrain from  interfering in the activities of the football family, but rather ensure that they create a platform for a united football family in the country.

She further called on the football stakeholders & football clubs in the country to see themselves as a big family, adding that nominations and elections should not be a do or die thing adding how they should not dodge the rules and electoral processes to suit individual interests.

Jennifer also underscored that when such happens it has the tendency to create negative impacts within the football family in the country which she said should not be our goal.

Jennifer Adeshola Thompson, who is a true philanthropist whose compassionate gestures have left indelible footprints in the realm of development, especially positively impacting the lives of young people in the country, believes that “unity in the football family in the country will enhance growth within the sporting discipline.

She revealed that she will continue to support football in the country especially in creating female football teams asserting that when one invests in the youth, one is investing in their future.

“It’s about time that we keep them engaged and out of the streets,” she averred reiterating that as a nation we should always empower the youth and watch them grow.

“We will catch them young and allow them to have fun!” she said with optimism.

It could be recalled that out of her passion for football, Jennifer Adeshola Thompson adopted a female Football Team in a village within Bo District which she intends to develop.

GIABA Organizes 2-Day National Seminar for Religious Leaders & Institutions

By Edward Vamboi

Towards raising awareness against the deleterious effects of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (ML/TF) in the region, Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) will collaborate and partner with the media, as a massive construction arm in that context.

Consequently, GIABA organized a 2-day National Sensitization Seminar for Religious Leaders and Institutions on Implementing AML/CFT Measures. The seminar commenced in Freetown on the 9th February 2021 at the Radisson Blu Hotel and will end today the 10th February 2021.

The seminar’s objective was to raise the awareness level of religious leaders on their role on AML/CFT framework, especially the mandate of GIABA; and (ii) agree on actionable points to promote peaceful co-existence in particular and in general AML/CFT efforts.

The fight against money laundering and terrorist financing is a collective responsibility of all stakeholders. It is an effort towards protecting the economies and financial systems from the laundering of proceeds of crime. GIABA recognises religious leaders’ valuable contribution as guardians of the faith and their institutions hold tremendous sway amongst their followers.

Fundamentally, one of GIABA’s core Strategic Goals in the 2011-2014 Strategic Plan is the promotion of strategic partnerships with the private sector, civil society, and other critical stakeholders aimed at increasing awareness of ML/TF to empower citizens to take action. Recognizing the role of religious leaders in Preventing Violent Extremism (PVE) and promoting the religious dimension of intercultural dialogue, the United Nations Secretary-General enshrined in its Plan of Action on PVE the importance for faith and community leaders to mentor “vulnerable followers to enable them to reject violent ideologies” and promote “tolerance, understanding, and reconciliation between communities.”

The involvement of religious leaders is vital in the fight against ML/TF to be legitimate as well as effective and sustainable as religious faith appeals to people on emotional levels for attitudinal changes and giving voice to the wide range of community concerns. In using persuasion as a strategy, religious leaders need to understand what specific contribution they can and have to make in overcoming the menace of ML and insurgent of TF towards transforming public understanding, attitudes, and standard-setting.

The broad themes of the seminar included the following: The Role of Religious Leaders in Preventing Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing; Money laundering and terrorist financing risks and vulnerabilities associated with religious organisations, Religious Institutions as a tool for promotion of Peaceful co-existence, Risk of terrorist abuse in non-profit organisations, Promoting Tolerance and Preventing Violent Extremism.

The training was delivered by technical experts and GIABA faculty involving presentations, case studies, group work, and sharing sessions.

Bo Rangers Chair Says No Abnormality in SLFA Electoral Process  

Babadi Kamara, Executive Chairman of  the Bo Rangers Football Club

By Amin Kef Sesay

Babadi Kamara, who happens to be the Executive Chairman of  the Bo Rangers Football Club, has added his voice to the recent decision taken by the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Sports by instructing the Sierra Leone Football Association Electoral Body to ‘stay action’ in the erstwhile ongoing electioneering process until the Committee concludes its engagement with the football family, as pronounced by its Chairman, Hon. Alusine Alu Conteh.

According to the Bo Rangers Chairman, there has been no abnormality in the ongoing electoral process of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA).

In what Babadi termed: “Parliament Poking into the Electoral Process of SLFA Should be done Cautiously” he convincingly argued that due process was followed by the Football Association (FA) in the nomination process, for its February 26th and 27th Elective Congress in Makeni City. He furthered that if there were hitches then such was the fault of those who did not follow the due process and not the FA.

He maintained that in as much as some people may want to see the back of the President of SLFA, Madam Isha Johansen from the leadership of the FA, however with the current status quo, how could that be done.

“Almost everyone is tired about the infighting in the Sierra Leone football and the general call is that the President Isha Johansen should go. Yes we all want her to go but which model do we use to get her out?” he rhetorically asked.

Babadi again asked: “Do we circumvent the rules and electoral process to fit an individual or do we play by the rules of the game?

He said the above questions asked emanated from the cry that Mohamed Kallon, the finest Sierra Leonean footballer the country has seen, has been disadvantaged.

The Bo Rangers Chairman said following Mohamed Kallon’s accusations of the FA, of being illegally eliminated in the nomination process, there have been series of unjustifiable allegations that the FA deliberately kicked him out of the process.

He however asked salient questions to determine whether the allegations are in place.

One of them is : “How many people aspired for the SLFA Presidency?”

“How many went through nominations successfully?

“Who is the biggest rival to Isha in the race?”

He said as best as he knows, Isha, Rodney Michael, Saffa, Kofi, Thomas Brima and Kallon all were intending aspirants for the FA Presidency meaning there were six people who wanted to lead the beautiful game in the country.

He added that among the six persons that want to aspire, five went through nomination successfully which is a 83.33% success rate saying for every electoral process he is very sure that percentage is an excellent passing rate.

Babadi went further  to liken the process to what obtains in national politics, which is about due process, saying an aspirant starts losing or winning an election from his or her first steps.

Giving a vivid example, he said: “Let us also put this into context. In 2002, Charles Margai was disqualified to contest against the late President Kabbah for the SLPP flag bearer on the grounds that he was not a paid up member of the party.

Based on what he said, if someone wants to contest an election, both the nominee and nominator should be qualified for the position contested for.

He stated that in the case of SLFA, every aspirant is supposed to be nominated by one person and seconded by another person.

“Isha, Rodney, Kofi, Saffa all went through the process successfully. Why would the only legend in the ring failed to do his homework,” he asked.

Babadi stated that the question bears the answer that playing the game is not the same as governing the game.

Another analogy he gave is that a political parliamentary candidate will not be nominated by a paid up member of a party and seconded by a foreign national, which he said, is clearly the case in the legend’s saga.

He was also honest to state that the General Secretary of SLFA, Chris Kamara, did all he could to keep all members updated on the electoral process.

The Rangers Chairman highlighted that apart from sending out official correspondences to members, Chris also went ahead to create a WhatsApp group where he shared the guidelines and deadline for the nomination.

“Before God and man too, we have to be fair with the General Secretary of SLFA. He took his time and created a WhatsApp group purposely for the management of the electoral process. He posted all the guidelines over and again and the deadline for the process was communicated many times. Why blame anyone for this?”

“If you want to lead us you have to be very serious and sincere with yourself,” he argued vehemently.

According to the expressed views by many whom this medium contacted to comment on Babadi’s stance the vast majority said the Football enthusiast is advising the Sierra Leone Parliament to be cautious in ‘poking into the Electoral process of the SLFA’.

Another thing that came out clearly was that many viewed the action of the Parliamentary Oversight Committee as political interference stating that it has the tendency of FIFA banning the country to participate in future competitions.

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