Dr. Duramany-Lakkoh Bags Distinguished Scholarly Award

February 10, 2021

By Amin Kef Sesay

In a correspondence signed by the Chair of the Independent ad hoc Scientific Award Committee, European Journal of Scientific Research, Adrian Marcus Steinberg, PhD and addressed to Dr. Ezekiel K. Duramany-Lakkoh, it was stated that they are pleased to inform the latter that the independent ad hoc Scientific Award Committee and the Editorial Board of the European Journal of Scientific Research has decided to recognize him as a Distinguished Scholar based on his contribution to his selected field of academic research through his article titled: “Working Capital Management Systems in Manufacturing Companies :A Case Study of Sierra Leone Brewery Limited”, which was published in the Volume 11 Issue 2 of the Business and Economics Journal.

According to Dr. Adrian Marcus Steinberg, the award was presented to all author(s) of his article saying they would appreciate it if he could kindly share that information with them as the corresponding author.

The Chair of the Independent ad hoc Scientific Award Committee furthered that as Dr. Ezekiel K. Duramany-Lakkoh may know that it is a prestigious academic recognition that they have been presenting to a very limited number of scientists from around the world since 2004 regardless of which scientific journal they have chosen as an outlet for their research.

He revealed that selection of candidates is based on their outstanding scholarly contribution to the scientific knowledge in their fields of scientific research with respect to a set of criteria, including: Overall importance of the research question or problem and level of innovation in the topic, the effectiveness and novelty of the methodology and data employed.

He also mentioned the academic significance and usefulness of conclusions resulting from the research, adequacy of the critical review of relevant literature and broad application of the findings.

The Award comprises a plaque and the recipients are normally honoured at a reception during one of the academic conferences that the Committee organizes with their partner organizations and academic institutions.

Regrettably, this year they were unable to organize a conference and so therefore have decided to ship the Awards to the recipients due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Abehku’s Foundation Gives Succour to Children & the Less Privileged of Wilberforce Community

February 10, 2021

By Amin Kef Sesay

With the sole aim to create a safe space for especially kids and the less privileged in deprived communities in the country, The Abehku’s Foundation, based in the United State of America, on the 7th February 2021 donated medical supplies, toys, clothes and many other items worth millions of Leones to some residents, especially kids of the Wilberforce Community. The donation exercise took place at the Wilberforce Village Playing Field.

The aforementioned Foundation is a Non -Profit Organization based in Columbus, Ohio. Their sole aim is to create a safe space for especially kids and the less privileged in deprived communities as they believe in “we rise by lifting others”, which is a clear show of how they feel for the deprived in various communities. Such love was this time round displayed by extending their hands to residents of the Wilberforce Community.

Councilor Aminata Gibril Sesay and other stakeholders of the Community were present as Mrs. Nassimi Mansaray, the Co-Founder of the Foundation and its Coordinator, Alhaji Harun Sesay, presented the donated items to the beneficiaries.

Presenting the donation, Co-Founder of The Abehku’s Foundation, Mrs. Nassimi Mansaray who represented his husband, who happens to be the Founder, Salieu Abehku Mansaray, noted that they are pleased to undertake such a donation as part of the support geared towards the development of Sierra Leoneans especially children across the country.

She disclosed that apart from the shoes, clothes and toys that were meant for the kids there were also wheelchairs, walkers for the aged and sick people.

She noted that The Abehku’s Foundation has done several donations in different communities in the past and that reaching out to the Wilberforce Community is a joy to them as they are ready to extend similar gestures to other communities.

Receiving the gesture on behalf of the community, Councilor Aminata Gibril Sesay covering one of the Wards within the Wilberforce community expressed profound appreciation to The Abehku’s Foundation for the kind gesture which she described as not only important but very timely.

She assured them that the items will be used for the intended purposes by ensuring that they reach the right beneficiaries. She also called on other humanitarian organizations and individuals to follow the footsteps of The Abehku’s Foundation.

Fatmata Conteh, a beneficiary thanked The Abehku’s Foundation for the kind gesture which she graciously said was not only important but very timely in the midst of COVID-19 in the country.

SLAJ President Dilates on 50 Years of Excellence

February 10, 2021

By Amin Kef Sesay

On Saturday, the 6th February, 2021, SLAJ @ 50, was launched by the Minister of Information and Communications, Mohamed Ramadhan Swarray at the Harry Yansaneh Memorial Hall, SLAJ Headquarters on 56 Campbell Street, Freetown.

Among the various individuals that presented statements on that memorable day was the President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), Ahmed Sahid Nasralla.

The SLAJ President started by saying some 50 years ago brave men and women came together and founded an Association that will serve as a torch for not only a profession that is called journalism but for society at large.

Furthering, he told the audience that at a time when the country had just introduced the one-party system of governance and critical voices were almost silenced and a law that was like an albatross on the neck of journalists was introduced to silence a beautiful profession that comforts the afflicted, SLAJ was then born.

He paid glowing tributes to the icons of SLAJ, ie the founding fathers and mothers some of whom, he said, are still around adding that those heroes and heroines deserve a special place in the Association’s history book.

Nasralla said those pioneers laid the foundation that generations that came after them found it easier to build upon underscoring how they weathered the storm when not many people had the courage to be counted saying they sacrificed everything they had so that future generations of journalists will have the freedom to practice their profession.

He continued by stating that those founding members, who are still alive, are appreciated and recognised, naming: Christo Johnson, Bernadette Cole, Daisy Bona and Hon. Alhaji Ibrahim Ben Kargbo.

“We want to say thank you for bequeathing to us an Association that is viewed as the ‘last man standing’ in a society that continues to demonstrate a lack of commitment to the general good,” he continued to pay glowing tribute also assuring that the current crop of journalists shall also handover the baton to the next generation with pride just like they did.

Nasralla intimated that the past 50 years have been characterised by vicissitudes and successes but said the latter is what he will briefly focus on.

He said SLAJ has been able to maintain its independence and integrity which, according to him, is something worth celebrating.

“In a country where ugly politics has crept into all facets of society and organisations, SLAJ has remained a very solid organisation that has enjoyed the trust and confidence of its members as well as the public,” he asserted.

He pointed out that as an Association they have been able to capacitate their regional bodies, making them viable and semi-autonomous as they carry out their own planned activities.

“We have been able to attract more members; everyone wants to be part of SLAJ because they know it is a body that epitomises independence, is forward-looking and progressive,” he maintained also revealing how they are doing their launching in their hall, the Harry Yansaneh Memorial Hall which, he said, has been refurbished revealing that the current SLAJ Executive campaigned on the platform of giving the membership a befitting Secretariat which is exactly what they have done.

President Nasralla stated that if SLAJ was a human being, no doubt at 50 he or she will have lofty plans for his or her children and grandchildren adding that the next decades are going to be challenging moments for the media landscape especially with the emergence of the social media and the determination to avoid the ‘path dependence syndrome’, quoting Dr. Mohamed Gibril Sesay saying they will not continue with ‘business as usual’.

He said SLAJ will position itself to fit into the next generation.

Our next 50 years should see us better than we are today both in terms of membership, welfare issues, professionalism, patriotis, and self-reliance. The kind of SLAJ we want to see should be the concern of every member of this noble Association,” he expressed optimism.

The result oriented SLAJ President told the audience that as an Executive, they have drawn up a calendar of events that will run for the whole year, because it is a once in a lifetime event so they want to give it all the razzmatazz it deserves.

He disclosed that SLAJ is going to host events throughout the country adding that the Regional Executives will also be having activities at their district level.

Nasralla further revealed how they have invited foreign guests, one of them Professor Kari Kari from the MFWA in Ghana saying he has consented to come to Sierra Leone and deliver a public lecture as part of the Golden Jubilee celebration if COVID-19 permits but said if COVID does not permit they will still do it virtually.

He said they are also working hard to secure land and turn the sod for the construction of the Golden Jubilee SLAJ Headquarters adding that indeed they have begun the celebration of a turning point in history saying in a few months from now, precisely June 5th, they will officially be celebrating 50 years of existence.

He said it is significant because it is also the year the Association has started the journey towards free and professional media.

“It is also significant as we are celebrating the death of the obnoxious Criminal Libel Law,” he maintained.

According to him it would not be appropriate to say they have come of age, because that happened 29 years ago.

“But today we begin another journey to climb to the mountain of professionalism and economic prosperity for the media in Sierra Leone,” he said reiterating that it’s a journey.

Nasralla said they are starting a new journey, saying it is a journey that will now take the Association into the millennium adding that as media practitioners begin that journey, it is but fitting that they celebrate the first half of the millennium.

He said there is an old African saying which goes … “the lizard which fell from the top of the Cotton tree said if no one will praise me, I will praise myself.” “This is why when you see a lizard it is always shaking its head up and down,” he pointed out.

He furthered that as they will begin to celebrate the Dr. Sam Hollists and all those journalists after them who spent time in jail; locked up in cells with a single bucket containing human excreta, and having to inhale the disgusting smell throughout, it’s a journey.

The SLAJ Prezo said as they celebrate those journalists who got to experience the slaps of the Sierra Leone Police, which caused lightning to flash without any rain, the vicious kicks, the beatings with a gun butt, the solitary nights from police cells to prisons; from courtrooms to prisons, again it’s a journey.

He said today, they will begin to celebrate freedom, freedom from being called a criminal, freedom from accusations of criminal libel without proof, freedom from Defamation could not be defended, it’s all a journey.

“Like gold, we have been put through the fire and like gold, we have to be polished for us to shine. Today, we begin to celebrate the end of one journey and the beginning of another one,” he averred.

He said like the lizards, we must stop and celebrate, saying 50 years is a long time saying members need to reflect from where they have come from to where they are now.

“This is a moment of sincere and honest introspection and a determination to leap into a brighter future and then we will begin the journey into the second half of the millennium,” he noted adding that it is a journey for which members commit themselves towards establishing a Free and Professional Media.

He concluded by stating that they will unveil the Association’s calendar, of how they will begin to celebrate stating that it will be done the SLAJ way.

“This 2021! I declare it the year of SLAJ!” he ended in a jubilant mood.

Sierra Leone Police Declares Idrissa Conteh Wanted for Divulging and Incitement

February 10, 2021

By Foday Moriba Conteh

The Sierra Leone Police (SLP) has launched an extensive investigation into allegations of divulging secret information and incitement against Idrissa Conteh, a resident of 42 Mountain Cut, Freetown. The investigation, initiated on February 5, 2021, at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) on Pademba Road, links Conteh to activities that allegedly fueled unrest and demonstrations in several areas, including Freetown, Waterloo, Makeni, and Kamakwie.

According to a press release from the Public Affairs Department of the SLP, signed by Inspector General Ambrose Michael Sovula, Idrissa Conteh is accused of collaborating with political groups and individuals, including a Netherlands-based activist known as Adebayor.

Investigations reveal that Conteh and others allegedly formed a WhatsApp group in early 2021 to share confidential information and plan protests against the government, citing economic hardships under the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP).

Reports also suggest Conteh, a grassroots member of both the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and the All People’s Congress (APC), played a key role in organizing these protests.

A raid by the Operational Support Division (OSD) led to the arrest of several individuals associated with the group. However, during an incident at the CID Headquarters where angry youths protested the arrests, Conteh reportedly escaped custody. Since then, he has been declared wanted, with police displaying his photos at the CID and urging the public to provide information leading to his capture.

Under Section 4 (12), Cap 2 of the Criminal Procedure Act of 1965, divulging classified information with intent to destabilize the nation is a serious offense in Sierra Leone, carrying a potential sentence of life imprisonment.

Despite the ongoing investigation, Conteh’s whereabouts remain unknown. The police continue to appeal to the public for cooperation, emphasizing the importance of national security and stability.

NP-SL: Working Behind the Scene to Bring You its Castrol Oil Promo

February 10, 2021

By Amin Kef Sesay

The leading petroleum marketing company in the country, the National Petroleum –Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL Ltd) is currently putting the necessary preparations in place in order to bring you its Castrol Engine Oil Promo, which will be launched at any time from now.

It will be a three week’s promotion that will avail the company’s esteemed customers the opportunity to win attractive prizes.

When the Promo commences, every time any customer of NP-SL Ltd purchases a 5L Castrol GTX Engine Oil, he or she, will have the chance to dip and draw from a container filled with hidden prizes in the form of folded slips.

The customers will open the slips and reveal prizes or a ‘sorry buy more GTX’ on the slip.

The categories of the draw will be as such: GTX 25W50 = 1 dip & draw, GTX 20W50 = 2 dips & draw, GTX DIESEL = 2 dips & draw.

After revealing the prizes, the customers will leave their details and they shall be contacted by the Lubricants Sales Supervisor of NP-SL Ltd.

The Lubricants Sales Supervisor will in turn notify the winners and they will pick up their prizes at the office.

Customers who do not win prizes will be compensated with Castrol GTX bumper stickers or keyrings. This is to keep the customers loyal and identify themselves with the premium brand.

The compensation will be as follows: GTX 25W50 = 1 sticker, GTX 20W50 = 1 sticker & 1 keyring, GTX DIESEL = 2 stickers & 1 keyring.

The promotional items shall contain the following: Led Light, Normal cap, Funnels, Lip balm, Keyring, Sticker, Desk Clock, Flask, File and Mug.

It is indisputable that in this country, the most outstanding and widely recognized petroleum entity that is doing well within the business landscape of this country is the National Petroleum-Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL Ltd). The company has gained both internal and international recognition for its efficient service delivery to its many esteemed customers. It is therefore no big surprise for the well-established company to be bagging commendations, accolades and awards from reputable institutions in and out of the country.

One thing which has made NP-SL Ltd to stand tall among other entities hinges on putting premium on effective customer care delivery. The company is highly distinguished for being 1^st for Customer Care, as it strives to give optimal satisfaction to its esteemed customers right across the country. In all its petroleum transactions the company does so transparently as it has modern calibrated machines at all its Filling Stations which are highly capable of pumping and displaying the exact quantity of fuel demanded for, be it petrol or diesel, as well as the price. This gives buyers the feeling that they are not cheated when purchasing fuel.

In the same direction, the company has good, up and running tanker vehicles which transport fuel from the fuel depot to the various Filling Stations everywhere in the country. Maintenance is always done on these vehicles to ensure that they are road worthy; something which the Management of the company takes very serious. The importance of regularly doing so is to really ensure that petroleum products are timely delivered to various parts of the country in order to prevent the occurrence of any form of shortage that may affect daily activities and lives.

A company that was established by thirty-five (35) Sierra Leoneans years back, it was made a laid down policy by the Shareholders and Management of the company that special preference must be given to indigenes who have the requisite qualifications in terms of job opportunities. Interestingly, this decision is in tandem with the country’s Local Content Policy which aims at making use of our local resources, both human and material, instead of depending on external resources. This has made it possible for indigenes, who were hitherto unemployed, to now be gainfully employed and be at vantage positions to take care of individual responsibilities. With all amount of justification it could be said that NP-SL is a very caring business entity.

The company has set the pace of expanding its operations in the West African sub-region by establishing branches in Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast and the Gambia where they are effectively marketing petroleum products. By doing so it is providing job opportunities for locals in those countries and by extension regularly paying taxes to the Governments of those countries which are used to fund different development projects.

This bold step undertaken by the company is a mark of a company a serious entity that is taking business to a higher pedestal.

NP-SL is very notable for making available NP Smart Card and introducing NP Gas. In this modern age when efforts are being made to operate cashless societies and going digital there is no other moment than this when transactions in petroleum products should not follow suit. With the NP Smart Card, a particular customer could purchase fuel via using the card, just stating the quantity required which is debited from the amount in the card.

The customer can credit it again in order to make future purchases. The biggest advantage is that a customer can properly schedule or budget for the amount of fuel he or she will need over time, meaning that he or she has saved the headache of having to raise cash for the sole purpose of fuelling his or her vehicle. Using the card makes it less time consuming to buy fuel and prevents the movement of physical cash which maybe a customer could use for another emerging need or the cash could be stolen. NP Smart Card is now trending and many are now going for it.

With NP Gas, the cooking needs of individuals are easily solved as it is quick in terms of performance as a cooker. Environmentalists have validated its safety in terms of less emission of dangerous gases and it is manufactured in different cylinder sizes, very portable and easily refilled by purchasing gas at the company’s Filling Stations or its authorized dealers.

With all amount of justification, NP-SL is a thriving company among the myriad challenges it is surmounting. The company is indeed a true development partner that is positively contributing to the socio-economic development of individuals, entities and the country as a whole.

The Yamassoukro Meeting & 1st Face-to-Face Encounter between Omrie Golley & Foday Sankoh

February 9, 2021

By: Noellie Marionette-Chambertin

The telephone conversation at a safe house in Danane, Ivory Coast with Corporal Foday Sankoh was to become the foundation upon which Omrie Golley’s role in the peace process was built. It was through that safe house bush radio conversation that Golley was able to detect an uncanny desire for international recognition and acceptance from the RUF leader.

The formation of an external delegation by the RUF was no small measure an attempt to establish diplomatic contact with the outside world and it had become obvious that the RUF leadership wanted to be taken seriously.

Golley met Foday Sankoh for the first time on the 24th March, 1996 at the City of Yamassoukro, Ivory Coast, 450 kilometres north of Abidjan. This was a couple of months after the meeting at Danane with the RUF external delegation.

He had returned to London after that initial encounter to escalate his engagements with International Alert, the ICRC, the Commonwealth Secretariat, UN and occasionally, through telephone conversations, with members of the RUF he had met in Danane.

It didn’t take Golley long to learn that a meeting had been scheduled between the NPRC military government of Sierra Leone and the RUF. In his quest to see a peaceful resolution of the conflict, as well as the realization that the said meeting would afford a wonderful opportunity for his group (operating under the umbrella of the National Convention for Reconstruction and Development NCRD) to meet with FodaySankoh and the RUF leadership to continue the process of dialogue and encouragement for a sustainable peaceful resolution of the conflict, he wasted no time to mobilize other members of his organisation to travel with him to Yamoussoukro for the historic meeting.

He contacted Oluniyi Robbin-Coker, Osman Yansaneh, Lans Gberie, Ambrose Ganda and other Sierra Leoneans and offered to meet the cost of the travel for the whole Group, from their respective departure points in the UK and West Africa.

The Late Ambrose Ganda, penning details of the historic event in his Focus on Sierra Leone in March 1996, wrote:

“I arrived in Abidjan Sunday morning 24 March, determined to witness the historic meeting between Maada Bio and FodaySankoh, but not knowing what the program of events was. I checked into my hotel room and was just about to steal a wink – having travelled on a night flight from London – when the telephone rang only for me to be told that both men were due to arrive in Yamoussoukro that very evening.

“I hurriedly surrendered my keys at the reception and checked out. I was in the company of three compatriots – Omrie Golley, Chairman of the National Convention for Reconstruction and Development – which also paid for my trip as with an earlier visit, Mr Osman Yansaneh, a personal assistant of ex President Momoh, who travelled from Conakry, and Mr Lans Gberie, editor of Expo Times, who had travelled from Freetown as an independent observer. We boarded a hired jeep, and headed with a rendez-vous with history, nearly 450 kilometres in the North of Ivory Coast.”

Golley and his fellow compatriots arrived late that evening, finding accommodation at the same hotel where both the Government of Sierra Leone delegation together with that of the RUF were residing, and sent word to both delegations that they had arrived to witness the historic event, expressing a desire to meet with them.

Golley and the rest of the group that accompanied him received immediate word from Foday Sankoh that he was very keen to meet with them.

Warmly welcoming Golley and his fellow Sierra Leoneans, Sankoh went on to berate Ambrose Ganda, in a friendly way, for some unflattering remarks Ganda had made months earlier about the RUF, in one of his publications which had been brought to his attention. Sankoh was equally swift on putting that episode aside, engaging the group in an informal manner. He then went on to speak copiously about the reasons why the RUF had embarked on what he termed ‘an armed struggle’, and giving a lecture on what he termed the core of the thinking of the Movement – Pan Africanism- and the need for grass roots involvement in the political dispensation of Sierra Leone which he described as lacking.

Golley and Ganda in their own individual comments mentioned to the RUF leader that they had come as independent observers to the peace meeting, not being part of any official delegation. Golley went on to add that they would probably be waiting outside the hall – where the meeting was to take place – until it’s conclusion, and that the Group had come to Yamassoukro to give moral and where necessary, practical support to both sides.

Sankoh’s immediate response was;

“We are all Sierra Leoneans, aren’t we? We are here to talk about peace for our country. Every Sierra Leonean must be welcome! You do not need an invitation for that, do you? You should come to the hall tomorrow to make your presence felt.”

Golley remembered this initial encounter in which these historic deliberations also brought with it an amusing moment.

‘’We were all seated in the inner suite of FodaySankoh’s quarters with Sankoh resplendent in traditional ronko attire, with us listening animatedly to him dilating on the reasons why the RUF took up arms.

In the middle of this discourse, Sankoh got up suddenly to attend to a call of nature. Thinking that this brief interlude, would afford the group a few minutes to compare notes on our individual feelings, we were surprised to witness Sankoh enter the bathroom, sit on the toilet seat, bathroom door ajar, continuing with his discourse as if there was absolutely nothing wrong with this particular mode of engaging in public conversation” said Golley.

The scheduled peace talks eventually took place, the following morning, on Monday 25th March 1996. It was a historic meeting between the NPRC Leader and Head of State Brigadier Julius Maada Bio and the RUF Leader.

This initial encounter was itself preceded by high drama for which OmrieGolley and his brethren had not expected.

Just before the event itself started one of the NPRC Delegates came into the Hall and formally objected to Golley’s group, naming him in particular, stating that he (Golley) and his team were neither part of the government delegation nor part of the RUF Delegation.

The meeting stalled and escalated into a serious stalemate.

The RUF Delegation maintained that, as Sierra Leoneans, Golley and his Group, were perfectly entitled to remain as observers of the Meeting. The Government delegation on the hand argued that the NCRD team was not illegible to attend as they weren’t part of the official or RUF delegation.

“For my part, initially I dug my heels in, stating that as observers recognized by the hosts in the Ivory Coast, together with one of the participating Delegations who had insisted that we attend, we couldn’t simply leave the Hall because the Government Delegation objected’’

The Stalemate sadly continued, with the delegations maintaining their respective positions. Tempers flared.

Golley continues

‘’The historic Meeting was on the verge of collapsing even before it started. One side, it seemed, had to back down or give in’’

It was however not long before Golley relented, taking the view that his being singled out by one of the Parties to the peace talks, objecting to him and the Group witnessing the occasion, was a small price to pay, taking into account the reason why he was there in the first place – giving peace a chance, and doing everything possible to end the hostilities and bring about a lasting and sustainable peace to Sierra Leone.

Stay tuned for more and more interesting reading coming your way!!

Note:

For further enquiries on our episodes, contact the writer

Noellie Marionette – Chambertin

Phone Number: *+447535506716

Email:noelliechambertain@mail.com

Kingho Mining Company Ltd 1st Exportation of Iron Ore is Justifiable

February 8, 2021

By Amin Kef Sesay

Of late eyebrows have been raised over the first shipment of iron ore shipped out of the country by Kingho Mining Company as some have argued that due process was not followed one of which was to have informed Parliament and gets its approval.

However it has been stated that certain people are mixing up Mining Lease Agreement (which goes through Parliament) with Advance Pricing Agreement (which has never been to Parliament and does not need to).

Kingho Mining Company Ltd was granted a Large-Scale Mining Licence by the Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) on the 8 January 2020.

On 21 December 2020, Kingho Investment Company Limited (the parent Company for Kingho Mining Company Ltd and Kingho Railway and Port Company Ltd), submitted an Expression of Interest (EOI) to export the iron ore mineral product stockpiled (Iron Ore Stockpile) situated at Pepel Port site on behalf of the GoSL on commercial basis.

The EOI, as submitted by Kingho Investment Company Limited (KICL), covers the Iron Ore Stockpile at the Pepel Port site only. The EOI also drew the attention of the GoSL to the fact that the Iron Ore Stockpile is being stored on a pad that will be used by Kingho Mining Company Ltd (KMCL) for stockpiling its iron ore transported from the Tonkolili Mine Site that will be in production in January/February 2021. Furthermore, KICL indicated that considering the volume of Iron Ore Stockpile and the space it occupies, agreeing to export the Iron Ore Stockpile now will create sufficient space for its incoming iron ore from the Tonkolili Mine Site.

The GoSL, on 8 January 2021, concluded the GOSL-Kingho Rail and Port Lease Agreement (Lease Agreement) with Kingho Railway and Port Company Limited to operate the Tonkolili-Pepel Railway and Pepel Port facilities. Also, the two subsidiary companies of Kingho Investment Company Limited (i.e., Kingho Mining Company Ltd and Kingho Railway and Port Company Ltd) are at an advanced stage of the mobilization and site preparation to commence operations at the Tonkolili Mine site and Pepel Port.

These recent developments put Kingho Investment Company Ltd in a better position to have the right of first refusal to export (on a one-off commercial basis) the Iron Ore Stockpile at the Pepel Port on behalf of the State.

Having thoroughly assessed the situation both locally (i.e., nature of the iron ore product, current state of preparedness and acquisition of right to operate the Railway and Pepel Port by Kingho Rail and Port Company Ltd) and internationally (i.e., current global price of iron ore), the GOSL asked KICL to tentatively make marketing arrangements and secure a third-party buyer for the Iron Ore Stockpile.

In January 2021, the NMA conducted a detailed assessment and verification exercise (including volumetric drone survey) at the Pepel Port to ascertain the tonnage (quantity) and quality of the iron ore already stockpiled at the site and also collected representative samples of the iron ore stockpiles for laboratory analysis to ascertain the product quality, including moisture content and Transportable Moisture Limit (TML).

The iron ore product from the Tonkolili Mine Site historically fetches a considerably lower price in comparison to the benchmark prices of iron ore products with a similar iron (Fe) content. Benchmark prices only cover a certain range of product specifications – iron ore in particular is known to display an extremely large range in product specifications depending on, for example, their geological properties, the geography and climate of the area it is mined in.

Accordingly, even though the iron ore product from the Tonkolili Mine Site has a 57-58% Fe content (and thus falls into the bracket covered by the Platts’/TSI’s 58% Fe iron ore spot price index), it became evident that this product was always valued significantly lower than the benchmark product due to its inferior specifications.

Not only does this product display much higher alumina (Al2O3) content than commonly preferred (6-7% instead of the 1.5% prescribed by the benchmark), it also has extremely high levels of moisture (15% instead of the maximum of 9% prescribed by the benchmark).

Moreover, this product is also marred by a large loss of ignition (LoI) and general efficiency losses in handling of the product due to the high clay content and the chemical properties of the ore. All these properties combined cause this Iron Ore Stockpile to be of significantly inferior quality in comparison to other companies’ products with a comparable iron (Fe) content.

The MMMR and the NMA in collaboration with the relevant MDAs estimated a fair price on the stockpiled iron ore mineral product as it leaves the Pepel Port. However, it is important to note that sales of iron products seldom take place at this point (i.e., as the iron ore product leaves the Pepel Port), so the method chosen was determined by a trade-off between the ease of administration and the desire to provide an economically efficient and equitable system.

In this specific case, the valuation points included published price (including deductions, given the specifications of the iron ore product in question) and Free on Board (FOB) – deduct freight costs, insurance, any legal costs, quality adjustments and marketing fees, etc.

GoSL and Kingho Investment Company Ltd negotiated a One-Off Advance Pricing Agreement (APA) prior to the export of the Iron Ore Stockpile at the Pepel Port, subject to a Cabinet concurrence. The APA determines in advance the terms and conditions of the one-off commercial transaction/sale of the Iron Ore Stockpile and ensures price transparency and predictability, based on publicly published iron ore price indices.

As part of the One-Off APA negotiations process, the NMA, MMMR and MOF/NRA ensured that Kingho Investment Company Ltd committed to providing certain critical information in relation to the sale of the Iron Ore Stockpile at the Pepel Port.

The documents included: Provisional invoice; Freight invoice from carrier; Draft survey report; Sales contract with third-party; Copy of certified laboratory report for shipment samples taken; Customs certificate at the port of delivery (e.g., Qingdao); Final invoice; Supporting documents that can explain all differences between the Platts Iron Ore price and the quoted “base price” (e.g., size of the particles and penalty for it, moisture penalty, TiO2 penalty, LOI penalty, etc.); and an Excel file tracking shipment and status/availability of the requested documents, as well as provisional, revised and final invoices.

The ownership of the iron ore stockpiled at the Pepel Port rests with the State and under the authority of the Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources. Hence, the Minister of Mines and Mineral resources urgently put modalities in place through the Cabinet to legally, morally and ethically authorize Kingho Investment Company Ltd to export (on a one-off commercial basis as agreed in the One-Off APA) the Iron Ore Stockpile at the Pepel Port on behalf of the State.

An Advance Pricing Agreement, which is a requirement (when selling to.an affiliated company) in the Mines and Minerals Act 2009 and Extractive Industries Revenue Act 2018 (as enacted into law by Parliament), does not (and had never been) have to go to Parliament.

An Advance Pricing Agreement is an executive, operational

and regulatory instrument developed and implemented by the Regulatory Agency (NMA ) and the MMMR in consultation with Ministry of Finance/NRA; not by Parliament.

Pres. Bio Updates AU on C-10 & Calls for Unity

February 8, 2021

By Theresa Kef Sesay

His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio has addressed the 34th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly on the efforts of the Committee of Ten Heads of State and Government, C10, which he chairs. The President did so during a Virtual Conference that was held in New York on the 6th February 2021.

He called on the leadership of Africa to remain cohesive on all aspects of the UN reform process, continue to speak with one voice in unity of purpose, until the demands of the Common African Position as articulated in the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration are achieved.

While thanking C-10 members for the diverse ways they continued to support the work of the Committee in implementing their mandate to canvass, promote and defend the Common African Position on UN Security Council reform, President Bio also provided an update on the 21st Report, adopted during the 33rd Assembly in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in February 2020.

“This past year has been challenging due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on lives and livelihoods. This has also affected the work of the Committee and the Intergovernmental Negotiations process in New York,” he noted, adding that that had also adversely affected the implementation of recommendations of the twenty-first report and its decision on the reform of the UNSC last year.

President Bio stated that the intergovernmental negotiations continued to be challenged by the very complicated nature of the various positions and proposals of the UN Member States, which were divergent in substance with inherent nuances, adding that there was also the issue of continual divergence on procedural matters related to the reform process.

“In such a complicated process, the road ahead may be long, rocky and hard, but we should persevere and stay focused on building on the gains made in canvassing, promoting, advancing and defending the Common African Position on United Nations Security Council Reform. Only that will eventually lead to achieving decisive progress in the not-too-distant future,” he said.

He closed by acknowledging and commending the inclusion of the issue of the reform of the UN Security Council in statements made by a number of African leaders during the 75th UNGA Annual debate of Heads of State and Government.

The Media As A Watchdog… The Case Of Africanist Press Vs The First Lady

February 8, 2021

By Amin Kef Sesay

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 the 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.

Chernoh Bah maintained that our finance laws do not authorize the First Lady to receive or use any public funds to undertake a social activity or public campaign.

Replying, the First Lady denied ever receiving funds directly from the Government. She added that her office is an appendage of the Office of the President; and that she was merely the face of the ‘Hands of our Girls’ project which she said is a presidential project.

On procurement, she said that anything her office wants, she writes to the Office of the President who fills the request. Thus, she called on her accuser to make an inquiry in the Office of the President.

She expressed disbelief at the figure quoted by Chernoh Bah by asking her interviewer Umaru Fofanah to look around her office and see if that amount was reflected in the furniture that he saw in her office.

On the allegation of paying for air tickets for colleague First Ladies that attended the launching of her ‘Hands of Our Girls’, she said she only provided them with accommodation. In an earlier reaction, she said whatever public funds allocated to her organization were used for “the intended purpose”.

Whilst the jury is still out on the truth of the allegations made by Africanist Press against the First Lady, the fact remains that just after assuming office in April 2018, President Bio in August 2018 reiterated his New Direction Government’s commitment to transparency and accountability while addressing a delegation from the Open Government Partnership (OGP) at State House when he said that his administration was doing all they could to be open and accountable to the people in order to increase public confidence in governance.

“We are trying to settle down and find our way in a still difficult environment but we are very much committed to accountability. We do not want to hide anything from our people. My Government is people-centered and we know we have a social contract with the people of this country and that contract needs execution. We have started and whatever needs to be done to earn the confidence of the people, we will do it,” he assured.

President Bio reiterated this commitment in September 2020 at the press conference for the formal presentation of the report of the Commissions of Inquiry and the Government White paper. On the Report he said:

“In my inaugural address to this nation, I declared three peaceful democratic wars against indiscipline, poverty, and corruption. The nexus among the three is obvious: indiscipline begets injustice and bad governance; corruption is a product of the former, and it accelerates poverty, and constrains national development.

As I have reiterated, corruption is a threat to our moral timbre as a nation of upstanding citizens, to our national development, and to our national security. Our only option is to confront corruption head on and fight it boldly and resolutely. It is a fight that we must fight; it is a fight that we must win if we must survive as a nation.”

Holding Government accountable forms the bedrock of Sierra Leone’s relationship with its international development partners including the USA, Britain, the World Bank, IMF and the EU.

In which light, in November 2020, the European Union Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Tom Vens, at a public event said: “I have no hesitation to state that strengthening the role of national civil society organizations in democratic processes, and promoting social accountability models based on transparency and sustained trust-building dialogue between State and non-State Institutions have always been at the core of the EU engagement with its partner countries…”

He added: “And along with that, we have reinforced, widened and ‘[be deepened our partnership with civil society organizations (to which the Africanist Press belongs) to become an effective force not just in the fight against COVID19 but for deepening democracy, social cohesion and public accountability.”

UBA Introduces Saturday Banking

February 8, 2021

By Foday Moriba Conteh

On the 6^th February 2021 the United Bank of Africa (UBA) launched its latest product or portfolio known as Saturday Banking at its Head Branch on Charlotte Street in Freetown.

Managing Director of UBA Sierra Leone, Usman Isiaka stated that following growing requests from their customers to extend banking services to cover weekends, the Management of the bank decided to offer Saturday Banking starting from February 6, 2021 across all branches.

He intimated that the Saturday banking will improve customers’ perception of UBA as a customer focused bank and this will improve their customer service rating in the market.

“It will place UBA a step ahead of other banks since no other is currently offering this service in Sierra Leone” he furthered and added how it will also make prospective customers open accounts with the bank mainly because they offer Saturday banking.

He disclosed that the initiative is also expected to have positive impact on their deposit growth as they take advantage of it to acquire new customers and grow their share of wallet of existing customers.

According to him it will reduce the risk of their customers who usually have to carry their Saturday sales home over the weekend.

He said it will further delight their customers in line with the Bank’s new customer Experience mandate.

The MD revealed that Banking Halls will open to customers at 10am and close at 2pm maintaining that Staff, scheduled for each Saturday, will be expected to resume 30 minutes before the opening time.

Giving a run-down of the services the bank will offer during Saturday banking he said they will include Cash deposit ,Cash withdrawals, Card issuance and other digital banking enrollments, Clearing cheque deposits (to be sent to clearing on the following weekend),in-house funds transfers (within UBA Accounts),Remittances (Africash, Moneygram, Western Union, RIA, Remit, etc.).

Dilating on the branches that will be open for the Saturday Banking Usman Siaka said it will take place at all their branches located at the heart of market/business centres.

He underscored that for BO and Makeni, Saturday banking will take place adding that when other branches are opened in the future, Management will review the business activities around each of the branches and decide if Saturday banking should hold in those branches or not.

The Managing Director informed that staff that will participate in Saturday banking shall be limited to the following roles only: Customers Service Managers (CSMs), Cash Officers(COs),Front Tellers ,CMC Tellers, Bulk Tellers , Customer Relations Officers (CROs), Remittance Agents Support Officers ,Head of Operations, One Marketer per branch, One CMC.

He stated that the following preparations shall be put in place towards a successful Saturday Banking: Every branch shall draw up a Saturday Banking Duty timetable to cover a three-month period which will allow every staff to plan properly, every Friday prior to the Saturday banking the HOP shall make all necessary arrangements for user access control to ensure the smooth running of the service.

The MD said the HOP shall obtain and share with all branches, the list of user Admin officers that will be on duty in head office.

He said the HOP shall ensure availability of cash for the Saturday banking, shall ensure the strict adherence of the 2pm closing time to ensure the staff that participated in the Saturday banking can get enough rest before the next weekend.

He also revealed that each CSM should ensure all the banking halls and washrooms are cleaned on the night prior to the Saturday banking.

The MD further stated that the tickets and vouchers processed during the Saturday banking shall be kept in the vault and retrieved on the following weekend morning to be added to the tickets that will be processed on the following weekday.