Sierra Leone News: As He Languishes at Wesleyan Hospital, Kamakwie: Edward Bangura Needs $16,000 for Hip Surgery

July 21, 2019

It’s about 7 years now since Edward Bangura started suffering from a broken hip, which led to an Osteomyelitis infection. The prolonged illness has rendered him in partial paralysis. This young and intelligent Sierra Leonean is a university student and a breadwinner for his family. This illness has continued to make life very difficult for him, as he can no longer walk or stand upright, fend for himself, or even help himself around for anything. He is now completely dependent on relatives and friends for his survival and daily activities.

He has been diagnosed in many hospitals across the country, but all suggest that he has to be flown to India for a hip replacement. He and his family members cannot raise the $16,000 needed for the surgery and other costs. Edward is still languishing at the Wesleyan Hospital in Kamakwie, Karene District, but still sounds intelligent with hope and faith, and he is responding to treatment to subside the pains. We can get Edward back to normal life, sound and energetic to contribute to national development, if only we can sacrifice the $16,000 needed for his overseas treatment.

A quick intervention could help save him and the burden on family and friends. He’s deteriorating day by day.

Below is his narration/message to the public few months back from his sick bed.

“My name is Edward Bangura.
“I’ve been suffering from a fractured hip which has led to Osteomyelitis for 21 months now.
It all started when I fell and landed awkwardly on my right hip while playing football way back in 2013. I was however taken to the Emergency Hospital where an x-ray was done on my hip and I was told that I’d suffered a minor fracture. Pain killers were prescribed for me and the pains subsided greatly along the way as I took them.
Life seemed OK after a month and I went back to normal life.

It was in 2017 that I fell sick again and an injection was given to me by a medic on the same right hip which left me paralysed for some days. I was rushed to a nearby hospital on that very minute though, and I regained my steps days after but couldn’t quite walk on my own nor stand on my right leg on a firm stance to date.
I’ve been taken to different hospitals for scans and x-ray to detect what had gone wrong with me. One of them is the Choithram Memorial Hospital situated at Hill Station, Freetown, where I was diagnosed to have suffered a fractured hip which has led to Osteomyelitis.

“I’ve been visiting Dr. Bundu’s clinic at the Connaught Hospital on a weekly basis since then as he’s one of the most renowned orthopaedics in Sierra Leone. After going through my scan and x-ray results, he told me I needed a hip replacement and that it cannot be done here in Sierra Leone because we don’t have the required equipment.

Since then I’ve been on Clindamycin and Naproxen on intervals.
I’m just too scared as my leg is getting thinner due to the infection.”
“Recently I went to the Shuman Hospital for check-up and the Indian orthopaedic told me the same thing that I needed a hip replacement and that I’ll have to travel to India for that stating he’ll have to first of all clean up the whole femur as the infection has taken over a large portion of it before the said hip replacement.
The whole process cost sixteen thousand dollars ($16,000).” – Edward Bangura

Such a pathetic and painful experience he is going through. Let’s help save a dying young Sierra Leonean. He needs us more than ever before. He’s scare about his thinning leg, we should be scare too. Please contact the following people for more information and to deliver your support:

Augustine Kargbo: +23279164641; Jason Margao: +23279538373; Abdul Rahman: +23279758921; Paso on WhatsApp: +32467033790

Sierra Leone News: ‘GUMA Knows The Problems – But Has No Money’ – Water Deputy Minister

July 21, 2019

“It seems that GUMA knows all the problems and also the answers to these problems, but lacks the necessary finances to fix them.”

This is according to the Deputy Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Nimatulai Bah-Chang.

The newly-appointed Deputy Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Nimatulai Bah-Chang has hit the ground running by meeting with the management of the Guma Valley Water Company (GVWC) and visiting several key locations of the company.

The meeting was held at the Guma Building where the Managing Director of Guma, Mr. Maada Kpenge did a presentation to the Deputy Minister and her team on the company’s operations and strategic plans to improve on the water supply situation in Freetown and the Western Area as a whole.

Mrs. Nimatulai Bah-Chang thanked the Guma MD for his brilliant presentation, which according to her answered all the questions she had prepared to ask. She also thanked the management of Guma for the good work they are doing despite the numerous challenges the company is facing.

Mrs. Bah-Chang added that GUMA is one of her oversight function and that with the information she has been able to gather during the visit, she will be able to put together her own strategic plan to see how Government and the Donor community can support the company to solve the numerous problems it is facing.

The visit was climaxed with visits to the Guma Dam and Treatment Plant at Mile 13, the Spur Road Reservoir, the Babadorie Reservoir at Regent, Kongo Dam, and Number 2 River.

Sierra Leone News: Rado Swarray Thrills 2019 Global Media Defence Forum …as 99 Journalists Slain Worldwide

July 21, 2019

The Minister of Information and Communication Mr. Mohamed Rado Swarray has revealed that Western countries especially the United Kingdom and Canada launched the Global Media Defence Fund last week in London to act as a solidarity financial fund to sponsor journalists who may be trapped by the laws of their respective countries presumably to muzzle the media in defence of their rights.

The minister made this statement at the usual weekly press briefing organized by the information ministry. The minister who returned home last week after attending the Global Media Defence Fund conference hosted by the Foreign Office said it saw delegates from the world-over who discussed the lamentable state journalists are living especially journalists in Asian countries which saw the death of 99 journalists world over, he said the conference was a platform for delegates to express their views with particular focus in the media in their various counties of origin and both the UK. The Canadian government kick-started the fund with a huge undisclosed amount.

Back home, the minister said the New Direction government of President Bio holds high esteem for the media as a partner in development and as such view freedom of speech as a fundamental Human Rights stipulated in the Rule of Law. As such, he revealed that President Bio will revoke the criminal law of 1965, before the coming UK August meeting where he would be proud to report to the world the position of his government regarding the freedom of the media in Sierra Leone which has handicap its operations since 1965.

The minister however appealed to members of the Fourth Estate to be always be professional; as some strings will be attacked; as logically speaking, it is never too safe to be free.

Sierra Leone News: Emmanuel Dawo unveils Hawish Beauty Salon & School of Cosmetology

July 21, 2019

On the 19th July, 2019 the Manager of Hawish Beauty Parlour & Saloon, Emmanuel Dawo, officially opened the facility, which is situated at Bai Bureh Road, Texaco Junction in Eastern Freetown.

Speaking at the ceremony Emmanuel Dawo that they have young talented tutors who are qualified to lecture students on cosmetology, adding that his staff at the well-furnished Hawish Beauty Parlour have a wealth of experienced to handle any type of Hair Style. Services provided in the facility are Medicure, pedicure and all types of hair styles.

He disclosed that the salon is placed in an easily accessible area and can be reached by anyone. With space to accommodate over 50 students at a time and latest equipment to enhance training in their respective fields, plus fully air-conditioned room, customers as well as students will enjoy an atmosphere of tranquility and a touch of class and excellence. They intend to admit interested students on a first come first serve basis, with an important criterion being the ability to read and write. He added that they intend to expand the structure in order to admit more students.

Hawanatu Sesay, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), in an interview with this writer said that opening a school of cosmetology in Sierra Leone had always been her dream and a way of giving back to society and empowering young girls in Sierra Leone

She maintained that she had promised to return to Sierra Leone after several years of work in the field of cosmetology in the USA, adding that the knowledge, skills, and experience she had gained, will not be limited to her, but will be taught to other young sierra Leoneans so as to empower them and make them self-reliant. The school will be run at a cost affordable to all aspiring candidates.

Sierra Leone News: US based Sierra Leonean Empowers School Girls

July 21, 2019

Sierra Leonean born and US based medical student, Khadijah Kamara last week empowered school going girls in four government schools in the Western Area namely: Government Model Secondary School, E B Williams Municipal School, Dr. S M Broderick Municipal School and the Fatarahman Municipal School, with lectures on reproductive care and distributed sanitary pads to them.

In an exclusive interview with this writer, Khadija Kamara said that her aim is to see that the girl child is always in school, adding that menstruation should not keep them away from classes. This monthly experience by all women of child bearing age is not a bad even in their lives, but rather is an indication that they are healthy and can produce children.

She encouraged the girls to handle the sanitary pads with care, intimating that the supply will last them for 4 years and also save them money, which would otherwise have been ploughed into the purchase of those items. She further warned them against sharing these items with family members in their respective homes.

Madam Khadija Kamara further disclosed that she has been engaged in this venture in other schools, especially among deprived communities like the Kroo Bay. There she provided school going materials, sanitary pads and other items.

On the need for the education of the girl child, Madam Kamara pointed out that if a girl is educated she will help to bring change to her community. She stressed the importance of girls to know how to ake care of themselves. She expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Health and school authorities for the assistance given to her in the distribution of the items and warned the girls to avoid sex and concentrate on their school work.

Sierra Leone News: New Constitution for APC – Says NRM

July 21, 2019

The Deputy Publicity Secretary of the All People’s Congress (APC) party, Mr. Sidi Yaya Tunis in a reported T.V. interview said that the constitutional review team of the party will soon make public the new APC constitution.

He added that this has been the bane of disagreement amidst protests and condemnation of the National Reform Movement (NRM) within the APC which sees the selection clause adopted by the party in major representations has brought more division within the party then harmony amongst comrades. The secretary revealed that one entry in the former constitution which brought a lot of debate amongst the party’s hierarchy was the selection clause of which the election clause will now be adopted at requires and national elations of their party heads. Meaning, delegates at a national level will now host candidates contesting for various positions with confidence that no directives will come from to above to nullify and change it to selection as usual.

NRM authorities say they are concern with references made by Tunis over the position of chairman EBK in which he gave an example of the dominant role former President Jerry Rawlings of Ghana and former President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria in their respective parties.

NRM added that Tunis, by saying ‘if you are a time loyalist of a political party and have no intention of being a supreme leader, you can give up your position by equally going to an election and let others have a say.’

NRM further said that franchise of delegates to have a democratic consideration over votes of their choice is all what they have been longing for. NRM also stated that the Publicity Secretary should know that the NRM would not make an apology to anyone, and mentioned that once their conditions of protests are clearly defined in their pending constitution.

Sierra Leone News: Presidents Bio & Kenyatta Tighten Ties

July 21, 2019

President Julius Maada Bio has and his Kenyan counterpart, Uhuru Kenyatta

President Julius Maada Bio has met with his Kenyan counterpart, Uhuru Kenyatta at the State House in Nairobi to discuss issues bordering on tourism and trade.

At the meeting between President Kenyatta and President Bio, the two leaders discussed ways of promoting tourism and boosting trade between Kenya and Sierra Leone.

President Kenyatta commended his Sierra Leone counterpart, who was in Kenya together with his family for vacation, for choosing Kenya as a holiday destination.

The Kenya President encouraged other African leaders to pick Kenya as holiday destination of choice saying the country has a well-developed tourism and hospitality sector with so much to offer its visitors.

The two leaders agreed that time had come for the continent to join hands to improve intra-Africa trade so as to augment the continent’s economic bargaining power at the global arena.

President Kenyatta invited President Bio for a State visit so that the two countries could explore more areas of cooperation to boost their economic and people-to-people ties.

At the meeting with acting President Vyapoory of Mauritius who was in Kenya for the 21^st COMESA International Trade Fair and High Level Business Summit, President Kenyatta praised the enhanced bilateral ties between Kenya and Mauritius.

The two leaders expressed satisfaction that implementation of the agreements signed between Kenya and Mauritius to boost trade and other areas of cooperation including tourism was progressing well.

The agreements were signed in April when President Kenyatta was in Mauritius for a State visit.

President Vyapoory commended Kenya for hosting a successful COMESA summit saying such meetings help in consolidating the region’s economic fortunes.

Sierra Leone News: NASSIT Managers Engage for Development

July 21, 2019

NASSIT has ended a three-day retreat for management, Board of Trustees and the Investment Committee. The retreat took place at the Golden Tulip Kimbima Essential Hotel from Thursday, 18^th to Saturday, 20^th July, 2019.

The three-day event was designed to apprise members of the Board on the various activities of the Trust, particularly its current investment portfolio.

Speaking to the participants, the Director General welcomed them to the retreat, saying that it is very pivotal to the very existence of the Trust.

According to him, the retreat laid a platform to school new entrants into the governance structure of the Trust, especially the Board Investment Committee members, and the Trustees’ role as supervisors that superintend the affairs of the Trust.

Mr. Mohamed F. Daboh went on to say that the retreat would hope to review the current investment portfolio of the Trust for proper monitoring and implementation.

The Director General drew the attention of members to Section 7 of the NASSIT Act (Act No. 5 of July 2001) which empowers NASSIT to invest surplus funds to complement benefit payment.

According him, there are critical provisions of the Section which give guidelines as to how the Trust’s investment portfolio should be carried out. He said Management would lead members into the issues that they would be challenged with as a Committee in the dispensation of their duty and to also inform new entrants about the entire portfolio of the Trust’s investment in other to enable they make sound judgement in their future deliberations. He concluded by registering his Management’s commitment to support the decision of the Board and to cooperate in the execution of the mandate of the Act.

On his part, the Chairman Board of Trustees, Prof. Joseph Lawrence Kamara joined the Director General in welcoming members to the retreat. He used the opportunity to congratulate the Investment Committee members on their appointment as it was the first time he was meeting them.

He expressed his gratitude to the Committee for the zest and zeal they had demonstrated in the short time of their appointment. He called on them to be faithful and committed to their national call as the future of the scheme rests on the decision of the Board. Presentations and discussion will be made in the next two days of the retreat.

Sierra Leone News: Memunatu Warne Killers Get Life Sentence

July 21, 2019

William (Billy) Smith and Elliott Robinson

It could be recalled that a Sierra Leonean woman, Memunatu Warne who was founder and principal of LICCSAL Business College in Freetown, was killed on September 6^th 2018.

She was 46 years and a mother of two and she was due to fly home after a family visit in Woolwhich, London when her home was lit by arsons.

Two men have now been sentenced at the Old Bailey on Friday, 19 July having previously being found guilty for their role in the death of 46-year-old Memunatu Warne.

She was visiting family in Woolwich when the convicts set fire to her front door in a drug dealers’ row – on the day she was due to fly home.

William (Billy) Smith, 26, of no fixed address was sentenced to life imprisonment, to serve a minimum of 32 years for murder; 12 years each for two counts of GBH, to run concurrently; and five years for perverting the course of justice, also to run concurrently.

Elliott Robinson, 22, of no fixed address, was sentenced to life imprisonment, to serve a minimum of 31 years and 12 years each for two counts of GBH, to run concurrently.

The court had previously heard how Mrs Warne, who lived in Sierra Leone, was visiting her cousins at their home in Woolwich.

She was due to travel home on 6 September 2018, but never made that journey.

In the early hours of the morning on that same day, a fire erupted at her cousins’ home in Centurion Square on Berber Parade.

That fire was deliberately started with petrol from outside, at the front door of her home. Mrs Warne was sleeping downstairs and alerted the family to the fire.

Both her cousins, a man in his 60s and a woman in her 50s, who were sleeping upstairs tried to reach her, but the smoke was too thick. They had to jump from an upstairs window and suffered serious injuries as a result.

The fire spread quickly from the front and upwards, and thick black smoke soon filled the house. Despite emergency services attending the scene they were unable to save Mrs Warne. Her body was found in the front bedroom on the first floor.

A post-mortem examination confirmed that she had died from inhalation of fumes from the fire.

Police were called to the fire at 1.30am and officers quickly realised they were dealing with a deliberate arson.

The fire was started by someone who had arrived and left Centurion Square, as the pillion passenger on a motorbike. Witnesses saw him get back onto the motorbike, and saw the bike speed off out of the square.

Homicide detectives began an immediate investigation. As a result of extensive enquires they discovered that the fire was probably organised by Smith. The motive for the attack appears to have been a drugs dispute with a family member of Mrs Warne’s cousins.

However all those who were caught up in the fire were completely innocent of any criminality.

Smith was arrested on 30 October 2018 in Dartford after running onto the railway track to try to avoid arrest. As he did so he threw away a false passport that he had been using.

The person who set the fire was believed to be Elliott Robinson.

Robinson was arrested on 2 November 2018 in a chicken shop on Kimmeridge Road in Mottingham.

Detective Chief Inspector John Massey, from Specialist Crime, said: “Smith and Robinson planned and carried out deliberate arson that took the life of a wholly innocent woman.

“The motive was probably a drugs dispute, but their wanton viciousness led to Mrs Warne’s tragic death.

“I am glad that these two reckless criminals have been brought to account and they now begin lengthy prison sentences for their actions.”

Four men who had been charged with murder and arson – Kurtis Freeman age 21, Matthew John, age 20, Kye Kendall, age 19, and Martin McCardle, age 29 – were all acquitted during the trial.

Sierra Leone News: Africell Gives Boost to Students

July 21, 2019

Sierra Leone’s leading mobile operator Africell has informed the general public to insure their lives with Africell. The company has further informed the general public that it has a whole range of promotions and arrangements that are of benefit to its subscribers.

The latest intervention by Africell towards its contributions to complement government in improving the standard of education in line with the free quality education programme initiated by President Bio. In line with the above, Africell will be hosting free coding boot camp for one hundred and eighty (180) students from primary, secondary and tertiary institutions in August 2019.

Confirming the news to this medium over the weekend, the head of Afri Radio, John Konteh said the objective of the exercise is to bring together students who are currently excelling in Mathematics, Statistics and other related subjects. He said they are also targeting students who are interested in pursuing a career in computer programming.

Mr. Konteh said the Africell Coding Boot Camp will consist of two weeks intensive training exercise for the students that will finally meet the set criteria. He pointed out that candidates who will be making through the Desk screening will further undergo a one to one interview before the final selection of 180 students, 60 each from Primary to Secondary and Tertiary Institutions across the country will be selected.

He disclosed that customers can access the application form from any Africell Customer Care outlet nationwide or register on their website www.africell.sl.

He added that July 31^st is the closing date for receipt of all applications and called on students to make good use of the opportunity Africell is offering.

This is not the first time Africell is coming to the aid of students. It could be recalled that in April this year, Africell donated over ten thousand Mathematical sets to pupils across the country that sat the 2019 National Primary School Examination (NPSE).