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NP-SL’s Mission Borders on Reaching Out to All & Leaving None Behind

By Amin Kef Sesay

The National Petroleum –Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL Ltd) has been regarded as a well-positioned institution within the realm of being a very pro-active institution that is always poised to pragmatically put concrete arrangements in place to ensure that the populace in this country gain access to qualitative petroleum products ranging from petrol, diesel, gas to lubricants, including the ever highly demanded Castrol lubricant oil that has been rated to be a very good for the efficient  lubrication of various engines.

NP-SL is indeed poised to continue to avail its numerous customers with qualitative products that the company markets.

The company has in its employ, a workforce as well as distributors that market its various petroleum products. As far as it has been established, this laid down policy which the company is implementing to the letter, is complementing the efforts of the Government to deepen development.

Today, it is now non-existent for individuals to complain that when they are in the process of procuring petroleum products, pump attendants cheat them in terms of not getting their money’s worth. The simple reason is because the Shareholders and Management of the company were indeed very business savvy to procure modern calibrated pumping machines which were installed at their various selling points and are very capable of churning out the exact quantity of what is demanded and the price to be paid. In this regard the company has bagged the covetous commendation of, “1st For Customer Care”.

During a random countrywide survey conducted over a period of time targeting a large percentage of customers of the National Petroleum-Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL Ltd), with the avowed objective of sounding their views on the operations of the company in the country, the methodology utilized bordered on asking random questions in order to get their candid views.

When quizzed on how they view the way the company treats its numerous customers across the country, most of the respondents warmly reacted by stating that the Shareholders and Management of  the company are doing extremely well in the direction of effective service delivery and giving utmost satisfaction to customers.

Abdul Aziz Koroma, a renowned Social Commentator, maintained that when it comes to customer care, NP-SL Ltd is second to none within the business landscape of this country.

“From what I so far learnt in order to conduct sales in a very transparent manner and to give customers their money’s worth, the Shareholders of the company decided to procure and install modern calibrated pumping machines at their various Filling Stations that are capable to pump the exact quantity of fuel, at the same time display the price and quantity,” he pointed out, adding that to even think that the pump attendants are cheating customers could only be a mere figment of one’s imagination, as anything like that is farfetched.

A Development Specialist of long standing intimated that for the country’s economy to grow sustainably it is but important to deepen local content further arguing that it is only when we make meaningful use of both our human and natural resources that development could transpire.

“Instead of depending on the importation of certain consumable items and foreign expatriates, it is but very significant and cost effective to make use of what we have at hand to produce goods and services,” Andrew Soluku, an Economist averred, also stating that for NP-SL Ltd to make it a laid down policy and put into practice to offer employment exclusively to Sierra Leoneans is indeed laudable and no mean feat.

He further underscored that by offering jobs to Sierra Leoneans is a way of empowering the citizenry to take care of daily responsibilities and live improved standards of living.

“I really doff my hat to the Shareholders of the company for actualizing such a high sense of patriotism,” he expressed admiration.

A vast majority of those interviewed revealed that they are using NP Gas for cooking purpose, maintaining that it is very efficient and environmentally friendly. The NP Gas that they referred to is a cooking device which is manufactured in different cylinder sizes and sold at affordable prices at the company’s Filling Stations. “I discovered that this device is very fast in terms of performance and is now going like hot cakes, as many are now going for it, especially when the gas that is used to refill it could be easily secured at various Filling Stations ,” Memunatu Forna, a business woman selling cooking utensils on Sani Abacha Street informed.

With regards the use of NP Smart Card, it is one that is now in vogue. Some personalities who are using it said they find it very useful and a convenient way of purchasing petroleum products. They added that they always ensure their NP Smart Cards are credited to be used to purchase fuel, be it petrol or diesel. “Sometimes I don’t have to go through the hassle of going to the Bank on a busy Friday afternoon to withdraw cash just for the purpose of purchasing fuel that will last throughout the weekend. I do procure petrol by using my Smart Card and it is working perfectly well,” Musa Kalokoh, an Engineer told one of our reporters.

Momodu Fofana stated that the company is really growing by leaps and bounds. “For NP-SL Ltd to successfully establish branches in neighboring Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast and The Gambia is indeed no mean feat, especially when cognizance is taken of the fact that these branches are operating vibrantly,” he pointed out.

From what was so far gathered throughout the conducted random survey, it can be safely concluded that NP-SL Ltd is indeed a living testimony of a successful and thriving business entity that is contributing significantly to the socio-economic development of the nation and worthy of emulation.

Housemates Salone Ends this Sunday

By Amin Kef Sesay 

It is usually said that all good things must come to an end. Again it goes that any beginning must have an ending. The Reality TV Show that has captured the admiration of many in and out of the country, Housemates Salone Season 2, will finally come to a close on the 13th December 2020. Indeed the competition has reached its climax and has now become extremely competitive. As far as the situation now stands none of the Housemates is safe in this final week as there are bound to be twists in the course of the week.

According to how the show is slated, the survival of any Housemate largely depends on public voting which is why it is important to increase the number of votes for their favourite Housemates. They can do so by sending the number of their contestants via SMS to 5500 or Dial *5500# and for International Voting CALL +232 99 00 5500.

Members of the public can double their VOTES via #AfriMoney by dialling *161*9# and follow the instructions. The program could be watched via the LIVE Stream online at www.ayvnews.com,, AYV YouTube and Facebook platforms.

What in actual fact is up for grabs by the contestants, in the ongoing Reality TV Show, is the winning prize of Two Hundred and Fifty Million Leones (Le250M) plus undertaking a round trip to Dubai. That besides, every day spent in the House qualifies each Housemate to earn One Hundred Thousand Leones (Le100, 000).

Indeed, the winning prize is mouth-watering and seducing. For the deserving Housemate to bag that amount of money could be like hitting El Dorado .With a good financial plan such an amount of money could serve as seed money for any meaningful investment. It could be used as a start-up capital by anyone of them who wish to become a young entrepreneur or for the furtherance of an educational pursuit.

Youth empowerment is at the core of this Reality TV Show as designed by the organizers, Africell Sierra Leone and the Africa Young Voices (AYV) Empire. Throughout the show the Housemates are mentally and physically tested on various occasions availing them the opportunity to learn new skills and improving on existing ones.

They are improving on their cooking abilities, learning how to play new games, they are asked to debate in teams various topics and subject matters, benefitting from motivational speeches, how to dress for certain occasions, learning how to express themselves fluently among a host of others.

At this juncture, it must be underscored that one of the significant ways in which these Housemates are being empowered is giving them the opportunity to interact on a normal basis as well as via partying. They are socializing, pairing, exchanging ideas, gossiping and courting relationships which presumably will span for a considerable period of time beyond Housemates Salone.

The huge following which the show is commanding at the current moment has made it possible for all the Housemates to be widely exposed. This exposure could put them at vantage positions to be earmarked for the performances of certain assignments after Housemates Salone 2020. Obviously, some of them could be spotted to do advertisements for corporate institutions as Brand Ambassadors, role models etc. As a matter of fact, their lifestyles will never remain the same again and it is possible that what they have learnt could be cascaded to benefit other young people.

Without mincing the truth, Housemates Salone has once again put Sierra Leone in the international entertainment limelight as one country where attractive, brilliant, loving young people are doing wonderful things thereby dispelling the myth that it a theatre of war and a haven of blood diamonds. The show is really bringing those out vividly.

EU Ambassador Raps With Members of the Fourth Estate

Ambassador to Sierra Leone, HE Tom Vens

By Amin Kef Sesay

Members of the European Union Delegation including its Ambassador to Sierra Leone, HE Tom Vens, met with a cross section of members of the Press at the Country Lodge Hotel , on the 10th December 2020, the same day that the International Human Rights Day was recognized, during which meeting fruitful discussions took place between the two bordering on various issues.

Sharing his statement on the observance of Human Rights Day, the European Union Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Tom Vens, stated that as we are starting to look at a more hopeful 2021, this year, 2020, is unlikely to be a year that we will easily forget.

He said 2020 will be remembered as the year in which the Coronavirus pandemic caused havoc – but also witnessed the acceleration of a worrying trend that started several years ago, namely a gradual and persistent democratic backsliding and global governance under increasingly heavy stress.

The EU Ambassador further highlighted that the global COVID pandemic has also underscored how digital technologies can be manipulated to spread disinformation and hate speech online, to undermine trust in authorities and response efforts and to reinforce conspiracy theories and extremist narratives.

That, he continued, leaves us with a duty to build back better – by ensuring Human Rights are central to recovery efforts and are protected, both online and offline.

The diplomat noted that we will reach our common global goals only if we are able to create equal opportunities for all, address the failures exposed and exploited by COVID-19, and apply human rights standards to tackle entrenched and systemic inequalities, exclusion and discrimination.

“Let’s think for a moment about the world we really want: it is one where we need to be able to rely on global solidarity and where we reaffirm a shared humanity and interconnectedness,” he intimated.

Tom Vens said in Sierra Leone, we can look at the future with the comforting knowledge that the pandemic did not stand in the way of realizing some remarkable achievements: criminal libel is a thing of the past and the right to education of every young girl is now firmly anchored in a policy of radical inclusion.

He underscored that on Human Rights Day last year, the Government issued a public statement that it will continue to uphold the moratorium on the use of the death penalty and pardoned 2 women on death row.

The instatement of a formal high-level dialogue between the Government and CSOs, he maintained, is another realization that has the potential to create more space for the promotion and defense of human rights.

“These achievements have earned Sierra Leone accolades in the international arena and importantly they reflect a national ambition to let hope prevail over fear.

He warmly congratulated everyone who played a role in these achievements!

The EU Ambassador said reflecting on what was achieved this year will allow us to acknowledge that as entrenched as these situations were  achieving real change is possible and is unambiguously rewarding.

He said as we reflect on how we can make further progress on an ambitious human rights agenda to create a more just and equitable society, he is inviting all to consider the following opportunities:

A critical analysis of the laws, regulations and practices in order to screen and eliminate all direct and indirect discriminatory practices, especially when it comes to the rights of women and girls and persons with disabilities; A pro-active engagement to preserve and increase the civic space.

A shrinking space often results from excessive administrative requirements or from the imposition of financial constraints that de facto reduce the space for civil society and NGOs to operate – this requires all of us to be alert and vigilant; A focus on climate and environmental action both as a means to preserve our natural wealth and to advance a wide range of related, essential human rights: the right to health, food, water, education and even the right to life itself; A focus on digitalisation, not just as a development tool, but also with a clear intent to protect the right to privacy of every individual – acknowledging that data protection is becoming increasingly important in the governance space; Sustained efforts to combat false and misleading information that seek to fundamentally undermine democratic and human rights; The abolition of the death penalty as recommended by the Constitutional Review Commission; An ambitious human rights agenda, not just domestically, but also as global actors. In other words, a principled Human Rights approach can and should also guide foreign policy and positions.

He stated that a rekindled constitutional review process would no doubt offer a firm framework to anchor some of these ambitions stating that change also requires sustained efforts to strengthen institutions and pursue policy coherence around a clear agenda.

The Ambassador revealed that as EU they stand ready in these efforts.

“It is heartening to know that, all of us here, are committed to not just protect but also promote  human rights; that we all recognize human rights as central to our ambition to build just and equitable societies.

Promoting and protecting human rights is of course not just a question of relations between the State and the citizens,” he stated.

He pointed out that three years ago, when we marked Human Rights Day in Sierra Leone, the focus was on business and human rights. This is an area ,according to him, that increasingly attracts attention – also in the EU.

Tom Vens said they consider themselves to be a frontrunner in implementing the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and would like to reference one example, with high relevance for Sierra Leone. He said the EU  law  imposes  obligations of  due  diligence on importers  of  timber and certain  minerals  from  conflict-affected  areas, who are  required  to put  in  place processes  to  identify  and mitigate adverse human rights and environmental impacts associated with their activities.

He said importantly, in approaching the issue of business and human rights, it is critical to do this also from the perspective of creating a level playing field.

The Ambassador said it cannot be the case that the focus and scrutiny largely targets those companies that are generally compliant, and that companies where the risks or evidence of abuse are high, manage to stay under the radar.

He implored that it is our duty to create transparency around such realities and tackle them decisively.

Tom Vens said there is no ambiguity around the fact that Human Rights are at the heart of the EU’s foreign policy.

He said just last week, the EU adopted its third Global Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy and two days ago, the EU’s Foreign Affairs Council added a new instrument to the EU’s human rights toolbox with the adoption of the EU’s Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime.

He said that regime will target serious human rights violations and abuses worldwide and will include the possibility to impose travel bans and the freezing of assets for perpetrators of serious human rights abuses. The Ambassador underscored that the message is clear: “As EU we are serious when it comes to human rights”.

The diplomat said the EU is also exploring how it can further foster human rights compliance in the digital sphere and seize the potential of new technologies to promote the protection of human rights for all.

He said the impact of new technologies on human rights is therefore the theme chosen for the annual EU-NGO Human Rights Forum that took place yesterday.

Gathering human rights defenders and civil society organizations from across the world, he said, the Forum explores 4 main themes: fundamental freedoms in the digital sphere, engaging with the private sector, privacy and surveillance and artificial intelligence.

Concluding he reminded that Human Rights are not just lofty principles propagated by defenders in an often hostile world where selfish or tribal instincts can appear to have the upper hand.

He said, Human Rights represent hope, the hope that we should all aspire to represent, always and relentlessly.

“It is a choice that we make as citizens, as policy-makers and as persons who translate policy into action and let us all join forces to this end,” he said followed by a rapturous round of applause.

On his part the President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, expressed profound thanks and appreciation to the European Union for the support it had been giving to the media in this country referencing the recent support it provided in combating fake news and misinformation.

One of the key areas that were discussed was to have media practitioners that will be reporting on issues relating to the environment. This came in the wake of a disclosure by the EU of its intent to support the training of fifteen journalists to be reporting on those issues. However, it was suggested by media practitioners present that providing the reporters with stipends will motivate them to do more. Since the issue is currently under discussion no decision was made on that.

Another issue that was discussed bordered on finding alternative means of livelihoods for timber loggers with the aim of preventing the further depletion of the environment and forestall further deforestation.

The Crucibles of Media Freedom in Eastern Sierra Leone

By Mustapha Sheriff

For many if not all journalists, freedom of expression and by extension media freedom are bloods needed in the media realm like the very human blood is needed in the human body. They may not be far from correct just where a closer look is placed on the significance of media freedom in this 21st century that has authenticated Marshall’s Global Village philosophy.  Recommendation 75 of Sierra Leone’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Report says ‘freedom of expression is the lifeblood of a democracy.

A culture of public debate and tolerance for dissenting ideas is the sign of a vibrant and healthy democracy.   Restrictions on the freedom of expression represent a fearful State; it reflects a State that has no confidence in its ability to promote and disseminate its doctrines in the marketplace of ideas.’ 76 says  ‘a free press ranks alongside an independent judiciary as one of the most important counter forces to the excesses of both the public and private sectors.

The media should be free of political patronage.  The degree to which the media is independent is the degree to which it can perform an effective public watchdog function on the conduct of public officials and powerful individuals in society.  Laws establishing “freedom of expression” require support and enforcement from the courts.  Without an independent judiciary, press freedom cannot be maintained.”

The media is a mirror of society, and the state of media freedom is a benchmark, actually the real image of human rights, democracy and the rule of law in any country. It is not without reason that freedom of expression which also guarantees freedom of the media is one of the oldest human rights protected by several international declarations and resolutions.

After the Civil War of 1991-2001, tremendous efforts are made internationally, especially by the Economic Community of West African States, Africa Union, UNDP and European Union, to thwart the re-emergence of totalitarian regimes and dictatorships. Such action has resulted in numerous declarations, resolutions, pacts as well as an extremely complicated and complex system of human rights protection. Theoretically, human rights have been put on the pedestal of the priorities of Europe and the world, including the Eastern Region, Sierra Leone West Africa, whose constitution has incorporated 16 international documents guaranteeing human rights, which makes them supreme over all laws in the country.

James Jamil Fatorma, the Regional Monitor of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists’ Disciplinary Committee-East, said that there is an obvious and seemingly insurmountable gap between the normative and the proclaimed on the one hand and practice in the sense of applying the adopted norms, on the other hand. The experienced media practitioner emphasized that the fight for human rights is actually a fight not for our being better off, but for better off future generations.

He stressed that the degree of respect for human rights is rightly regarded by many as a measure of civilizing processes in a society, although full implementation of human rights is considered as a utopia in far more socially and economically developed countries than ours. ‘’The suppression of human rights, through the suppression of media freedom, stifles every other progress,” he reaffirmed.

Mr. Fatorma added that the Eastern Region is still witnessing a series of examples that prove that the suppression of media freedom gives a chance to undemocratic autocratic systems dominated by closed centers of power with little or no citizens’ influence. “Such systems go with nepotism, corruption, and cover themselves with propaganda through controlled media. The strongest safeguard against the dark side of power is accountability and scrutiny and few institutions fulfill that role more effectively than a free media,” he noted.

Victoria Vandy Barnard, Chairperson of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists Eastern Region, said that professional media are natural allies, on the same mission and task of promoting human rights, affirming the principles and values of equality, tolerance and non-discrimination, educating citizens, encouraging change, noting that freedom of expression is a catalyst for all other human rights and the professional media. She pointed out that attacks, violence and intimidations on journalists are not adequately addressed and that perpetrators remain unpunished. She recommended measures for the protection of journalists. Madam Victoria however commended the Government of President Julius Maada Bio, Ministry of Information and Communications and the Sierra Leone Parliament for the unanimous agreement on the repeal of Part five of the 1965 Public Order Act on July 23rd, 2020.

She said that the repeal should inform the need of creating more effective mechanisms for a safer environment for journalists’ work, adding that it requires for more journalistic unity and solidarity to improving the quality of journalism and the respect of professional standards and codes of ethics of SLAJ and the Independent Media Commission.

Madam Barnard pointed out that media editorial decisions reflect ethnic divisions and hate speech. Journalists, she maintained, are exposed to attacks and poor working conditions with generally low salaries “while lawsuits for defamation or insult on honor and dignity have become tools of politicians who want to intimidate journalists and deter them from researching some topics.”

She cited an example   related to the beating of local journalists, Faya Amara Faya, Karmal M. Barrie, etc as clearer indications that press freedom is still dead in the Eastern Region. “The internet brings a “nightmare of immorality” and that internet communication enables everyone to become a media worker, which calls into question the “mechanisms of legal and moral oversight of content that exist in classic media,” she maintained.

Recommendation 80 of the TRC calls on ‘’the members of the media in Sierra Leone to carry out thorough investigations before publishing stories.  Newspapers should be offering informed comment on matters of national and international concern.  Some newspapers are in danger of becoming little more than scandal sheets, relying on provocative and, at times, dishonest headlines to promote sales.  Reports that are inaccurate or even untrue seriously undermine the cause of freedom of expression.

Journalists who take bribes and allow their newspapers to be used for party political ends or for the settling of personal scores abuse the freedom of the press.  Such journalists are not fit to be members of the independent press.” In recommendation 81, ‘the Commission calls on the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists and the Media Commission to be more proactive in monitoring standards of journalism practiced in Sierra Leone and to establish mechanisms for effective self-regulation.  These organisations can do much to advance a culture of human rights in Sierra Leone.”

Maybe it is affirmative to suppose that media freedom is not absolute and that rights go with responsibilities. So, the urge for a free, but responsible media must be the way forward.

This article is produced with support from MRCG through the ATJLF project on: “Engaging the Media to Change the Narrative on Transitional Justice (TJ) Issues in Sierra Leone”.

MRCG Trains Journalists on Post Part V Public Order Act

By Amin Kef Sesay

The Media Reform Coordinating Group (MRCG)-Sierra Leone, on the 9th December 2020, conducted a one-day training session for media practitioners on the Post Part V Public Order Act, an event which took place at the Trivoli Hall on John Street in the West End of Freetown.

Prior to the proper commencement of the training, the National Coordinator of MRCG, Dr. Francis Sowa stated the exercise marks the beginning of similar training sessions slated to be replicated in the Southern, Eastern and Northern provinces with the cardinal objective of capacitating journalists on what now obtains after the successful repeal of Part V of the Public Order Act of 1965 which, he said, used to criminalize libel and sedition.

He intimated that the training will basically focus on the Freedom of Expression vis-à-vis the  Civil Libel Law as well as to examine the IMC Act of 2020 so that at the end of the day journalists will have a proper understanding of what could befall them for practicing unprofessionally in the wake of the transition that took place.

He implored journalists to be attentive, actively participate by asking pertinent questions and make positive comments in order to have an interactive training session.

In his statement, the Chairman of the Guild of Editors, Theo Harding, thanked the MRGC for inviting journalists to what he described to be a very significant training. He underscored that indeed there had been a lot of excitement over the repeal of the obnoxious criminal libel law highlighting that such is expected more so that for far too long journalists suffered imprisonment under the draconian law.

Theo, however, cautioned that with all these excitement journalists must be mindful of the fact that they have a responsibility to raise the profession’s bar high by endeavoring to be professional in news reporting. He admonished all to refrain from gutter journalism and practice according to the tenets of the profession maintaining that it is only by doing so that we can have a free Press in this country and enjoy Freedom of Expression.

Director General of the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC), Joseph Egbenda Kapuwa, in a presentation on the topic: “Media Regulation in the Post Criminal Libel Era: The Independent Media Commission Act 2020 and the Civil Libel Law” stated that now that the euphoria that emanated after the repeal process has died down the questions journalists should be asking themselves are how do they regulate themselves after the repeal, why do they ply their trade.

He said individuals choose to practice journalism for various reasons but noted that there is the need for journalists to set themselves apart and rise above pettiness by doing self-regulation. “If journalists do strive to regulate themselves effectively then there will be no need for the existence of laws geared towards regulation,” he averred.

Kapuwa reminded journalists of the fact that as at now the 1965 Public Order Act is still in existence furthering that what took place in Parliament was only a repeal of Part V of the Act which used to criminalize libel and sedition.

He intimated how we also have in existence the Civil Libel Law adding that now that journalists are no longer held under the Criminal Libel Law they could face civil suits in courts of law for any alleged violation.

“Members of the public could file a case in court against any media practitioner if they feel aggrieved that their rights have been violated and the court can institute appropriate punitive measures including the imposition of fines,” he disclosed adding that the right of the court to hear a matter bordering on libel or sedition has not in any way been ousted by the repeal.

Dilating on the IMC Act, Egbenda Kapuwa told participants that over the years various amendments were made to the Act but pointed out that with the new IMC 2020 Act it was not an amendment that was done but a complete change of the entire Act with the incorporation of different provisions. He continued by stating that the essence is to strengthen the IMC.

He said under Section 42 of the IMC Act 2020 media owners are responsible to register with the IMC and in doing so are expected to fulfil certain benchmarks such as paying staff salaries in line with the minimum wage, payment of taxes to the National Revenue Authority (NRA), payment of NASSIT fees etc which he underpinned as statutory obligations.

After taking participants through certain aspects of the Act, he then highlighted that there is provision in the very Act that if media practitioners are not satisfied with decisions reached at by the IMC with regards arbitration then they can seek redress in the Judiciary.

Climaxing the training session was a question and answer session.

SLBL Assures Availability of Its Beverages this Festive Season

By Amin Kef Sesay

The Sierra Leone Brewery Limited (SLBL), the nation’s premier manufacturer of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, which includes Star Lager Beer, Salone Beer, Mutzig Premium Lager beer, Guinness Foreign Extra Stout, Maltina and Trenk Dark Malt Energy drinks continues to assiduously and vibrantly maintain its operations in full gear, on a regular basis, with its cardinal objective of availing its numerous and esteemed customers, both within and out of the country with their favourite and cherished drinks.

This medium’s attention was caught by rumours making the rounds in certain circles that borders on a current and an expected heightened shortage of the company’s beverages. This rumor has gained currency especially as we have now entered the festive season. In order to ascertain the veracity of those rumours we therefore decided to undertake an independent objective investigation to delve into the matter.

Our reporters successfully monitored one truck loaded with assorted beverages from a SLBL warehouse, said to be a supply to a distributor, to where they were offloaded.

Mr. Alfred Bailey, the Distributor’s Manager, when asked whether there is any semblance of scarcity of beverages that are produced by the company as is being rumoured, expressed total surprise explaining that as far he knows it is quite a thing of the past that the citizenry of this country has experienced any sustained scarcity of SLBL’s products.

He stated that he can categorically maintain that stance because he has been in the business as Distributor’s Manager for over ten years now and therefore knows much about the operations of the company. He confirmed that he gets his supply and sells out to the public regularly.

“It is an open secret that in the recent past the Sierra Leone Brewery Limited embarked on a lot of reforms, procurement and installation of modern gadgets or equipment that have considerably enhanced the productive capacity of the company in order to match up with the corresponding increase in its customer base,” he explained rationally.

He further underscored that it could not come as any surprise for some people to be peddling the falsehood that the company is grappling with the issue of not having the capability to manufacture in order to match up with customers’ demands as some are calculatedly bent on stabbing the company on the back.

Another commentator, Tommy Jones, averred that in a competitive business world you could expect the application of various unsavory tactics just to gain ascendancy. Buttressing his point, he stated that with the various imported drinks that are freely available in the market there is the likelihood the situation is being “created by unscrupulous persons to win sympathy”.

Indeed, it is a truism that during the festive seasons there are a lot of mapped out social activities which invariably means that the demand for beverages that are produced by the company always shoots up. This sudden demand creates a seemingly “fake” scarcity situation. There is a resultant panic buying and this is not good.

Usually the natural flow is not to stock up unduly but to consume and return the empty bottles back to the brewery to fill them. This will ensure a continuous supply chain. The Brewery has an added advantage since September 2018 after the commissioning of their canning packaging facilities and this is backing up their productive capacity.

However, based on the aforementioned conducted private investigation by this Media House it came out glaringly that the company is very mindful of this situation and therefore as a way of averting that, has way back, put certain modalities in place to ensure that individuals get access to their favorite beverages as demanded.

One thing that this medium also learnt from the Management of the company was that SLBL is producing on a twenty-four hours and seven days a week (24/7) basis and sending their products to the market through their distributors regularly. Furthermore, it was abundantly made clear that the company is not closing down during the festive season and there is no need for people to be going around trying to create panic and artificial scarcity through hoarding of its products.

The company frowns on those unscrupulous so-called business people, who for wanting to “unethically” maximize profits may be tempted to buy large quantities of beverages that are manufactured by the Sierra Leone Brewery Company, hide it away and spread the rumours that there is scarcity due to low production by the company. They then start to sell those products way above the normal recommended prices selfishly strangulating the market. This media house is investigating their sources and will alert the appropriate authorities of such acts aimed at disturbing the natural flow of brewery’s products.

“This is not only disingenuous but a bad way of doing business. We cannot, as a company, prevent that from happening which is why it is good that some of you in the Fourth Estate are telling the public the reality of the situation on the ground,” Unisa Conteh, Assistant Corporate Affairs Manager of SLBL intimated. He also highlighted that it is significant for Trade Monitors to be monitoring the situation of the market and take the appropriate action in order to ensure that sanity is uphold and maintained.

From the foregoing, it is indisputably established that Sierra Leone Brewery Limited (SLBL) is right on top of the situation and there is no need for members of the public to panic with regards any scarcity of its beverages. The Brewery’s production operations continues on a daily basis Vis à-vis the artificial scarcity that “some may” want others to believe exists.

 

It must be noted that an unofficial source from the Brewery has intimated that competitors who are hoarding brewery drinks will be investigated and if found to be causing artificial scarcity of SLBL drinks will face the full force of the law and the relevant authorities.

See subsequent Editions for more on this issue.

With Hundreds of Aged Fed… DOFA Launches Branch in Bo

By Foday Moriba Conteh

As part of an aim to decentralize its activities with regards providing support to the less privileged in society, especially the Aged, the Dorwontony Organization for the Aged (DOFA), a charitable and Non-Governmental Organization that advocates for the needs and rights of the aged with support from Padi & Friends of Dorwontony, has on Thursday 10th December, 2020 fed and doled out used clothing to the Aged in Bo District during a ceremony that was held at the St. Andrew Secondary School in Bo District, Southern Sierra Leone.

The event was followed by the official launch of the Dorwontony Organization for the Aged (DOFA), Bo branch.

Speaking during the event, Founder of Dorwontony Organization for the Aged, Dorren Barrie, expressed appreciation to stakeholders of Bo District for the reception she furthered thanked Padi & Friends of Dorwontony for their support.

She disclosed that DOFA was founded this year in order to serve as the voice for the needs and rights of the aged across the country, adding that old people should not be considered as liability to society, but rather that they should be given the care they deserve, because they are the backbone of any peaceful society.

She added that as an organization they are committed to ensure that they support old people not only in Freetown but the entire country which is why they have embarked on a nationwide engagement with the Aged starting with the Bo district an exercise that will be rolled out in other districts.

She revealed that the organization having established its branch in Bo District will look at and deal with issues affecting the Aged in the district.

CEO Barrie furthered that the Organization has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Sierra Leone Legal Aid Board, where the Legal Aid Board will provide free legal support for the Aged, stating that in most cases, these old people do suffer injustices in the country, but with this partnership, it will ensure that these old people get justice.

She called on the Government, private sector and non-governmental organizations to support them in order to secure a Home for these vulnerable people who are homeless, adding that they are very important people in society and should not be neglected.

Regional Manager, Legal Aid Board, South, Martin Paul Moriwai expressed gratitude to DOFA for the initiative, noting that as an organization working in the interest of vulnerable people in the district  they will give their support in giving justice to the Aged, furthering that with the MOU being signed between the two organizations older people have unhindered access to legal aid services provided by the Board, which will enhance their access to justice, which, he furthered, will entail DOFA channeling all legal aid needs and challenges of the aged to the Board.

He stated that the Legal Aid Board of Sierra Leone was established with the responsibility to provide free legal aid services for the poor, including legal representation, advise, assistance, legal and community based outreach, alternative dispute resolution etc. He said they are currently in the 14 Districts across the country, giving justice to the people regardless of tribe, region, age etc.

AIG South, William Fayia Sellu, also expressed appreciation to DOFA for thinking about the Aged as they are very important people in society.

He assured all that they will ensure that issues of old people are treated seriously. In that regard he called on all old people of Bo District to report issues affecting them of which he assured them that they will work closely with DOFA in order to support the development of the Aged in the district.

Fatu Moriba, a beneficiary, expressed gratitude to the Dorwontony Organization for the Aged for the gesture, which she described as not only important to them, but timely, noting that this is the first time they are experiencing such care and love from an organization in Bo District.

She called on other organizations to follow the footprint of the Dorwontony Organization in supporting the aged with food and other basic necessities, with the thought that they too are very important in society and they should be cared for.

We Yone Child Foundation & The SOL Foundation Rollout Sport for Social Change Project

By Foday Moriba Conteh

As part of their mission to provide sustainable education and care to underprivileged children through the power of sport in the country, We Yone Child Foundation, with support from The SOL Foundation has commenced their sport for Social Change Project with inter-primary school Football & Boxing or Martial Arts competition between six schools within the KrooBay and George Brook Communities in Freetown.

It could be recalled that We Yone Child Foundation, with support from The SOL Foundation on Friday 8th February, 2020 launched a two year Sport for Social Change Project for schools in Kroo Bay and George Brook communities. During which school items and sport kits worth millions of Leones were donated to school-going pupils in six primary schools within KrooBay and George Brook communities.

Speaking to this medium in an interview, Founder/Executive Director, of We Yone Child Foundation, Santigie Bayo Dumbuya, expressed profound appreciation to The SOL Foundation for supporting the project, adding that the Foundation is using the power of sport on their mission to provide sustainable education and care to underprivileged children in KrooBay and George Brook Communities in Sierra Leone. The project, he said, is a sport based programme using football, boxing and martial arts which in an upgraded version will benefit people in the communities.

He noted that this project is designed to benefit 1,900 direct beneficiaries, aged 8-18 years, 50% girls and 50% boys who are at risk of dropping out of school and prone to teenage pregnancy/rape within the two slum communities of KrooBay and George Brook. He added that as part of the project beneficiaries, 100 teenage girls will be trained in Boxing and Martial Art skills which he said is on-going as a self-defense strategy against sexual abuses.

Giving a brief background about the Foundation, he said, We Yone Child Foundation was founded in 2009 and since then they have been impacting the lives of young people in Sierra Leone underscoring how they have welcomed new staff and volunteers, introduced new social development programs, trained teachers and other staff, created a plan to guide their projects and nourished long-lasting partnerships.

He revealed that the said project Sport for Social Change will use Football, Boxing and Martials Arts to spread key messages concerning sex education and child protection within these communities.

He noted that six schools are currently battling for supremacy in the ongoing football, boxing and Martials Acts competition which are Way of Truth Primary School, City Mission Methodist Primary School, We Yone Primary School George Brook, KrooBay Authodox Primary School, and We Yone Primary School KrooBay.

Teacher who also doubles as the coach for We Yone Primary School George Brook Team, Mary Davies, expressed her deepest appreciation to the two organizations for launching the two year sport for social change project for schools in KrooBay and George Brook communities, adding that such a gesture is really helping them and their children.

She assured the organizations of their commitment as a teacher to ensure that they monitor their children and promised that they will make good use of this available opportunity.

She called on other humanitarian organizations to support We Yone Foundation as many other children in slum communities are really challenged in terms of accessing school items, sport kits.

Ibrahim Kamara, a pupil of the Way of Truth Primary School, who was also a beneficiary, applauded the Foundation and The SOL Foundation for staging the football, boxing and Martials Acts Competition, adding that such a gesture is really helping them as children.

He urged other beneficiaries to take their studies serious and make good use of the opportunity in order to enhance their development as children.

First Lady  Launches Centre of Excellence in Bo

Her Excellency, Madam Fatima Maada Bio

By Foday Moriba Conteh

At the launch of the Bo Centre of Excellence on the 7th December 2020 which was graced by individuals from different walks of life,  Her Excellency, Madam Fatima Maada Bio in her keynote address congratulated the Rainbo initiative  and other organizations whom she said are religiously working to cushion the burden of SGBV survivors saying such is a step in the right direction especially with regards protecting young women and girls in Sierra Leone.

She called for community ownership of the Centre recalling that when she was growing up her neighbors were all considered to be family members but maintained that sadly the reverse is what is presently happening in the country.

Madam Fatima Bio challenged that if as a nation everyone condemns rape and protects each girl, regardless of whose child it is, then the issue of rape will be a thing of the past.

She emphasized the need for parents to refrain from giving their underage girls into marriage saying that is just a way to legalize sex for men old enough to be their grandfathers, whom, she said, after a year of sleeping with the girls, return them to their parents due to lack of knowledge on domestic chores and family life.

That campaign and fight, the First Lady disclosed will be her next task in 2021 in order to ensure that she lobby for laws that will give 50% equal share of a man’s property, anytime he returns an underage girl a year after she has been his wife.

The First Lady revealed how she is committed to work with the Rainbo Initiative because they are selfless and spend all donor monies for the appropriate reasons maintaining that their impact on society cannot be overemphasized.

On her part, the Deputy European Union (EU) Ambassador, Jamila El Assaidi, delivered an all-encompassing statement.

She expressed her honour for attending the official opening of the Centre of Excellence as they are all gathered in the esteemed presence of her Excellency, the First Lady Fatima Maada Bio.

Ambassador, Jamila revealed how the EU relentlessly aims at a world where the rights of girls and women are claimed, acclaimed and respected.

She noted that there is no excuse for disrespecting the dignity and integrity of women maintaining that as EU, they strongly recommend that the elimination, prevention and protection from all forms of sexual and gender-based violence be prioritized at national level, at district level and at village level.

“Among others, the safety and needs of survivors of sexual and gender based violence must be at the heart of all protective measures adopted. Survivors should have access to specialist support services,” she intimated the audience.

According to the Deputy Ambassador, it is in that context that the EU is supporting Rainbo Initiative and its partners Handicap International and CARE International with a 600,000.00 EUR grant for a period of 30 months.

She continued that the project entitled “Strengthening Gender Based Violence prevention and inclusive response services in Sierra Leone” started in September 2019 and strengthens Rainbo and its partners to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls, including those with disabilities.

“The project supports survivors of violence in five districts of Sierra Leone,” she also added.

The EU Deputy Ambassador disclosed that the opening of the Makeni Rainbo Centre of Excellence was held on 25 November and coincided with the national launch of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence in Sierra Leone which based on what she said was a very symbolic and powerful moment.

She informed that the Bo Centre of Excellence which is to be inaugurated is also one of the five Rainbo centres supported by the EU and provides free, quality, age appropriate and inclusive medical and psychosocial care to survivors of rape and sexual assault.

The diplomat stated that the centre is equipped with appropriate disabled-friendly infrastructure, child friendly facilities including a play room and is providing spacious sitting accommodation saying the medical and counselling rooms are conceived to ensure the comfort of both survivors and personnel.

Ambassador Jamila El Assaidi said the Bo centre was established with funding from the European Union, Irish Aid and OSIWA and through the project, Rainbo Initiative contributes to support the national action plan and national advocacy campaigns to combat all forms of gender based violence.

She concluded her statement by calling on all to remember that violence against women exists in every country, culture and community and that the scale of the problem remains concerning.

The Deputy Ambassador maintained that to date, no country in the world is on track to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls by 2030.

She said across the world, the COVID-19 pandemic has made things far worse for those women who are not safe in their home.

“Change is possible but requires action, commitment, determination,” she enjoined further assuring that the EU will work tirelessly with its partners to investigate and punish acts of violence, to ensure support for victims, and at the same time address root causes and reinforce the necessary legal frameworks.

She said the EU on 25 November put forward a new ambitious Gender Action Plan (GAP III) which will apply to all its external actions from 2021 to 2025.

According to her the Action Plan calls for accelerating progress on fighting gender based violence and to address structural causes, including by actively engaging men and boys in challenging gender norms and stereotypes.

“The EU also recently called on its Member States to ratify the Istanbul Convention, the first legally binding instrument at international level to combat violence against women and domestic violence,” she also disclosed anchoring that the goal of the EU is clear: to end all forms of violence against women and girls. We owe it to all the survivors.

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