Home Blog Page 994

For Good Performance on MCC Scorecard…   US Ambassador Taps Sierra Leone on the Back 

By Amin Kef Sesay

At State House on the  9th November 2020,  Maria Brewer, the  United States Ambassador to Sierra Leone,  congratulated His Excellency, President Dr Julius Maada Bio, for Sierra Leone’s performance in passing 13 out of the 20 Millennium Challenge Corporation, MCC, scorecard indicators for 2020.

“Thank you, Mr President, for seeing us this morning and I have the honour and privilege to formally hand over to you the scorecard and to congratulate the Government and people of Sierra Leone for passing not just the scorecard but actually passing 13 of the indicators. By passing two additional indicators from last year as well as increasing your control of corruption score to 81% from 79% last year, you do us proud. So, congratulations Mr. President,” she said.

Thirteen passed indicators is the highest Sierra Leone has ever scored on the MCC scorecard since it was created 16 years ago, passing the scorecard for two years in a row for the first time.

Before presenting the team to the President, Vice President Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, who is supervising the activities of the Millennium Challenge Coordinating Unit in the country, said they had worked very hard in the last twelve months to get there.

Receiving the scorecard, President Bio thanked the American Ambassador and the MCC for what he called a more objective evaluation of what his Government is doing, adding that the MCC Scorecard was an aggregation of different independent groups who were watching the Government’s governing systems.

“As a country, we are happy for this progress, especially as it relates to energy and water, which are very important components. The threshold programme of the MCC has been of great help and we hope that the foundation laid by this programme will actually help us in those two sectors,” President Bio noted.

The MCC, created in 2004, is an independent US Government agency that works to reduce global poverty through economic growth. It provides time-limited grants and assistance to poor countries like Sierra Leone that meet rigorous standards for good governance, from fighting corruption to respecting democratic rights.

On the same issue, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has informed the general public that Sierra Leone has again, and in three consecutive years, increased Sierra Leone’s score in the ‘Control of Corruption’ Indicator in the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Scorecard, moving from 79 percent in the 2019 Scorecard, to 81 percent in 2020, thereby adding 2 percentage points upwards.

The Commission stated that between 2017 and 2020, Sierra Leone has made a total of 32 percent upwards stating that in this year’s Scorecard, Sierra Leone made more gains in the ‘Control of Corruption’ indicator than many other countries including Nigeria, which scored Zero, Ghana 75 percent; Mali 71 percent; Ivory Coast 46 percent; Liberia 56 Percent; Cameroon 38 percent; and Mozambique 63 percent; Egypt 29%; Malawi 65; Zambia 75 percent, It furthered that by this year’s report, Sierra Leone is among the top ten performers in the country’s income category; one of the best performers in Africa; and number one in the Mano River Union.

According to the ACC, in the 2020 MCC Report, Sierra Leone passed 13 of the 20 indicators, including the mandatory “Control of Corruption” indicator. Therefore, Sierra Leone is now “Compact Eligible.”

This means Sierra Leone is eligible to benefit from the US Government Compact Fund between US$400 and US$600M.

The MCC scorecard consists of 20 indicators under three broad categories: “Economic Freedom,” “Ruling Justly,” and “Investing in People.” The “Control of Corruption” Indicator falls under “Ruling Justly” category.

The Commission also pointed out that similarly, Sierra Leone also scored high in other global, regional, and domestic anti-corruption rankings within the past three years. In the Global Corruption Barometer of 2019, Sierra Leone ranked 3rd out of 35 African Countries surveyed on “Government’s Effectiveness in the Fight against Corruption.” In the Afro-Barometer of 2018, 54% of Sierra Leoneans agreed that the Government is performing “very well” in the fight against corruption.

According to the 2020 Afro Barometer Report, corruption prevalence in Sierra Leone declined from 70 percent in 2015 to 40 percent in 2020. Additionally, a National Perception Survey, conducted by the Center for Accountability and Rule of Law this year, revealed that 92 percent of the respondents were convinced the fight against corruption in Sierra Leone is on the right course. Similarly, Sierra Leone also moved 10 places upwards in the Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index 2019 and scored its highest score to be positioned at 119.

With Korbor -Korbor Show Ending Successfully… Lucky Afrimoney Subscriber Bags 1 Billion Leones

By Amin Kef Sesay

On the 6th November, 2020, Aiah Gborie, an Afrimoney subscriber, was presented a One Billion Cheque for emerging as the proud winner in the Africell Korbor-Korbor Show. The handing over of the cheque took place within the Africa Young Voices (AYV) Media Empire and was witnessed by people from various walks of life.

Deputy Media Manager of Africell Mobile Company, Nancy Toure, who doubled as one of the presenters of the just concluded Korbor-Korbor Show, pointed out that since the commencement of the promotion in September 2020, various Afrimoney subscribers won millions of Leones on a daily basis.

Nancy underscored that the daily Korbor-Korbor Show draws have successfully transformed many lives stating that it is part of their Corporate Social Responsibility to improve lives.

She furthered that it is not the first time that the telecommunications company has been transforming the lives of Sierra Leoneans further assuring how they will continue to undertake or conduct programs that will improve the lives of its esteemed subscribers.

The lucky winner, Aiah Gborie, was not present to receive the cheque but was represented by his wife, Fatmata Ruth Gborie. She intimated how her husband is a quiet and gentleman and a member of the Prince of Wales School Brass Band.

She explained that her husband began using Afrimoney when he returned from Sudan in 2013, adding that her husband got a job at Sierra Rutile and since then most of their financial transactions is done through Afrimoney.

Fatmata disclosed that they are blessed with two children: Sia and Sahr Gborie.

She narrated that one night her husband called her from Rutile informing her that he has been qualified for the One Billion Leones Afrimoney Korbor Korbor draw.

Fatmata said at first she thought it was a fun but not until her husband sent her a letter directing her to take it to Africell. According to her, the main content of the letter was a notification to the Management of Africell that she will be representing him in the grand draw.

She thanked God and the Management of Africell for their success maintaining that she never believed that her husband will emerge as the ultimate winner informing how the draw was credible, transparent and encouraged other Africell subscribers to continue to participate in future Africell draws.

NP-SL Does Not Rest on its Oars In Terms of Timely Service Delivery

By Amin Kef Sesay

One of the most successful business entities that are seriously functioning in this country, the National Petroleum (NP) Sierra Leone Limited, continues to receive widespread commendations for its effective service delivery. However, despite the commendations that the company continues to receive for effective service delivery it does not however rest on its oars but rather is resilient and very determined to continue to do more in order to give optimal satisfaction to its numerous customers here in this country and in the West African Sub-Region in countries like Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast and The Gambia.

Being a very successful petroleum entity, NP had and still continues to contribute tremendously towards overall national development.

This 100% indigenously-owned company has so far offered various jobs to residents in the afore-mentioned countries, thereby contributing to the reduction of poverty to a considerable level. This is also directly linked to it being one of the largest taxpayers to the National Revenue Authority (NRA), financially empowering the Government to roll out various development projects.

One of the most outstanding features that NP has is its competent managerial team, which from time to time comes up with good initiatives, always ensuring that they are effusively, effectively implemented to create value for money. Since it was established by 35 Sierra Leoneans who bought shares from the Government years back, the company has grown from leaps and bounds; weathering storms that would have run it down. But the resolve of its shareholders and Management to succeed has been the centrepiece that has propelled NP to a higher level, equal to none in the sub-region.

If you ask those who really know NP, the feedbacks you will get will definitely rally around its commitment to customer care, which it strongly believes must be prioritized to give satisfaction.

It is in that regard that the company ensured that calibrated pumping machines were installed at its various Filling Stations. These calibrated machines pump the exact quantity of fuel that a customer demands. They give confidence to customers that they are transparently transacting with a reliable company and deriving value for money.

To make transactions very easier, in terms of purchasing fuel, the company introduced a new system, known as NP Smart card, which makes it possible for individuals to procure fuel without using physical cash. As long as the card is loaded, a customer can access fuel from the amount of money that is in the card. It is a modern and simplistic way of securing fuel and many have applauded the company for introducing it.

The selflessness and commitment of the shareholders have made it possible for the company to empower many Sierra Leoneans and at the same time put it at a vantage position to continue to open more filling stations across the country. That again is another lane that the company is pursuing with fruitful dividends realized.

NP has doggedly maintained a good business relationship with its numerous customers’ right within the sub-region and most have confessed that they are realizing optimum satisfaction in dealing with NP. The company deals with individuals and various sectors of society, always ensuring that its various petroleum products are available and are sold at affordable prices. This keen symbiotic relationship with its customers has been paying dividends, always resulting in a win-win scenario, making NP very endearing to all and sundry.

The regulatory institution of the different petroleum companies in the country, Petroleum Directorate, has lauded NP for its efficient service delivery wherever it is operating.
The company is also known for offering Sierra Leoneans NP Gas cookers of various sizes, which are affordable, safe and very friendly to use. NP Gas could be purchased at all their filling stations across the country.

When we talk of the serious implementation of the Local Content Policy, NP stands out tall, as it is truly an indigenous company having most of its employees as indigenes in the countries it is operating. This is one of the pillars that have made the company to become a success story.

The company’s result-oriented managerial team will definitely and sustainably continue to put NP at the top.

Without any gainsaying, NP-SL Ltd is doing exceptionally well in all the countries it is functioning and indeed there are prospects for further expansion.

16 Remaining Housemates Continues to Battle for Supremacy

By Amin Kef Sesay

Housemates Salone Season 2 continues to give thrilling episodes which many have attested they are truly enjoying and finding very educative. Out of the initial twenty-two (22) Housemates that entered the House Six (6) of them have been evicted so far meaning that there are now sixteen (16) of them remaining.

Those who are currently in the House are competing for the staggering winning prize of Two Hundred and Fifty Million Leones (Le 250M) plus undertaking a round trip to Dubai. Definitely, there is going to be just one winner that will emerge at the end of the competition.

However, one good thing about the on-going Reality TV Show is that for every day that a Housemate spends in the House, he or she is entitled to One Hundred Thousand Leones (Le100, 000). It is in that regard that two former Housemates who were evicted last weekend were given the sum of Two Million Leones each.

What really determines the stay and survival of the Housemates in the House is the number of votes that they bag from members of public. It is these votes that are translated into percentages and falling below the threshold will lead to being asked out of the House.

All the Housemates have unique numbers which members of the public should send  via SMS message or vote the number of any of the Housemates to: 5500 or Dial *5500#. For International voting, call: +23299005500.

If some of the Housemates are appearing sexy by the kind of dresses they wear then that must not come as any big surprise simply because they are expected to display nudity. Again, if sometimes they talk harshly then it is because they are expected to intermittently use strong language and act humorously.

What is really certain is the fact that the Reality TV Show has a Parental Advisory which stipulates that it is meant to be watched by adults, in other words, those who are 18 years old and above.

Organisers of the event, Africa Young Voices (AYV) and Africell are very enthusiast to enhance youth empowerment in the country and the 2020 Housemates Salone is one platform that is providing that for the young competitors.

They are benefitting from motivational lectures and added to that they are given the opportunity to socialize, learn how to play different games, how to speak fluently etc. With all these it will definitely transform the Housemates from what their characters were before they entered the House.

But financially empowering these Housemates is one of the most important channels of making them relevant in society. Each day spent in the House will earn a Housemate Le100, 000. The winner will bag Le100, 000,000 and in the short future champion a key project that is expected will positively impact the lives of young people in the country.

It is an open secret that since its inception the African Young Voices (AYV) has been providing opportunities for young people to have their voices heard, to learn new skills and meaningfully contribute to overall national development.
This youth empowerment drive is one of the cardinal objectives of this renowned media empire and it has been successfully rolling it out.

On the part of Africell, the telecommunications service provider has been supporting various entertainment activities and even young artists in the country with the avowed aim of catching them young and as well contributing to enable young people to realise their potentials and bring them out.

Being an interesting and widely watched Reality TV Show on AYV TV Channel 34, Housemates Salone is also providing a marketing platform for many corporate and business institutions such as Banks, business houses, entertainment entities etc, who are effectively making use of the channel to advertise their products and services.

Continue to have fun by following Housemates Salone, the Quarantine Drama with the Last Standing Couple.

Isatu Conteh Sister of Three Wanted Brothers Found Dead

Bashar Alhaji Conteh, Abdulrahman Conteh, Adisal serry Conteh the Three Brothers of Isatu Conteh

By John Kamara

Civil Right Activist

Our ace reporter, who is based in the Southern Province, to be precise Moyamba District, intimated this medium that the mutilated dead body of one Isatu Conteh was discovered in a secret location, pointing to the fact that she was brutally murdered by some unknown assailants.

He furthered that when he conducted an in-depth investigation into the matter to find out whether her death has anything to do with ritual murder, a lot of bizarre things were unearthed which could make an interesting reading.

Isatu Conteh, according to what his investigation unfolded, was the sister of three brothers all hailing from Yele Village within the Moyamba District. These three brothers were accused of allegedly burning the village and by affecting other neighbouring villages.

They did this by brushing and decided to burn the bush. Unfortunately the bush fire became large and uncontrollable finally resulting into the burning of the village and affecting others close by, to the utmost chagrin of the local authorities and most of the residents.

While Bashar Alhaji Conteh, Abdulrahman Conteh and Adisal serry Conteh were on the run, the youths of Yele village were frantically looking for them dead or alive they continue to hunt for them. They started harassing their sister, Isatu Conteh, forcing her to disclose their location but she always sincerely told them that she does not know where they are living.

Our reporter stated that it is assumed that Isatu Conteh was cold bloodedly murdered by these irate youths who were “hunting” for the three brothers. However, up to the time of going to Press, the Sierra Leone Police have not made a statement on the matter and no arrest has been made.

More on this in Subsequent Editions

Isatu Conteh
Isatu Conteh

VP Juldeh Jalloh Highlights Preparedness to Enhance Cybersecurity

By Foday Moriba Conteh

The Honorable Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh has said that Sierra Leone is prepared to establish a National Computer Security Incidence Response Team.

He made that statement at an official visit made to him by the EXPERTISE FRANCE team led by the Honorable Minister of Information and Communications, Mr. Mohamed Rahman Swaray, at his OAU Drive Office in Freetown on the 5th November 2020.

Sierra Leone has been selected amongst many other member countries to establish a National CSIRT under an EU /ECOWAS funded project, on how to strengthen Cyber security in the ECOWAS sub- region.

This came in as a result of the Minister of Information and Communications’ conference diplomacy to attract support from the ECOWAS Commission in the implementation of a critical pillar of our national digital transformation roadmap. Specifically, the OCWAR-C Project aims to improve the resilience of information infrastructure used within the ECOWAS region, and build the baseline capacities of member States to effectively fight against cybercrime.

The Project is designed by the ECOWAS Commission to enhance cybersecurity and fight against cybercrime in the ECOWAS region.

The Project is supported with funds from the 11th European Development Funds Regional Indicative Programme (EDF RIP) and ECOWAS.

Amongst the project’s general activities member States will benefit from, including Sierra Leone are; Establishing an intermediate level national Computer Security Incident Response Team (nCSIRT); This Support includes the deployment of the infrastructure, development of the processes and procedures of its administration and training of the CSIRT staff, strengthening Sierra Leone’s compliance with human rights and the principle of the rule of law by conducting compliance audit on central databases such as police, immigration, customs, health system, public administration, telecommunications operators, banks and other financial institutions;

Conducting a feasibility study on the establishment of a national Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and strengthening the legal framework for the fight against cybercrime;

Addressing the visiting team the Honorable Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh said the Government has an appropriate infrastructure to house the nCSIRT, adding that he has instructed the national telecommunications operators to provide a floor to house the nCSIRT team.

He assured that Government will ensure nCSIRT fits into the overarching security architecture within the country.

He noted that in the past the security sector only relied on the physical security personnel to provide security services to protect our people, but because digital technology has emerged, the trend has changed to providing security in the cyber space.

He furthered that digitally, Sierra Leone is putting systems in place to ensure they provide security for the cyber space.

He assured the team that as a country we will not only provide digital space for our young population but also ensure they operate in a safe cyber space.

He said Sierra Leone has experts in Central Intelligence Unit – CIU and they will be capacitated and given the opportunity to build on their carrier as cyber experts in their various security entities.

The Sorrowful Plight of 1,000 Limkokwing Students Needs Attention…

By Amin Kef Sesay

In our avowed quest as a nation for equal rights and justice for one and all; regardless of who you are, where you come from, as long as you are a citizen, the nation, especially His Excellency the President, the Minister of Higher and Technical Education, as well as the over 140 MPs cannot afford to turn blind eyes and give deaf ears to the sorrowful plight of 1,000 of our hapless youths that now suffer an indeterminate fate as they wonder, what next for God’s sake with their education.

For more than one academic year now, going into two, 1,000 Limkokwing University students are at home, idle, with little or nothing to do; whilst their age mates and years mates in other institutions of higher learning have already gone one step ahead of them on the academic ladder as the Government of Sierra Leone and the owners of Limkokwing University remain deadlock on what agreeable approach to take that would be mutually acceptable to both sides over the issue of the Government being obligated to pay annually $3,000 (about Le30 million) each for 1,000 students at different levels of learning at Limkokwing University.

The entire episode of the creation of Limkokwing is messy; with honestly, both the Government of Sierra Leone through its late Minister of Education, Dr Minkaliu Bah, woefully failing to get formal Parliamentary approval that would have guaranteed a signed and sealed deal to establish the University, taking critically into consideration, the reasonableness of a fee that is ten times averagely what Government pays for Limkokwing counterparts in other institutions of higher learning.

Secondly…we are treading cautiously on very temperamental ground at this stage…All over the world, people who choose to send their children to private institutions for learning must be of the understanding that Government is not duty bound to pay fees for students who attend such learning institutions. If, for example, in the UK, you choose for your child to attend an expensive private college and university that charge ten times the fees public funded institutions charge, then that is your piece of cake.

However, that said, with His Excellency the President having said that this and the next generation of young Sierra Leoneans being educated the biggest push towards achieving middle level income status in the years to come, something humane must be done by both GoSL and the Limkokwing owners to salvage the hopeless situation of those 1, 000 youths who now daily suffer from stress and headache due to the uncertainty of their future.

Conducting Staff Capacity Building… Judiciary Suspends Court Sittings for Six Days

By Elkas Sannoh

The Judiciary of Sierra Leone will today 9th November, 2020 commence a training programme targeting Court Registrars, Support and Administrative staff in order to enhance their functional effectiveness and efficiency in the discharge of their duties. The training exercise will end on Saturday, 14th November, 2020.

This maiden training is fully funded by the Judiciary with funds from the Government of Sierra Leone under the leadership of the Hon. Chief Justice, His Lordship Justice Desmond Babatunde Edwards as part of his desire to bring sustainable reforms, improving court governance and administration for quality institutional management

“We have a responsibility not only in the administration of justice but to provide a demand-driven training for our staff so as to build capacity for an effectively functioning Judiciary” said Hon. Chief Justice Desmond Babatunde Edwards.

The training will cover roles of the Court Registrars, Bailiffs, Court Secretaries in both Civil and Criminal proceedings; treatment of vulnerable and special witnesses, Bail and Bond Regulations, Bail/Bond requirements, management of records, facilities and assets, ethics with particular reference to the code of conduct for support staff and many more .

Because of the training exercise the Management of the Judiciary has disclosed that there will be no court sittings within this period.

Local Govt. Minister Commissions Ultra-Modern FCC City Hall

By Amin Kef Sesay

On the 6th November the Freetown City Council (FCC) hosted the Opening Ceremony for the New City Hall. Present were the Ambassador of South Korea to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Sierra Leone, Major General Lee In-Tae and his delegation; the Deputy Minister of Finance, Hon Patricia Laverly and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon Solomon Jamiru Esq.

Also in attendance were Dr Kaifala Marah, former Minister of Finance, Mrs Ebun Strasser-King, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bonthe District Chairman Moses Probyn, members of the diplomatic community and development partners, Councillors and staff of Freetown City Council.

Due to the strict observance of COVID-19 restrictions, the number of attendees at the opening ceremony was limited.

The keynote address was delivered by Hon. Tamba Lamina, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development.

The opening ceremony for the New City Hall concluded with a guided tour of the facilities following the cutting of a ribbon and the unveiling of a plaque by Hon. Minister Tamba Lamina, Mayor Aki-Sawyerr and Ambassador Lee In-Tae.

The City Hall, funded by the Government of South Korea through the Korean Exim Bank, is the administrative complex for Freetown City Council. Dominating Freetown’s skyline at 15 stories tall, the City Hall is a modern building in the heart of the City’s Central Business District. It has a roof-garden, sky-lounge restaurant and ten hotel rooms, three floors of modern office space, of approximately 1000 square meters each, a library, computer laboratory and open exhibition area, a multi-storey car park, an auditorium for 460 people with cinema seating, fully-fitted stage, and audio-visual equipment.

Pres. Bio & French Parliamentarian Deepen Bilateral Relationship

By Theresa Kef Sesay

On the 5th November, 2020,  M’jid El Guerrab, a Member of Parliament, who is serving in the National Assembly for French people living in the Maghreb and part of West Africa paid a courtesy call on President Julius Maada Bio at State House.

Introducing the delegation to the President, Speaker of Parliament, Honourable Dr Abass Chernor Bundu, said that the visit by the French Lawmaker was to follow-up on President Bio’s visit to Paris in 2019 and to build on the existing relationship between the two countries.

He added that Mr. Guerrab had already met his counterparts at the Sierra Leone Parliament, laying a solid foundation for the relationship between the two Houses. The Speaker furthered that France had already established what he referred to as a Franco–Sierra Leone friendship.

“We have, this afternoon, agreed to reciprocate by establishing the principle of similar friendship in our Parliament. It is our fervent hope that in the coming weeks we will be able to formulate a MoU, leading to the formation of the Inter-Parliamentary Relationship between the two countries,” he said.

The visiting Parliamentarian, M’jid El Guerrab, thanked President Bio for his audience and for the warm welcome he received in Sierra Leone, adding that his visit was to strengthen the close ties between the two countries and to create a special relationship with the Sierra Leone Parliament.

In his remarks, President Bio thanked the visiting team and welcomed its members to the West African nation, noting that the two countries had come a long way in their friendship, which his Government hope to benefit from.

“We have a long history with France. In the New Direction, we want to maintain this relationship for the mutual benefit of our two countries. We are eager and want to intensify our activities in the various areas of cooperation,” he said, noting that his last visit to France and meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron was to heighten that level of cooperation by establishing a permanent embassy in Paris.

“We want to rekindle this relationship at a very high level. We want to have in Freetown a Resident Ambassador. These are all meant to strengthen our relationships. We hope that you will find Sierra Leone as a tourist destination for those French citizens who used to come and never stopped coming,” he noted.

1...993994995...1,365Page 994 of 1,365