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EU Ambassador Hails Government/CSOs Dialogue

Tom Vens, Ambassador of the European Union to Sierra Leone

By Amin Kef Sesay

Tom Vens, Ambassador of the European Union to Sierra Leone, on the occasion of the inaugural government and civil society dialogue, stated that he welcomes the arrangement and that the EU supports it.

Speaking on the theme: “Government Interventions to address the COVID-19 Pandemic in Sierra Leone” at the Freetown International Conference Center, Aberdeen on Friday 30th October 2020, he stated among other things that he is delighted for the inaugural high-level dialogue between Government and Civil Society.

He went on to say that it enhances consultation of and collaboration with Civil Society Organisations in addressing the crisis engendered by the COVID-19 and on broader governance and developmental issues.

He said it takes leadership to rethink and take affirmative action to reinvigorate the state-society social contract; and even more so during difficult times.

He maintained that fostering economic development and strengthening peace and democratic rule is not only the priority but has been the principal aim of the European Union from its very outset 70 years ago. He added that as a community of like-minded States, the EU promotes the pursuit of peace and democracy both internally and in all its external actions, political and diplomatic relations with the rest of the world.

There is no one democratic model that fits all. The model as such is not the point – the participation in decision-making is; the opportunity for the citizens to take and be part in the governing of society; the opportunity to voice opinions through channels that do not undermine stability and the very foundation and principles of the state; that is what matters. And this is where civil society can play an often underestimated role.

He added that he has no hesitation to state that strengthening the role of national civil society organisations in democratic processes, and promoting social accountability models based on transparency and sustained trust-building dialogue between State and non-State Institutions have always been at the core of the EU engagement with its partner countries.

“The prospect of a global economic recession and social instability has driven the EU to widen and intensify its efforts. In Sierra Leone, as elsewhere in the world, we have front-loaded our budget support, repurposed our cooperation programmes, committed all available funds to support Government’s efforts to contain the pandemic and ensure prompt economic recovery. And along with that, we have reinforced, widened and deepened our partnership with civil society organisations to become an effective force not just in the fight against COVID19 but for deepening democracy, social cohesion and public accountability,” he maintained.

He stated that “We all agree – enhanced public participation, through active involvement of civil society organizations in public policy planning, implementation and oversight can significantly accrue the benefits and potential for development as well as peace and social cohesion.”

He further spoke on the speed and magnitude of the global crisis, with one-third of the global population under lockdown mean that we are entering unchartered territory. These, he added, have led to a new vision for action revolving around the concept of ‘resilient societies’ based on the mutually reinforcing pillars of peace and democracy and enhanced social accountability through the active engagement of civil society.

He spoke of several examples that attest to the positive role of CSOs in helping shape and implement Government response to the pandemic, ensure that this addresses the needs of the most vulnerable segments of society.

He maintained that citizens’ quest and expectations for effective and efficient implementation and tangible outcomes are high, with no space for politically motivated distortions or the pursuit of narrow personal interests by those with a say in the allocation of resources. The call for sound financial management, fiscal transparency and public accountability by development partners is also strong. This is notably the case for those – like the European Union – providing direct budgetary aid to partner countries.

“It is our expectation that the Civil Society Organizations will continue to help tracking and monitoring the implementation of measures, ensuring they target and reach the most vulnerable segment of society, providing Government and Development Partners the much-needed input on possible corrective actions” he furthered.

Sierra Leone, like many countries in the world, has adopted extraordinary measures to respond to the crisis. Of all interventions two mechanisms call for particular attention: the national flagship cash-transfer programme and the Covid-19 extra-budgetary fund.

 

First Lady Launches Youth Champions for Hands off Our Girls

By Mary Kabay

The Ministry of Youth Affairs in collaboration with youth sector appreciated Her Excellency the First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Madam Fatima Maada Bio for gracing their Award ceremony and official Launch of the partnership with Youth Champions for Hands off Our Girls campaign.

Her Excellency the First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone Madam Fatima Maada Bio thanked the President for providing her with the space to champion a national campaign of that nature, saying that that was indicative of his commitment to protecting the wellbeing of women and girls in the country.

She commended the Government of her Husband for the motivation to embark on such a laudable campaign. Her Excellency First Lady Fatima Bio narrated an emotional personal story, recalling that, because of their culture, at age 12 a suitor had already been identified for her. She spoke of the ordeal that she went through in trying to challenge that culture, especially with her father.

She also told the audience how she escaped the early marriage by traveling to London. Fatima Bio also said that she was inspired to embark on the advocacy campaign because of the passion of her husband to protect women and girls in Sierra Leone. She narrated that before her husband became President, he would complain to her about many incidents of rape and other forms of violence against girls and women in Sierra Leone.

“I have advocated for women and children since my teenage years. When I met my husband, I fell in love with him and his amazing vision for Sierra Leone. My work revolves around his vision, and I get 100% support from him. For sustainable development, everyone must be empowered, especially our women and children,” She mentioned.

She also called on parents and guardians to provide the required leadership that would enable children to become productive citizens in society. She said early marriage and teenage pregnancy were detrimental to the growth of girls for which she frowned at parents and guardians who had encouraged such practices.

UN Women Country Representative to Sierra Leone, Dr Mary Okumu, congratulated the First Lady on the successful launch of the “Hands off our Girls’’ across the country, as the name Hands off our girls says it all, “don’t touch” she says adding that that was a sign of her determination to empower women and girls. She said the UN is fully in support of the initiative and assured of their continued support to its implementation.

The Minister of Social Welfare Baindu Dassama Kamara said their work is to help people manage their daily life and understand their problems, and cope with the challenges they face in life, she said they are also working tirelessly with the first lady as she is presently championing their mandate with a bigger platform, adding that they have also attached social workers to the FSU to jointly investigate SGBV as a way of helping in the fight against sexual gender-based violence.

The Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs Manty Tarawalli said in response to the rise in cases of SGBV against women, HE the President made two significant interventions to control the situation, one by amending the sexual offenses act of 2012 and two by creating the gender ministry and giving them the mandate to address the issues on violence against women and children as a way to create sustainable change, so that there will be an effective functional system even after their term of office.

The Minister of Youth, Mohamed Bangura said they are working closely with communities to ensure work at that level is very easy. He said they have a very formidable and productive dealing with youth issues and have all that it takes to change the narrative of youths in the country, and they are working closely with the hands of our girl’s campaign, because most of the victims fall within their ministry.

First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Madam Fatima Maada Bio

 

SLAJ Calls On Govt. to drop Current Criminal and Seditious Libel Cases

SLAJ President, Ahmed Sahid Nasralla

By Amin Kef Sesay

The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) on Monday 2nd November 2020 joined other organisations around the world to observe the ‘International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists’, by calling on the Government of Sierra Leone and its agencies to not only protect and promote freedom of speech, but to also help to ensure the safety and security of all journalists working in the country at all times.

“In line with the United Nations Resolution urging Member States to implement definite measures countering the present culture of impunity against journalists, we urge Government and its agencies, especially the national security forces, to do their utmost to prevent violence against journalists and media workers, and to take appropriate action against perpetrators of crimes against media workers,” said SLAJ President, Ahmed Sahid Nasralla.

He added: “Since this year’s End Impunity day comes shortly after the symbolic signing of the repeal of the obnoxious Criminal and Seditious libel law, we call on the Government of Sierra Leone to immediately drop all ongoing cases of Criminal and Seditious Libel in our courts.”

Apart from violence, SLAJ also notes with serious concern other forms of attack such as discrimination, intimidation and harassment against journalists and media workers, especially our female colleagues.

We therefore call on specifically local authorities, Judiciary and the Parliament of Sierra Leone to exercise their supreme powers with caution and due consideration of the crucial work of journalists to hold public institutions to account and to bring the news to the people on daily basis.

Over the years, SLAJ, through the Media Reform Coordinating Group (MRCG), has been monitoring and publishing reports on press freedom and freedom of expression situation in Sierra Leone. The last report on ‘Press Freedom in Sierra Leone’ released in May 2020, highlighted the status of 26 cases of various attacks on journalists in Sierra Leone over a two-year period (most of which were based on alleged breaches of Part 5 of the Public Order Act of 1965), indicating a gradual decline in the number of crimes against journalists and media workers.

With the repeal of this anti-free speech law, SLAJ hopes the situation with the safety and security of journalists and media workers will continue to improve.

Meanwhile, SLAJ calls on media houses to also put in-house policies in place to ensure the safety and security of their workers, as that will enhance their professionalism.

 

Samura Kamara Doles COVID-19 Grants to Tonkolili

By Samuel Serry

When he ran for President in 2018, social protection especially for the vulnerable grassroots was an integral component in Dr. Samura Kamara’s campaign manifesto.

Today, that campaign promise is being fulfilled even as he continues to remain the frontrunner for the APC party ticket for the 2023 elections.

Sunday 1st November, 2020, in the Tonkolili district headquarter town of Magburaka, the campaign team of Dr. Samura Kamara dished out Millions of Leones as grants to support individuals and groups.

This was part of a nationwide project to cushion the economic burden occasioned by the COVID19 pandemic on ordinary Sierra Leoneans.  The grant presentation was preceded by a COVID19 sensitization session done by the campaign team. Part of the funds had come from a foundation established by Mrs Betty Kamara, a medical professional and wife of Dr Samura Kamara.

Addressing beneficiaries, regional, district and constituency representatives of the APC party via electronic means; Dr. Samura said Sierra Leone and the APC party are on a “knife’s edge” and that only unity, cohesiveness and an intrepid sense of purpose could bring about meaningful change in the lives of people. He specifically called on the APC family in Tonkolili District to choose the path of reconciliation by working hard to bring back those members who felt marginalized from the party.

Beneficiaries, Members of Parliament, District and Constituency Executives pledged their support for the candidacy of Dr.  Kamara and accentuated their desire for peace and reconciliation in the district.

The COVID19 relief project was launched in Kenema and Kailaihun and is being rolled out to other districts in Sierra Leone.

 

 

 

Fighting Impunity against Journalists… British High Commissioner Promises Support to Media

By Amin Kef Sesay

To mark the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, the British High Commissioner Simon Mustard, held a small, socially distanced breakfast to showcase their programmes of support for media freedom in Sierra Leone.

The event launched the implementation phase of the PRIMED (Protecting Independent Media for Effective Development) programme and marked the continuation of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s support to the development of trusted, inclusive and independent media in Sierra Leone. The Minister of Information and Communication of the Government of Sierra Leone and representatives from across the Sierra Leone media landscape were in attendance.

The breakfast follows Sierra Leone’s significant step to enhance human rights, when on 28th October 2020, the Government repealed Part V of the Public Order Act of 1965 and enacted the Independent Media Commission Act 2020. It is a day that should be celebrated for media freedom and by all Sierra Leoneans.

The repeal of this criminal libel law is an important step forward for Sierra Leone to protect and support journalists.

The International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists is a UN-recognised international day observed annually on 2 November to recognise and defend media freedom. An estimated 495 journalists were killed between 2014 and 2018, an 18% increase over the previous five years. Only 131 cases of journalists’ killings are reported as being resolved since 2006, representing an overall impunity rate of 88%.

The UK has continued to support media freedom around the world, including here in Sierra Leone, working closely in partnership with Government, Parliament and the media in recent years. We have helped train journalists, including more female journalists. We have provided technical assistance to the Ministry of Information and Communications, the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) and the Independent Media Commission (IMC). We will continue our partnership with all these organisations to help promote a liberal, forward-looking media system, underpinned and safeguarded by effective regulation. This important legal milestone is one more step in that collective journey.

As part of the UK’s support to media freedom around the world, we are also proud to celebrate the start of the PRIMED programme. This three-year programme supports the provision of public interest media in Bangladesh, Ethiopia and Sierra Leone. It is implemented by a consortium of media support organisations with expertise in different aspects of media and development. Led by BBC Media Action, other core consortium members are Article 19, Free Press Unlimited, International Media Support and Media Development Investment Fund.

PRIMED will address challenges to public interest media at both the outlet and environmental level. It seeks to build the resilience of media to political and economic pressures that undermine their viability. It supports the development of information ecosystems that enable a better flow of trusted public interest media content in three countries with different media environments: Bangladesh, Ethiopia and Sierra Leone. Gender equality and inclusion will be integrated across the programme.

 

Conjoined Twins Need Urgent Help!

By Amin Kef Sesay

The challenging realities that confront situations like these are depressive as the conjoined twins born in Sierra Leone are by poor parents, who are barely able to afford daily meals, not to talk of footing the bill to separate their conjoined children.

The set of conjoined twins were born as triplets on the 24th October, 2020 to Jabbeh Rogers 22 years old and Sheku Konneh. They both reside in Bo.

After these conjoined twins were born in Bo at the Government Hospital, they were later referred to the Ola During Children’s Hospital in Freetown for proper care and management, while they look for support to help separate them.

This press is therefore reaching out to everyone in and outside of Sierra Leone to help us connect with organisations, hospitals and individuals so that these conjoined twins will be separated.

Any help will change their story and help these little angels.
Kindly call or message +23288230000 or +23276793010.
www.sickpikin.org
Facebook: The Sick Pikin

 

Sierra Leone Organization of Greater Manchester Donates to Vulnerable Groups

By Mary Kabay

On Sunday 1st November, 2020 the Sierra Leone Organization of Greater Manchester (SLOGM) reached out to the most vulnerable residents at Calaba Town.

Mrs. Khadijatu Tejan Kadri, a representative from the people in Manchester, spoke on the purpose of the organization and why it was formed. She said the organization is formed by Sierra Leoneans living in Manchester who want to show patriotism to their country.

It has always been a myth when Sierra Leoneans ask what the country has done for them, but she added that they are here to change that narrative, which they are now implementing and that they want to do much more for the country.

She added that the organization is self-sponsored by Sierra Leoneans living in the Diaspora, Manchester to be specific.

She said this donation is not their first, but has been replicated in other locations and was done to the mud slide victims.

SLOGM is a broad based independent and democratic umbrella group which aims to support and advocate for the vulnerable people in their respective communities and to foster the integration of African and African organizations to play fully their participatory roles in public life.

The objectives of this organization are also to promote and support Sierra Leoneans locally and internationally and to advocate for the positive conditions of Sierra Leoneans, while in Greater Manchester.

They also engage and educate non- Africans about the continent through partnerships and awareness raising events, in order to develop a better understanding of African culture, diversity, histories, economies and to urge repartition for Sierra Leone by the British society that is fair and based on due rights, lacking disadvantage and discrimination.

Beneficiaries of this year’s donation were: the Mudslide Victims Foundation represented by their Youth Chairlady, the Sierra Leone Diamond Kids Foundation represented by Director Philip Koroma, Muraldo Men and Boys represented by Mr. Janneh and St. Mary’s Fatima Interim Care Center represented by Mr. Massaquoi.

SLOGM presented clothes, shoes and books to these organizations and they were in turn grateful because it was timely.

As COVID-19 Shrinks The Economy… Debt to GDP Ratio Becomes Worrisome

President of Sierra Leone — Julius Maada Bio

By Amin Kef Sesay

Sierra Leone’s economic recovery from the Ebola epidemic, with a revenue loss equivalent to 29% of the country’s GDP, according to the (WHO), and the drop in the prices of iron ore and eventual closure of the mines meant that government had to rely heavily on internal and external debt to pay salaries and to meet other recurrent and capital expenditures that the budget could not cover.

A similar scenario has repeated itself this year since the COVID 19 outbreak, with economic performance far lower than what was predicted by the finance minister in January 2020.

Whilst the New Direction’s medium-term objective is to bring inflation down to single digits through continuing to implement the National Development Plan (NDP), which gives priority to macroeconomic stability, infrastructural development and the maintenance of key social programmes (free education, health, social protection). The National Agricultural Transformation Programme 2019/2023 aims to double agricultural production. According to the IMF, GDP growth has accelerated to 5.1% GDP in 2019, driven by agricultural, mining and construction activities.

IMF’s updated forecasts from 14th April 2020 states that due to the outbreak of the COVID-19, GDP growth is expected to fall to -2.3% in 2020 and pick up to 4% in 2021, subject to the post-pandemic global economic recovery.

In 2019, the progress made under the IMF-supported program within the Extended Fund Facility has contributed to stabilizing the economy, but the situation remains difficult.

Despite efforts to mitigate the rise in debt, it remains substantial, and Sierra Leone is classified as being at high risk of debt distress.

In 2019, public debt stood at 64.5% of GDP and is expected to remain high in 2020 (65.4%) and 2021 (65.9%) (IMF).

The overall fiscal deficit improved from 5.8% GDP in 2018 to 3.5% GDP in 2019, but is financed in part by the accumulation of arrears, which currently stand at 10% GDP (AfDB).

Although declining, inflation remains high (it was 14.8% in 2019) and is expected to remain above the ECOWAS convergence criterion (10%) in 2020 (15.4%) and 2021 (15.3%), according to the latest World Economic Outlook of the IMF (14 April 2020).

The current account deficit, -18.7% of GDP in 2018, improved to an estimated -13.9% in 2019, but is projected to increase to -14.3% in 2021, according to the latest IMF forecasts.

The exchange rate depreciated by 47% between 2016 and 2019, reflecting increased uncertainty, following the suspension of the licences of the two main mining companies in mid-2019 (AfDB).

In line with the agreement reached with the IMF, the government is committed to deficit reduction and debt relief through expenditure reduction and revenue maximization.

As such, the 2020 budget tried to strike a balance between meeting development needs and managing a tight fiscal situation. It could not and had to come up with a supplementary budget in July.

Unemployment (4.4% of the workforce in 2019 according to the World Bank, modelled ILO estimate), high poverty levels (especially in rural areas) and lack of infrastructure, corruption as well as social unrest continue to hamper the country’s economic development.

Unemployment among young people reached 50% and more than 90% of the population have vulnerable jobs. The Human Development Index ranks Sierra Leone 181th out of 189 countries.

Financially and economically, in order not to sink deeper into the pit of debt, the government and its financial development partners have to pave the way forward in the post-COVID-19 period, which is marked by an increase in poverty and social tensions, exacerbated by inflation and a sharply deteriorated Leone.

 

NP-SL: Replete with Skilled Managerial, Administrative and Technical Staff

By Amin Kef Sesay

The National Petroleum Sierra Leone (NP-SL) is replete with managerial, administrative and technical skills and as a matter of fact, NP-SL is providing specialist training for its local staff to benefit from various trainings to make them into competent administrators, managers and technicians so that the company does not rely on foreign expatriates. In other words, such a nationalistic decision by the company is actually paying great dividend to promoting the Local Content policy.

NP-SL has for several years now been concentrating on serving as a conduit to imbibe useful skills to its staff to enable them to efficiently carry out certain assigned tasks. If we are counting the number of companies that have upheld the Local Content Policy, without any iota of doubt, NP-SL is at the top.

As all of this is going on, the well-established oil marketing company in the country, the National Petroleum Sierra Leone Limited, NP (SL-Ltd) is relentlessly enhancing its strides to always ensure that its imported petroleum products are available on the market and easily accessible. Management of the company has made it a matter of must for these products to be present in all the nook and cranny of the country.

NP-SL Limited, as a private entity, is purely an indigenous company that has mastered the art of importing and marketing petroleum products which include petrol, diesel, and gas as well as certified lubricants, one of which is the widely used Castrol oil.

Amidst various challenges that have been encountered since the company was established, it has, however,  successfully weathered those storms that could have dwarfed it or left it to extinct save therapeutic intermittent Managerial injections that keep it upright and on the right course.

Demonstrating its true Sierra Leonean identity the company has maintained a policy of strictly adhering to the Local Content Policy ensuring that it has a maximum indigenous staff in its employ. What this actually means is empowering our brothers and sisters to access employment opportunities and reduce poverty.

This intrinsic nationalistic posture of the company runs through, and it is a sine qua non to overall national development. If such a compliance rate should have been followed by other local companies, willingly, without any pressure from the relevant authorities, then, indisputably, this country should have been miles away in its development trajectory.

Business Management experts have made it abundantly clear that the way and manner, in which customers are cared for in terms of talking to them, making them feel at ease, go a long way in attracting them. Such should be done sincerely in order to make them more important. NP-SL for a very long period now has executed it so well, which definitely is paying dividends.

The First for Customer Care Award was earned by the company because it has been widely acclaimed by many for solidly executing such.

In its drive to optimize customer satisfaction the company went the extra mile to install calibrated pumping machines, which are not only modern, but trustworthy, as opposed to old pumping machines which certain unscrupulous individuals used to cheat unassuming customers.

This is helping to repose confidence in customers that they are dealing with a very transparent entity. The friendliness of their pump attendants is very impressive and they are always there to timely respond to various concerns.

Still within the purview of 1st for Customer Care, the company is always in a position to enter into payment plans with its reliable and dependable customers including Ministries, Departments and Agencies for supplied fuel and lubricants, as long as all the necessary modalities have been put in place.

When cognizance is taken of the fact that some of these institutions receive intermittent budgetary allocations, then such an arrangement is very significant. Its significance in real terms borders on functional continuity of those institutions, as they will be assured of supplies of petroleum products in as much as they keep honouring their obligations.

For those who have not tried NP Gas for the first time, it is now time to give it a try. Designed in sizable varying cylinders and sold at various NP Filling Stations, this cooking device has been rated as one of the best that is on offer for sale. NP Gas is safe, user friendly and portable. Trying it will spur you to recommend it to others.

NP Smart Card is now in vogue and is one of the latest technological devices used to purchase petroleum products. Using it has attendant advantages, as evident in procuring fuel at any time of the day, even during times when monies could not be accessed from banks. It is secured, easy to use and very quick. It is now trending.

To crystallize proposed projects into tangible realities on the ground, Government needs the required financial resources to effectively do so, and one sure way is from collection of taxes which is the mandate of the National Revenue Authority (NRA).  NP is one big tax payer to Government and it has been doing so timely.

NP-SL remains undaunted, unperturbed amidst all the challenges it is going through and conscientiously it is steadily contributing to the socio-economic development of the country as well as  positively changing communities and lives.

 

First Lady Breaks Barriers & Bridges Gaps

First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Her Excellency Fatima Maada Bio

By Amin Kef Sesay

The First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Her Excellency Fatima Maada Bio, has continued to break barriers of social and economic class, when it comes to touching and changing lives of citizens, irrespective of their political affiliations, religious beliefs, tribes/ethnicities, regions, or economic status.

However, her move on Saturday, 31st October, 2020, to visit the participants of the ongoing African Young Voices’ (AYV) and Africell Housemates Salone Season 2 program was definitely a game changer and one which broke barriers and bridged gaps.

It could be recalled that before First Lady Fatima Maada Bio came to office in 2018, there were huge gaps between the Office of the First Lady and the lower class of Sierra Leoneans.

People, who were less privileged and considered poor, never had the opportunity to access, mingle, and talk to First Ladies who had come before First Fatima Maada Bio.

Contrarily, things changed dramatically after the 2018 general elections. The ‘Hands off our Girls’ campaign, which has received massive commendations from people within and outside Sierra Leone, has made the First Lady to meet, mingle and discuss with many people irrespective of their social class, political beliefs, regions, origin or religions.

Previously in Sierra Leone, ill-motivated people used to rape and commit sexual and domestic violence offences against women unabated and without remorse.

But today, many young men in Sierra Leone are afraid to even call and converse with underage girls in their various communities. This is due to the First Lady’s robust approach in ensuring that the society is safe for girls to live and achieve their dreams.

The First Lady’s ‘Food Basket’ program was another initiative that was acclaimed by many Sierra Leoneans.

During this program, many tons of rice and other assorted food items were distributed to people in all the regions of Sierra Leone without taking into consideration political or ethnic divides. People living in poverty-stricken conditions were prioritized during the implementation of the ‘Food Basket’ program.

Another important initiative of Her Excellency Fatima Maada Bio, which has gained the admiration of many Sierra Leoneans, is the introduction and implementation of the ‘Free Sanitary Pads for Girls’.

In the First Lady’s bid to boost hygiene of girls in schools, many schoolgirls in the country are now being given free sanitary pads.

The First Lady’s initiated programs – the ‘Hands off our Girls’ campaign, ‘Food basket’, ‘Free Sanitary Pads’, including the call on parents to send their girls to school have all been highly acclaimed by Sierra Leoneans at home and abroad.

During the visit of the First Lady to the Housemates on AYV/Africell’s Housemates Salone 2 Reality TV show on Saturday night, viewers have openly confessed that they were mesmerized by the First Lady’s move to meet with the contestants. How awesome it was to watch!

She candidly spoke with the contestants, shook hands, hugged them and even went the extra mile to dance with them after having dinner with them.

If H.E Fatima Maada Bio could shake hands, speak, eat and dance with the contestants, it goes to show how down-to-earth our First Lady Fatima Bio is.

Kudos to you H.E Fatima Maada Bio for touching the lives of all Sierra Leoneans, irrespective of their political and religious beliefs, tribes/ethnicities, regions of origin and economic status.

 

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