As the Old Bo Boys Association (OBBA) celebrated 2019 turns 90 and the Bo School held their 113th anniversary celebration the Honourable Vice President, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, on Friday 19th April, 2019 was inducted as its newest member. The Vice President was inducted at the usual Speech Day and Prize Giving ceremony on Friday which marks the beginning of the OBBA annual celebrations with admission number 16228.
Vice President Jalloh in his acceptance speech felt very honoured to be adopted as a member of OBBA, describing the event as one of the finest in his lifetime. He maintained that OBBA celebration is always refreshing on Bo School campus, especially in Bo city which is considered as the center of gravity for “PAOPARISM.”
Dr. Jalloh said that the triple celebrations of OBBA, Bo School and the New Direction one year in Governance are relevant to the celebration of scholarship. He defines scholarship as an art of going to school. The Vice President explained that celebrating knowledge is necessary in order for society to function in a modern days. He added that celebrating character that defines leadership is very critical to shape our nation, the country and the future of mankind.
The OBBA at 90 celebrations was taking place at a unique time in the history of Sierra Leone under the New Direction Government which place emphasis on education, and has rolled out the Free Quality Education, the Hon. Vice President highlighted.
He informed the gathering on the payment of school fees for pupils in primary and secondary schools, and the provision of teaching and learning materials to over two million pupils in Sierra Leone. The Free Quality Education by the Government, according to Dr. Jalloh, is because the Government believes in human capital development which is critical to the future of Sierra Leone.
“Bo School like any other school will not be left out of the Free Quality Education Package of the New Direction,” the Vice President assured.
He reminded the pupils of the Bo School of being in a Great School, and expressed his like for the school motto “Manners Maketh Man.” He encouraged the pupils not to be in school only to acquire technical knowledge that will help them function in a modern society, but to acquire character as well. He cautioned the pupils to develop the right mannerism from school days. Dr. Jalloh promised to contribute hugely to the school and OBBA.

On Thursday 18th April, 2019 in Wuzhen, China the Board Chairperson of the National Revenue Authority (NRA) Tuma Adama Jabbi was overwhelmingly voted Vice Chairperson of the highest Council of the Belt and Road Initiative Tax Administration Cooperation Mechanism, RITACOM.
Specializing in tax laws, Tuma Jabbi who happens to represent the NRA at the BRITACOF defeated other competent tax administrations in countries like Afghanistan, Cambodia, United Arab Emirates, Georgia, Senegal and a host of others.
The BRITACOM is the most broadly represented tax cooperation mechanism in the world and exists to facilitate tax administration corporation in tax service, resolve tax disputes, enhance tax capacity building, promote sharing of experiences and best practices in tax administration with the aim of building a growth friendly tax environment among BRITACOM countries to which Sierra Leone is a founding member.
In her new role as Vice Chair, Tuma Adama Jabbi will among other things provide assistance in the day to day running of the BRITACOM Secretariat based in Beijing, China, support policy formulation and supervise the training arm of BRITACOM, which is dedicated to conducting tax related training, research and technical assistance programs to member countries. As a result of this milestone, the NRA stands to benefit from various training of its staff in the organization’s institute in China and other places.
Tuma Adama Jabbi specializes in tax Laws and hold a Masters of Law Degree (LLM) in corporate and business law from the University of Central England in Birmingham and a certificate and diploma in same, a Bachelor of Law Degree from the Montfort University in Leicester, United Kingdom and a host of others.
Upon completion of her Master Degree, Ms. Jabbi worked as an Administrative Officer at the Department of Works and Pension in the United Kingdom before proceeding to Sierra Leone in 2009 to do her Bar. She was called to the Sierra Leone Bar in 2010.
Besides successfully managing the Law Firm, Jabbi Associates, established by her father, Dr. Bu-Buakei Jabbi, Ms. Jabbi has earned a reputation as a strong-willed, tenacious litigator, who does not flinch at the prospect of controversial, convoluted or complex legal battles, especially in a male dominated profession.
Within a very short span of practice, Ms. Jabbi built a robust corporate practice with a wide range of high profile clients that include credible institutions. Her resilience and determination to excel, coupled with her warm disposition and polite candour, has not only gained her the respect of her seniors but has also won her the admiration of her juniors who look up to her as their role model. Ms. Jabbi’s sense of discipline and dedication to her work stems from her genuine love for the legal practice and firm belief in the rule of law and access to justice.
She has actively demonstrated this passion through engaging in varying teaching exercises including conducting and participating in public lectures and seminars at various levels such as the West African Bankers’ Association (WABA) and holding a permanent lecturing position at Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone, where she lectures on Tax and Revenue Law, a subject which she introduced in the Department of Law to broaden the law modules offered by law students.
Ms. Jabbi has served as a Council Member of the Sierra Leone Correctional Services Council. She was also part of the sub-committee of the Council for the drafting of the Correctional Services Rules.
As a human rights activist, Ms. Jabbi has actively advocated for the reformation of the law regarding Bail and Sentencing: engaging in trainings organised by the Judicial and Legal Training Institute. Ms. Jabbi demonstrates high level of qualification and professionalism in every sphere of her life.
With integrity, steadfastness and hard work being her core values, Ms. Jabbi serves as an inspiration to all young, female Sierra Leoneans.

Wars have been fought for various reasons around the world but it has been recorded that some of the internecine, bloody and protected conflicts that have been going on for many years are bordered on both fanatically religious reason and for gaining political hegemony.
Young people have been brainwashed and recruited to tout guns, fire bombs, kill brutally with the feeling and impression that they are indeed really doing the right thing despite the fact that lives are being consumed, properties destroyed and development stalled. It has been established that in most of these cases there are powerful and influential backers who have been pumping huge financial resources to purchase arms and ammunition as well as gingering up the morale of the combatants. The Hezbollah party in Southern Beirut, Lebanon is no exception. This armed group is been financed by powerful financiers not only from Lebanon but from other parts of the world including Africa, Sierra Leone not excluded.
In an effort to exert financial pressure on Hezbollah’s global network, the US Government is offering $10 million for information on three of its financiers: Mohammed Bazzy, Adham Tabaja and Ali Charara.
This announcement was made from Washington recently as three senior officials, Assistant Secretary for State for Diplomatic Security Michael Evanoff, Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorist Financing Marshall Billingslea, and Ambassador-at-Large and Coordinator for Counterterrorism Nathan Sales briefed journalists.
The officials said that the three men are part of Hezbollah’s financial “modus operandi”, and operate on four continents running construction and infrastructure companies that help finance the Lebanese armed party and offer “a diverse stream of funding.” The intention of the reward is to obtain information that leads to these three men, and a “transnational paper trail that implicates companies” funding Hezbollah.
“These are not the only financiers that we know,” Mr Billingslea said. Asked if the US is planning to go after the three men’s companies that fund the Shia political party, he said that currently the country is seeking “information on documents that take to Hezbollah.”
Mr Billingslea added that the US is not intending to go after the Shia community in Lebanon. “We are focused on Hezbollah, not on Shia community,” he said.
Mr. Sales said it was vital to protect Lebanese financial and banking sector, but noted that “any conversation about Hezbollah must begin in Tehran.” He warned that Hezbollah is applying lessons it learned in Syria in sponsoring and training militants elsewhere in the region “such as Bahrain.” The US official said that the party’s reach is wider than previously reported, saying it spans as far as places like Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Peru. “There is no such thing as a political wing of Hezbollah,” he said, adding that US sanctions were hurting the group.
The US “rewards for justice” statement estimated that Hezbollah “earns almost one billion dollars annually through direct financial support from Iran, international businesses and investments, donor networks, corruption, and money laundering activities.”
The statement identified Adham Husayn Tabaja as a Lebanese citizen born in 1967 in Kfartebnit. His passport number is RL1294089 (Lebanon) and the US called him “a Hezbollah member who maintains direct ties to senior Hezbollah organisational elements, including the terrorist group’s operational component, Islamic Jihad. Tabaja also holds properties in Lebanon on behalf of the group.”
As far as Mr. Tabaja’s businesses are concerned. “He is majority owner of the Lebanon-based real estate development and construction firm Al-Inmaa Group for Tourism Works”, the US Government said. He also owns Tabaja, Al-Inmaa Group for Tourism Works, and its subsidiaries were designated by Washington in 2015. Saudi Arabia has also designated Mr. Tabaja and his companies.
The second subject, Mohammad Ibrahim Bazzy, is identified as “a key Hezbollah financier, who has provided millions of dollars” to the group. The statement said that Mr Bazzi owns or controls Global Trading Group NV, Euro African Group LTD, Africa Middle East Investment Holding SAL, Premier Investment Group SAL Offshore, and Car Escort Services S.A.L. Off Shore. The US designated Mr Bazzy and his affiliated companies in May 2018.
Mr. Bazzy officially holds the Lebanese and Belgian passport, but he also has at least five other passports for countries including the UK, Sierra Leone and Gambia, according to the documents.
The last member targeted is Ali Youssef Charara, identified as “a key financier for Hezbollah as well as Chairman and General Manager of Lebanon-based telecommunications company Spectrum Investment Group Holding SAL.”
The officials singled out Iraq as one area where Hezbollah financial activities have sprouted and where Mr. Tabaja operates.
According to investigation Ibrahim Bazzy is a very sly and shrewd business man who operates clandestinely though he has businesses he runs as legitimate entities. He is so influential to such an extent that he has bulldozed his way in various political administrations that have took over the rein of governance in Sierra Leone allegedly dishing out mouth-watering bribe to public officials who most time leave him off the hook and give him the leeway to always get what he wants. Said to be very slippery as a fish, he has a network of other Lebanese nationals who share his ideology and are very loyal to him ready at any time to execute his commands and wishes.
While innocent children, mothers are dying as a result of the Hezbollah activities individuals like Ibrahim Bazzy, Adham Tabaja and Ali Charara are sponsoring terrorism with impunity.

During a meeting held on Tuesday 16 April at the MoHS Conference Hall, Youyi Building the Director at the Directorate of Non communicable Diseases and Mental Health in the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Dr. Santigie Sesay stated that the proportion of Mortality and disability due to Non Communicable Diseases in Sierra Leone are on the increase.
Dr. Sesay reiterated that a number of top 10 causes of deaths in the country in 2017 were recorded for Non Communicable Diseases and he continued that the burden of NCDs in the country is diverse in which he catalogued 4.8% for Chronic Respiratory Diseases, 3.2% for Diabetes, 18.4% for Cardiovascular Diseases, 7 % for Mental Diseases, 7.1 % for Digestive Diseases, 7.3% for Neurological Disorders.
Dr. Sesay in his presentation highlighted Physical Inability, Tobacco Use, Harmful Use of Alcohol, High Salt Intake, Raised Blood Pressure, Diabetes (type 2), Obesity, Ambient Air Pollution, and Household Air Pollution as the risk factors of Non Communicable Diseases in Sierra Leone.
He further referenced the 2009 SREPS Survey which highlights tobacco use, inadequate consumption (less than 5 servings) of fruits and vegetables per day, Low level of Physical Activity as combined risk factors of Non Communicable Diseases in Sierra Leone among people. Director Sesay also stated that the survey further captures ages 25-44 Years of people with 3 or more combined risk factors in which males account for 27.2% and females 18.6%. The same survey captures ages 25-64 years of people for the same risk factors puts Males at 39.9% and Females 33.6%.
In a related development, Partners In Health’s (PIH) Medical Coordinator, Dr. Marta Lado did a presentation on the progress made so far in the Non Communicable Diseases Clinic at the Koidu Government Hospital in which she noted that the most prevalent common cases admitted at the clinic are NCDs related which account for (19%).
She recalled that since the inception of the Non Communicable Diseases Clinic in February 2018, they had so far seen/managed cases on hypertension, diabetes, chronic heart diseases, chronic kidney diseases, chronic liver disease among others.
She continued that the proportion of NCDs diagnoses has also increased in the second half of the year, adding that they recorded 1,604 NCDs cases in 2016, 2,344 in 2017, 2,904 in 2018 and a mortality rate of 115 (7.1%) in 2016 and 184 (7.8%) in 2017 in Kono District.

Martin Rapaport, Chairman of the Rapaport Group, has presented a proposal to the Government of Sierra Leone that he believes would optimize the country’s diamond industry during a trade mission to Sierra Leone that involved a group of 29 international diamantaires and jewellers. Rapaport said the proposal includes a systematic and sustainable business model that “will optimize the benefit of Sierra Leone’s alluvial diamonds for the diggers, their communities, and the government.”
The plan involves giving artisanal diggers the opportunity to sell the diamonds they find through a legitimate Government channel.
“The weekly auctions will provide consistent cash flow to the artisanal sector every Thursday. This cash flow will support a strong microeconomic grassroots multiplier effect”
The channel would be a diamond auction center in Koidu, Kono district, where the famous 709-carat rough “Peace Diamond” was found in 2017.
The center would act as a hub where artisanal diamond diggers or finders will deliver the diamonds they find to a “Government receiver,” as it is contemplated in Section 167, Sub-Section 5 of the Sierra Leone Mines and Minerals Act of 2009.
The receivers would then have to supervise a weekly transparent and competitive public auction where the diamonds may be sold to the highest bidder.
“This will ensure that the diggers and the Government get fair market value for their diamonds. The auctions will be open to all sellers, including licensed and unlicensed diggers. Bidding will be restricted to licensed dealers and exporters,” Rapaport’s proposal reads.
Based on the model used for the sale of the Peace Diamond, the international trading organization says the strategy requires some legal changes to be implemented.
“The law requires that 60% of the value of the diamonds be given to the Government. There should be a provision ensuring that 25% of the 60% (i.e., 15% of the value of the diamonds) goes to the communities where the diamonds were found. Furthermore, the 40% given to the diggers should be tax-free. Such benefits to the community will ensure there is incentive for the diggers to bring their diamonds to the Government,” the document reads.
According to Rapaport, the proposed model should guarantee that Government diamond revenue provides vital infrastructure to the communities where the diamonds are found.