My President, Please Protect Children’s Right to Safe and Meaningful Participation in Sierra Leone

January 26, 2017 By Chernor Bah

Over 16 years ago, I led a group of children to the Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs to ask for their support in setting up what we called then our own “children’s parliament”. We wanted a national children’s organisation to give a strong and bold voice to children across the country. Besides, we reasoned that if children could be used as destructive agents of war, we could also be constructive agents for our country’s peace and prosperity and exercising our rights was the surest way to build for the future. Luckily, the leadership of the Ministry at the time listened and organised the first workshop with the support of UNICEF and Plan Sierra Leone to begin the process of setting up what became known as the Children’s Forum Network. My peers- over fifty children from all over the country and representing every possible category- overwhelmingly voted for me as the Founding President.

Our group set out to “lay a solid foundation” (that’s the organisation’s motto that we agreed on) for children’s rights and started creating a culture of meaningful and safe children’s participation on pretty much every critical issue affecting them at all levels of our society. We set up branches in schools, zones and communities, organised ourselves into regions and decentralised our structures. We led or inspired the creation of new structures like the National Commission for War Affected Children and the United Nations gave us the first of its kind national mouthpiece to elevate our voices in the peace building process -the Voice of Children Radio – which I was honored to be the leader of (as the Junior Executive Producer). We went around the country advocating for children’s rights and sensitising other children and adults alike about the importance of putting children’s rights at the heart of the post war country that we were reconstructing. We became the first group of children anywhere to be invited to not only set the parameters for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, but to submit an official thematic testimony and eventually prepare a groundbreaking child-friendly version of the commission’s final report. We counselled and welcomed children who were former combatants and helped them to reintegrate into communities and we encouraged lawmakers and political parties to sign on to children’s manifestoes committing to promote children’s rights and welfare once in office. Those efforts, among others led to the passage of the National Child Rights Act.

 I could go on, but you get the point-Sierra Leone, through the Children’s Forum Network has been building an enviable culture of children’s participation and the ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs has been supportive in institutionalizing and respecting the voices and rights of children expressed through this institution. In fact, academics, practitioners and news houses have been studying this remarkable feat and continue to write about the strides we continue to make in this respect. Many countries and institutions, including the United Kingdom, Ireland, Liberia the United Nations and others have either invited folks like me to go share our experience or in some cases help them build comparable surviving structures for children’s participation.

Events in the past weeks however threaten to reverse the survival of this fine structure and alongside it, the progressive culture of children’s participation that we have built over the years and that I know you, Mr. President, certainly wish to uphold. The leadership of the Children’s Forum Network, led proudly for the first time by an articulate and passionate young lady, Paulina Bangura are mired in what seems like an unending kerfuffle with some officials of the Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs, including the Honorable Minister, Dr. Sylvia Blyden. The children claim that their Annual General Meeting was unceremoniously cancelled, leaving their colleagues from across the country badly stranded and in danger of abuse or other unfortunate outcomes. To air their frustration, they apparently attempted to use the conference room of the Ministry (as has always been the custom) for a briefing but were allegedly violently rebuffed by strong men or “thugs” who the minister later claimed were her “friends” on social media. Civil society groups including the Child Protection Committee have issued statements calling for an investigation into the alleged beating of children at the ministry while the police is said to be investigating the issue.

There seems to be an unending social media barrage of allegations and counter allegations, meetings and counter-meetings and everything in between. The Minister, apart from one signed release that her Deputy quickly dissociated herself from, is yet to officially provide clarification on the grievances of the children or attempt to work with the legitimate leadership of the children to resolve the spiraling impasse. In fact, her social media posts have been at best, incendiary and combative, in one instance comparing the children to planners of genocide in Rwanda. Efforts my past members (including me) and others to mediate and ameliorate the situation continue to be futile.

I do not agree with some of the demands the children have made or even some of the ways they are alleged to have conducted themselves in agitating for their rights but I know for a fact that they have a right to the free and safe expression of their views. And that they have a right not to be threatened, bullied or physically attacked anywhere, not least at the Ministry of Children’s Affairs.  I therefore ask Mr. President to at least listen to their legitimate concerns and help salvage a cherished culture of children’s bold participation in our country. Some of their demands are certainly just- there needs to be a full and complete investigation of the alleged beating of children at the ministry and a proper accountability at the very least. And we need to ensure that the culture of expressing their views fearlessly and of respecting their leadership and their rights to safe and meaningful participation be strengthened, not weakened.

As the Founding President, I pride myself in the foundations of fearless advocacy and democratic principles that we built in the organization. We set a term limit and an age limit and I peacefully handed power after two years of leading the organization- an honor that has set me and others that came after me on a path of numerous privileges and humbling experiences around the world. Our nation’s democracy and its future are harnessed by the cultivation of these values and experiences in children across the country. We cannot allow that to be undermined. I hope that you will listen to the children and that we can continue to build on the enviable culture of guaranteeing children’s safe and meaningful participation.

The Author:

Chernor is a global advocate for human rights, known mostly for his work championing girls’ rights and education. He leads the Population Council’s work on girls in post-emergencies and was recently appointed by the United Nations Secretary General on a Security Council Advisory Group on youth, peace and security.

CARL calls on gov’t to speedily develop white paper

January 27, 2017 By Patrick Jaiah Kamara

The Centre for Accountability and Rule of Law (CARL), has called on the government of Sierra Leone to act promptly on the report of the Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) that was submitted to President Ernest Bai Koroma early this week.

On July 30, 2013, President Ernest Bai Koroma launched the CRC to review the 1991 constitution as stipulated in Section 108 and recommended by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the Lome Peace Accord, and the Sierra Leone Conference on Development and Transformation.

Access to Justice Coordinator, Moses Massa, told newsmen at their Upper Brook Street office yesterday  that government was under obligation to swiftly adopt all recommendations in the said report and abandon the one submitted by the ruling All Peoples Congress (APC) and other seven moribund political parties.

 “Now that the report has been submitted, we urge the government to exclude all extraneous materials from the report and speedily develop a white paper, draft the constitutional bill, and take it to parliament for ultimate approval which will lead the nation to a referendum on the bill,” he said.

The Rights Group also urged government to publicise the report so that the public would be aware of the key issues factored in the draft report and be able make sound decision during the referendum.

Massa said it would show lack of respect if government reject the views of the public who had sacrificed their time, energy and other resources to participate in that process.

 “It is unfair and dishonest on the part of the government to accept those annexes submitted by the APC and some dormant political parties because it has not gone through public scrutiny. They are not part of the recommendation and should not be part of the white paper,” he urged.

The Justice Coordinator stated that while they applauded government for acting on one of the recommendations of the TRC, they also note that the recommendations be followed and not be plunged into another round of endless controversy,and that the key recommendation on the executive powers should be accepted as having come from the people.

“We fully recognize the concerns raised by the ruling party and some opposition parties, which were pieced together as an addendum to the report, but we strongly oppose any consideration of such concerns as they have potential of undermining the will of the people,” he emphasized.

It could be recalled that President Koroma told a gathering at the Miatta conference centre that “This is the best way to make the resulting document a true covenant amongst all of us to honour our common aspirations. Good constitutions are not imposed.”

January 27, 2017 By Hassan Gbassay Koroma

As the People’s Republic of China celebrate Spring Festival, the Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone has noted that the meeting of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Sierra Leone president, Ernest Bai Koroma has taken both countries’ friendly and cooperative relations to a new height.

His Excellency Wu Peng was on Wednesday 25^th January, 2017 speaking at a reception marking the celebration at their Spur Looop Embassy in Freetown.

The reception was attended by Vice President Dr. Victor Bockarrie Foh, diplomats, top government officials and top Chinese investors.

Ambassador Wu Peng noted that the Spring Festival was the most important traditional festival in China and that they use the occasion to review the past year and make wishes for the New Year.

He said the year 2016 was an outstanding and impressive year for the Chinese people, and that they made a good start of the 13^th 5-year National Development Plan which spans from 2016 to 2020.

He said they actively carried out the new development concept, accelerated the process of building a moderately prosperous society in an all-round way and maintained their economic growth.

He said they vigorously pushed forward the comprehensive deepening of reform, made important progress in terms of supply-side structural reform and actively promoted the building of a law based governance of the country, deepened the reform on the judiciary system and social fairness and justice.

Ambassador Wu Peng continued that despite the global economic downturn, the GDP growth rate of China reached 6.7% in 2016, and that they contributed approximately 39% towards the global economic growth, while they continue to play the role of an indispensable booster of the world economy.

He said in 2016 they successfully held the 11^th G20 Leaders’ Summit, which offered Chinese voice, solution and wisdom.

“The Belt and One Road’ Initiative is becoming more and more a reality and I am confident that with sustained efforts of the Chinese Government and the Chinese People, china will make greater progress in 2017,” he said.

“A couple of days back, President Xi Pinging delivered  keynote speeches at Davos and the United Nations Office at Geneva, which were well received and widely quoted saying ‘we should jointly shoulder responsibility of our times, promote Global Growth, and work together to build a community of shared future for mankind.

He said the year 2016 marked the 45^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between china and Sierra Leone, and that over the past 45 years the diplomatic ties of both countries have shared weal and woe, kept close cooperation with each other in the international and regional affairs and shown mutual support for each other’s core interests and major concerns.

“Last month President Ernest Bai Koroma paid a successful state visit to china and during the fruitful visit, he and the Chinese President Xi Jinping jointly raised the bilateral relationship to a strategic partnership of comprehensive cooperation and witnessed the signing of six mutual-beneficial agreements. The meeting of the two Heads of State has taken both countries friendly and cooperative relations to a new height,” he said.

Also speaking, Dr. Gibril M. Sesay, Minister of State 1 in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said the celebration of the Chinese New Year has become a global phenomenon as Chinese and non-Chinese around the world now have a sense of richness of the Chinese culture, civilization and contribution.

He said Chinese New Year was being celebrated in Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and many other lands and also given the cordial relations between China and Sierra Leone, the public has started experiencing the significance of the celebration.

“The celebrations herald the Year of the rooster and in Sierra Leone the Rooster announces that night is over and a new day is breaking, and that in Sierra Leone a new day is breaking after the night of Ebola and contraction of the economy,” he said.

He further stated that Real Gross Domestic Product in 2016 was 4.3% and was  expected to grow moderately in 2017 to 5.4% in 2017, 5.8% in 2018 and 6.1% in 2019, and that the agriculture, mining, infrastructure and services sectors were expected to accelerate economic growth as well as the much needed jobs for youth.

He continued that achieving such great feat would be inconceivable without the engagement with the People’s Republic of China, because their investments in the mining, agriculture, fisheries, infrastructure, health and education sector were pivotal to the socio-economic recovery process.

January 27, 2017

The Government of Sierra Leone, the Project Sponsors and the World Bank Group on Monday (January 23) officially executed the project and finance documents for the CECA Sierra Leone independent power project (CECA SL) under the Western Area Power Generation Project. The execution of documents, which took place during a ceremony held at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development in Freetown, is the culmination of years of efforts, and clears the way for parliamentary ratification of the project documents.

The project comprises the development, financing, construction and operation by CECA SL Generation Limited of a 57MW green-field thermal power plant running on heavy fuel oil (HFO) on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis. CECA SL, the project company, was established in Sierra Leone by private sponsors comprising CEC Africa Investments Ltd. and Tempus Constant Qualitas (TCQ) Power Ltd. through CEC Africa (Sierra Leone) Limited. Government has given consent for Commonwealth Development Corporation (CDC), through Globeleq, to take a controlling stake in the project.

The CECA SL generation project is a key component of the Government of Sierra Leone’s recovery plan to help support economic growth post-Ebola, and create jobs by providing reliable electricity services to the Western Area. The project is responding to an urgent need for additional generation capacity in Sierra Leone and is the most advanced power generation project currently under development in the country.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister of Energy, Ambassador Henry Macauley, stated that the Government through its various reform programs has improved the energy sector’s attractiveness for private investment by clearly specifying the rules of the game, improving the sector’s financial viability, and building the network.

He was very happy that this project is coming into fruition after years of negotiations. He particularly thanked the World Bank for its invaluable intervention and also thanked all other partners for their efforts and contributions. In his view the Government saw this project as providing the foundation and model for other Independent Power Projects (IPP) to follow.

The Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Momodu L. Kargbo, said the finalization of the project documents was a reflection of donors’ confidence in Sierra Leone, and noted that the project would go a long way towards meeting the power needs of the Western Area. The Minister stated that all stakeholders need to work together closely to ensure that the financial projections on which this project is based were not only met but exceeded so that the project had no negative impact on the country’s budget.

British High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, Guy Warrington, said he was very happy that the British Government has taken a controlling interest in the project, and that British tax-payers’ money was being used to augment the availability of electricity in the country.

TCQ’s representative, Karim Nasser, said he was grateful for the long hours and unending dedication brought to bear by the Ministers and their staff to bring the project to execution. “This has been a group effort, everyone has contributed, recognizing the importance of the project to Sierra Leone. This project reflects Government of Sierra Leone’s commitment to the people of Sierra Leone, and their needs.”

World Bank Country Manager, Parminder Brar, said the project was the first IPP of its kind in a fragile country like Sierra Leone, signaling an important step on the road to Sierra Leone’s recovery. He stated that there is no doubt that there will continue to be challenges associated with the project and the World Bank will continue to work side-by-side with the Government of Sierra Leone and all stakeholders to ensure this critical project is successfully implemented.

From the side of the World Bank Group, the Country Manager thanked the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, the Ministry of Energy, the Attorney General, the Public-Private Partnership Unit of the President’s office, the UK Government and lenders for their support.

The World Bank Group’s support for the project will leverage US$149 million in investments into the power sector in Sierra Leone, and serve as an important signal for investment opportunities at a time when the country is in a fragile recovery from Ebola.

The International Development Association (IDA), together with its partner institutions – International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), are providing guarantees and lending to the project, as follows: a US$40 million IDA guarantee made in support of CECA SL Generation Limited, that backstops payments to be made under a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA); IFC financing that consists of an A-loan in the amount of US$27 million; and MIGA guarantee cover of up to US$60 million.

ACC says efforts beginning to pay dividend

January 27, 2017 By Ibrahim Tarawallie

Deputy Commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has stated that Sierra Leone’s efforts in the fight against corruption were beginning to pay dividend, as the country scored 30 percent in Transparency International’s 2016 Corruption Perception Index report.

Transparency International on Wednesday 25 January, 2017, released its Corruption Perception Index for 2016, with Sierra Leone ranked 123 out of 176 countries surveyed, increasing its score from 29 percent in 2015 to 30 percent in 2016.

Even though the 2016 CPI report lamented that over two thirds of the 176 countries and territories in the index fell below the mid-point, Sierra Leone was able to lead forty-six (46) countries, comprising 25 in Africa including Nigeria, Guinea, Gambia and Kenya.

However, during an exclusive interview yesterday at his Gloucester Street office in Freetown, Shollay Davies welcomed the report but stressed that more was needed to be done as a country to eradicate corruption.

He said when they took up the fight, the country was far down the ladder, and that it was among the top ten corrupt countries in the world.

As the lead agency in the fight, he expressed delight that the perception about corruption in the country was gradually changing from negative to positive, in that Sierra Leoneans were gradually appreciating government’s effort to end corruption.

“As a lead agency in the fight against corruption, we consider the 2016 Corruption Perception Index from Transparency International as welcome news. Fighting corruption is challenging and a difficult enterprise and it is not a thing that can be achieved within the twinkle of an eye. We are sure that in the next couple of years, we will go much higher in terms of point,” he said.

He reminded all and sundry that the 2016 CPI was a national index and that even though the ACC was the lead agency, there were various other institutions that involved in the fight to ensure transparency and accountability in the system.

He paid tribute and respect to other sister institutions, including Audit Service Sierra Leone, Ministry of Finance and Economic Development- which ensures fiscal discipline in financial systems, parliament and other oversight institutions for making sure that there was improvement in transparency and accountability in the country.

“It our concerted efforts that has paid dividend in seeing us move in terms of our score on the TI Index for 2016. Going forward, we are not going to rest because we need to do more as a country. It should not be only the ACC but all other stakeholders must come onboard to ensure that we reduce this negative perception,” Mr. Davies urged.

He assured of the commission’s determination to take the fight back to the service providers and expressed hope that over time, the perception would improve more than what had been recorded for the past couple of years.

January 27, 2017 By Hawa Amara

A fraud matter involving two Indians and one Sierra Leonean has been committed to the High Court by Magistrate Dr. Magistrate Abou Bhakarr Binneh-Kamara for further trial.

The Indians were before the court for allegedly defrauding Airtel mobile company by using their sim cards without purchasing top up cards whilst the Sierra Leonean was charged for selling the said sim card.

Magistrate Binneh-Kamara told the court that the prosecution called one witness to prove their case, and that the evidence deduced against the accused persons was sufficient to warrant their comital to the High court.

Earlier, Detective Police Constable 4019 Mohamed Jusu  attached to the Criminal Investigation Department told the court that he was on duty on October 29,2016 when a combine team of cyber unit and Airtel personnel operating telecommunication in Freetown came to the office and made a report against the accused persons-Shakeel Ahmed Memon, Naresh Sachdev and Salamatu Sillah.

The witness explained that the team visited No. 34 UN Drive at Wilkinson Road and No. 5 Smart Farm to conduct search warrants at the premises of the 1^st and 2^nd accused persons.

He said illegal telecommunication equipment was found at their premises.

DPC 4019 noted that on October 30 and 3^rd November, 2016, he  and  DPC 9893 Tarawally F. interrogated the accused persons separately.

He said during the course of  investigation, they received a correspondent from National Telecommunication Company (NATCOM) for the inspection of the equipment and that they found out that it was the 3^rd accused ( Salamatu) who sold the sim cards to both accused persons.

The witness furthered narrated that on November 15, 2016, the data analyst, Detective Sergeant Thorly, conducted a search in the I-Phone and the laptop computer of the accused persons and the details contained therein were recorded in the search warrant book.

He added that on 23^rd November a charge statement was obtained from the accused persons.

The accused persons were before the court on two counts of conspiracy to defraud contrary to law.

January 27, 2017 

Prince Harold Thorpe, one of the Freetown Mayoral  aspirants for the All People’s Congress (APC) was yesterday crowned as the Youth Ambassador by Upgun Youth organisation, east end Freetown.

Speaking at the crowning ceremony,  Chairman Mr. Kamara said Thorpe was a young man with great ambition, which was why he was considered to be given the crown. He noted that Prince Harold Thorpe has done remarkable things in promoting youth development not only in Freetown but in various parts of the country.

Kamara also registered his support for Thorpe in the upcoming election and assured to organize all his followers in all communities around that area to rally behind Thorpe when he shall be given the APC symbol.

He said he has no regret to support Prince Thorpe because he has faith in him.

Reacting to the statement and crown awarded him; Prince Harold Thorpe assured youth that he would never forget them for recognizing his role in the country.

He also said he would remain to be grateful to them whether he been voted for or not and encouraged them to always make friends beyond political boundaries and differences.

He called on the young men to come together and contribute to national development in their own little ways and make the country a better place for all and sundry.

He stressed that nothing was impossible in the sight of God, once a person is determined and steadfast. Mr. Thorpe heaped praised on the crown and applauded the men for given him.

He stated that the future of the country was in the hands of the young, and therefore encouraged them to be focus in whatever they were engaged in. Mr. Thorpe noted that Sierra Leone belongs to all and sundry and not a single individual or groups of people.       

The group’s Public Relations Officers, Abdul Karim vowed to support Thorpe and urged his colleagues to be sincere in their support for Thorpe, adding that he was a young Sierra Leonean whom he believed in.

Other people who were present at the occasion also expressed similar sentiment for Thorpe and urged him to always remember that the community people were with him and therefore should not forget them.

Al Bangura’s Nuneaton Town suffers away trashing

January 31, 2017 By Sahr Morris Jnr

Sierra Leone midfielder, Alhassan Bangura aka Al Bangura was part of the Nuneaton Town squad that was trashed 4-0 away to Kidderminster Harriers on Saturday in the English National League.

The 29-year-old midfielder, who was making his second appearance since joining the Nuneaton Town squad earlier last week was introduced during the 79 minutes of play, replacing David Morgan and the 4-0 defeat was the Boro second successive in The Vanarama National League.

A step further down in the English Non-League, former Leone Stars captain, Ibrahim Obreh Kargbo, had full time action for Dulwich Hamlet, who were forced to a 2-2 draw by home side, Leiston.  The home team  twice came from behind to draw 2-2.

In the Netherlands second tier league, the Eerste Divisie, young midfielder Issa Kallon had full time run out for Emmen FC in their 1-1 draw with PSV II and in Portugal, former AC Milan midfielder, Rodney Strasser , was an unused sub in Gil Vicente 1-1 draw against Benfica II.

Turkish based midfielder, Alfred Sankoh continue to get full time nod with Denizlispor who were forced to a 1-1 draw by Adana Demirspor and in Scotland Premier League, Sierra Leone right-back, Mustapha Dumbuya was an unused sub in Partick Thistle goalless draw away to Inverness CT.

 Elsewhere, Sierra Leone and New England Revolution strike Kei Kamara, has joined the United States of America football team captain, Michael Bradley and other players to oppose President Donald Trump’s travel ban.

Kamara who traveled to the U.S as a teenage refugee from Sierra Leone took to social media posting next to a montage of multicultural faces and posted a message which reads: “I was a Muslim refugee (2000) and a Muslim citizen today (2017)….This is the UNITED States of America ???? #UnitedWeStand #MeltingPot #NoMuslimBan.”

January 31, 2017 By Sahr Morris Jnr

 Liberia Football Association Cup champions, Monrovia Club Breweries FC, will entertain their Sierra Leonean F.A. Cup champion’s counterpart, FC Johansen today in an international friendly clash at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium in Monrovia.

The two sides will use the clash as preparation for their respective Confederation of African Football (CAF’s) competition.

Monrovia Club Breweries FC will represent Liberia in the CAF Confederation Cup after they were declared winners of the LFA Cup, while FC Johansen will represent Sierra Leone in the CAF Championship league.

Tuesday’s match against Monrovia Club Breweries FC will be FC Johansen second international friendly encounter in the Liberia capital after they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Barracks Young Controllers (BYC) on Sunday.

George Mata gave the visitors an early lead as he opened the scoring within the opening sixteen minutes but Mark Paye converted a free ball into an empty net to leveled the scores 1-1 before Kateo Anderson converted a spot kick in the 47′ minutes to ensure victory for the home side.

Tuesday’s match will be the Sierra Leonean team last friendly encounter before heading home to take on FUS Rabat of Morocco on the 11th February, 2017 at the Siaka Steven Stadium in Freetown and the return tie the following week in Morocco.

January 31, 2017 By Sahr Morris Jnr

Sierra Leone national team, Leone Stars and newly appointed Liberty Professionals coach, Sellas Tetteh is leading the race to succeed Polish-Israeli coach, Avram Grant as head coach of Ghana senior national team, Black Stars.

According to reports from Ghana’s local media, the Ghana Football Association has begun the search for Grant’s  replacement, to be announced after the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations tournament.

And former Cameroon assistant, Ibrahim Tanko and Sellas Tetteh, who is currently in charge of Leone Stars, are leading the race for an indigenous coach to fill the vacant position in February.

Tetteh’s recent appointment as head coach of Ghana Premier League side, Liberty Professionals, was reported that he has resigned his post as caretaker coach of Sierra Leone’s national team but the Sierra Leone Football Association secretariat debunked such report, stating the he was still the head coach of the country’s national team.

The former Ghana U-20 World Cup winning coach was in August, 2015, appointed as Leone Stars caretaker boss after an agreement between the Sierra Leone and Ghana football associations was reached.

 However, a possible appointment as the Black Stars coach will see the gaffer drop the Sierra Leone job. The Black Stars have already been drawn in Group F with Sierra Leone, Ethiopia and Kenya in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

February 1, 2017 By Ibrahim Turay & Elizabeth Kaine
A survey conducted by Concord Times in various primary schools in Freetown to evaluate the new schools feeding programme has revealed that most schools are yet to receive any funds to commence the programme, while funds received by other schools are grossly inadequate to feed all the pupils.
However, Director of the National School Feeding Programme, Sylvester Meheux, noted that 2,307 out of 4,000 schools were validated for the programme and that the remaining ones presented wrong information, hence could not be included and catered for.
“Some schools presented wrong details and personal bank accounts. Some of the account names were wrongly spelt but we have rectified them and now working with the Accountant General at the Ministry of Finance to get them included in the programme,” he said.
The school feeding programme is being implemented as a pilot project under the President’s Recovery Priority goals, albeit exclusively targeting government assisted schools. It main objective is to ensure the retention of pupils in primary schools.
During the course of our investigation, Concord Times also found out that in some schools pupils and teachers are involved in preparing the food because no provision was made to hire professional cooks.
Mr. Meheux admitted they did not hire professional cooks as the scheme was community driven, thus community members should be involved in the preparation of food. However, he noted that teachers and pupils have been strictly warned to stay off the exercise.
“We are not paying for the cooking service because we are using a community model in which community members are expected to participate,” he said, and urged people to volunteer as a mark of patriotism and in the interest of children and the country.
But Head Teacher of Christ Church Primary School, Madam Jane James, described the arrangement as ‘bizarre’ because they were of the notion that government would provide cooking utensils and also hire the services of professional cooks to prepare the food.
“The money is not sufficient but we have to manage to implement the programme because it is a directive from the government. We are pleading to the government to increase the funds so that pupils will have good food to eat,” she said.
On her part, Acting Head Teacher of Christ Church Infant school, Madam Patricia J. Cooper, expressed joy that her school was among the lucky ones selected for the programme, but noted that they were facing several constraints.
“Government disbursed Le9 million to cover one term for my school but the money is not enough because I have 489 pupils enrolled in the school. The ministry only used the data they had without taking into consideration new entrants,” she told our reporters.
“The Le650 [six hundred and fifty Leones] is not enough to take care of one pupil. A bag of rice cost Le210, 000 and we have to buy other cooking items which are very expensive in the market. Mind you, we are cooking it for children so we have to be careful not to put the wrong source in the pot,” she said.
Madam Cooper said they were facing a serious challenge of human resource to prepare the food for hundreds of pupils, teachers and those who assist them prepare the food for the pupils.
Head Teacher at Dr. S.M. Broderick Primary School, Mrs. Agnes Jalloh, explained similar sentiment, lamenting the hike in the prices of foodstuffs.
Contrary to what the director of the schools feeding programme had been saying that they would make use of local produce for the school feeding, Concord Times gathered that mostly imported rice and other products are being used to prepare the basic meal for elementary school pupils.
Meanwhile, Director Meheux told Concord Times that the issue of new entrants would be looked into and be solved soonest.

…Civil Society activist in police net

February 1, 2017 By Mohamed Massaquoi

The Chief Executive Officer of Campaign for Human Rights and Development International (CHRDI) was yesterday detained by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), allegedly on the orders of parliament.

Abdul Fatoma was horridly transferred to the CID for further investigations after attending a brief session with lawmakers in the House of Parliament and was still detained at CID as at press time.

Last year, Fatoma published a report in which he claimed that after investigations, his organisation had discovered that over Le120 billion was spent on parliamentarians in the last five years, adding that there was no supporting evidence to show how the said amount was expended. He said there was a clear risk of fraud involving taxpayers’ money.

“We know that even the country’s Auditor General’s Office has highlighted in their report on the audit of the management of the Ebola funds in 2015, that during the course of the verification exercise, the audit team confirmed that the payment of Le110, 460,000 by the Ministry of Health to the Honourable Members was indeed on the 22nd of August, 2014,” Fatoma is reported to have disclosed in his report.

He claimed that his team of investigators further confirmed that the payment of the Constituency Development Fund to lawmakers by Parliament had already been done on 18th August, 2014 before it was later converted for Ebola sensitisation. These were among many other allegations made by Fatoma and his organisation against Parliament that may have prompted lawmakers to refer him to CID for investigation.

Before his arrest yesterday, Fatoma was a guest on Radio Democracy, FM98.1’s popular ‘Good Morning Salone’ programme where he was asked to justify some of the allegations made against Parliament.

He was accompanied to the CID by his lawyers, Francis Ben Keifala and Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai. He told Concord Times that he was fine and comfortable with police interrogation, especially as his lawyers were present.

“I am ok but the only issue is that I have been here since this morning and the police have still not relieved me,” he expressed concern.

Meanwhile, immediately after the publication of the report last year, he told Concord Times that no amount of intimidation by Members of Parliament would prevent his organisation from moving ahead with their accountability campaign, following a dismissive reaction by some lawmakers to a CHRDI press release dated 26 July, 2016 which alleged that parliamentarians and parliamentary officials had failed to properly account for over Le120 billion spent on Parliament by government in the last five years.

“We are aware that in their feeble attempts to threaten our organisation for asking these questions, they have indicated their intent to use “Contempt of Parliament” as provided for in the Constitution, to intimidate and silence us. No amount of intimidation from corrupt individual(s) in and out of Parliament would prevent us from doing that,” he vowed.

February 1, 2017 By Victoria Naomi Saffa

As the political struggle kicks-off in the country, thousands of Port Loko district indigenes on Sunday 29^th January, 2017, welcomed the All People Congress (APC) flagbearer hopeful, Lawyer Abu Bakarr Kalokoh,commonly known as ‘the poor man’s lawyer.’

The Kalokoh Movement was also launched in the district with a new office located at Lungi road, and Port Loko indigenes and descendants used the occasion to pledge  their unflinching support for Lawyer Kalokoh.

Speaking during the launch of the Kalokoh Movement and the unveiling of the new Kalokoh movement office, Lawyer Abu Bakarr Kalokoh, who has practised in the United States and also in Sierra Leone, stated that the movement was established to help President Ernest Bai Koroma in his development strides, thus calling on all Sierra Leoneans to come onboard and contribute in the development of the country.

He said the movement was established in the Port Loko district as one of the strongholds of APC, and that he was the only flagbearer aspirant of the party that has established an office in the district, which he said demonstrated  that he has concern for the welfare of Port Loko residents.

 “I was born in Koya Chiefdom, Port Loko district and my wife is from Port Loko town. I am a strong member of the APC and I have contributed immensely in the area of providing free legal services to Sierra Leoneans in the United States of America as well as others in Sierra Leone,” he said.

 He showered praises on President Koroma for his leadership role in developing the country more especially in the areas of infrastructure and electricity supply, among several other developments.

The APC flagbearer hopeful continued that as a leader of the movement, he would focus on women’s empowerment, Children, youths and persons with disabilities, while addressing maternal mortality, which has been a major problem in the country.

 He promised that his movement would provide skills training for persons with disabilities and provides education for orphaned Ebola children, disclosing that he was offering free lectures at the law department, Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone.

February 1, 2017 By Mohamed Massaquoi

Spokesperson of the Ministry of Defense has told Concord Times in an exclusive interview that British troops were not recently in Sierra Leone to stop migrants from traveling to Europe but rather to provide hands- on- deck training to members of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF).

It could be recalled that the Sun Newspaper in the UK reported on January 7^th,2017, that  British troops have been sent to Sierra Leone to tackle movement of migrants to the UK and other parts of Europe.

But Brigadier –General Usman Turay debunked the said claim and stated that the former Minister of Defense, Maj. (Rtd)  Palor Conteh, requested the British Minister of Armed Forces to consider the possibility of British forces to conduct combine exercise with RSLAF, which, he said  started from November 1^st to 4^th December, 2016.

He said nearly 90 soldiers from 1st Queen’s Dragoons Guards’ ‘B’ Squadron deployed alongside 25 soldiers from the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces for a jungle exercise to learn the skills to live and fight.

He said the British Army engaged in a combined jungle warfare exercise at the Guma forest reserve, adding that the troops were exposed to a variety of conditions that challenged and tested their skills to ensure readiness for a wide spectrum of operations.

“Additionally, the jungle warfare school at Guma was renovated and made available for RSLAF future training,” he said, adding that at the end of the exercise the troops departed to the UK on the 5^th of December, 2016.

 Turay further stated that the British   Defense Secretary, Sir Michael Fallon, commended the government of Sierra Leone for their compliment, adding that the training with Sierra Leonean forces was  just the latest example of the UK stepping up globally to tackle international threats that put Britain at risk.

February 1, 2017 By Hassan Gbassay Koroma

One Ibrahim Kallon, a Paralegal working for the Legal Aid Board of Sierra Leone, was yesterday granted fifty million Leones bail plus two sureties by the principal Magistrate of the Freetown Magistrates’ Court No.1, Dr. Abou Bhakarr Binneh Kamara for allegedly using threatening language and insulting words on the current Minister of Social Welfare Gender and Children’s Affairs, Dr. Sylvia Olayinka Blyden.

 Paralegal Kallon is before the court to answer to three count charges of threatening language, insulting words and defamatory libel, contrary to the Public Order Act of 1965.

The prosecution alleges that the accused on 27^th January, 2017, in Freetown, used threatening language, insulting words and defamed the Minister of Social Welfare Gender and Children’s Affairs, Dr. Sylvia O. Blyden.

However, in connection to the above matter, the Legal Aid Board of Sierra Leone has issued out a press release, informing the general public about what transpired on 27^th January, 2017.

Reading the press release at their Guma Building Office, Lamina Sankoh Street in Freetown, Executive Director of the board,Mrs.Fatmata Claire Carlton-Hanciles, said  on Friday, 27^th of January, 2017 the accused, Ibrahim Kallon, one of their child advocate paralegals, went to secure bail in respect of two children at New England Police Station.

She said in the process of securing the bail, some confrontation allegedly ensued between the paralegal and the minister for which the former is before the court.

She disclosed that the accused has been suspended and was put on half salary pending hearing and determination of the matter, and that due to ethical considerstion both matters involving Ibrahim Kallon and the Children Forum Network members have been handed over to counsel outside the Legal Aid Board.

She further  appealed  to all parties to exercise restraint, stop writing inflammatory or distorted articles against either parties, especially on social media or taking divisive actions which break groups apart especially children’s groups.

High court judge reviews bail condition for accused persons

February 1, 2017 By Regina Pratt

Honourable Justice John Bosco Allieu  presiding over the 2017 criminal session has  yesterday reviewed the bail bond given to  three accused persons, Humaru Daniel Kanu, Almamy kanu and John E. Jarrett from one billion Leones each to five hundred million each.

The accused persons were given  one billion Leone bail each  by Magistrate Dr. Binneh Kamara at the Magistrate court no 1 before he committed the trial for hearing at the High Court.

Hon. Justice John Bosco Allieu ,who presided over the call over of the January, 2017 criminal session reviewed the bail condition.

The accused person were charged for conspiracy and larceny by servant on 41 counts after they were alleged to have stolen drums of Agina T 40 and Gulf marine oils between April and July, 2015.

Lawyer A.G.M. Bockarie who is representing the state said the accused persons will be tried by Judge alone.

The three accused person are respectively  being  represented by Lawyer B. S. Kamara for the 1^st accused, J.Cole for 2^nd  accused and Hannah I. Ahmed for the 3^rd accused person.

In another matter before Justice Allieu, two juvenile offenders-Suliaman Kamara and Abu Bakarr Kamara, were committed to the high court by Magistrate Seray-Wurie for further hearing. The duo were charged to court for the offences of burglary and larceny.

Justice Allieu said date of birth 0f the 2^nd accused was recorded as 9th July, 2000, which showed that he was 17 years at the time of his arrest, adding that he is a juvenile and was granted bail in the sum of ten million Leones.

Also, in a murder matter before Hon. Justice Allieu, Lawyer Ishmael .P.Mammie, representing the accused, Mohamed Sesay, who was allege to have murdered one Alhaji Kargbo, called on the Judge to pile more pressure because the file was nowhere to be found.

He further said that the doctor’s report states that the deceased died of natural death and that the case should not be charged to court.

In response, Lawyer Bockarie representing the state said he did not have the report but will take note of it.

All cases have been adjourned to Tuesday, February 7^th, 2017.

February 1, 2017 By Ibrahim Tarawallie

The Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone (HRCSL) with support from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), yesterday conducted training for Commissioners and staff of HRCSL and the National Commission for Persons with Disability on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability (CRPD) and the Persons with Disability Act of 2011.

The rationale behind the training, which took place at the Buxton Memorial Hall on Charles Street in Freetown, was based on the fact that the current issues of persons with disabilities have been handle using human rights based approach, wherein disables are rights holders because they are equal in dignity and respect as other people.

According to the Vice Chairperson of the HRC-SL, Daphne Olu-Williams, the training would help both commissions to better understand the provisions of the Disability act, so as to enhance effective monitoring of the implementation of the CRPD and the act, while at the same time serving as a tool for advocacy.

She stated that in 2006, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), which immediately entered into force and that in 2008, the optional protocol to the Convention was also opened for signature, marking the beginning of a new era in the purpose of the CRPD.

She said Article 1 of the CRPD stated that the purpose of present Convention was to promote, protect and ensure full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and promote respect for their inherent dignity.

Although persons with disabilities were entitled to the same rights as everyone else, Commissioner Olu-Williams maintained that the adoption of the documents set out comprehensively for the first time, a binding international instrument protecting the rights of persons with disabilities.

“We are happy to work with the NCPD to ensure that the rights of persons with disability are protected and promoted. The facilitator will take us through the act for us to know how to monitor and advocate for the rights of disables,” she said.

NCPD Regional Coordinator-west, Jonathan Conteh said: “For us as a commission working for the wellbeing of disables, we are pleased to partner with the HRC-SL. It is a step in the right direction because human rights cannot be complete without disability issues.”

February 2, 2017 By Patrick Jaiah Kamara & Regina Pratt

Acting Secretary General of the Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP), Ambassador Alie Badara Kamara, yesterday struggled to search for words and could not eloquently respond while being cross examined by Lawyer Sulaiman Banja Tejan-Sei.

The acting scribe of the opposition party is the second defendant in a litigation pitching two rival factions in the SLPP and was being cross-examined on an affidavit he had sworn to.

A faction within the SLPP had filed an action in the High Court in December 2016 seeking to prevent regional primaries from going ahead as scheduled, claiming irregularities in the constituency elections.

Since then, the two factions have been scrambling for control of the party’s secretariat, with the creation of two parallel executives.

The plaintiffs in the matter are Alusine Bangura, Alex Kargbo and Victor Sheriff. They had filed a joint suit against the party’s National Chairman and Leader, Secretary General and four Vice Regional Chairpersons, who supervised the conduct of the 10th December lower level elections.

Ambassador Kamara admitted to being the acting scribe of the party as at the time of the conduct of the lower level elections but noted that the said elections were not guided by the amended rules and regulations gazetted  by the Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC) in conjunction with the 10-man committee of the party, on 11th May, 2016.

He told the court that he informed supervisors of the lower level elections to abide by the rules and regulations as gazetted on 29th January, 2016 and not the one that was amended by the PPRC and an ad hoc committee on 11th May, 2016.

At that juncture, Tejan-Sei displayed a document in court that was purportedly written by Ambassador Kamara, authorising referees of the lower level elections to go by the said 11th May amended rules and regulations, which he had earlier denied.

But his lawyer, Umaru Napoleon Koroma, opposed to the use of the document to cross-examine his client on the grounds that the document was not part of all the affidavits filed by the plaintiffs. His application was upheld by Justice Babatunde Edwards.

Tejan-Sei then sought leave of the court to file a fresh affidavit that would exhibit the said document, which request was granted by the trial judge.

Earlier, the ‘suspended’ Chairman and Leader of the party, Chief Bai Shebora Sumanoh Kapen III, admitted in his evidence that the party had failed to adhere to a Supreme Court ruling in the matter between him and Ambassador Alie Bangura.

The apex court had ruled that the last SLPP national delegates convention was marred by gross irregularities and warned the party to obey its own rules and regulations, release delegates list on time and set up an independent electoral board for the conduct of any other subsequent elections.

His lawyer, A.B.S. Shangari, stated in his submission that his client ‘did his best’ to avert irregularities and that it was as a result of the parallel structure set-up by the acting party scribe that compelled his client to forward a complaint to the PPRC.

Lawyer Shangari said the 29th January rules and regulations lacked the force of law, including the SLPP Constitution of 1995 as amended, thus noting that it cannot be the basis for the conduct of the said election.

Lead defendant counsel, Umaru Napoleon Koroma, representing the 2^nd 3^rd 4^th 5^th and 6^th defendants, told the court that it was inconformity with the Supreme Court ruling that the party drafted for the ‘first time’ the rules and regulations for the conduct of executive elections.

He submitted that the aggrieved members only had challenged the outcome of results in 39 constituencies out of the 112 constituencies where the elections were held.

“If the 81 constituencies are clean why are they complaining on the 39 constituencies under the same rules and regulations?,” he questioned.

Lawyer Koroma argued that the plaintiffs in all their affidavits and submissions made before the court have not proffered any evidence to prove that Regional Vice Chairmen acted contrary to any laid down rules for the conduct of the elections, to invoke the jurisdiction of the court to declare the 39 constituencies null and void.

But Tejan Sei replied that based on evidence before the court and law, there were more than sufficient evidence before the court to prove their case, noting that the judge has ‘no alternative’ but to nullify all the 39 constituencies and grant all the relief sought.

Lawyer Napoleon replied that during the conduct of the elections, the party’s national officials relied on the rules and relegations of 29th January, 2016 and not the rules and regulations as amended of 11th May, 2016.

However, his assertion was challenged by lawyer Tejan-Sei, who submitted that the rules and regulations of 29th January had not come into force, by virtue of Section 24 of the PPRC Act.

He noted that only the PPRC has the mandate to decide when those rules and regulations should come into force (11 May, 2016)

Lawyers Banja Tejan-Sie, Alex M. Musa and Alhaji Kamara are representing the plaintiffs, while A.B.S. Shangari is representing the 1^st defendant – Sumanoh Kapen. Umaru Napoleon Koroma, Joseph Kapuwa and Musa Mewa are representing the other defendants.

The matter was adjourned until 15th February, 2017.

February 2, 2017

The 2015 Audit Service Sierra Leone report has revealed that over Le 65.4 billion could not be accounted for by government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

“We estimate there have been losses in cash and stores of over Le65.4 billion. As in previous years this has occurred for a number of reasons, some inter-related. Overall, it strongly suggests that public financial management continues to have considerable much room for improvement in all MDAs,” the report stated.

The 2015 report, which was tabled in parliament on Tuesday, 31st January, 2017 stated that several significant lapses were observed in procurement procedures resulting in incomplete transactions and hence unsatisfactory service delivery, and that monies allocated to some MDAs were not accounted for at all.

“A perennial problem, payments without adequate supporting documents persists in almost all the MDAs making audit substantiation of the transactions impossible. We noted many cases where withholding taxes are not deducted from suppliers or contractors and paid to the NRA as specified by section 117(4) of the Income Tax Act, 2000.”

The report continues that imprest accounts were not properly closed out, resulting in funds not being accounted for, with the result that cash controls were weakened and that accurate posting of expenditure to ledger accounts was also seriously impaired.

The 2015 Audit report further states that fixed assets, stores and fuel records were not adequately recorded in applicable registers and other records, making control weak and audit verification difficult.

It however observed that although there has been modest improvement over the years, there was still significant reluctance to make available requested documents to auditors for review, as required by law.

The report indicates non-implementation of recommendations made by the Audit Service Sierra Leone in their previous reports.

“As noted, the extent to which our recommendations for improvement in controls remain unimplemented is not acceptable and many entities have failed to make adequate, if any, responses to our findings. The findings do not inspire confidence that resources are being managed optimally with due regard for economy, efficiency or effectiveness or fully in accordance with the intent of Parliament.

“Our assessment for the last five years has exposed a minor increase in the percentage of improvement for five MDA’s and two have regressed by an average of 8%. Ministry of Health and Sanitation has maintained its implementation rate of last year at 25% of our recommendations. The Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology made a minor increase of 4% whilst the Office of the President, Ministry of Finance and Economic Development and Freetown City Council, made an average increase of 15% on recommendations implemented (31.3% in 2014 to 46% in 2015).”

The report stated that overall only 28.8% of recommendations have been implemented by the eight selected entities. In absolute numbers, for the five years 2011 to 2015 there were 959 recommendations for the selected entities of which 276 were implemented, 65 are works-in-progress and 618 were not implemented.

Meanwhile, just as in successive years since 2012, Sierra Leone again performed miserably in the 2016 Transparency International Corruption Index, ranked 123 out of 176 countries, scoring 30 points, trailing neighbor Liberia which scored 37 points and other countries in the sub-region.

January 2, 2017 By Joseph S. Margai

The rehabilitation, construction and expansion of Fourah Bay College (FBC) campus under the BADEA project is currently facing a huge setback as most of the machineries needed to do the work are being held at the Queen Elizabeth II Quay, east end of Freetown.

The 24-month BADEA project is in its sixth month of implementation after rehabilitation work started in August, 2016. The project is financed by Islamic Development Bank.

“The contractors should have started to do the tiling of all the hostels but we are having a lot of problems with the shipment of the materials needed to do the work. When the contractors went to buy goods for the job, they bought them in the name of the company “SOGEFEL” but the waiver was given to Fourah Bay College and not SOGEFEL,” Sorie Kanu, FBC BADEA Project Manager explained to Concord Times in an exclusive interview on Monday.

He added that on many occasions, he has informed the Deputy Registrar of FBC about the situation, who in turn had written the Port for clearance, disclosing that even the vehicles of the contractors were being registered in the name of FBC.

“We were also having serious problem with the advance payment for the contractors. BADEA finally sent the advance payment on Wednesday 25^th January, 2017. The contractors were pre-financing the work since August, 2016. As I speak, the payment has not reflected in the bank account,” he disclosed.

He added that the advance payment should have come at most a month after the implementation of the project but came after five months of implementation.

The FBC BADEA Project Manager said the contractors have started rehabilitation work on all of the hostels on campus, noting that all the defunct doors, windows and tiles have been removed.

He added that, “had it not been for the delay in clearing the goods of the contractors at the quay, the rehabilitation work would have been 70 percent completed on all of hostels.

He noted that for the construction of the new buildings on FBC campus, the contractors have already placed pegs on the areas that would be used for the construction of senior staff quarters, the School of Architecture, the lecture theatre, among others.

 He noted that by the end of the week, they will start placing pegs on the area for the construction of the new hostels.

When asked as to when the hostels would be made available for use, he replied that he could not tell because they were with the conviction that if all materials would have arrived, the rehabilitation work would have been completed by now.

“There are lots of containers containing tiles that should be used to rehabilitate the hostels and are being held at the Port. They have been there over two months now. We have worked assiduously to clear about 22 of them from the Port,” he said.