February 2, 2017 By Victoria Saffa

The Ministry of Water Resources with support from United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on Tuesday 31^st February commissioned a newly constructed borehole with advanced technology in the Baoma Community, Goderich in Freetown.

Commissioning the water facility,Minister of Water Resources, Momodu Maligie, expressed thanks and appreciation to UNDP, UNICEF, DFID, African Development Bank for the support, stating that it has always been difficult to ask for funding, but that donors have always come to the aid of the country whenever the need arises.

The minister called on the community to take good care of the facility, while noting that the borehole was their property.

“It is you that have to provide security for this facility and it is you that would suffer if you allow bad people to destroy it. As a government, we have the obligation to provide services but caring and protecting them is the obligation of all of us. We know we have a number of bad people among us and the more reason we should protect what we have,” he said.

“As for the parents, don’t allow your children to go out very late at night in search of water. We know it is a difficult situation for most communities during the dry season. The facility provided is part of the president priority plans. This facility will be provided in fourteen other communities across the Freetown municipality.”

Mr. Maligie promised to deal with people who are bent on destroying facilities meant for public use, while assuring Baoma community of government’s  support in that direction.

“This is a community project and the community must take charge over it. The technology used here is among advanced technologies and it will serve the community for a very long period of time. You are the first community to have this facility and you should take good care of it,” he emphasised.

Manager of the Guma Valley Water Company, Bankole Mansaray, said the facility provided was the first among numerous needs in the Baoma community, stating that to upkeep the facility, people must pay a little amount of fee.

“We want the community to understand that a small fee will be charged on either per bucket or per gallon. Sierra Leone as a country has always depended on outside support and most of the country’s development strides have been aided by donor funds. The construction of this facility was funded by the UNDP,” he said.

 UNDP Country Representative, Simone Sagal, explained that the facility was among many other facilities provided in support of the government of Sierra Leone.

February 2, 2017 By Ibrahim Tarawallie

The 2015 report of the State of Human Rights in Sierra Leone has exposed serious challenges hindering the smooth running of correctional centres and juvenile detention facilities across the country, despite progress recorded over the years.

Compiled by the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone (HRC-SL), the report highlighted overcrowding, poor hygiene condition and poor electricity supply as some of the issues in the various centres.

According to the commission, during a visit to the Freetown Male Correctional Centre in September, 2016,  to assess the general conditions, they noted a total number of 1,466 inmates were in detention, which exceeded the capacity of 324 inmates for which it was established.

“The general hygiene conditions in the correctional centres were noted to be poor.  In January, the HRC-SL observed that the two pit-latrines in the Bo Correctional Centre were full to the brim and the stench was unbearable. In the Freetown Male Correctional Centre, buckets were used as toilets, which posed health risk to inmates,” the report stated.

The report indicated that electricity supply remained to be a challenge in Makeni, Mafanta, Kabala, Port Loko, Kambia and Magburaka, a situation which affected the general security of the facilities, particularly the Mafanta Correctional Centre.

It commended for the Ministry of Internal Affairs to take concrete steps to improve on the toilet facilities in all correctional centres across the country, especially the one in Bo.

Also, the report lamented problems in juvenile detention facilities, indicating that the Remand Home in Bo had no vehicle to transport inmates to court or to the Approved School in Freetown and therefore resorted to using motorbikes and public transports.

“The commission noted at the time of visit that inmates did not receive education, Healthcare and Sanitary pads. We were informed that female inmates were not provided with sanitary pads and that there is no provision for training or any form of education for the inmates,” the report further noted.

However, the HRC-SL commended the Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs and the Approved School in Freetown, which serves the entire country for the post detention recovery package offered to the inmates to prepare them for re-integration into their communities after serving their sentences.

February 2, 2017 By Sahr Morris Jnr

Sierra Leone international defender, Alie Sesay, has departed English League Two side, Barnet FC on transfer deadline day.

The 22-year-old versatile defender’s departure was confirmed by the club on their website on Wednesday, February 1^st, 2016.

The Barnet Football Club message reads: “Barnet Football Club can confirm we have come to an agreement to cancel Alie Sesay’s contract by mutual consent. Sesay, 22, joined the Bees from Leicester City last January and made 21 appearances in black and amber.

“His last appearance came as a substitute in the Boxing Day win at Cheltenham Town. Everyone at Barnet Football Club would like to thank Alie for his contribution and wish him the very best of luck in future.”
Sesay joined Barnet on an 18-month deal in January, 2016 after going through the Leicester City academy but did not make a single first-team appearance for the Premier League Champions.

The Sierra Leonean international, who can play across the back four and in central midfield has had a loan spell at Colchester and Cambridge United during his days at Leicester City.

He was born in England but is of Sierra Leonean decent and has so far made three appearances for Sierra Leone national team, Leone Stars. He last played for Sierra Leone against Ivory Coast in Abidjan in November, 2014 in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.

He was invited for Leone Stars’ last 2017 AFCON qualifying game against Sudan in Freetown but didn’t play and was the first time he stepped his feet on Sierra Leonean soil after 12 years.

COFA engages stakeholders today

February 2, 2017 By Sahr Morris Jnr

Central One Football Association (COFA) will today, 2nd February, 2017 engage stakeholders and officials of the 32 communities that would compete in this year’s Super Inter-Community League at the Parade Ground.

 With the league scheduled to kick-start on Sunday, 5th February, 2017, the COFA Chairman, Sama Sesay said the seminar was designed to lecture and update officials about the rules and regulations that will govern this year’s competition.

“This is one area that would  be thoroughly addressed in the seminar so as to prepare the minds of the teams for them to refrain from violence and for us to have a peaceful competition,” Sesay said, adding that they would  also discuss  other relevant issues that have to do with security and morale booster to the competition.”
Before the one-day seminar, several meetings have been conducted by both the tournament organisers and the community stakeholders in which numerous assurances were made by both sides.

Already, the 32 participating communities have been divided into 8 groups of 4 teams.

Group A includes; Kroo Bay, Okaymorie, Brookfields and Mountain City, Group B involves;-Cole Farm, Aberdeen, Kissy Road and Black Hall Road. In Group C; Krootown Road, Mount Auroel, Wilberforce and Cline Town will battle for qualifications.

In Group D; Lumley Community will have to battle against newcomers Abacha City, Calaba Tong and Ascension Town while Group E includes; Foulah Tong, Dove Cut, Kingtom and Aberdeen Road
Bambara Town, Moiba Community, Kolleh Town and Thunder Hill are all in Group F while Magazine Community, Wellington, Central and Seaside are all paired in Group G.  The last group comprises of Kuntorloh Community, Grass Field, Kossoh Town and Tower Hill.

February 8, 2017 By Hawa Amara

Sheiku Daramy, a military officer attached to the Benguema Military Barracks and one Mohamed Wurrie, a civilian, were yesterday remanded at the Male Correction Centre on Pademba Road for allegedly assaulting one Abu-Bakarr Jalloh.

The accused persons were before the Freetown Magistrates’  Court No.1 presided over by Magistrate Dr. Abou Bhakarr Binneh-Kamara on two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and malicious damage contrary to law.

According to the particulars of offence, the accused on Wednesday, March 30, 2016,  at Waterloo,  assaulted the complainant in a manner to do him harm.

The particulars continue that the accused on the same date and place damaged two vehicle wind screens and doors worth one million four hundred thousand Leones, properties of to the complainant.

Police prosecution, Assistant Superintendent, Samuel Kamara, informed the Bench that his witnesses were absent and pleaded with the magistrate to grant him an adjournment.

He however objected to bail for the accused persons, stating that the allegations against the accused persons were serious, and that the 1^st accused person (Sheiku Daramy ) is an officer and should not take the law in to his own hands.

Dr. Binneh-Kamara refused the accused persons bail and adjourned the matter to Thursday February 9, 2017, for the prosecution to open their case.

February 8, 2017

The Sierra Leone Police has invited a certain unnamed lady to avail herself to the Head of Criminal Investigations,Mohamed Kamara,  within 24hours to provide relevant information on the alleged circulation of plastic rice in the market.

It could be recalled that a video was circulated on social media, alleging a circulation of plastic rice in the market, but authorities at the Standards Bureau had denied the claim, stating that they have standard machines that could detect any unwanted product that could be imported into the country.

Deputy Director of Standards Bureau,Amadu Bah, had noted that the individual who shared the video had an ulterior motive to undermine business in the country, while the Deputy Minister of Information and Communication,Cornelous Deveaux,  noted that they were doing all to ensure that laws were put in place to deal with people who share false rumours on the social media.

Although they could not name the individual who shared the said video on social media, the Sierra Police has yesterday issued a public notice in which they requested for the individual to report at the CID headquarters and provide information as to the source of the said plastic rice.

According to the police, they would consider the posting as false and malicious intended to cause public alarm and scare, which they say is an offence, contrary to the Public Order Act of 1965.

Pikin Bizness to campaign for better supervision of children in schools

February 8, 2017 By Ibrahim Tarawallie

Chairman of Pikin Bizness, a charitable organisation has disclosed plans to embark on a massive campaign for better supervision of children in schools during recreational breaks.

Dr. Adonis Abboud’s statement came after a successful surgery in Ghana on Isha Senessie, a class four pupil of Veterm Primary School, who was shoved down a storey building by a colleague during break at school.

Isha was confined to a wheelchair for a year at the 34 Military Hospital in Freetown after she broke her vertebra bones as a result of the unfortunate incident.

The intervention of Pikin Bizness with support from Airtel and Africell mobile companies to foot the $26,000 bill for her surgery in Ghana, brought smile on the faces of Isha’s parents, who were not sure of their daughter’s survival.

With the grace of God, Isha returned home last Friday (February 3) with lots of energy and determination after a five hour successful surgery at the Focos Orthopedic Hospital in Ghana.

“I want to thank God for a successful surgery. I am strong and ready to go back to school,” Isha said in a joyous mood.

Despite a successful surgery on another child, Dr. Abboud expressed grave concern with regards violence among children in schools during recreational breaks.

According to him, violence like the one that happen to Isha could end the life of a brilliant child.

“There is too much violence among the small children during recreational breaks in schools. Violence like this could end the life of a child. We want to do some kind of campaigning or sensitising the schools to do more supervision during recreational breaks,” he said.

With regards the surgery, Dr. Abboud stated that it was very delicate and complex, lasting five hours on Isha’s spine and that according to professor Arjah who performed the surgery, if Isha had come two weeks later, she would have remain paralyzed for the rest of her life, because she spent one year confined to a wheelchair in the hospital.

“Miraculously, a week after the operation, Isha started working.  She is full of life and happy. Our goal is for no one to be taken out for surgery. A lot of people are dying because of not having the opportunity to travel out for surgery. We are working on it but it is a dramatic situation,” he added.

February 8, 2017 By Sayoh Kamara

As the All People’s Congress (APC) party prepares to choose its flagbearer for the 2018 Presidential Election, indications have started showing that of all other campaign issues that will characterize the Presidential Election, the issue of age will stand out most.

This comes in the face of the fact that the country has over 50% of youthful voters whose swing votes will determine who wins the elections.

It is against this backdrop that the youth of Bombali District on Sunday, 5^th February, 2018 thronged the streets of the district and provincial headquarter city of Makeni to showcase their own choice for their party’s flagbearer in the person of Dr. Kaifala Marah, the current Governor of the Bank of Sierra Leone.

What was said to be a “Jogging for a renewed hope” turned into a street carnival as youths in their thousands jogged, danced and marched in regal step manner to music bellowing from loudspeakers mounted on over ten trucks.

The outpour of the Bombali youth who came from every nook and cranny was a show of love, trust, confidence and a renewed hope they have in Dr. Kaifala Marah. The city streets were full with youth of all sexes as early as 4:30am as they move to the Sierra Leone Church Primary School on Kabala Road, designated as the assembly point.

T-shirts printed by the various fan clubs and WhatsApp and Attaya Base groups carried inscriptions such as ‘We trust Dr. Kaifala Marah”, “New hope”, “A Mentor”, “A Hero”, etc. Some of the groups carried banners with the portrait of their man, Dr. Kaifala Marah.

One of the organizers of the jogging turned street carnival in Makeni, Foday Koroma, Admin for the Makeni Queens for Dr. Marah WhatsApp Group, said they decided to undertake the jogging exercise “out of our own volition to showcase our own choice for the leadership of our party,” he stated, pointing out that collectively they see a renewed hope in Dr. Marah as a follow up on the commitment shown by President Koroma to the youth of this country.

“We believe and we are very convinced that with Dr. Kaifala Marah, the party’s popularity will cut across districts, regions, tribes, ages and party affiliation. He is a man of the people, very focused and he is result-oriented,” Foday Koroma noted, adding that in this day and age, youth everywhere want to relate with a leader in whom they see their collective hope and aspiration; a leader with whom they relate and a leader the speaks like they do and understands their problems.

Mabinty Idris Sankoh, chairlady of Makeni Babes for Dr. Marah said she and her group members, numbering two hundred are moved by the selflessness of the current Governor of the Bank of Sierra Leone in his service to Mama Salone. “From what we have heard about him so far; and he has proved it since we came to know him, he is down-to-earth and relates with every manner of persons regardless of status. We trust that such a man as your president can listen to the ordinary man and woman and work towards addressing their needs and wants,” Miss Mabinty Sankoh maintained.

Dr. Marah is young, energetic and mentally alert to handle the leadership of the APC party and the Presidency of Sierra Leone. He has demonstrated that ability and competence as Chief of Staff at State House, as Minister of Finance and Economic Development and indeed in his current position as Governor of the Bank of Sierra Leone.

As Chief of Staff, he added value to that post and raised its profile such that people considered him to be the “Special Vice President” to President Koroma for he handled with relative ease, all those public administration issues that gave the President sleepless nights. As Minister of Finance and Economic Development, it is no secret how he battled with the twin shocks of Ebola outbreak and drop in Iron Ore prices which impacted negatively on the country’s economy, to keep the economy from collapse. It is also no secret that in the midst of that crisis, when hopes were about to turn to despair, Dr, Marah raised the minimum wage from a paltry Le 60, 000 to a whooping Le 500, 000, an over 100% increase.

According to one Political analyst, Dr. Marah fulfils every criteria for a very good leader and that he can be a perfect successor of President Koroma, a President that has put Sierra Leone on a very high pedestal that should not be put in the hands of someone through whose fingers things can easily slip because of lack of experience, maturity and the relevant diplomatic skills to deal with donors and international agencies.

…Bio, KKY, JOB, others march to Cotton Tree

February 9, 2017 By Mohamed Massaquoi

The long drawn out rivalry among various factions within the main opposition Sierra Leone Peoples Party( SLPP) showed positive signs of abatement yesterday after all standard bearer aspirants marched from the party’s headquarters on Wallace-Johnson Street to the Cotton Tree in the centre of Freetown.

Party officers yesterday called for a peace meeting where all the standard bearer aspirants, including Dr. Kandeh YumKella, John Oponjo Benjamin, Alpha Timbo and Maada Bio to discuss the way forward to peace and unity in a party which has had more than its fair share of disharmony.

At the end of the meeting, a communiqué was signed by all the aspirants and stakeholders in which they agreed to revert to the 2013 executive structures and annul all suspensions and expulsions.

It was also stated in the communiqué that all court actions be withdrawn with a consent judgment, and that lower level elections, including rules and regulations of May 11, 2016, and the ten man committee instituted by the Political Parties Registration Commission PPRC be reinstated.

“We want access to all SLPP party offices across the country and also to stop negative intervention in the media against party members. We have also agreed for an immediate NEC meeting to be held on Tuesday where NEC will certify these resolutions. We also agreed to have a general peace and reconciliation conference to be held shortly,” a release from the SLPP secretariat stated.

The release further stated that subsequent district and regional elections be conducted by a special committee, in adherence to rules and regulations of the party.

It could be recalled that immediately after the SLPP delegates conference in Bo, southern Sierra Leone, one of the aspirants for the position of Chairman and Leader,  Alie Bangura, took the party to the Supreme Court on allegations of election irregularities. This, after he lost to Chief Sumanoh Kapen – who himself was recently ‘suspended’ as Chairman and Leader. Bangura was subsequently expelled from the party after the court ruling in 2014.

The party, until yesterday’s détente, had splintered into two factions, with one executive led by Chairman Kapen, while another was being spearheaded by Kapen’s Deputy Chairman, Dr. Prince Harding.

 February 9, 2017 By Ibrahim Tarawallie

Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone has stated that subjecting girls and women to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) violates a number of rights protected in international and regional instruments, as well as national laws.

According to Brima A. Sheriff, FGM reflects a deep-rooted inequality between the sexes and can be seen as extreme discrimination against women and girls.

He was speaking at the Miatta Conference hall on Monday (February 6) during an event organised by Forum against Harmful Practices to observe this year’s International Day of Zero Tolerance on FGM.

He said the commission has zero tolerance to FGM and campaign for its eradication, adding that the commission’s position reaffirmed the fact that FGM was a violation of the human rights of women and girls, which cannot be separated from deep-seated and pervasive discrimination against women.

He said their position on FGM has been reflected in almost all their reports on the State of Human Rights in Sierra Leone, adding, “We have a Zero tolerance to FGM and campaign for its eradication.”

“FGM is associated with  cultural ideas of feminity and modesty which include the notion that girls are ‘clean’ and ‘beautiful’ only after the removal of body parts that are considered ‘male’ or ‘unclean’. It guarantees premarital virginity and, since it is supposed to reduce a woman’s libido, helps her resist ‘illicit’ sex,” Commissioner Sheriff noted.

He stated that while the above explanations might broadly be interpreted to accommodate varying cultural views, and that it was clear that the practice violates the principles on what constitutes a child’s best interest and women’s rights.

Commissioner Sheriff added that FGM was a violation of children’s rights because it was commonly performed upon girls between the ages of four and twelve, who are not in a position to give informed consent.

February 9, 2017

The Inspector General of Police on Tuesday February 8 received the Annual State of Human Rights Report 2015 from the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone.

The HRCSL report includes the ways in which fundamental rights and freedoms in the 1991 Constitution and international and regional agreements to which Sierra Leone is a party have been observed or violated.  It also includes steps taken by the Commission to protect and promote human rights; the results of individual complaints investigated, and the interventions and recommendations made by the Commission in respect of matters brought before it.

Presenting the State of Human Rights Report that contained the findings to the Inspector General of Police, Commissioner Brima A. Sheriff noted swift response from the Police to help victims in various areas nationwide that were seriously affected by floods and the reduction of cases investigated by the CDIID of the SLP from 235 in 2014 to 46 in 2015 on allegations of assault, unlawful detention and other related violations by police personnel.

 Commissioner Sheriff brought to the attention of the police that on May 29, seven police officers attached to the Central Police station conducted a raid at the ‘common ground’ in central Freetown. During the raid, one Samuel Haffner, who was arrested with 9 other youths was allegedly beaten by the officers. He died on May 30 after he was released. A tribunal was set up by the CDIID to look in to matter, the officers involved in the alleged murder were dismissed and handed over to the CID for further investigation and the matter was charged to court.  Mention was also made about an OSD officer that was dismissed from the force for shooting one Alimamy Kamara of Victoria Street during an altercation.

Speaking on monitoring conducted by HRCSL on detention facilities, Commissioner Sheriff said the Commission visited 13 police stations in the western area of Mountain Division, Regent, Goderich, Aberdeen, Lumley, Congo Cross, New England Ville, Central, Eastern, Ross Road, Kissy, Calaba Town, and Waterloo Police Stations from the 18^TH– 20^TH June. The general findings were, overcrowding, over detention, unhygienic conditions, inadequate electricity and Poor quality and insufficient food supply. At Ross road, Waterloo and New England Ville stations, the cells for male suspects were overcrowded, without beds or mats, with faeces and urine on the floor.

“This contravenes Part 1(4)(e) of the Luanda Guidelines which states “ The rights to humane and hygienic conditions during the arrest period, including adequate water, food, sanitation, accommodation and rest, as appropriate considering the time spent in police custody”. Commissioner Sheriff stated.

In their recommendations, HRCSL reiterated their call on Government to provide funding and other resources to the SLP which should be appropriately distributed by the SLP to all areas of operations. And the SLP  to refrain from using action that would result to unnecessary deaths and institutionalize zero tolerance against unnecessary violence to, or ill-using any person in custody in line with the Police (Discipline) Regulations, 2001 and the Guidelines on the Conditions of Arrest, Police Custody and Pre- Trial Detention in Africa. They also recommended that Government and SLP should take steps to establish forensic laboratories and recruit more pathologists, forensic and ballistic experts to expedite investigation of cases.

In his response, the Inspector General of Police, Francis Munu commended HRCSL for their good job and reiterated the support of his institution to the work of HRCSL. He said the SLP felt very good that an independent body checks on their human rights records and stressed that the recommendations would be looked into as a progress for the SLP.

On the area of hygiene in police cells, he called on his Police Commanders to be regularly doing oversight at their divisions and not to always rely on reports from their officers. He thus cautioned his Commanders to be mindful of the International Convention on the minimum treatment of their inmates.

The Deputy Inspector General of Police, Richard Moigbe commented that “this is a well-balanced report and my favorite on the report”. Assistant Inspector General of Police, Memuna Jalloh consented that ‘it is a well -balanced report”.

February 9, 2017 

The Anti-Corruption Commission has on Tuesday 7^th February 2017 partner with Mankind Activity for Development and Accreditation Movement (MADAM) on the Pay No Bribe (PNB) campaign, at Gbendenbu Ngowahun chiefdom. The meeting however attracted the Paramount Chief, local authorities, women/youth groups, health personnel, learning institutions and members of the public, at the Gbendenbu community centre.

Reaching out to rural communities in the bid to disseminate information and raise awareness on the campaign against bribery is crucial to the success of the PNB project; hence working with civil society organisation such as MADAM will yield much dividend.

Giving an overview of the PNB, Senior Public Education Officer of the Anti-Corruption Commission, David Kanekey Conteh, espoused that the PNB is part of the President’s recovery priorities, under the category of governance. Conteh further explained that bribery in the fight against corruption has been a thorny issue for both the government and ACC, for the fact that the 2013 Afro-barometer survey revealed that the incidence of bribery is very high in Sierra Leone.  As a means to address this menace, the Pay No Bribe campaign was borne. The PNB in its pilot phase he added employs a scientific approach to tracking corruption trends in the Ministry of Health, Education, Sierra Leone Police, energy and water sector. Anonymous reporting platforms are the tools used by this project to achieve its goal. Mr. Conteh therefore encouraged the people of Gbendenbu and its environs to make judicious use of this opportunity to rid bribery off their communities.

Explaining the concept of bribery and its effects on the indigenous people, Abdulai Saccoh ACC Public Education Officer maintained that bribery is not only limited to offering physical money; but anything of monetary value, which could either be a goat, chicken, bawl of palm oil, or a parcel of land giving to an individual with the intention of inducing him to unduely act in one’s favour. In a more interactive fashion, Saccoh together with the people were able to identify the effect of bribery, as it applies to their context.

Speaking on the role of MADAM and the community in the PNB, Joseph Bangura and Alimamy Sesay from MADAM Sierra Leone, said their role as civil society organisation is to raise awareness on the PNB and make reporting bribery accessible to the community people. They went further to explain how to use the reporting gadget and also gave out the PNB hotline which is 515 for all networks.

Earlier in his welcome statement, Paramount Chief Kandeh Babar Kieha III said many of the wrong things going on in their community were done out of ignorance. He considered the meeting with ACC as an opportunity to understand the concept of bribery and to further deepen their knowledge on the Pay No Bribe campaign. He promised his people and the guests that he will do all within his powers to ensure that the right things are being done in his chiefdom. He therefore thanked the ACC and MADAM for their good work, and pledged his support to the Pay No bribe Campaign.

February 9, 2017 By Hassan Gbassay Koroma

Bai Sheka Kamara, Payroll Officer and Claudius Williams, Senior Payroll Analyst, attached to the Finance office at  Sierra Rutile Mining Company Limited are currently undergoing preliminary investigation before the Principal Magistrate of the Freetown Magistrates’ Court No.1, Dr. Abou Bhakarr Binneh Kamara, on 20 count charges ranging from conspiracy, embezzlement to larceny by servant contrary to law.

The particulars of offence states that the duo on a date unknown between 1^st January, and 30^th September, 2016, at Sierra Rutile Mining Company, Rutile town, Imperi Chiefdom in Moyamba District, conspired with other persons unknown to commit a crime to wit embezzlement.

The prosecution alleges that both accused on the above date and address, embezzled 77 thousand United States Dollars, monies belonging to the Sierra Rutile Mining Company.

Testifying in court yesterday, Zyna Gooding Brown, who introduced herself as Internal Audit Manager at the Sierra Rutile Mining Company, told the court that she knew both accused persons as employees of the company.

She further testified recalling 28^th September, 2016, when the Finance Manager of the company requested her to prepare a full Audit report on the payment of causal workers of the company, which she did and submitted the said report that contained her findings.

She further testified that upon the submission of the report on the 7^th November, 2016, the Finance Manager further requested that she did another report on cash payment, including cash returns to payroll and disbursement, which she also did and submitted it on 16 November, 2016.

 She testified that she was later invited at the Criminal Investigations Department, where she made statement.

Matter  to continues.

February 9, 2017 By Regina Pratt

Eight workers of Community Empowerment For Rural Development (CEFORD), PLAN International Sierra Leone and Bombali Youth in Action were on Tuesday granted bail in the sum of five hundred million Leones each, after they made their first appearance before Justice Komba Kamanda in the High Court.

The eight accused persons include; Akuna Daniel Shorunkeh Sawyer- Quality Assurance officer, Christian Clemens, Blaise Turay- Admin officer, Patrick Abubakarr Mahoi , Moses Ogendeh Kamara -Chief Executive Officer of CEFORD, Mohamed Ishamyle Bangura -Coordinator Bombali Youth in Action, Abubakarr Kanu and Hassan Bangura.

The accused persons were arraigned on 15 related count charges of conspiracy to commit corruption offences, misappropriation of donor funds and unexplained wealth among other offences.

According to the particulars of offence, on diverse dates in 2015, the accused persons conspired with other persons unknown to dishonestly misappropriate PLAN International Sierra Leone  funds.

The accused persons were granted bail in the sum of five hundred million Leones with two sureties each.

The state was represented by Kelvin Matsebo, while the defendants were represented by various counsels including, Umaru N. Koroma, Sahid Sesay and Crispin Fio Edwards

The matter was adjourned to Tuesday February 21, 2017

 February 15, 2017 

The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Sierra Leone, Sunil Saigal, has noted that the country has a history of conducting free and fair elections, and that there was no reason that the next elections should not be free and fair and be free from fear.

He made the above statement yesterday at the UNDP office in Freetown during a courtesy call on him by the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone (HRCSL).

The UN Resident Coordinator further stated that the coming elections would be held without political oversight from UN Peacekeepers. “That places the responsibility on the government, the democratic institutions and the people of Sierra Leone,” he said.

The UN Resident Coordinator said it was up to government to organise and create the enabling environment, provide election security for electorates to vote, and for candidates to campaign freely.

Whilst congratulating the HRCSL on their 10^th year of operations, Sunil Saigal assured UNDP’s continued collaboration with democratic institutions and called on the HRCSL to look into the key aspect of right issues during the electioneering process.

He lauded the human rights record of Sierra Leone but stressed the importance of improving on the rule of law and access to justice.

Commissioner Brima A. Sheriff of HRCSL spoke about the UNDP’s support to the Commission since its inception and explained the development of their 2018 elections strategy.

As a result of the increased demand for the services of HRCSL and in the light of ongoing redistricting and de-amalgamation of chiefdoms, Commissioner Sheriff solicited support for the HRCSL to proactively place itself within the anticipated expansion to new headquarter towns of Port Loko (North Western District) and Koinadugu (Kabala).

Meanwhile, opposition parties and civil society groups continue to press for a date for the elections after the failure of the Electoral Commission to announce a date. The latter though had reportedly written two letters to President Koroma, in line with constitutional provisions to hold consultation with him prior to announcing a date, which remains elusive as both the president and chief electoral officer remain tight lips.

 February 15, 2017 By Ibrahim Tarawallie

A study conducted by Ghanaian based African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET) in partnership with the Ford Foundation, has revealed that the sustainability of land use was being threatened by reckless mining practices of artisanal miners.

The report of the study titled: “The Impact of Expanding Artisanal and Small Scale Mining on Smallholder Agriculture in West Africa:  Case Study of Sierra Leone” was yesterday validated by stakeholders at the Hill Valley Hotel in Freetown.

The report indicated that mined out lands were not only rendered useless due to lack of rehabilitation, but posed serious environmental threat, thus prompting stakeholders to demand action by authorities to get miners to return potential agricultural lands to their pre-mining states.

Some of the farmers interviewed during the study expressed their dismay over the lack of enforcement of the law that requires artisanal and small-scale miners to return the land to its pre-mining state.

It continued further that land that would otherwise be sued for commercial agriculture and recreation were being held up by small and sometimes illicit operators.

The report recommended for the strict enforcement of the laws that require licensed miners of every description to reclaim mined out sites and return the land to their predevelopment state through rehabilitation.

According to the lead researcher, Dr. Mustapha Olajiday Thomas, who doubles as Head of Geology Department at Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone, the country’s land policy recognizes that land use planning was essential to the efficient and sustainable utilization and management of land and land based resources with a view of benefiting Sierra Leoneans.

While presenting the findings and recommendations of the study, he stated that the study was commissioned in Nimikoro and Nimiyama Chiefdoms in Kono district and Tane and Kunike Barina Chiefdoms in the Tonkolili district respectively to assess the current relationship between artisanal and small scale mining activities and smallholder agriculture in the country.

He said land use planning was predicated on efforts to accommodate the goals of food security and the progressive realization of the right to adequate food, poverty eradication and sustainable livelihoods.

He noted that even as the government contemplates protocols for rehabilitating these minded out sites, illicit miners continue to sieve through tailing left behind by the government owned national Diamond Mining Company.

Dr. Thomas urged the government to amend existing legislation to include revocation of mining licenses for failure to reclaim mined out sites and also reclaim and rehabilitate all mined out lands suitable for sustainable agriculture.

Earlier, ACET Research and Policy Analyst, Maame Esi Eshun disclosed that the study was commissioned not only in Sierra Leone but Burkina Faso and Ghana against the backdrop of a seeming gap in the narrative, predicated on the lack of a comprehensive discourse on how both practices can complement each other without undesirable socioeconomic and environmental impacts.

 February 15, 2017 By Joseph S. Margai

The Minister of Energy  has told Concord Times in a telephone interview that the Kufour power plants, which the Ministry of Energy rented from the government of Ghana in 2015 for two thousand five hundred United States Dollars (USD2,500), will be returned at any time from now.

It could be recalled that in 2015, the Ministry of Energy in Sierra Leone, rented Kufour power plants comprising 10 CAT machines to salvage the poor electricity condition in Sierra Leone.

Minister of Energy, Ambassador Henry Macauley, in a telephone interview with Concord Times recently, disclosed that the contract for the 10 CAT rented Kufour power plants ended in September, 2016.

“The machines are here but they are not supposed to be used because the contract has come to an end. We have informed the Ghanaian government about the situation and we are waiting to hearing from them,” he said.

The action of the Government of Ghana to rent the 10 CAT power plants to Sierra Leone attracted serious criticism from the media in Ghana.

Gas to Power Journal published in its Brief News column on Monday, 23^rd February, 2015, that the Government of Ghana was renting 10 of the CAT’s 1-megawatt capacity plants-on-wheels to Freetown at a cost of $2,500 apiece for some time, adding that before shipment, the containerised power plants were thoroughly investigated at the Volta River Authority (VRA) yard at the port of Tema.

StarrFMonline.com on Monday, 16^th February, 2015, in its news titled “Gov’t shipping Kufuor power plants to Sierra Leone as ‘dumsor’ worsens” disclosed that the Government of Ghana was shipping to neighbouring Sierra Leone, several containerised power generators procured by the Kufuor administration in 2007. StarrFMonline.com further noted that it was yet to confirm why the plants were being shipped to Sierra Leone and whether or not they were being dashed to that country, or sold under any special transactional arrangement.

It further stated that dozens of the CAT generators had been brought out in the yard for onward shipping to Sierra Leone, noting that the situation has generated intense discussions and divisions among top engineers, management members as well as some lower staff of the VRA.

StarrFMonline.com had rare fly-on-the-wall opportunities in some highly classified meetings held by some top engineers as well as some rounds done by them concerning the plants.

Many social commentators said the machines, which were rented for huge sum of money, did not serve the intended purpose. They said the government would have put the US$2,500 together to buy at least three new power plants rather than renting 10 CAT plants that got faulty at some points.

February 15, 2017 By Sahr Morris Jnr

Sierra Leone’s 2019  African Cup of Nations (AFCON) Group F opponent, Kenya, are seeking to play an international friendly against a West African side in March; three months before their June 13, 2017 clash against Leone Stars in Freetown.

The Harambee Stars will play the build-up as part of preparations for the 2019 African Cup of Nations qualifiers, which would commence in June.

Kenya Federation president, Nick Mwendwa, has confirmed plans to play a West African side and says it would be part of the build-up.

“We are still talking to a few countries and by then we will have settled on one,” Mwendwa told Capital Sport.

“It is possible to win the group. It is not a guarantee but we can give it a shot and it can be done. We should prepare well and Kenyans should look forward to us giving it the best shot we can.”

“There are no easy draws; every team is a strong team now. We want to prepare well and make sure we can compete against any side in Africa. By June, we should be ready and we will not take it easy. We have to get serious to get there,” the Kenya federation chief added.

Kenya has been pooled in Group F of the qualifiers alongside Sierra Leone, Ethiopia and the 2017 African Nations Cup fourth place winners, Ghana.

February 15, 2017 By Sahr Morris Jnr

British born Sierra Leonean sprinter, Mutara Shabazz Sheriff, over the weekend concluded his 2017 Indoor Track campaign on a high note with a Personal best time of 22.07 seconds in the 200 meters, which is a country best for the year.

Sheriff looks to capitalise on his significant improvement, as he looks forward to a great outdoor season which will be capped by a potential representation of Sierra Leone at the IAAF World Outdoor Championships in London in August.

The British born Sierra Leonean sprinter recently committed to compete for Sierra Leone at International level and also competed at the SEAA Championships (South of England Athletics Association) on a good footing.

He competed in his first Indoor meet of 2017, setting a new leading time of 6.87 seconds.

 He then followed that up on Sunday, January 15th with a solid performance in the 200 meters, where he clocked the race in 22.59 seconds, finishing third.

February 15, 2017 By Sahr Morris Jnr

Former Leicester City and Barent defender, Alie Sesay, has joined Swedish Superettan (second tier) league side, IK Frej Taby.

The Sierra Leone international, who was released by the English League Two side, Barnet FC on transfer deadline day, will now join countryman, Abu Bakarr Suma, at the Superettan club despite undergoing trials with newly promoted Allsvenskan side, AFC Eskilstuna in January, 2017.

According to IK Frej Taby Manager Bartosz Grzelak, Sesay’s rent   was a solid, adding that the defender was a player with good technique.

He told the club’s official website: “We have studied Alie in many games and we believe that he has a style of play that fits very well into Frey’s football. He is aggressive and fast in his defense and offensively, he is skilled with the ball. His style of play suits us probably better than in the Superettan League 2, if in can say so.”

Grzelak also believes that the Sierra Leone international is not just a good footballer, but also as an injection into his squad.

“I’ve spent some time with Alie when he came to visit us a few weeks ago and he’s a likeable guy with both feet on the ground. He has a very professional approach to football and is willing to sacrifice a lot in order to succeed. Those we spoke with in Leicester have only the best to say about him. I am convinced that he will contribute both on and off the field,” he said.

The 23-year-old, who can play across the back four and in central midfield, was born in England with Sierra Leonean decent. He has so far made three appearances for Sierra Leone national team, Leone Stars.

 He last played for the country against Ivory Coast in Abidjan in November, 2014 in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.

He was invited for Leone Stars’ last 2017 AFCON qualifying game against Sudan in Freetown but didn’t play and was the first time he stepped his feet on Sierra Leonean soil after 12 years.