March 16, 2017 By Sahr Morris Jnr

United States (U.S.) Major League Soccer side, D. C. United are planning to send Sierra Leone international striker, Alhaji Kamara, on loan to second-tier side; Richmond Kickers for full time action.

Kamara, who joined the MLS club in May, 2016, has not enjoyed more playing time with the club as he is behind Patrick Mullins and Jose Guillermo Ortiz in the team’s perking order and his situation still remains the same.

With the new MLS season already in progress, the former FC Kallon striker is said to be eligible to move on loan and could be recalled to Washington at any time.

The 22-year-old only goal for D.C. United came in May last year just 33 seconds into his MLS debut and it was a late match-winner against Sporting Kansas City. He is yet to score in any of his other seven appearances in which he has recorded two starts before he was sidelined for three months with a hamstring injury.

D.C. United signed Kamara in May after MLS cardiology consultant and a heart specialist at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital cleared him of heart condition.

He was not allowed to play in Sweden for IFK Norrkoping, where he had scored 16 goals over two seasons. The Swedish club diagnosed him for heart problem and said he was at “a high risk of sudden cardiac death during maximum exertion. All the experts advised him against continuing football.”

March 16, 2017 By Sahr Morris Jnr

Gold Coast 2018 Queen’s Baton arrived to a warm welcome at Lungi International Airport in Sierra Leone on Wednesday, with enormous interest from locals, sports administrators, government officials and sports fans.

The Baton delegation was received by representatives of the National Olympic Committee (NOC), the Paramount Chief of Kaffu Bullom, Bai Shebora Sheba Gbereh and officials of the Sierra Leone Ports Authority after the flight carrier touched down at the Airport.

A cultural display and short ceremony was hosted at the Airport before the delegation moved to Aberdeen where it was also welcomed by the President of Commonwealth Games Association (CGA), Dr. Patrick Coker, who also doubles as President of the National Olympic Committee of Sierra Leone (NOC-SLE).

Meanwhile, today Thursday, 16th March, 2017, the relay will start in Freetown at the Freetown City Council around 10 A.M, meeting Mayor Bode Gibson and then head to Standard Chartered Bank.

From the bank, the Baton will then travel to State House, the National Museum and other places.

A further visitation will be made on Friday with top athletes from various sporting disciplines as the Baton will take a move around Freetown and Fourah Bay College.

March 17, 2017 By Patrick Jaiah Kamara

L-R, SLeCDA’s Execcutive Secretatary, Director of ODA and Private Sector manager, ODA

The Executive Secretary of the Sierra Leone Chamber of Agribusiness Development (SLeCAD), Ahmed Nanoh, has urged the private sector to invest in agriculture ,which, he said remains to be the country’s biggest investment sector.

The SLeCAD chief was speaking at a presser held on Tuesday, March 14, 2017 at their Bathurst Street office in Freetown on the upcoming round table business conference scheduled for today (March 17) at the Cube Restaurant.

The confab, according to the SLeCAD boss, would be organised by the Sierra Leone Netherlands Business and Culture Council (SNBCC) in collaboration with his organisation and the Office of Diaspora Affairs (ODA), to discuss with business partners in the Diaspora, with a view to encouraging them to invest in the private sector.

He said business would only flourish in a country when the private sector is up and running but that the sector was dormant, which, he said posed a critical challenge to the growth of the economy of Sierra Leone.

 “We need to create the necessary jobs that would make our brothers and sisters that are yet to graduate from university. This would build their confidence that they would get jobs on completion of courses. We need to create the enabling atmosphere for the private sector to be able to move the economy. The government would capacitate and build the necessary infrastructures needed to make life better for everyone.  What would make any country to move forward or to get to the level of development is when the private sector is up and running. And honestly speaking, that is a critical challenge we have in the country. The private sector is still dormant,” he said.

 He noted that just like Sierra Leone, agricultural sector was the biggest sector in the Netherlands and that the Dutch were helping other country’s economic growth.

“The agribusiness sector is one of the biggest investment sectors in our country. It anchors 75% of the population and contributes 53% of the GDP.It also has the potential to create 65% jobs in the country and has the potential to make our balance of payment positive. It has the potential to make sure that we are self- food sufficient and our country  become a middle income nation in the next decade if we can all make our effort to get the best from that sector,” Nanoh said.

Earlier, Private sector Manager of  ODA, Joseph Lansana, said his office was charged with three mandates including building the capacity of ministries departments and agencies, tracking remittance, and promoting private sector in the country.

He said their interest in the entire engagement was to link local investors with their counterpart in the Diaspora as they believed local entrepreneurs have the idea and resilient, but the resources were not available.

“For this time, we have come together to bring a forum that will include Diasporas to see the better ways that we can develop our country through investment and how the Diaspora growth can attract other foreign nationals to come and invest,” he said.

SNBCC coordinator, Binta Jalloh, said her office was to link business from Netherlands to Sierra Leone, with a view to promoting the private sector.

“This invent will serve as an opportunity for a sustainable collaboration for companies and  organisations that are based in sierra Leone to share common ideas, skill, values and possible resources for the establishment of an effective and efficient business relationship that would ensure economic  growth in the country. The Netherlands is very good in business especially in agriculture. The SNBCC will serve as a platform to promote a very healthy business environment for the existing and upcoming entrepreneurs from both countries,” Ms. Jalloh said

She noted that at the end of the Friday’s conference, they would come up with six business cases that they would be presented to the Dutch investors on April 6 at the Heineken House, Amsterdam, Netherlands for onward presentation to Dutch companies that Sierra Leone was ready for business.

“I believe the Netherlands would play a great role in the private sector development in the country. Already the Dutch are here and the Netherlands government is very supportive of this initiative,” she said.

Lawmakers caution ministers on signing agreements

 March 17, 2017 By Jariatu S. Bangura

 As Parliament yesterday ratified two loan agreements for the rehabilitation and extension of the Bo-Kenema Power Services (BKPS), lawmakers have cautioned ministers and other dignitaries to consult MPs first before signing agreements and loans on behalf of sierra Leoneans.

 The loan and protocol agreements, which amounted to fifty- three million and eighty-nine thousand, nine hundred and eleven United States dollars (US$53,089,911.06) was signed between the government of Sierra Leone and the African Development Fund, dated 22^nd November, 2016.

Hon. Sualiho M. Koroma of the main opposition Sierra Leone People’s Party(SLPP) stated that when agreements were to be signed on behalf of the people of Sierra Leone, ministers and others should first inform members of parliament, as most times the public bashed at them when wrong agreements were signed and ratified.

“As representatives of the people, we will not thought it wise to reject such agreements or loans  as the country is in need of such loans or grants facilities, therefore we should be considered,” he said, adding that the project should be given thorough attention in the rehabilitation aspect as such was lacking in the country.

Also,Hon. Mohamed Sidie Tunis of the SLPP , stated that several electricity loans and agreements have been ratified by MPs, yet the Western Area continues to experience power failure, thus  encouraging the Ministry of Energy and the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority to put lot of effort in the implementation process .

He urged that both the implementers and the Ministry of Finance should sensitise people living along the project site, as expensive cables have been stolen in the past, which led to delay in the implementation of some projects.

He noted that such dilemma should not be tolerated again in the two cities respectively, adding that compensation should also be given to the affected persons long the project communities for them to have sustainable energy supply.

During his presentation, Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Momoh Vandi, said the BKPS emerged after the Chinese Government built the Dodo dam in the latter part of 1970s to early 1980 to supply electricity to Kenema, adding that since Bo was just 42miles from Kenema, it was agreed to extend the transmission line of the project to the township, so that the two cities can benefit from the hydro power that was generated from the dam that was constructed.

He stated that the dam was originally 4megawatts but was increased to 6megawatts in the early part of 2000. During the dry season when the available hydropower drops to extremely low levels; he said the use of captive power generation was widespread and imposed high cost of production, adding that the industrial and commercial business sector has to rely on expensive captive diesel-fire generators.

Minister Vandi stated that the two cities have grown tremendously and that most of the inhabitants were outside the power grid ,adding that an insulated power system covers an area populated by slightly more than 500,000 inhabitants, noting that the distribution networks supply power to 10,509 customers in Bo, 6762 in Kenema and 250 customers in Blama, leaving more than 75% of the population area without access to electricity.

He maintained that the strategic relevance of the project cannot be over emphasized, because it would provide reliable electricity supply and access to electricity to majority of the people in Bo and Kenema by the rehabilitation, upgrade and expansion of the distribution networks.

The project, he said is also expected to cater for the newly developed communities with access to electricity, and that the provision of reliable and affordable electricity will promote private sector development and increase economic activities in the beneficiary towns and communities.

Kambia residents fetch water from unprotected source

March 20, 2017 By Joseph S. Margai

Kambia residents fetching water from a hand-dug-well (left), a girl and a woman carrying water fetched from Kolenten River (right)

Residents of Kambia town have now resorted to fetching water  from the salty and unprotected Kolenten River for domestic use, after the Sierra Leone Water Company (SALWACO) increased its water rate.

Kolenten River passes through Magbema chiefdom but taste salty during the dries.

One of the residents,Salamatu Turay,told Concord Times that they decided to fetch water from the Kolenten River because they could afford to pay the water   rate demanded  by SALWACO.

“Previously, we used to pay ten thousand Leones (Le10,000) for a whole month to fetch water from the taps  in Kambia. Later, that amount was ignored by the providers of the water. We were then asked to pay five hundred Leones (Le500) for three jerry cans of water. It was going on well until recently when we were asked to pay five hundred Leones (Le500) for only two jerry cans of water,” she explained.

She noted that they can’t afford to pay Le500 for two jerry cans of water because of the prevailing economic hardship in their community.

Zainab Sankoh, another woman that was interviewed while trying to fetch water from a hand-dug well in Kambia town, said they have been fetching water from the well because they could not afford to pay the Le500.

“This water is not pure as compared to the one provided by SALWACO, but we don’t pay a cent fetch water from here. We have resisted and raised our concerns to several authorities in the township including the paramount chief but nothing has been done to address our plight,” she stated.

However, Paramount Chief of Magbema chiefdom, P.C Bai Farma Tass Bubu N’gbak IV, said the water project was funded by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which provided over eight million United States Dollars (US$8m) to provide water to the people of Kambia town. He disclosed that there were about 100 public taps constructed in the township.

 “When the supply of water started in the town, the members of the water and sanitation board were asking people to pay fifteen thousand Leones (Le15,000) per month and that anyone could fetch as much water as he or she could. But the people resisted paying that amount, saying that it was too much for them. The proceeds from this process were used to pay staff, buy fuel to operate the pumping station and to also buy chemicals to purify the water,” he explained.

He disclosed that for the first two months, they were not realising much, because people refused to pay the rate and instead fetch water elsewhere, adding that the amount of money needed to run the taps was twenty nine million Leones (Le29m) a month.

He said they were only collecting nine million Leones (Le9m) per month, which, he said was not enough to address the problems of the Board.

He recalled that previously, they used to provide water twice a day and that they reversed the said decision because people were resisting to pay for the service.

He noted that they later decided to provide it once after every two days because people were going elsewhere to fetch water.

“SALWACO was subsidising the fuel aspect for us but things became so difficult that they had to stop doing that. During the Ebola period, we were having support from the National Emergency Response Centre (NERC) to provide water to treatment centres and everybody was enjoying the facility. At the moment, we have to take strong decision to ensure that water is frequently supplied to us,” he said.

He added that the board took a decision to demand Le500 for three jerry cans of water after NERC withdrew its support.

 “We decided to reduce the number of jerry cans from three to two for Le500 because of the increase in the pump price of fuel. The tariff is minimal, compared to the sachet of water which also costs Le500. People are still grumbling but we need money to keep the process going,” he said.

…Yainkain Kamara narrates ordeals

 March 20, 2017 By Joseph S. Margai

Yainkain Kamara in dire need of medical treatment in or out of Sierra Leone

Yainkain Kamara, a woman in her early twenties, has narrated to Concord Times as to how she has been in pain for five years, suffering from tooth ache with swollen jaw.

She resides at Gbaray Nonkoh, a village in the Magbema chiefdom, Kambia district, northern Sierra Leone.

She narrated that five years ago, her tooth started aching  but that she hadn’t  money to go for treatment at the hospital, hence resorted to taking herbs to cure the ache.

“The herbs could not cure the tooth ache but has rather worsened the situation. My entire mouth is now swollen and I find it difficult to chew solid food,” she said in tears.

Yainkain Kamara’s situation is so serious that the entire villagers are calling on the government and other humanitarian organisations to help her access treatment in or out of the country.

March 17, 2017 By: Jonathan Abass Kamara

Senior Gynecologist Specialist and Hospital Care Manager, Dr. Alimamy Philip Koroma

The Government of Sierra Leone has procured medical supplies and life- saving equipment worth millions of Leones to intensify effective and efficient quality obstetrics gynecology and new born services at the Princess Christian Maternity and Ola During Children’s Hospital in Freetown.

The equipment and medical supplies include examination beds, wheel chairs, electrical safety Analyzer, Digital thermometer, patient’s trolley, Bed linens, mattresses and surgical equipment.

Handing over the items, the Acting Deputy Chief Pharmacist, Mr. Dennis Thomas reiterated government’s commitment to provide affordable and accessible quality health care delivery services to the nation, adding that the items mainly surgical equipment would go a long way in providing efficient life- saving services especially to our vulnerable women and children.

Mr. Thomas disclosed that the items were procured by the Government and that there are more items in store that would help equip the doctors and nurses to ensure quality delivery services in a conducive working environment.

Receiving the items, the Senior Gynecologist Specialist and Hospital Care Manager, Princess Christian Maternity Hospital, Dr. Alimamy Philip Koroma noted the efforts of President Koroma in the fight against maternal, child and newborn mortality in the country and reiterated their commitments and dedication to ensure that the aspiration of the President towards saving the lives of the very many vulnerable women and children is accomplished within the framework of the Free Health Care Policy

He described the arrival of the items as timely noting that they would help address part of the major challenges and life-saving interventions. The equipment, he reiterated will help reduce maternal mortality as well as providing them a smooth sailing working environment.

Dr. Koroma told his audience that the Electrical Safety Analyzer among the items is key, and would take them a long way as it had been absent for a long period.

He noted the continued strides by the Minister of Health and Sanitation and the Chief Medical Officer towards complimenting the efforts of the President and the Government in building a resilient health system across the country, and assured the Ministry and the Government that the items would be used judiciously.

At the Ola During Children’s Hospital, the Matron Fatmata Kargbo lauded the government for providing the items, describing them as an appreciative gesture to beef up service delivery.

She said their unit is core within the Free Health Care initiative, and on behalf of the Hospital Care Manager thanked the government, and promised to utilize the items for the intended purpose.

March 20, 2017 By Ibrahim Tarawallie

The British Council has been providing its own little support in various areas to help improve Sierra Leone’s educational  system, with the training of teachers and lecturers being one of their interventions.

As the United Kingdom’s international organisation for educational and cultural relations, the council recently funded the training of English lecturers attached to teacher training colleges in some parts of the country to help improve their teaching skills.

The training at Njala University campus in Bo, south of the country, brought together a total of thirty-six lecturers from Njala, Freetown Teachers College, Eastern Polytechnic, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma University of Science and technology in Makeni and Porto Loko respectively.

During the three-day training, the facilitators; Fiona Rowand from the UK and Dr. Saidu Challay from Njala exposed participants to the introduction and familiarisation of the Tech English Radio (TER) series 4 Programme as a product of the classroom and were taught how to use the 12 modules in the programme in the classroom.

Also, participants reflect on student-centered learning as exemplified in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology’s recently written English Lesson Plans for Primary and Junior Secondary School grades.

According to the Project Delivery Coordinator at British Council, Umaru Fofanah, the aimed of the training which is under the council’s Professional Development English project, was to help in strengthening the role of student centered learning in teacher training college curriculum and practice.

He said participants were expected to cascade what they have learnt top their colleague teachers in their different colleges which was why they labeled the training as ‘Training of Trainers’ workshop.

He stated it is their expectation that teachers would use the TER series 4 materials and adapt them as modules in classroom sessions and discussed modules in the series during staff-room meetings to enhance better understand and sharing of best practices.

Mr. Fofanah urged participants to help popularize the TER series 4 programme to teacher trainees, while also listening to the radio to understand their roles in organizing phone-in- discussion programs at radio stations to better explain the programme context.

“We expect teachers to produce an action plan of how the student centered learning will be integrated into the Teacher Training College curriculum with particular exploitation of lesson plans, TER and any other materials produced,” he stated.

March 20, 2017 By Hassan Gbassay Koroma 

The Japan Government, through the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects Proramme (GGHSP) at the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), has made a grant of one hundred and fifty-five thousand United States Dollars equivalent to approximately one billion, one hundred million Leones to two communities in Sierra Leone.

Speaking at the signing of the grant at the JICA Office in Freetown, the Japanes Ambassador to Sierra Leone, H.E Kaoru Yoshimura, said it was a great pleasure for him to be at the ceremony.

He said the grant was made to Self Help and Development Everywhere (SHADE) in the Kambia district and Partners for Education and Community Empowerment in the Bombali district respectively.

He said SHADE would receive $82,122 for the construction of a safe home for sexual and gender based violence victims in the Kambia District, while Partners for Education and Community Empowerment in Bombali would receive $72,887 for the construction of a primary school in Magbonto.

He encouraged both organisations to use the funds judicious and ensure that the facilities are sustained for generations ahead.

“I hope these projects would contribute to the development of Sierra Leoneans and further deepen the cordial relation between Sierra Leone and Japan,” he said

In her statement, the Programme Manager of Self Help and Development Everywhere (SHADE), Christiana Y. Khanu, said as part of the United Nations Security Council’s Resolution (UNSCR) on women, peace and security, and UNSCR resolution on sexual violence, Sierra Leone has committed itself to undertake all appropriate legislative measures for the implementation of women’s rights.

She said over the years, Sierra Leone has enacted many laws on women’s rights and Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV), as well as led initiatives that include the establishment of Family Support Units and national GBV Steering Committee.

She further noted that the unprecedented abuses against women and girls in Kambia District triggered SHADE- Sierra Leone to initiate consultations in the form of community engagements and discussions, with major players especially women and opinion leaders in the district on the establishment of a safe home for Sexual Gender Based Violence victims in the district.

“Today our dreams have come true with the help of our partners from the people and government of Japan through their GGHSP Programme. Investing in such a project to end SGBV in Sierra Leone is faced with enormous challenges but  SHADE- Sierra Leone is optimistic that they are surmountable only when we adopt a holistic approach in dealing with it,” she said.

On his part, Project Director for Partners for Education and Community Empowerment, Rachel E. Tarawalie, said the overall objective of the grant contract is to complement the effort of Sierra Leone Government and to improve the quality of education in Bombali District.

She said her organisation has over the years embarked on a wide range of programmes designed to improve the lives of its beneficiaries in the area of education, agriculture and advocacy.

She said the signing of the grant will serve as a strong basis to ensure that the vulnerable rural communities have access to quality education.

March 20, 2017 By Hassan Gbassay Koroma

 In his first step of his UBA tour of Africa to propagate the ideal of Afri-capitalism and in continuation of his strategic vision of engineering a robust economic and business relationship across the continent through Africapitalism as a necessary tool for the socio economic development of Africa,   the Group Chairman UBA Plc, and Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Tony O. Elumelu, last week addressed hundreds of Ghanaian youths, academics and entrepreneurs in Accra Ghana.

Speaking at the prestigious University of Ghana, Legon, he said the serial entrepreneur who at the young age of 34, became the Managing Director of one of Nigeria’s top banks (Standard Trust Bank), reiterated the usefulness of preparedness.

He expunged on the qualities that make a successful entrepreneur and that the first is dedication, then vision, focus, ambition, and our ability to do things when we want to do them. And that they must always remain laser focused and aim to execute to perfection.

 “I saw us grow a bank from five branches to 1000 branches with presence in 19 African countries and in Paris, London and New York. The lesson here is start small, have a purpose, be disciplined, think long term,’ he said.

 He went on further to stress  that entrepreneurship and not philanthropy, is key to achieving poverty reduction and empowering Africans to solve our challenges without dependence on aid from western countries.

 “Knowledge has no currency or value. It is priceless, and there is no greater gift than the gift of knowledge. Africans must come up with innovative, home grown solutions for challenges we continue to face,” he said.

 He added that UBA embraces this innovation and that UBA was the first bank to encourage customers to come and bank with zero account balance.”

Earlier during the working visit, on Monday, Tony Elumelu met with the President of Ghana, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo where they held fruitful discussions on matters of mutual benefit as well as deliberated on issues geared towards the growth and development of Finance and entrepreneurship in Ghana.

At the meeting with the president, Mr. Elumelu stated he was indeed delighted to be on the historic visit to Ghana which has been a shining light of UBA’s business across Africa.

He said it was a great opportunity for to meet with and congratulate the newly elected president of Ghana, His Excellency Nana Akufo-Addo and to extend our readiness to partner with his administration in the rapid development of Ghana and Africa at large.

March 20, 2017 By Sahr Morris Jnr 

 President of Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA), Isha Johansen, says the outcome of the African Football governing body, CAF elections was a good picture for the continent football.

Johansen was amongst the 54 delegates, who voted in the just concluded polls that put an end to Issa Hayatou’s 29 years of administration.

Madagascar Football Association boss, Ahmad Ahmad, secured 34 votes, while the veteran administrator, Hayatou, secured 20 votes in the Thursday’s poll.

For the SLFA president ,who herself was elected into the new Confederation of African Football executive committee, defeating Lydia Nsekera 35 -12, the outcome of the election was  the change they were talking about and wanted.

“’I’m happy, elated, it is great. This is the change we were talking about and it is good for African football,” she said.

”I want people to understand that this was not a campaign against personalities.This was about changing the face and image of the African continent through football – and changing African football for the better.”

Isha Johansen becomes the first Sierra Leonean to be elected as a CAF Executive Committee member from 2017 – 2021. She was also recently appointed into the FIFA sub-committee – the FIFA Members Association Committee.

The SLFA boss who was elected unopposed on 3 August, 2013 as the first female FA boss in Sierra Leone,is the only female Football Association president in the world presently.

March 20, 2017 By Sahr Morris Jnr 

Sierra Leone striker, Alhaji Kamara, together with four others, has joined United Soccer League (USL) club, Richmond Kickers, on loan from Major League Soccer side D.C. United.

Kamara, defender, Chris Durkin, goalkeeper, Eric Klenofsky, midfielder, Chris Odoi-Atsem and Maxim Tissot, will play in the United States second tier league side throughout the 2017 season, pending USL, MLS and U.S. Soccer approval.

Confirming the move on their website, Kickers coach, Leigh Cowlishaw, said he’s pleased not only with the skill but also the enthusiasm of the D.C. United players selected for duty in Richmond for the upcoming season.

He sai: “All seem “excited and motivated, they’re eager to prove themselves. They’re eager to make an impact. That’s always an important component” when players are dispatched on loan from one organization to another.

The 22-year-old native of Sierra Leone, scored the fastest goal in MLS history by a player making his debut when he hit the bull’s-eye with 33 seconds elapsed in D.C. United’s May 27, 2016 match against Sporting Kansas City. He has appeared four times with Sierra Leone’s national team, Leone Stars.

Kamara began his youth career with FC Kallon in the Sierra Leone National Premier League, before moving on loan to Swedish first division side, Djurgårdens IF in 2012 and eventually signing with IFK Norrköping in 2014.  After a brief loan stint in Malaysia in 2015, he was recalled to IFK Norrköping, where he scored seven goals in 13 appearances to lead the Swedish side to the league title.

-Says UDM Flagbearer aspirant

March 22, 2017 By Victoria Naomi Saffa & Elizabeth Kaine

UDM Flagbearer Aspirant, Pastor Yunku Kanu

Aspiring flagbearer of the United Democratic Movement (UDM) Party, Pastor Yunku Kanu, has said his party was prepared to take over State House come 2018.

The UDM aspiring flagbearer, who also doubles as the National Executive Chaplain of the Party, made the above statement yesterday during an exclusive interview with Concord Times at his party Headquarters on Pademba Road in Freetown on how UDM party was involved in the voter registration process.

“UDM is a structured political party and we have representatives in all the regions that are monitoring the registration process. We have also sent a second list to the National Electoral Commission (NEC) for accreditation so that we can have more representatives in all the centres,” he said.

He said he has tagged the voter registration process as “operation change the system” because it is through the exercise that they could vote the governing All People’s Congress (APC) out of power.

He urged on all Sierra Leoneans within the voting age of 18 and above to come out in their numbers and register, so that they can change the system.

“It is our responsibility as a party to monitor the registration exercise and all members of UDM including the executive members have taken a bold step in doing massive sensitisation so that people can go out and register,” he stated.

He noted that  people have been accusing the UDM as an APC affiliate, but stated the party is an independent political party that has all its mandates  from the Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC).

 “I have registered in my constituency on Monday morning and I have also urged members in my constituency to register,” he said.

However, Concord Times could authoritatively say that there was no UDM representative in most of the centres that its reporters visited in the east end of Freetown.

 The political parties’ representatives that were seen at the registration centres were from the ruling All People’s Congress (APC) and the main opposition Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP).

 March 22, 2017 

The China-Aid Agricultural Technical Team to Sierra Leone, has on Tuesday 21^st of March 2017, donated consignment of fertilizers, vegetable seeds and other materials to farmers in the western rural communities at Ogoo Farm west of Freetown.

Chinese Ambassador H.E. WU Peng and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security, Professor Monty Jones attended the ceremony. While making statement at the handing over ceremony of the agricultural items in Ogoo Farm, Ambassador WU Peng told the farmers that he was happy to witness such event wherein the Chinese government was extending support to the local farmers.

He disclosed that, as an outcome of H.E. President Koroma’s state visit to China, the Chinese government would ship 6,300 metric tons of rice for Sierra Leoneans and that expert training in agriculture would be given to locals Sierra Leoneans in China.

“I am also very glad to announce that China is working actively on the training programs in the agriculture sector for Sierra Leone and is going to send 60 participants to China for training in agricultural related courses including agricultural administration, rice planting, road beautification and so on.” The Ambassador said

Ambassador WU Peng pointed out that, China has been carrying on the Agricultural Technical Cooperation with Sierra Leone for more than forty years. He went on to note that, China has sent agricultural experts and set up cooperation site at district level in the country including Freetown, Kenema, Bo and other places across the country.

In his contribution, the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security, Professor Monty Jone said, he was delighted for the gesture and that Agriculture was fundamental for the country development. Prof. Jones pointed out that all developed countries in across the world has used agriculture as key priority for development over the years.

He said the items giving to the farmers would boost both production and productivity in the agricultural sector. He noted that, in the past with the help of the Chinese government, Sierra Leone was able to export rice to neighboring countries within the sub-region. He also highlighted that, the Chinese president, XI Jinping, while attending the Johannesburg Summit of Forum on China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in 2015 made a commitment to invest heavily in Africa and since then, there has been more expert coming to the country to help in the area of not only infrastructure but also in agriculture.

The Agriculture Minister stressed on the relationship between China and Sierra Leone as one that is helping the country to develop, pointing the role played by China during the Ebola outbreak as show of outstanding and remarkable.

“This is real friendship, a friendship that wants to see Sierra Leone grow economically. We are happy with this kind of friendship, because a friend in need is a friend indeed.” The Minister said.

Stevens Fallah, Chairman of Ogoo Farm farmers’ association thanked the Chinese Ambassador and the Minister of Agriculture for their support over the years, but also mentioned there are still lot works to do to meet the challenges which farmers like him was facing now.

March 22, 2017 By Victoria Naomi Saffa

Senior Investigator of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) from the Northern Province, Umaru Sesay, yesterday testified before Justice John Bosco Allieu on the alleged misappropriation of Ebola funds by officials of The Needy Today (TNT).

The ACC has dragged  Dauda Ahmid Koroma, Jesse Jim Brima Kpagoi and Alfred Mustapha Bangura to the High Court of Sierra Leone on twenty-four counts of corruption related offences, contrary to the ACC Act of 2008.

Sesay told the High Court  that in December, 2015, he received information from Sulaiman Bah, Internal Auditor of GOAL, against the TNT officials in relation to the implementation of a project called ‘Consolidated Action for Protection and Empowerment’ (CAPE) project to be implemented in 13 chiefdoms.

He testified that GOAL allocated the sum of Le346, 450,000 to TNT to target victims of Ebola Virus Disease.

“I asked the Internal Auditor at GOAL for statement and  he produced documents including bank statement and  bank payment slips. Slips from Rokel Commercial Bank containing names like Magbinti community hospital, Abu Wise Enterprise and Joseph Conteh, among other names, were made available to me,” he said.

The witness said the above documents were also handed over to him by TNT staffs, adding that the said project targeted five thematic areas including Nutrition, child support, psychosocial support, Gender-Based Violence, and the Aged.

He said the TNT was the implementing agency, while GOAL was the funder.

“As a result, 67% of the total sum of the project was deposited into the TNT’s Rokel Commercial Bank account,” he said

According to the ACC, the trio on a date unknown between 25^th August, 2015 and 6^thJanuary, 2016 in the Northern Region of the Republic of Sierra Leone, being the Executive Director, Programme Manager and Finance Officer of the TNT respectively, dishonestly misappropriated donor funds meant for “Protection of Vulnerable Groups during the Ebola Outbreak Response” project, the sum of three hundred and forty-six million four hundred and fifty thousand Leones (Le346, 450,000).

Meanwhile, the accused persons have been remanded in custody while the matter was adjourned to 27th March, 2017.

March 22, 2017 By Kerifalah Janneh

The president of Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA), Madam Isha Johansen, has been elected as executive member in CAF committee.

The ceremony, which was held on Thursday, 16^th March, 2017 in Addis Ababa, Ethopia, saw madam Johansen getting new international recognition.

Johansen was elected president of the SLFA unopposed on August 3^rd, 2013, after her main contender, former Sierra Leone international footballer, Mohamed Kallon, was disqualified by the Sierra Leone Football Executive committee for not meeting the SLFA residency requirement in the country.

Madam Johansen returned home on Friday, 18^th March, 2017 and was joyfully received by SLFA Executive, football family, well wishes at the Lungi International Airport.

Speaking during a well-attended ceremony at the Kingtom football academy in Freetown, Chairman of the occasion, Abdul Rahaman Swaray, congratulated madam Johansen on her victory to a highly enviable and contested position in Africa’s most popular game that is male dominated.

 He said Johansen had made an indelible history for Sierra Leone, thus calling on compatriots to support her dreams as more good things were in the pipe line for the country’s most wanted game.

In his remark, Honourable Francis Amara Kowa of constituency 107, described madam Johansen as hard working woman and appealed to her to embrace all football stakeholders with open hands.

“You should work and listen to everyone in the interest of the game and the country,” he said.

Madam Johansen thanked all those who supported her during the struggle and dedicated her victory to all Sierra Leoneans. She called on all football family to push the game to another level.

Similar sentiments were expressed by the Vice President of SLFA, Brima Mazola Kamara and the Husband of Madam Johansen, Arne Birger Johansen, a Norwegian Counsel.

March 22, 2017 By Regina Pratt

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in collaboration with the Centre for Human Rights from the University  of Pretoria, South Africa, will today commence  a training workshop on the Maputo Protocol at the Bintumani Hotel, Aberdeen in Freetown.

In a letter dated 17^th March, 2017, the Director-General &Ambassador-at-Large in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that his ministry has the opportunity to host the training workshop on state reporting obligations under the Maputo Protocol, which is the optional Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa 2003, noting that Sierra Leone ratified this protocol on 2^nd July, 2015 and the initial report on the implementation and compliance of this Protocol is due later this year.

“Sierra Leone has been working hard over the years to improve the status of women and girls in society as demonstrated in the enactment of the gender Acts by Parliament. These Acts include the Sexual Violence Act of 2002, Registration of Customary Marriage Act, which provides that the consensual age of marriage should be 18 years, thereby prohibiting early marriages, Divorce Act, Devolution of Estates which makes provision for women to inherit their husbands properties upon his death and the Domestic Violence Act which prohibits violence of any form against women and girls,” the Foreign Affairs Ministry letter dated 17^th March, 2017, stated.

The letter further stated that the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria in South Africa, works to promote the rights of women and girls on the African continent through supporting the work of the Special rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa, and strengthening implementation and compliance with the African Union Protocol to the African Charter on human and People’s Rights and the Rights of Women.

March 22, 2017 By Ahmed & Lahai 

The launching of the training exercise was based on installation, maintenance and business operations for solar systems.

It was held at the Ministry of Youth Affairs which saw in attendance of representatives of youths from different Ataya base Organisations across the country and various stakeholders within the Energy sector.

Speaking on behalf the Minster of Youth, Permanent Secretary, Adikali Samura specified that as the training has incorporated young and dynamic youths across the board, they should consider it as their future goal.

He encouraged them to be self-reliant and ensure that they utilise the training to empower not only themselves but others who would be interested in capacitating themselves through the Renewable Energy Revolution.

The Executive Director for Campaign for Good Governance, Valnorah Edween, expressed the need to achieve sustainable development goal on energy.

She made a clarion call for young and dynamic women’s participation in the energy sector, noting that women should take advantage to capacitate themselves whenever there was an opportunity.

She emphasised on the need to uphold integrity at the highest esteem, noting that they should be transparent when they start actualizing their potentials on the skill learnt from the training exercise.

The Country Director of Ignite Power, Herman Chinez-Hesse in his statement said that after the training exercise, a solar unit which constitute light, a charger, radio, meter and a solar plate would be given to the trainees to carry out their functions.

He intimated that a total cost of Le46, 000 was required for the installation of a solar unit with an addition of Le14, 000 for weekly payment.

In this regard, he disclosed that potential customers would have right of ownership on solar unit after two years and noted that the aim of initiating the strategy was to ensure that light becomes pervasive in the country under the Renewable Energy Revolution.

Given the keynote address, the Minster of Energy, Amb. Henry Macauley informed the trainees that the launch was to showcase the evidence of solar installation in the country in fulfilling the objective of the recently signed Energy Compact last April.
He pinpointed that during his appointment to the office as Minister, his vision has been to electrify cities and provincial towns in accordance with the Energy Revolution Program that was launched by H.E Ernest Bai Koroma last April.

He noted that as electricity forms an integral part to the livelihood of Sierra Leoneans, “light is a right which every Sierra Leonean should enjoy,”.

He further educated all present that after the installation of these solar devices, they would produce energy within ten minutes, noting that the devices are useful to residents and local business enterprises across the country.

Taking into consideration the contract signed by H.E Ernest Bai Koroma in 2012 to empower the youth, the Minister stated that electricity has the power to turn all wheels of strategic areas like health, education, agriculture and the business sector as well.

He noted that youth empowerment in the energy sector is vital for the development of these areas. He encouraged them to start considering themselves as employers instead of employees, noting that they are the future contributors in society.

Minister Macauley continued that to enhance the energy sector, the Ministry has combined generation with the installation of solar devices to ensure that electricity supply is pervasive in the whole country. He said the project embraces the President’s Agenda for Prosperity and the President Priority Recovery Program, adding that president Koroma is trying through the energy sector to come out with creative ideas to enhance electricity supply throughout the country.

He thanked and appreciated the Ataya base members (an umbrella group) for being part of the developmental strides with the government on Renewable Energy.

Minister Macauley concluded that the ushering of Ignite Power in the energy sector would create a platform for private sector inclusion and provide sustainable solutions for rural electrification. He thanked Ignite Power for their active step towards ensuring that solar home systems electricity supply becomes visible across the country.

March 22, 2017 BY: Alimamy Lahai Kamara

Thirty-five ministries, departments, and agencies including the Sierra Leone Police, and Sierra Leone Correctional Service have renewed commitment in tackling bribery in Bo District following PNB reports that the District is reporting high incidences of bribery. At an MDA partnership meeting at the Ministry of Agriculture compound in Bo, institutions pledged to cooperate with the Anti-Corruption Commission to address bribery and other forms of corruption malpractices.

ACC Regional Manager South, Samuel Marah, said the meeting is timely to provide status report on the six months pilot phase of the PNB ending this March. He said partners need to know to continue to take action to tackle the bane while the project is being rolled out. “Partners need to know where we were, where we are, and where we are heading to with regards the PNB campaign,” Samuel Marah added.

Mr. Marah said every institution has a role to play in the PNB. Ministries of agriculture, sports, Lands, Mines, Sierra Leone Roads Authority, Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority, National Commission for Social Action, Immigration, and National Revenue Authority – all have increased responsibility to institute administrative measures intolerant to bribery and corruption. Heads of MDAs, who attended the meeting, are expected to sensitize their staff on the PNB especially on how to make reports on their experiences relating to bribery.

Bribery continues to pose serious problems in Sierra Leone, undermining the rule of law, disrupting trade and investment, hindering quality education, hampering health service delivery, and forestalling electricity supply. To tackle this problem requires a dedicated partnership and collaboration among institutions managing government finances, administering and enforcing the law, generating revenue, and providing these essential social services. According to the ACC Regional Manager, institutions must share intelligence, pool resources, develop and institute accountability and transparency mechanism, and design and implement policies regulating behavior in the workplace in order to make gains in sector growth, hence in national development.

District Medical Officer, Dr. A.S Turay, who chaired the meeting, said the prosperity of Sierra Leone lies in her own hands. This means sectors have to stay focused in providing basic services touching on the livelihood of the common man. Heads of institutions have to be patriotic and genuine to ensure health services administered, electricity supplied, water distributed, education provided, agriculture produced, and security delivered. According to Dr. Turay, Sierra Leone will grab the many opportunities on the path towards prosperity when the fundamental stumbling block of bribery is tackled and addressed.

Retired Brigadier Daniel Sesay from Bo District Delivery Team noted that institutions are delivering on the President’s Recovery Priorities. In spite of teething challenges, agricultural feeder roads and bridges are being constructed linking farming communities; SALWACO has commenced connection and distribution of water; school feeding programme is on course and Integrity Management Committees in the ministries are getting ready to monitor public exams and enrolment; PNB is gaining wide acceptance. EDSA and EGTC are delivering on electricity; distribution of anti-malaria drugs has begun to PHUs where bribery complaints are on the increase; and the SLP has demolished 9 checkpoints across the District to prevent bribery in the traffic.

It is evident that sustaining these achievements requires MDAs to strengthen their partnership with the ACC and renew commitment in tackling bribery through the PNB campaign.

March 22, 2017 By Sahr Morris Jnr

Reaction from the chairman Mago & Sports minister after SLFA boycott 

Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) on Tuesday boycotted the inaugural ceremony of the newly elected Western Area Football Association (WAFA) executive which took place at the Siaka Steven Stadium presidential lounge in Freetown.

The total absence of SLFA officials or their representatives was noticed when they were called upon to deliver a statement as the parent football governing body in the country.

“We are calling  on SLFA to make a statement,” Mago announced, and after few seconds without a semblance of any executive member or a secretariat staff, he further asked: “do we have any representative from SLFA.”

The no show-up from the SLFA was received by a surprise high table which included the  Sports minister, Ahmed Khanou, his deputy, Ishmael Al Sankoh Conteh, and the Director of Sports, Ibrahim Bangura and the WAFA chairman, Foday Turay.

Meanwhile, Mohamed Jatu-a secretariat staff at WAFA confirmed that an invitation was sent to the SLFA secretariat a week before the said ceremony.

“We did deliver the invitation to the SLFA secretariat that was why we do add them in our program. The only people we called via mobile phones were the respective divisional club,” Jatu said.

Meanwhile, the SLFA cannot respond or react to the said issue, and the newly appointed head of media and marketing, Ibrahim Kamara aka IBK ,could not respond, but promised to react to the issues and other related information that were sought.

Foday Turay’s executive were elected in office on Friday, February 3rd, 2017 in a keen contested election which was postponed over six times.

WAFA is the largest constituency body under the SLFA.