March 22, 2017 By Sahr Morris Jnr

WAFA chairman receiving the Association constitution from Mago Tarawallie & Director of sports

 Chairman of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) membership, Idrissa Mago Tarawallie, has on Tuesday, March 21 inaugurated the newly elected Western Area Football Association (WAFA) executive.

The inauguration was performed at the Siaka Steven Stadium presidential lounge in the presence of the Sports minister, Ahmed Khanou, his deputy, Ishmael Al Sankoh Conteh and the Director of Sports, Ibrahim Bangura.

Before the official ceremony, the SLFA membership chairman, charged the new WAFA executive members, whom he described as unique team to bring their wealth of experience in the realisation of promoting the game.

He said: “Let me urge you all and the rest of the football family that we must now concentrate on development issues towards the growth of the game.  I hope all of us will be prepared to work and make the game great again.”

Deputy Sports Minister, Ishmael Al Sankoh Conteh, advised the new WAFA body to utilise the purpose of football during their reign in administration, adding that the game was a way of life and a means of providing opportunities for all.

Foday Turay, the WAFA chairman elects in addendum to the statement s of the deputy sports minister, said football has very great economic, educational amongst other impact in society.

He said his administration will take a different approach towards the improvement of the game within his region.

 Giving his keynote address, the Minister of Sports, Ahmed Khanou, implored the  newly elected executive and the WAFA membership to continue in building the reconciliation within the football family.

“We hope the peace in WAFA will be extended to the national football arena,” Khanou said.

The newly inaugurated executive include; Foday Turay –chairman, Pastor Philip Buck-Vice Chairman, Augustine Kambo- treasurer, Abir Bangura, Abu Malay Conteh, Junisa Tony Kallon and Ahmed Samba Turay- ex-offico members.

March 22, 2017 By Sahr Morris Jnr

 Ivory Coast have named former Belgium international Marc Wilmots as their new head coach to replace Michel Dussuyer.

The 48-year-old Wilmots was coach of Belgium between 2012 and 2016 and lead them to the World Cup in Brazil.

He was sacked in July 2016 after Belgium lost 3-1 to Wales in the quarter-finals of the European Championships.

Frenchman Dussuyer quit the Elephants after they exited the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations at the group stage.

Wilmots, who has signed a two-year contract with an option to renew, will get the chance to see his new charges in action almost immediately as Ivory Coast play two friendlies.

However he will not be in charge of the team for those matches, against Russia on Friday in Krasnador and then Senegal three days later in Franceas, as Ibrahim Kamara will be in temporary control.

The Belgian has been set the task of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia and the Africa Cup of Nations a year later.

Ivory Coast are top of their World Cup qualifying pool with four points from two matches, ahead of Gabon, Morocco and Mali, with only the group winners going to Russia.

When the Nations Cup campaign kicks off in June, the Elephants will battle it out with Guinea, Central African Republic and Rwanda for a place at the finals in Cameroon.

Credit: BBC

NOC-SLE president reaffirms two-term limit pledge

March 24, 2017 By Sahr Morris Jnr

NOC-SLE Dr. Patrick Coker

Incumbent President of the National Olympic Committee of Sierra Leone (NOC-SLE), Dr. Patrick Coker, has on Wednesday night re-affirmed his commitment to keep his bargain by serving the sports committee for only two consecutive terms.

Dr. Coker, who is set to be re-elected President on Saturday, March 25, in Bo District, Southern Sierra Leone, has in an exclusive interview with Concord Sports said he stand by his words to only run for two terms as President of the NOC-SLE.

“No, not true! I always said I would not do more than two terms & I stand by that,” said the medical doctor as he dismissed talks that he promised to only run for a single term during the 2013 elections campaign.

With no challenger for the said position ahead of the Saturday polls, Dr. Coker also doubles President of Sierra Leone Handball Association believes the NOC-SLE membership were satisfied with his administration within the past four years.

“He said: “If the membership were not satisfied during your first term, or if there was someone, who thinks he/she can do better, there would have been a challenger.”

“My first term, we were able to achieve a lot in areas of capacity building for coaches, officials and administrators. Good governance and transparency at the NOC-SLE, good cooperation and interaction with association executive, structural changes at the NOC and also the return of all athletes and officials after the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.”

Ahead of his second and final term, the NOC-SLE boss said he would continue with his existing programs, but focused on talents identification, concentrating on star athletes, marketing and local funds sourcing amongst others.

Dr. Coker was elected NOC-SLE president in 2013, when he succeeded, Henry G. Moore, who served the said position for more than two terms of four years each.

March 24, 2017 By Sahr Morris

Karate fighters after their last success in Mali

President of Sierra Leone Karate Federation, Victor E Amara, is eyeing gold medals in this year’s Zone II Championship in Conakry, Guinea.

Sierra Leone fighters will battle against opponent from Mali, Senegal, Guinea Bissau, Cape Verde, Mauritian, Gambia and the host nation Guinea for gold, silver and bronze medals, as the competition would get underway on Saturday, March 25.

According to a Sierra Leonean journalist, Festu J Lahai, who traveled with the team, the Karate Federation president has challenged his fighters to go out for the gold and silver medals this year.

During the 2016 tournament in Mali, the country won a-silver and five bronze medals, plus a golden trophy as the best behaved country. Such success was the country’s first in five years and now Amara wants his fighters to improve and achieve more success in Guinea.

“Our dream in this year Championship is to win gold medals for the people of Sierra Leone,” he said, adding that the championship is very important for his athletes and officials.

The Karate president however, expressed his disappointment for not receiving any financial support from the Sports Ministry/Sports Council, despite getting assurance from the Director of Sports, Ibrahim Bangura, before their departure.

He said: “I had to loan money from my friends of which I promised to refund as soon as I receive the money from the ministry/sports council.”

March 24, 2017 By Sahr Morris Jnr

l-r Alusine Gbow, Isatu Turay & coach Joseph Kamara

Sierra Leonean duo; Alusine Gbow and Isatu Turay on Thursday  departed  the country’s shores for Kampala, Uganda to compete in the 2017 IAAF World Cross Country Championships on Sunday.

The pair, who traveled along with Coach Joseph Kamara, will have to compete in the U-20n male and female category as the day’s competition is expected to attract over 557 athletes from 60 teams, a number that is said to surpass the figures from the previous six editions.

This year’s championship will also attract four athletes who are set to represent an Athlete Refugee Team in the mixed relay.

IAAF Cross Country Permit series, spread across seven meetings from November, 2016 to February, 2017, has whetted the appetite for the forthcoming championships and many of the top performers on the circuit are set to compete in Kampala.

Aweke Ayalew, winner of the men’s race in Burgos and Seville, will be aiming to win Bahrain’s first individual medal at the World Cross Country, having earned a team bronze medal in 2015.

Senbere Teferei, also a winner in Burgos and Seville, will be joined on the Ethiopian team by Muktar Edris, winner of the Campaccio meeting earlier this year. Teenager Selemon Barega, who triumphed at the Cinque Mulini meeting at the end of January, is Ethiopia’s leading hope of a medal in the U20 men’s race.

Uganda’s Timothy Toroitich, who won convincingly in Alcobendas last November, will captain the host nation’s team, while Almond Blossom winner Irene Cheptai forms part of a strong Kenyan senior women’s squad.

…SLPP demands

 March 27, 2017 By Mohamed Massaquoi

SLPP Chairman and Leader, Chief Somano Kapen: Not happy with twin voter and civil registration

The main opposition Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) has called on the National Electrical Commission (NEC) to unequivocally separate voter registration process from the civil registration, claiming that the move was a ploy by the ruling All Peoples Congress APC to manipulate the entire electioneering process in their favour, ahead of crucial elections in March 2018.

The party’s coordinator for National Voter Registration, Jacob Jusu Saffa, while addressing journalists last Saturday at the SLPP headquarters in Freetown, said since the start of voter registration on 20^th March, the SLPP has been monitoring the process throughout the country, having deplored agents in all the 3,300 registration centres.

He they were disturbed by the slow pace of the process and that they were worried that in several registration centres, particularly in Kailahun, Pujehun , Kenema,  Bonthe, and Bombali districts, the biometric machines have not been effectively functional.

He said the long time spent to register a person was primarily due to the fact that the voter registration has been merged with civil registration, which has no legal basis despite the fact that the SLPP and many civil society organisations had repeatedly called for a separation of the two processes.

He further cited the issue of low capacity of the registration staff, particularly the machine operators.

“The SLPP proposes that information requested at this stage be restricted to those required only for voter registration. We are urging NEC to separate these two processes in the interest of transparency and allow people to participate. There are reports of breakdown of machines due to battery problems even though NEC had informed all political parties that the solar panels can provide power for the machines for at least 10 hours a day and therefore no generator would be required. It is now abundantly clear that battery failure is key obstacle to uninterrupted registration,” said Saffa.

He added that before the start of the registration process, the SLPP had raised the issue of long distances to registration centres.

 ‘’SLPP is reliably informed that despite huge budgetary allocation of 209.534 billion in the 2017 budget, not more than Le10billion has so far been disbursed to NEC. This has constrained NEC to intensify its sensitisation campaign. There are media reports of huge donations by government ministers and other public officials from unknown sources to the ruling APC. Such huge donations is indicative of growing outcry of unexplained wealth, which should be subject to investigations,” he noted.

March 27, 2017 By Hassan Gbassay Koroma

Telecom, internet providers, NATCOM and consumers dialogue on tariffs last week

After a successful public private dialogue involving the National Telecommunication Commission, mobile companies, internet providers and civil society groups at Bintumani Hotel last Thursday, 23^rd March, 2017 the Consumer Protection Agency and Civil Society groups have given the green light to telecom operators in the country to increase their tariff.

The dialogue forum  was attended by  managing directors of various telecom operators, Internet Service Providers, Consumer Protection Agency, Civil Society Organisations, Market Women, Drivers Union, Okada Riders Union and Ataya Base Union.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Chairman of the National Telecommunication Commission, Momoh Konte, said the commission was established by an Act of Parliament in 2006, with responsibility to regulate telecom companies and promote the interest of consumers in making sure that they enjoy quality facilities provided by the said companies.

He said inasmuch as they were protecting the interest of consumers, they also have a responsibility to promoting the interest of GSM companies, so that they would continue to operate and provide employment for citizens.

He said the days were gone when GSM operators would just sit in their offices and increase tariff without any consultation with consumers, hence they at the National Telecommunication Commission of Sierra Leone introduced the Public Private Dialogue system, where consumers and stakeholders have the opportunity to meet with operators and dialogue on the issue of tariffs.

Also speaking, former Minister of Information and Communications, Hon. Ibrahim Ben-Kargbo, a member of the Communication Committee in Parliament, said telecom operators were confronted with lots of challenges due to the current dire economic situation in the country.

He said the lack of adequate electricity supply in the country was seriously affecting the operators, and that the increase in fuel prices, high foreign exchange rate and taxation were all affecting the communication industry in the country.

He urged operators to provide quality services to their consumers so that at the end of the day everybody would be satisfied.

However, Managing Directors from the various telecom companies and internet service providing companies highlighted their challenges, stressing on the wanton increase in fuel prices and the foreign exchange rate.

They also cited lack of sufficient electricity supply as precipitating an excessive use of fuel to provide services to customers; hence they have thought it fit to increase tariffs so that they would keep running their businesses.

Meanwhile, President and Chief Executive of the Consumer Protection Agency (CPA), Ibrahim Kabbia, and others agreed that due to the current situation in the country, telecom operators should increase their tariff, with the condition that they must provide quality services to consumers.

March 27, 2017 By Regina Pratt

1^st lady- Mrs. Sia Koroma concerned about women

The first lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Mrs. Sia Nyama Koroma, has stated that African women have for a long time been suffering severe human rights abuses both in private and public spheres.

Madam Koroma was speaking on Wednesday March 22, 2017 during the opening ceremony of a three-day workshop on the status reporting under the optional protocol of the African charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Human rights of Women in Africa-the Maputo Protocol.

“For  far too long now that African women have been  suffering severe human rights abuses both in private and public sphere”, she said, adding that they have been denied  of inheritance rights and excluded from participating  in the governance of their respective countries.

She said the protocol stands as a comprehensive instrument that demonstrates the good will of African states and ends all forms of discrimination, gender based and violence against women

Madam Koroma disclosed that the Sierra Leone Parliament ratified the protocol on the 2^nd July, 2015, with the belief that its articles were already enshrined in the 1991 Constitution and pillars 6 and 8 of the Agenda for Prosperity.

“Too many women and young girls are still suffering for lack of proper information and knowledge of their rights,” she said.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation ll, Mrs. Isata Kabia, noted in her keynote address that government needed to support women’s empowerment, adding that they should be champions, while men should be with them to move their agenda forward.

The minister said government was committed to supporting the rights of women as stated in the protocol.

She said Sierra Leone was the last out of the 37 countries to ratify the protocol, thus stating that the training was very important in achieving the goals of the protocol.

“The men have to do more in promoting women in achieving leadership roles,” she said.

Chief Justice Abdulai Hamid Charm, said the protocol has elaborate provisions which covered conceivable rights and freedoms that women folk sought, stating the protocol was a very comprehensive document that would lead to the total emancipation of women in Africa.

“With respect to the Domestic violence Act 2007 and the Sexual Offences Act 2012, the judiciary has always put premium on issues dealing with the abuse of women and girls in ensuring that such matters are tried speedily and decisively,” he said.

He said Sierra Leone has made tremendous strides in the area of protecting and promoting human rights, particularly women and children’s right.

March 27, 2017 By Hassan Gbassay Koroma

As the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme announced their 2017 entrepreneurship programme selection, six Sierra Leoneans from different field of entrepreneurship have been selected to receive skills training, mentoring and access to seed capital funding.

The selected Sierra Leoneans include Abdulsalam Kamara, Manufacturing Bockarie Sama Banya, Commercial and Retail Bridgetta Audrey Modupeh Amoateng, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming), Dominic Andrew Boima, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming), Henry Orlando Joseph Tucker, Agriculture (Agri-business, Farming) and Martin Kailie, Energy and Power respectively.

In could be recalled that in January, 2017 the Foundation opened its applications for the third cohort of the Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Programme (TEEP), with a further 1,000 entrepreneurs to be selected to join the 2017 edition of the programme.

In February, 2017 the Foundation through the United Bank for Africa Sierra Leone placed a 28 days advert on the major television stations in the country giving instructions on how to apply for the entrepreneurship.

However, according to the press release from Lagos, Nigeria dated 22^nd March, 2017 over 93,000 entrepreneurs, from 55 countries and territories in Africa, applied and that the application received in this 2017 was more than twice in 2016 ,and nearly four times 2015.

“The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) is proud to announce the selection of 1,000 African entrepreneurs, creating the 3^rd cohort of the 10-year, $100 million TEF Entrepreneurship Programme,” stated in the press release.

It further stated that over the next nine months, the 2017 Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurs will be trained and mentored, and will use the skills acquired to develop a business plan, adding that after having gone through the process,they will be eligible to receive up to $10,000 in seed capital.

The founder Tony Elumelu had once said their programme is a deliberate effort to institutionalise luck and provide the essentials for business growth to Africa’s next generation of business leaders, and that it is a demonstration of his faith in the generation’s ability to transform the African narrative, from the single story of disease and poverty, to one of enterprise and opportunity.

 “Standing here today to announce the successful applicants is bittersweet; we have 92,000 budding business leaders who weren’t selected for our Programme and these young African men and women have demonstrated a lot of energy innovation and creativity in their applications. We should not relent until we help them all realize their aspirations,” Founder, Tony O. Elumelu, said.

 The press release continued that the foundation’s long-term investment in empowering African entrepreneurs was emblematic of Mr. Elumelu’s philosophy of Africapitalism, which positions Africa’s private sector – and most importantly entrepreneurs – as the catalysts for the economic and social development of the continent.

 It says Agriculture leads the sectors with (29%) of applicants coming from this sector, followed by ICT (11%) and manufacturing (9%), reflecting the industries of interest for African startups. Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda and Cameroon produced the most applicants.

 According to the Chief Executive Officer of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Parminder Vir OBE, the achievements of each successive cohort was clear evidence of the growing transformative power of their Programme, and that they recently sampled 600 of their existing 2,000 entrepreneurs to analyse the Programme’s impact and have been impressed by the robustness and particularly impact on employment they are beginning to have.

She further that they have also partnered with organisations, including Microsoft, GE, ECOWAS, to provide further benefits to  entrepreneurs.”

 The Programme culminates in the TEF Entrepreneurship Forum – the largest annual gathering of African entrepreneurs and the full entrepreneurship ecosystem from across the continent, which brings together entrepreneurs, mentors and business and political leaders in October, for a two day event in Lagos, Nigeria.

The Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme is the flagship entrepreneurship programme of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, founded by the entrepreneur, respected investor and philanthropist Tony O. Elumelu.
The pan-African programme is inspired by the Founder’s inclusive economic philosophy of Africapitalism, based on the belief that a vibrant African-led private sector is the key to unlocking Africa’s economic and social potential, commitment to drive African economic growth through the fostering of African entrepreneurship, mission to institutionalize luck and create an environment where home-grown pan-African companies in various sectors can flourish.

The vision of the foundation is to establish the pre-eminent pan-African entrepreneurship programme and create 10,000 startups across Africa within the next 10 years that generate significant employment and wealth.

TEEP was launched in December 2014 by the Tony Elumelu Foundation with the target of creating one million new jobs, and US$10 billion in additional revenues for African economies. The Foundation pledged to invest US$100 million during the course of the 10 year initiative.

March 27, 2017 By Ibrahim Tarawallie

The stage has been set for this year’s International Trade Fair and Exhibition to be organised by the Sierra Leone Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, with over 200 participants expected to provide various services to Sierra Leoneans.

According to the President of the Chamber, Christopher Forster, business people would have the opportunity during this year’s event, which would run from March 30 to April 30, 2017, to discuss topical issues.

He informed journalists on Friday (March 24) that for the first time, a business forum would be organized to discuss pertinent issues relating to running a business with taxation being one of them.

Explaining the details about the event, Managing Director of Premier Media Consultancy, Dr. Julius Spencer stated that the official opening of the exhibition would take place on April 5, 2017 in order to allow exhibitors to fully set up their stands.

He said there would be exhibitors from a wide variety of business sectors in Sierra Leone, covering banking, insurance, manufacturing, clothing and textiles, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage and entertainment, among others.

“In addition, this year we are expecting exhibitors from Ghana, The Gambia, Guinea, Mali, Senegal and Egypt. For visitors to the trade fair, entrance tickets will be sold at Le5, 000 for pedestrians from Mondays to Thursday and Le 8,000 on weekends and holidays,” he said.

With regards security, he said that would be taken care of by officers from the Sierra Leone police, but added that they would be expecting the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) to provide additional security because they will be taking part for the first time in this year’s event.

In order to ensure the safety of pedestrians and prevent accidents, Dr. Spencer stated that movement of vehicles around the exhibition would be restricted after 6pm each day as checkpoints would be mounted at points beyond which vehicles will not be allowed to pass.

“Exhibitors will be required to limit their activities to the space allocated to them. Hawking around the trade fair venue will be strictly prohibited. Playing of music will be generally restricted to the entertainment sector between 10am and 10pm,” he explained.

He also added that electricity will be provided by the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA) with a 800KVA generator as back up, and that there will be no exist tickets.

March 27, 2017 By Regina Pratt

 Cross-section of students at the ceremony

The Country Director of the World Bank, Mr. Henry Kerali on Friday, 24^th March 2017 commissioned the state-of-the-art wifi internet facility at the Milton Margai College of Education and Technology, Goderich campus, a project that was funded by the World Bank and TIWI memory Masters as the contractors

He said the Bank has supported the reform of the regulatory environment, liberalized the international gateway but observed that the cost of internet is still high compared to other West African countries.

The country director further said the backbone of the project, the fiber optic cable, has landed successfully in the country and is working now but stressed the need to deliver the content and provide electronic libraries to all colleges to enable them connect to some of the best universities in the world.

He further informed them that one of the goals of the Bank is “shared prosperity’s the Bank does not believe in leaving countries and people behind, and cautioned the students not to misuse the content of the internet as  they will be left behind and assured them of the  Bank’s continued support to Sierra Leone.

The World Bank Country Manager, Parminder Brar, disclosed that he arrived in the country a year and a half ago saying that Sierra Leone has made a big improvement in ICT due to the Bank’s partnership with SALCAB, the Ministries of Information and Education and other institutions clarifying that the World Bank provides the funding while government implements the project.

He went on to inform the gathering that the project started in 2010, and the fiber optic cable landed at Lumley, describing the commissioning ceremony as “historic and important as well as a big achievement for government.

He said Sierra Leone has done extremely well to roll out the fiber optic cable to the rest of the country but cautioned the students to use the internet wisely pointing out that 40% of teachers in the country are unqualified.

The Acting Principal of the college, Mrs. Elizabeth Taylor-Morgan disclosed that the day marked an indelible print in the lives of students and the college, that the internet plays an important role in the country and commended the World Bank for funding the project that would make students to become part of the global family.

“Many students cannot afford to pay for internet service, cover long distances or spend long hours at internet cafes in town asserting that the facility is now at their doorsteps and is affordable and accessible”, she said.

She gave a brief history of the college named after Sierra Leone’s first Prime Minister, Sir Milton Margai and commissioned by the then Governor General, Sir Henry Lightfoot-Boston, primarily to train teachers for primary schools, and  in 1995 it was upgraded to offer degree courses for graduates to teach in senior secondary schools in Educational Administration,  Guidance Counseling that every school should have as well as Measurement and Evaluation for continuous assessment, stating that the college is now a polytechnic.

The  Acting Principal said  the college has three campuses, Goderich, Brookfields and Congo Cross and the students population is 4,400 noting  that Information Communication Technology (ICT) is now offered at Diploma level.

The Managing Director of the Sierra Leone Cable Company (SALCAB), Mr. Mohamed Sheriff appealed to Sierra Leoneans to be appreciative to foreigners who are working hard to develop the country, citing the World Bank Directors, stating that  Sierra Leone now has 80 gigabyte capacity to communicate with the outside world.

Mr. Mohamed Sheriff also revealed that the cost of the project is $31 million from which $21 million was used to pay for the landing of the submarine fiber optic cable and disclosed plans to connect all schools and universities in the country for which Tiwi Memory Masters won the contract, and that Milton Margai College of Education is one of the  lucky college to be the first beneficiary.

He said Fourah Bay College, College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, University of Makeni,  Njala University-Bo and Mokondi campuses, have also been connected.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Communications, Mr. Paul Sandy said that the project is part of the West Africa Regional Infrastructure Project created through the advice of the World Bank to provide internet facilities to universities as a pilot project, adding that it has been completed in the Western Area to be rolled out in the provinces and appealed for its extension.

March 27, 2017 By Ibrahim Tarawallie

Sierra Leone on Friday (March 24) joined other countries around the world to observe the year’s World Tuberculosis Day on the theme: “Unite to End TB, Leave no one Behind”.

The day is being observed every year to help in building public awareness against tuberculosis, a disease despite being tackled, still remain a public health and global security concern.

National Executive Director of the Civil Society Movement Against Tuberculosis in Sierra Leone (CISMAT-SL), Abdulai Abubakarr Sesay disclosed to pressmen that 40% of TB cases were missing with little knowledge from government and stakeholders of where to find them.

He said the gains made over the years in the fight against the disease were at risk if efforts were not intensified in finding the missing TB cases, adding that there were still treatment centres far away from patients, a situation which according to him, forced patients to pay huge cost to access treatment.

“The transmission of the disease is increasing in communities. Failing to address catastrophic cost will reverse the efforts to fight against Tuberculosis. There is need to invest more in TB response. Involving communities who are affected with TB, including CSOs should be at the centre of our interventions,” he said.

He noted that affected communities were the backbone to end the disease therefore, should not be left behind in the planning and implementation of the national response.

Amidst the huge challenges in the fight against Tuberculosis, Mr. Sesay, a former TB patient, said there was progress in the fight, citing the training of community TB Animators, establishment of five TB Support groups and placing of suggestion boxes where patients can make complaints in each of the 14 districts.

“TB can affect everyone and so it is everybody’s business. Therefore, we all must think TB and unite to end the disease in this country,” he noted and encouraged those with the disease to come out and speak.

Program Manager of the National Leprosy and Tuberculosis Control Programme, Dr. Linda Foray, called for togetherness so as to ensure that the country not continue to suffer from the spread of the disease.

She stated that despite challenges, a total of 14, 114 cases of tuberculosis were notified and put on treatment in 2016, with a treatment success rate of 86.7%.

“Loss of follow-up has improved from 5.9% in 2015 to 4.6% in 2016. 97% of TB cases were tested for HIV,” she said and added that there were currently 170 treatment points that promote free TB services with 10 more to be added during the course of this year.

World Health organization’s Technical Advisor for Tuberculosis in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, Dr. Cornelia Henning, maintained that TB was among the top ten causes of deaths in 2015, responsible for more deaths than HIV and malaria.

She revealed that more than 10million of TB cases occurred every year in the world with 1.8million TB related deaths, adding that Sierra Leone and Liberia were among 30 high burden countries.

April 5, 2017 By Jariatu S. Bangura

After a heated debate among parliamentarians, Office of the Attorney General & Minister of Justice, the National Electoral Commission (NEC) and Civil Society Organisations, it was yesterday resolved that the Ward  and  Constituency Boundary Delimitation Instruments, which were tabled in parliament on March 16, 2017, be withdrawn, while the voter registration exercise should go ahead.

Majority of MPs present in parliament voted for the continuation of the voter registration process, taking into consideration the public interest and posited that the ward and boundaries delimitation instruments were not properly before the House, hence agreed for their withdrawal pending their fixation by NEC and the office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice (AGMJ), before the approval of Parliament.

Late last week, opposition lawmaker, Hon. Sualiho M. Koroma of constituency 67, Bo district moved a motion to debate the statutory instruments on the ward and constituency boundaries, on the basis that the voter registration process was illegal since the said instruments have not been ratified by the House.

On Monday, Parliament summoned the NEC boss, N’fa Alie Conteh, who admitted that there was a procedural breach in the voter registration process, but noted that it was done as a result of the tight electoral calendar.

On his part the newly appointed Majority leader, Hon. Leonard Fofana, stated that the statutory instruments would be expunged from parliament’s file since the House had asked NEC to withdraw them.

Minority Leader, Hon. Dr. Bernadette Lahai, observed that since the four statutory instruments that were tabled on the 16th March, 2017,were to be withdrawn, it would be necessary to use the 2012 instruments which had already became law and were used during the previous elections, albeit that would not be possible with new constituencies already  added.

 “We can no longer continue with the old statutory instruments based on the constituency and boundary delimitation. Earlier, we had 4 provinces, 14 districts including Western Area, and 149 chiefdoms before the de-amalgamation. We can no longer go back and use those documents because we have the 2015 census figure,” she said.

Dr. Lahai stated that since lawmakers did not want to derail the registration process that has already begun in the country, which the people were clamouring for, they should and can amend the existing new document.

“We agreed that they should withdraw the two documents and prepare new administrative boundaries so that the voter registration will not be disrupted,” she said.

Speaker of the House, Hon.Sheku B.B. Dumbuya, questioned the potential implications the withdrawal will attract, noting that withdrawing  the instruments might have some unpalatable implications because NEC has accepted that they were wrong, which  implied that the instruments were not properly laid before the House.

“As a parliament, we stand for what is correct and right but not at the expense of what is right to the government. There are so many implications. I’m in favour of the continuation of the voter registration but in the process, I hope we take time to be seen making the law,” he said.

Deputy speaker, Hon. Chernoh R.M Bah, said in the interest of the public voter registration should be paramount and must continue as agreed but they should be careful for future challenge.

 “If we fail to follow the law then we should remember that there are people that might challenge us in the future. We do not amend documents that have not been passed into law,” he said.

On his part, Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Joseph F. Kamara, admitted receiving the documents since 2016, but noted that has to go through legal procedures before it could be taken to parliament for discussion.

He said Statistics Sierra Leone submitted their census report to them in January, 2017, which also has to take time to be included in the report to be tabled, and that they have to wait for the proclamation of election date by the President.

 “The proclamation was made on the 14 February, 2017, and the constitutional instruments were laid before the House on the 16th March. We have to follow procedures; we don’t need to boycott them. That is why it takes us a month to bring it to parliament,” he said.

He said the registration questionnaire clearly has civil and voter registrations on its heading, and, if the instruments were to be withdrawn, then the process has to be removed in order for it to have the constitutional requirements.

“I agree with parliament for the withdrawal of the documents, but it will distract the registration process and it will raise questions from the public.  If the two documents were to be withdrawn and allowed NEC to go back and wait for the process to take place, that will not be done until November which will affect the election calendar. What will happen or what will the people say about us,” he asked.

April 5, 2017 By Hassan Gbassay Koroma

Principal Magistrate at the Freetown Magistrates’ Court No.1, Dr. Abou Bhkarr Binneh-Kamara, yesterday granted fifty million Leones bail and one surety each to two Njala University students that were before the court for the offences of conspiracy and unlawful possession of explosive substance.

The accused persons -Magdalene Dumbuya and Abdulai Kamara  are students of Njala University, Bo Campus and were in the lower court for preliminary investigations on two count charges of conspiracy to commit a felony and unlawful possession of explosive substance, contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.

Police Prosecutor, Sergeant 922 John Dumbuya, alleges that both accused persons on 23^rd March, 2017, at the Freetown Judicial District, conspired with other unknown persons to commit a felony.

Police say the first accused (Magdalene Dumbuya) on the same date, was found with an explosive substance.

Before the accused persons could be granted bail, Lawyer Julian Cole, in his bail application, told the magistrate that the presumption of innocence of the accused until proven guilty will be conceded as white elephant rule, if the magistrate refused to apply it.

He informed the court that the university has reopened and students have resumed classes, adding that if bail was not granted to the accused, it would do them more harm because staying at the correctional centre without attending classes would lead to academic loss.

It could be recalled that on 23^rd March, 2017, hundreds of students from Njala University took to the streets of Freetown and Bo respectively in apparent strike of missing classes for about five months, after lecturers down tool for government’s failure to pay their wages and other benefits due them.

Magistrate  Binneh-Kamara had sentenced 14 students from Njala University on 3 count charges, ranging from Obstruction of Traffic, riotous conduct to  disorderly behaviour to 3 months in prison or pay an alternative fine of Le11900,000 (elven million nine hundred thousand Leones) into the court’s treasury fund.

April 5, 2017 By Memunatu Bangura

Alvin Valentine Massaquoi, a staff of Sea Coach Express, was yesterday sentenced to 15 years imprisonment by Justice Ernest Gooding of the Freetown High Court after being  found guilty on a three count charges of Larceny by Servant contrary to law.

The convict was before the High Court on three count charges of  larceny by servant contrary to Section 17(1) a of the Larceny Act 1916.

The State had alleged that the accused Alvin Valentine Massaquoi, on diverse dates in March, April and May, 2016, being a servant of the Sea Coach Express, Aberdeen, stole the total sum of eighteen million, eight hundred and twenty five thousand Leones (Le 18,825,000).

In his judgement, Justice Gooding said the accused was an employee of the Sea Coach Express and that he was on a monthly salary, adding that on 16^th March, 2016, he was transferred to the bar of the sea transportation company in Aberdeen to act as sales person.

He said at the end of March, 2016, the accused failed to present financial report, adding that he continued selling at the bar, while audit was later carried out and revealed that the accused failed to account for some monies.

He said when asked, he informed his employers that he had deposited the missing sum in the company’s account at Zenith Bank, but failed to produce the bank slip.

He stated that the action of the accused was intentional, planned and premeditated as he wanted to use the money to travel abroad at the expense of others.

He noted that the sentenced should be run concurrently.

April 5, 2017 By Mohamed Massaquoi 

Madam Bendu and OGI Khadija Sesay at the meeting

As part of it commitment in bringing government to the people and the people to the government through transparency and accountability issues, the Open Government Initiative (OGI), in collaboration with the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA), has organised a one day stakeholders meeting at State House to discuss the way forward in protecting the lives of Sierra Leoneans.

SLRSA Executive Director, Dr. Sarah Bendu, said her institution has made several strides in promoting and implementing initiatives aimed at increasing public awareness about road safety in schools, local communities and the private sector.

She said they have also established a dedicated team of enforcement officers known as the Road Safety Corps, working jointly with members of the Sierra Leone Police especially the traffic division to enhance the system for traffic management and reduce congestion in urban areas.

She noted that despite all efforts and successes of the SLRSA, road safety was still a concern for all organisations in the public, private and civil society sectors, as well as a responsibility of every citizen.

The director added that government has invested heavily on infrastructure development, with improvement on roads in the Western Region and the major highways linking the capital and the rest of the regions in the country, but noted that such development has also brought about increase in road accidents due to human error, with regards driver’s poor behaviour, misuse of alcohol by drivers, failure of road users to comply with the law.

“It is against this backdrop that the SLRSA has summoned this meeting to inform all stakeholders about how we contribute to accident reduction in the country. This however has to be done in a systematic manner with the involvement of all of you present at this meeting today. The UN Global Road Safety Week is an annual event that is organized by WHO, the lead UN Agency for Road Safety. The event is scheduled to take place from the 8 – 14 May in all UN Member States. The Week will focus on speed and what can be done to address this key risk factor for road traffic deaths and injuries. Speed contributes to around one-third of all fatal road traffic crashes in high-income countries, and up to half in low- and middle-income countries,” she said.

She said the Fourth UN Global Road Safety Week seeks to increase understanding about the dangers of speed and generate action on measures to address speed, thereby saving lives on the roads.

“Previous Global Road Safety weeks have focused on child safety, youth safety and pedestrian safety. This is the first time that the week will focus on motorists’ behaviors of drivers and bike riders and how to mitigate the dangers of road accidents caused by excessive speeding,” she said.

Director of OGI, madam Khadija Sesay, said her institution has been effectively engaging the citizens on national issues, and that road safety was a major public concern.

She said in keeping in line with the objective OGI they have decided to hold symposium for the effective coordination of road safety activities in the country.

“The proposed open dialogue forum is intended to educate the public on issues of road safety .The ultimate goal would be create a well-informed citizenry on government response to saving lives in accordance with international best practices.Despite limited resources it is incumbent on every participant and government officials entrusted with resources to ensure that the appropriate resources are available for the implementation of some of the road safety programmes,” she noted.

April 5, 2017 By Victoria Saffa

Hon. Ibrahim Pateh Bah

The ruling All People Congress (APC) Party Member of Parliament representing Constituency 92, Hon. Ibrahim Pateh Bah, has promised to bring development in the Yams Farm community, Western Rural District.

He made the above promise during a one day meeting with community people, after they highlighted some of the challenges they were faced with as a community.

The community stakeholders cited lack of electricity supply, Police post, well-equipped health centre and pipe borne water among others as some of the challenges they were faced with in the community.

Hon. Pateh Bah stated that Yarms Farm was part of his constituency and that he would do his best to address their challenges and bring more development to the community.

He said  his constituency was one of the biggest and that it was difficult for him to effect development across the board, thus appealing with the community people to exercise patience.

Yams Farm Community headman, Foday Conteh, said security threat has been a major problem and that armed  robbery has been persistently occurring in the community, stating that they have no police Post in the community that would help ease the situation.

In her statement, Chairlady of the Ten Women Community, Kagu Bayoh ,thanked the constituency Member of Parliament and  called on him to help some of the university students in the community with the Sierra Leone Government Granting Aid.

Deputy Majority Leader in Parliament, Hon. Hassan Sheriff, said he would work in collaboration with the constituency MP in bringing development to the Yams Farm community.

“I am a resident of the Yams Farm community and I will do my best to work with the MP in bringing police post and providing a Milla tank in the community,” he stated.

April 5, 2017 By Victoria Saffa & Elizabeth Kaine

Rev. Dr. Rufus Okikiola Ositelu at the Centre addressing the press

 One of the oldest churches in the World, Church of the Lord ‘Aladura’, yesterday celebrated its 70^th anniversary in Freetown.

The Church of the Lord ‘Aladura’ was founded by first Primate, the Late Dr. Josiah Olunowo Ositelu after receiving the noble calling on the 17^th of May, 1925 through dreams, voices and visions.

It was ceremoniously consecrated on the 27^th day of July, 1930.

Speaking yesterday at a press conference held at the Church of the Lord ‘Aladura’ headquarters,Oniel Street in Freetown, Pope of Aladura Communion Worldwide and Primate of the Church of the Lord ‘Aladura’, Rev. Dr. Rufus Okikiola Ositelu, stated that the Church has been in existence for long,  and that it has been growing and spreading the word of God.

He said the Church was the Miracle power in Africa and that they believe in the efficacy of Prayer and fasting, noting that they were neither Catholic, Methodist nor Anglican, but fell under the Africa Instituted Churches (AIC).

Rev. Dr. Ositelu said the celebration would include a three- day revival service that would start on Friday 5:00PM to Sunday 5:00PM at the Church Cathedral, Oniel Street back of Albert Academy.

He said the Church in Sierra Leone was pioneered on the 17^th March, 1947 by Emmanuel owoade  Adeleke from Nigeria, and that it has got  branches nationwide, coupled with the establishment of both Primary and Secondary schools.

He said as they celebrate this 70^th anniversary, they would thank the Lord for giving them devoted, dedicated and spiritually inclined members that were serving the church.

He cited among others, Archbishop, His Grace Tamba Emmanuel Kongoh, three Bishops designate for the first time, forty ministers and two Reverend Canons, Canon Michael B. Thompson and Rev. Canon Syl Decker, as some of the dedicated members of the church in Sierra Leone.

April 5, 2017 

Some of the participants

Hands on Deck for Community Development with funding from Bread for the World Protestant Development Services through the Sierra Leone Adult Education Association on Thursday 30^th March 2017 organized a day’s round table discussion between women and youth group leaders and community stakeholders on the topic ‘Strategic Plan of Action to Promote Citizens Participation in Governance’ at the Ward 342 office, Cole Town, Waterloo Western Rural District.

The over 26 participants were drawn from Bolima, Cole Town, 555, Lumpa and surrounding communities in the Waterloo Rural District.

Reflecting on the hindrances of citizens participation in governance, the lead facilitator, Mr. Abu Bakarr Fofanah enlightened that the people cannot change their situation without voting, that their leaders must be accountable and transparent, that Members of Parliament do not account to their subjects about the Constituency Development Fund nor discuss their felt needs, that the people have the right to impeach their leaders for non-performance and other offences, that politicians use, especially youths, as tools and commended Hands on Deck for the sensitization.

Among the resolutions and concrete action points were to increase political awareness, promote and consolidate political tolerance, how to improve the governance system, that power belongs to the people, that Sierra Leoneans must be patriotic, that the roads are deplorable in the communities, that stakeholders are uncooperative, that the people must unite and mobilize to consult their leaders who must be impeached for non-performance, that the people must be allowed to demonstrate that is their civic right and that they must be content so as not to be misled by politicians.

Earlier, Councilor Abu Bakarr Kamara of Wards 342 (old) and 359 (new), who officially opened the round table discussion, underscored the importance of voter registration that would qualify people to vote and be voted for, that he is a surveyor by profession, built a house and bought vehicles before his election, has helped a lot of his subjects but that he could not do much due to the lack of funds adding that most of his projects, including roads, are not reflected in the communities.

Councilor Fatmata Kamara, a teacher for 24 years and a caterer, lamented that unlike Members of Parliament, councilors are not paid monthly salaries nor entitled to Constituency Development Fund but quarterly sitting allowances of Le250, 000 that was increased to Le830, 000 after they advocated but that they only receive about Le600, 000 after tax, that the money is not paid on time, that they have not been paid this year, informed that there are two wings in Council-administrative and political and commended the people for their patience.

She continued that she has offered 60 scholarships to pupils in various schools in her wards, that she is the Chairperson of the Education Committee in Council, that councilors are now afraid to meet the people to vote for them again and apologized for the information gap and not organizing meetings to inform them about developments.

Participants also discussed the qualities of a good leader, how to screen candidates vying for political offices underlining that their choice (s) would advance or retard the country as others warned against dancing and jubilating on the streets during political rallies as well as correcting their past mistakes during elections.

Others stressed that politicians should work for the people and not self, that the people would no longer allow themselves to be fooled again, misused or abused, that they would no longer accept drugs, alcohol, food and money from politicians, that they would refrain from violence and that only role models and people with integrity should be elected into office in a non-partisan manner.

Tommy Kajue, the coordinator of Hands on Deck recalled the earlier meetings held in various communities in Waterloo where participants highlighted that politicians do not hold meetings nor report to them about laws and other developments in Parliament and the state as well as discuss issues affecting them adding that they should catalogue the problems in their communities and proffer solutions with others and suggested that people should vote for a new party as the old ones, the APC and SLPP, are responsible for the dismal state of the country maintaining that this is the first time for them to know their Councilor and Member of Parliament.

He continued that the people also highlighted poor communication between politicians and them, lack of accountability and transparency and that youths now challenge politicians on national issues.

Alhassan Conteh, Youth Leader of Lumpa, disclosed that there are a lot of issues relating to citizens participation in governance including their registration to vote and be voted for.

Mr. Moses Ndomahina articulated that Parliament is yet to approve the delimitation of boundaries, that the Speaker of Parliament has been relieved of his duty and replaced by Hon. Leonard Fofanah who is deputized by Hon. Hassan Sheriff, that some people are calling for a referendum of the revised constitution before elections and reminded participants that now is the time for them to register to be eligible to vote and be voted in the next elections reiterating that power belongs to the people.

Participants also discussed extension of the registration exercise, that politicians are only seen in their communities when elections are round the corner and promised to sensitize others.

Distribution of sensitization materials on democracy climaxed the well-attended event.

April 5, 2017 By Sahr Morris Jnr

Sesay with JS Hercules…Photo Credit://jshercules.com

Finish third-tier league side, JS Hercules, has on Tuesday, April 4, unveiled Sierra Leone international striker cum midfielder, Abdul ‘Buduski’ Sesay.

Sesay, who joined the third tier side from Oulun Palloseura Jalkapallo (OPS) over the weekend penned down a one-year deal with new club, just two months after signing new deal with OPS.

The former Mladost Podgorica and Atlantis FC attacking midfielder, was amongst two other players; Iiro Vandell (29), and Jerome Ogbuefi (25) who were unveiled by JS Hercules

The entire Hercules coaching team chuckled with satisfaction with the new signings: “Iiro has played in the last two seasons in the ranks of AC Oulu Ykkönen. For Abdul Sesay he will add a new dimension in our attack. He is a hard-core and we are looking forward to the opportunity to work with us like he also wants,” the Finnish club Nigeria coach, Daniel Amokachi said.

The 25-year-old Sierra Leone international was OPS top scorer last season with 16 goals in all competitions in the Finish third-tier (Kakkonen) league.