April 28, 2017 By Sahr Morris Jnr

Champions…. Team Augustine Thorpe

 Team Augustine Thorpe defeated Albert Kpundeh on Wednesday as they maintained their 100% unbeaten record to lift this year’s Sierra Leone Cricket Association (SLCA) female T20 tournament.

Wednesday’s four runs victory over Albert Kpundeh was the icing of the cake for the Team Thorpe ladies are they won all four of their matches in the competition.

Team Kpundeh won the toss and asked Augustine Thorpe to bat, the league leaders Thorpe were all out for 96 runs in 20 over with Isatu Koroma finished as the team top scorer with 32 runs, followed by Sunkari Koroma with 14 runs. Ann Marie Kamara and Fatmata Parkinson both collected two wickets each.

In the second inning, known as a middle order player, Ann Marie decided to open the inning in which she secured 36 runs to finish at the match top scorer just a run above veteran and national team captain Sarah Johnson.

Despite the display of Ann Marie, her side (Team Kpundeh) were all out for

93 runs in 20 overs which ensured Team Augustine Thorpe the title as the unbeaten side in the tournament.

April 28, 2017 By Sahr Morris Jnr

 Sierra Leonean born teenager, Trevoh Chalobah helped fired Chelsea Youth U-18 side secured their fourth consecutive F.A Youth Cup thanks to 6-2 aggregate victory over  Manchester City on Wednesday night.

Chalobah who was born in England by a Sierra Leonean parent and is still eligible to play for Sierra Leone opened the scoring just after six minutes before Ike Ugbo’s acrobatic strike put the hosts firmly in control.

Lukas Nmecha pulled one back for the visitors just after half-time but goals from Callum Hudson-Odoi, Dujon Sterling and Cole Dasilva assured victory for Chelsea’s youth side.

Trevoh has represented England up to Under-19 level, captaining them at the 2016 European Under-17 Championships. He is also eligible to play for Sierra Leone.

The youngster made his international England Under-18 debut in March 2014 at the tender age of 14 and after a successful display earned the trust of the coaching staff to line up in every position across the back four before the end of the season.

May 5, 2017 

On April 26, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) signed a memorandum of agreement with the University of Sierra Leone to establish IPC Phase 2, an academic program and mobile training on Infection Prevention and Control (IPC).  The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) provided $3 million to support this initiative.

During the Ebola outbreak, USAID supported IOM to implement IPC Phase I, which trained 11,500 medical practitioners and provided two government hospitals and twenty-one private health facilities with Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) / IPC components.  In addition, USAID supported an entry and exit health screening system which monitored up to 200,000 air travelers and over 6 million land and sea travelers for signs of Ebola infection.

“The IPC Phase 2 is very important because it will be targeting medical and non-medical students and staff to take IPC/WASH messages into their homes, offices and villages” according to Khadijat Mojidi, USAID Country Coordinator.  IPC Phase 2 aims to institutionalize the practice of IPC by training medical and paramedical students, nurses, midwives and other allied personnel currently enrolled in key training institutions and facilities across the 14 districts of Sierra Leone over the next two years.

May 2, 2017 By Sahr Morris Jnr

Center… Tejan Brima

18-year-old Skemersdale United attacking midfielder cum striker, Tejan Brima, is eyeing a call-up to the Sierra Leone senior national team, Leone Stars ahead of the 2019 African Cup of Nations qualifiers against Kenya in June.

Brima, who in March, 2016, was invited by the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) for the African U-20 qualifiers against The Gambia, now wants to try his chance with the country’s senior team.

The England based youngster, who started his footballing journey with Linda FC in Sierra Leone, had an opportunity to exhibit his talent in Kampala, Uganda, where he was enrolled at the Vienna College.

It was in Kampala he was scouted by Liverpool Football Foundation College ad joined them in November, 2015, and underwent trial at Wolton FC, and after successful test, he was drafted into the senior team, Skemersdale United.

Already, the Sierra Leonean secured double gold medal in the U-19 youth development league in Liverpool before being invited for trials at Nottingham Forest against Crystal Palace and Mansfield.

“It will be an honour to represent the senior national team. I’m confident, motivated and ready to take my game to the next level,” Brima said.

May 2, 2017 By Sahr Morris Jnr

 Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) has on Saturday announced an increase in prize money for the country’s Premier League as preparation continue for a restart of the country’s highest football league.

According to the SLFA, the Premier League winner will pick a purse of Le 300,000,000 approximately (US$ 40,148.6989), which is about 40% increase from a previous Le 215,100,000 US$ (28,786.6171).

The SLFA boss, Madam Isha Johansen, during the Association extraordinary congress in February, pronounced the previous amount as the money available for the competition but several premier league clubs frowned at the said amount, citing several reasons not limited to remobilisation of their teams.

“This move by the SLFA was a response to concerns raised by the premier league clubs  in relation to the previous amount which they said was ‘small’, pleading that they need substantial seed monies to help them remobilise and reintegrate  their players as they enter into Premier League year,” statement from the SLFA media department reads.

In related development, the SLFA newly constituted Premier League Board (PLB) are expected to meet on May 5 to re-arrange a new start date for the national league.

The 2017/18 Sierra Leone Premier League was billed to kick-off on April 14, 2017, but was later put on hold due to several issues over the formation of the board.

Last Friday, April 28, the PLB held its first inaugural meeting at the Football Association secretariat in which members, led by former SLFA Vice President  Joesph Samba Kelfala, were able to clearly establish their willingness and readiness to work diligently towards a successful league this year.

Also, the board agreed to run a two legged league with a break to be observed in August.   Sierra Leone last played Premier League football in 2014, when it was suspended through the season in 2014 due to the Ebola scourge in the country.

May 2, 2017 By Sahr Morris Jnr

 Sierra Leonean trio; Alieu Keita, Mathew Moiwoi Farmah and Fatmata Mansaray have all suffered defeat in their respective categories in the ongoing African Wrestling Championship in Marrakech, Morocco.

 In the 74 kg Freestyle Juniors, Alieu Keita forfeited his round one fight to Yassine Bouamar of Morocco and in three, Ibrahim Ahmed of Sudan secured 13-6 points win over Keita while in round four, Egypt Samy Hamdy Amin Rabie Moustafa claimed victory by injury default.

In round five, Tunisian Ayoub Barraj defeated the Sierra Leonean by fall 12-0. Elsewhere in the 66 kg Greco Roman, Moiwoi Farmah went down to both Ayoub Hanine of Mauritius and Souleymen Nasr of Tunisia 8-0, 8-0 respectively.

Keita who suffered three defeats in the 74kg Freestyle Junior was also beaten by South African Khulekani Elliot Fat (in the 74 kg Greco Roman while  Tunisian Nour Jeljeli  defeated Fatmata Mansaray.

 Meanwhile,  Tunisia led the way in both the junior and cadet competitions at the Championships, capturing 15 gold medals over the first three days of competition.

The Tunisians claimed eight junior gold medals on last Friday; including four of the six golds in the women’s wrestling competition. Junior women’s wrestling champions for Tunisia included Sarra HAMDI (48kg), Lilia MEJRI (63kg), Rihem AYARI (67kg) and Nour JELJELI (72kg).

Three Tunisians won gold in the junior Greco-Roman competition: Souleymen NASR (66kg), Amine GUENNICHI (96kg) and Mohamed BLAGHJI (120kg). Ayoub BARRAJ (74kg) was the lone wrestler from Tunisia to win gold in junior freestyle.

May 3, 2017 By Sahr Morris Jnr

Sierra Leone team celebrates their success

Sierra Leone junior wrestlers, Fatmata Mansaray, and Mathew Moiwoi Farmah both scooped silver and bronze medal at the just concluded 2017 African Championships in Marrakesh, Morocco.

Fatmata Mansaray battled in the 72 kg Women’s wrestling junior category against Nour JeljelI of Tunisia and after a closed tie 2-2 0-5, the Tunisian went on to snatch the gold medal, while Mansaray settled for the silver.

In the male category, Mathew Moiwoi Farmah aka “Player Man” was able to walk away with bronze medal in the 66 kg Greco-Roman Juniors battle with Tunisian Souleymen Nasr, securing gold and Ayoub Hanine Morrocco finished second to settle for the silver medal.

President of Sierra Leone Wrestling Association, Prince Vandy Sualley though not satisfied, was a bit pleased with the success achieved by the junior wrestlers.

He said: “I was expecting our senior wrestlers to come with gold this time but it was the junior fighters who did great and we appreciate that.”

Meanwhile, Egypt bagged three gold medals in freestyle on the final day of the Championships on Sunday. Abdelmottaleb, who was placed ninth at the Olympic Games in Rio, outscored his opposition 19-1 in two matches at 125kg. Egypt’s other gold medals were won by Samy Moustafa (74kg) and Mahmoud Badawi (86kg).

May 3, 2017 By Sahr Morris Jnr

Former Leone Stars skipper… Ibrahim Kargbo

Former Leone Stars skipper, Ibrahim Kargbo scored his fourth goal of the season as his Dulwich Hamlet side suffered 2-1 defeat to Bognor Regis Town on Saturday at the Ryman premier division play-off final

The Hamlet suffered their second consecutive playoff final defeat as they couldn’t recover from a two goal deficit. Goals from Jimmy Muitt and Ollie Pearce gave Bognor full control in the first half before the former Leone Stars captain, Ibrahim Kargbo, pulled one back with 13 minutes from time.

The defeat to Bognor ended Kargbo and his Dulwich Hamlet side hopes of promoting to the National League South.

Elsewhere, Joshua Koroma and his Leyton Orient side waved goodbye to the English League Two after suffering 1-3 home defeat to

Colchester United.

The 18-year-old, who was born in England to parents hailing from Sierra Leone, was introduced in the 79 minutes, replacing Janse.

Koroma, who at age 17 made his first team debut back in April as a substitute away to Barnet in a 3–0 league defeat, featured 21 times this season for the Orient scoring three goals in their 4-0 win over Newport County at Rodney Parade, Newport County.

In Austria, George Davies enjoyed full time action with Floridsdorfer AC as they recorded 0-2 win on the road to Horn. The Sierra Leonean winger was booked in 82 minutes.

Hassan Sesay made his season debut for Lahti in the Finland top tier league, the Veikkausliiga as they were held to a 1-1 draw, while Abdul Sesay saw yellow on his debut season with JS Hercules, who held Vifk 1-1 draw in the Finnish their tier league, the Kakkonen.

In Kazakhstan, John Kamara and his Kaisar were beaten 0-3 at home by Astana  and in Turkey, Alfred Sankoh returned to the Denizlispor over the weekend in their goalless draw with Elaziğspor, while in Holland second tier league, Isaa Kallon had full time work out with Emmen as they defeats Dordrecht 0-4.

Umaru Bangura and his FC Zürich continued their push for promotion as his side secured 1-2 win over Chiasso in the Switzerland league and in Sweden, Alie Sesay IFK Frej were beaten 1-3 at home by Brommapojkarna with the Sierra Leonean playing full time but his compatriot Abu Suma was an unused sub.

Mohamed Bangura was withdrawn just 16 minutes of action in Dalkurd FF 3-0 win over Gefle but his countryman, Ibrahim Koroma had 90 minutes spell for Nyköping and were beaten 0-3 at home by Brage.

In United States, Michael Lahoud continued to provide leadership for Miami as they secured another home win this time against Edmonton, who they defeated 2-0.

May 3, 2017 By Sahr Morris Jnr

Mid-West Cricket were crowned champions of the 2016/17 Sierra Leone Cricket Association (SLCA) Mercury International premier League.

In a winner take all clash last Sunday at the Prince Of Wales Oval, Kingtom, Mid-West and Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Force (RSLAF) engaged in a fierce battle for the national cricket crown but at the end it was the civilian side that walked away with a-7 wickets victory.

RSLAF were all out for 123 in 32 overs with Humayun finishing as their top scorer with 25 runs, followed by Samuel Coker 17. Sinneh Kamara and Desmond Fillie both scored 15 runs plus 21 extras.

Bami Williams was the top bowler for Mid-West, grabbing 4 wickets for 21 runs in 7overs, Solomon Williams and Abass Gbla both got two wickets each.

Mid-West proved too strong for the military side as they quickly achieved their 124 runs for the loss of 3 wickets in 25 overs.

Yegbeh Jalloh made 57 runs not out followed by Olu Coker with 21 runs and Roland James with 18 runs.  Bami Williams was also not out for 9 runs. Humayun, Alhaji Mansaray and Samuel Ggbla were the wicket takers for RSLAF. However, the RSLAF finished as runner-up in the tournament.

Mohamed Kallon new assignment

May 5, 2017 By Sahr Morris Jnr

United States Premier Development League (PDL) side, Brazos Valley Cavalry FC, has appointed Sierra Leone legend Mohamed Kallon as their assistant coach for the inaugural season in the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid.

The former Inter-Milan and AS Monaco striker was named alongside three others; Andy Rios, Brandon Guhl, and Dominick Falletto, who will join the club roster.

“Brazos Valley Cavalry FC are happy to announce that the assistant coach for the inaugural season will be Mohammed Kallon. The Cavalry FC is also excited to announce that Andy Rios, Brandon Guhl, and Dominick Falletto have joined the roster,” the club statement reads.

Before his new appointment, Kallon has been with the Huston Dynamo Academy for one and a half year, serving as the U-15 head coach and later the U-23 Head Coach.

Reacting to his new post, the former Sierra Leone U-17 coach, who has had over 20 years professional playing history before hanging up his boot, said he is humble for his new role, adding that he looks forward to the new challenge.

“This is a great opportunity for me in my new found role of the game and I look forward to the challenge,” Kallon said. The former Sierra Leone international became the youngest player to ever play for the country’s national team, Leone Stars at the age of 15 at the African Cup of Nations.

Brazos Valley Cavalry FC will start their campaign in the league with home clash on Monday, June 5th against Texas United FC at the newly renovated Nutrabolt Stadium.

May 5, 2017 By Salamatu Bah

Players & officials of SLTTA                                               

Sierra Leone has confirmed its participation in this year’s World Table Tennis Championships in Dusseldorf, Germany from May 29 to June 5.

Confirming their participation in this year’s showpiece, Public Relations Officer of Sierra Leone Table Tennis Association (SLTTA), Abraham Cobba Sesay, said Sierra Leone will compete against the other big nations.

He said in a telephone interview: “Our participation in the World Championship has already been confirmed and we will take along five athletes and a coach,” adding that the players were undergoing intensified preparations for the tournament.

Already, the entry list for the Liebherr 2017 World Table Tennis Championships has been announced with an impressive 613 athletes making the trip to Dusseldorf, Germany for the biggest table tennis event of the year.

This is the first time in the sport history, players from Afghanistan, Oman, Palestine and Tahiti will be amongst the 108 countries fighting to be crowned World Champion in the event that will be held from 29 May to 5 June, 2017.

World table tennis federation, President Thomas Weikert stated: “I am very excited about welcoming 613 players from 108 countries to my home country of Germany for the Liebherr 2017 World Table Tennis Championships. We are all a part of the ITTF family and this Championships will be a celebration of that and a celebration of table tennis. It is going to be a fantastic event, and I look forward to watching as many countries and players as possible playing here in Germany.”

May 5, 2017 By Sahr Morris Jnr

Western Area Football Association (WAFA) Secretariat has confirmed they would be hosting a week-long coach’s training for football coaches within the Western Area.

The week long seminar which will start on Sunday May 7 and run until the 14 May is expected to attract over 15 coaches and will be conducted by instructors from United Kingdom.

According to one of the secretariat staff, Mohamed Jatu they are open to receive more application from interested coaches in the Western Area and all are requested to send in their application to WAFA secretariat before 5th May, 2017.

“The course instructors are from the UK and every participant will be certified at the end of the one-week training. For us this is a capacity building, a step in the right direction for our coaches and this will help them before the commencement of our various leagues,” Jatu said.

This will be the first big activate under the leadership of the newly elected Chairman Foday Turay, the last time such a seminar was hosted was in 2016 under the Abdul Kainseu administration when a day seminar was hosted for club officials/administrators.

May 9, 2017 By Joseph S. Margai

Founding member and aspiring presidential candidate of UNPP, Dr. Benedict Kargbo

Founding member and an aspiring flagbearer of the United National People’s Party (UNPP), Dr. Benedict Kargbo, has said his party has prioritized five pillars as their development agenda, if elected to power in the forthcoming 2018 elections.

Dr. Benedict Kargbo made the above statement in an exclusive interview with Concord Times in Batkanu town, Libiesaygahun Chiefdom in the Bombali district, northern Sierra Leone.

With the vision of bringing all Sierra Leoneans together and ensuring peace was returned during the war years, the UNPP was founded in 1995 and contested the 1996 general elections.

“We were successful with Dr. John Kerifa Smart, the then Chairman and Leader of the party, because we won the 1996 presidential election with a landslide victory but it was rigged. We did not fight because we wanted sanity to return to the country,” he recalled.

He disclosed that UNPP’s five pillars include agriculture, health, education, housing, transport and communication, adding, “We will ensure that each and every region in Sierra Leone is able to feed itself.”

“The transportation system is very poor. The governing All People’s Party (APC) party is making roads but that’s not enough. We need to have improved roads in every village,” he said.

Dr. Kargbo cited the road leading to Batkanu town as the worst he has ever seen. “We have two major areas in Libiesaygahun Chiefdom that cannot be accessed using a ferry. The government should have constructed bridges, but UNPP will do so as soon as we assume power in 2018,” he said.

He said UNPP would ensure that they construct railways for trains to ply, adding that there were currently no school buses to convey pupils in rural communities.

“They trek 10 or more miles on daily basis to access their various schools.”

The UNPP aspiring flagbearer said his party was on the ground during the just concluded voter registration exercise in order to mobilize people to register.

“We are in the country and we have been doing lots of things underground in order to contribute to national development. We don’t need to be singing our praises always but we are moving. We have offices in all the regions of Sierra Leone,” he boasted.

Asked how the UNPP will be able to achieve its priority areas, Dr. Kargbo said his party will bring in the necessary Sierra Leonean expatriates to help in the delivery of the party’s mandates.

 “Those expatriates will advise the government on what they should do to enhance success in these areas. We have so many Sierra Leoneans in the diaspora that have the technical know-how to achieve big things for national development but they are not given the chance to do so,” he said.

Dr. Kargbo noted that the UNPP was yet to go into convention, but noted that plans were underway to do so as soon as possible.

Njala DVC assures support for autonomous status

May 9, 2017 By Ibrahim Tarawallie

A total of five hundred and eighty (580) students at the Institute of Advanced Management and Technology (IAMTECH), an affiliate to Njala University, over the weekend received their degrees and diplomas in various areas of study.

The graduation ceremony at the college campus on Kissy Dockyard in Freetown attracted prominent personalities, especially senior officials from other sister colleges and universities.

Speaking at the congregation, Deputy Vice Chancellor of Njala University, Professor Alpha K. Lakkoh, assured IAMTECH of their unflinching support in ensuring that they achieve autonomous status.

“Let me inform you that IAMTECH has been working hard towards attaining autonomous university status. We will continue to be a part of that stride and give you all the support for you to be independent,” he assured.

He however, noted that the curricular and mode of acceptance of students, among others would have to be reviewed by Njala before that can be achieved.

Professor Lakkoh maintained that Njala was looking forward to IAMTECH to becoming independent hence ,they would give all the necessary support at the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) and the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology to make it a reality.

“Over the past 25 year, records have shown that the senior management team has made strides in the right direction which has made this college a great one in this country. We have seen records of what you have done, but we can only congratulate you and ask that you do more,” he said.

While congratulating the graduants for having gone through their courses under the tutelage of Njala University, Professor Lakkoh, opined that much of what was being done at the college, was what was required for the development of Sierra Leone.

As the government is on the part of extending tertiary education by introducing new universities, he urged the IAMTECH administration to take advantage by becoming one of those new universities.

Also, Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Technology II, James Morlai Kamara, congratulated the graduants but noted; “Earning a degree is one but to make use of it is what really matters. I urge you all to make good use of your papers and continue to pursuing your educational aspirations and ready for the contributions to national development.”

He stressed that education is critical for national development and meeting the aspirations of the people, adding that it provides human capacity for the economy and socializes leaners into free dominant culture, norms and values.

IAMTECH Acting Principal, Dr. Michael Wundah, said the institution was proud of having been articulated the greatest pedigree of quality assurance and also conducting exams under strict condition.

“Any educational institution that does not pride itself for quality assurance has no reason to continue operating. We do conference marking. Students’ scripts are not taken home by lecturers at all. Whatever this graduates are handing today, it is well deserved,” he said.

He said the college was trying to work hard to make sure they have an autonomous status even though they were happy to be part of the affiliation arrangement with Njala University.

“We want to fight for our own independence. We are going to go by it step by step, following all the criteria. We are not going to do it under duress,” Dr. Wundah maintained.

May 9, 2017 By Joseph S. Margai

One of the hostels which needs rehabilitation on Fourah Bay College (FBC) campus

BADEA Project Manager, Sorie Kanu ,has told Concord Times in an exclusive interview that encroachers on Fourah Bay College (FBC) land were still posing a major challenge to the ongoing rehabilitation and expansion of facilities on  campus.

It could be recalled that the rehabilitation and expansion of facilities on FBC campus being funded by the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), has been faced with stiff resistance from some alleged illegal occupants of the land along the Leicester and Tree Planting communities.

The encroachers have constructed dwelling houses, health, community and market centres on the land, where the BADEA project contractors intend to construct both the junior staff quarters and the clinic.

Meanwhile, the BADEA Project Manager said the site that has been identified for the construction of the junior staff quarters and the clinic was still being controlled by encroachers.

 “These encroachers are mainly occupants of Leicester and Tree Planting communities. We only now need state intervention in order to ask them to quit the land and make way for this development,” he said.

Besides the obstruction caused by residents of both Leicester and Tree Planting communities, construction and rehabilitation works on the hostels were still in progress, according to Kanu.

He disclosed that rehabilitation work on the hostels was 95 percent complete, as the tiling, cabling, painting, and plumbing were completed, remaining the finish work which has been held up because of the unavailability of glasses in shops to make the windows.

 “The contractors have made an order for the glass in Senegal and hopefully, we will soon finish with the hostels,” he said.

The BADEA Project Manager also disclosed that blocks 33, 34 and 35 have been completed, while the female hostels were very close to completion.

“Construction works have started on the senior staff quarters, the lecture theatres, and the School of Architecture,” he said.

He said the major stumbling block remained the unavailability of classrooms for lectures, as they prepare to rehabilitate the existing classrooms on campus.

 “We are making efforts to ensure that the hostels are completed on time, so that the rooms can be used for lectures as temporal measures until the classrooms are rehabilitated,” he said.

Mr. Kanu said they have decided to install individual prepaid meters for every room, so that students would be paying  for what they consume, noting that the college administration would be providing some EDSA top ups for the prepaid meters.

May 9, 2017 By Hassan Gbassay Koroma

Principal Magistrate of the Siaka Steven Street Court No.1, Dr. Abou Bhakarr Binneh-Kamara, yesterday, (8^th May, 2017), granted fifty million Leones (Le50m) bail and one surety to Umaru Kamara, a 25-year-old man.

Kamara was preliminarily investigated in court for the offence of sexual penetration contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.

The Police had charged the 25-year-old to court on one count of sexual penetration contrary to Section 19 of the Sexual Offences Act of 2012.

The prosecution had alleged that the accused on diverse dates between 1^st and 26^th November, 2016, in Freetown, sexually penetrated the victim under the consent age of 18 years to wit twelve years.

Magistrate Kamara yesterday pronounced the bail condition in his Chamber, while committing the matter to the High Court of Sierra Leone for trial.

In her testimony prior to the committal of the matter, the 12-year-old victim told the court that she recognized the accused as her neighbour. She recalled that the alleged accused sexually penetrated her on diverse dates between 1^st and 26^th November, 2016.

“Every day, when I was going to school he (the accused) used to give me ice cream and two thousand Leones (Le2,000). One day, he took me to an unfinished building and penetrated me,” she testified, adding that after the incident, she went home but her parents discovered that something was wrong with her.

She told the court that she was taken to the police station to make a report, after she explained what transpired between her and the accused.

May 9, 2017

HRCSL new chairperson,Rev. Dr.  Usman Jesse Fornah

The Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone (HRCSL) has got a new chairperson and vice chairperson respectively.

The new chairperson of HRCSL is Rev. Dr.  Usman Jesse Fornah and the Vice chairperson is Grace Coleridge Taylor. They were elected in accordance with the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone Act 2004 and its protocols, and on the expiration of the tenure of the current Chairperson & Vice Chairperson respectively.

According to the  Public Information Officer, Ishmael Bayoh,the election of the chairperson and vice chairperson was rotational and it’s done among the five Commissioners for a period of two years, which could be extended to another two years, making it to two terms. But one cannot serve for more than two terms.

Asked whether those Commissioners that had served as chairpersons or vice would cease being  Commissioners, Bayoh said “no, the Commissioners are still serving. What happens is that apart from the statutory provisions of how they are elected by the President subject to the approval of Parliament for a period of five years and shall be eligible for re-appointment for another five years, among themselves the Act provides that they elect a chairman and vice chairman”.

The new Chairman possesses a wealth of experience in many fields such as Human Rights, Psycho Social Care Delivery, and Conflict Resolution. He has participated and presented papers in various International Conferences. Rev. Dr. Usman Jesse Fornah has served the Wesleyan Church of Sierra Leone for 31 years as local pastor in a number of Local Churches across the country and many other additional responsibilities such as; National Director for Youth and Young Adults, District Superintendent, National Secretary and Director of Administration of the Wesleyan Church – a position he held until he was elected as National Superintendent (Bishop) in May 2009.

His passion for pastoral ministry is equaled only by his passion for effective Church Leadership which led him to pursue a Master’s degree in Ministerial Leadership through Wesley Seminary, in the Indiana Wesleyan University, at Marion, Indiana, USA. And now holds a Doctor of Divinity Degree (Honoris Causa) from Kingswood University in Sussex, Canada.

In the field of Ecumenism and interfaith dialogue, he served as President of the Evangelical Fellowship of Sierra Leone, First Vice President of the Council of Churches in Sierra Leone, Chairman of the Board of Directors for The Evangelical College of Theology (TECT) and General Secretary of the Inter-Religious Council of Sierra Leone (IRCSL).

May 9, 2017 By Solomon Rogers

Cross section of participants

As part of the rebranding process of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation in collaboration with its development partners to deliver quality health care services in the country, the ministry has pioneered training for substantial number of health care givers including doctors, pharmacy technicians and nurses attached to the Connaught Hospital   on the “new treatment chart” at the University of Sierra Leone Teaching Hospital Complex in Freetown.

The training which attracted 15 doctors, 35 nurses and 5 pharmacist technicians was organized by the Systems for Improved Access for Pharmaceuticals and Services (SIAPS), with support from USAID.

In his remarks, Mr. Murtada Sesay said the goal of SIAPS is to strengthen pharmaceutical management systems for ensuring availability of quality pharmaceutical products and rationale use to achieve desired health outcomes.

He said the objectives were to effectively support health facilities strengthened, with their mandate and responsibilities realized through improved organizational structure and management.

Mr. Murtada Sesay informed participants that they work with government and non-government partnerships to strengthen, improve transparency and accountability of pharmaceutical management systems and improve selection and quantification of pharmaceutical

He said they also strengthen supply chain management from district to Peripheral Health Unit, with uninterrupted supply of medicines to ensure through demand driven system.

Giving a background of the programme, the Pharmacist in-Charge of Connaught, James Peter Komeh, narrated how in 2015 they started a pilot programme in wards 7 and 10 at Connaught Hospital and that feedbacks received from user’s charts warranted a comprehensive survey, targeting with Wards 2,3,4,5,6,8,9 and Out Patient Department in the same Hospital.

The survey actually reviewed some 87 charts and 304 drug orders and that 40 out of the 304 drug order did not specify route of treatment administration; wrong doses were detected as a result of wrong transcription from the notes and drugs were not administered on a 24 hours basis.

The main objective of the treatment chart training was to improve on the capacity of health care givers to rationally administer drugs or treatment to promote quality health service delivery in the country.

The is intended to improve care givers and patients interaction; to ensure that the correct prescriptions are used with proper documentation of drugs and to correctly administer drugs and treatment on the new chart.

Unlike the previous administration of treatments and drugs in which prescribers and Pharmacists hardly take responsibility of their interventions, under the new treatment chart, care givers are obliged to take full responsibility of their interventions because each and every health practitioner is required to append his or health signature for every prescription or drug issued to patient.

Nurses are now expected to write dates along the top row and then sign in date column under correct date and specified time to indicate that the medicine has been given. If for any unavoidable circumstance e.g. (allergy) the drug   is not administered, the nurse should provide an explanatory note for not providing such treatment.

May 9, 2017 By Solomon Rogers and Kadrie Koroma

In an innovative drive to strengthen health workforce in order to improve on health service delivery in Sierra Leone, the Directorate of Human Resources for Health of the   Ministry of Health and Sanitation in collaboration with development partners on Thursday, May 4, 2017, launched the Human Resources for Health Strategy for 2017-2021 at the Golden Tulip Hotel, Aberdeen in Freetown.

In her keynote address and launching the document, the Deputy Minister of Health and Sanitation 1 Hon. Madina Rahman said human resources for health are crucial component in delivery high quality, affordable and accessible health care service in every country.

She maintained that human resources for health is an engine for quality and accessible  health care in Sierra Leone, stating that her Ministry decided to  develop a 5 years Human Resources Strategy  to complement  efforts of the 10-24 month Post Ebola Recovery  Plan and the seven flagship projects.

The Ministry, she said has made substantial  progress  in the area of: payroll cleaning of inactive workers, removing 427 ghost workers; operationalizing a comprehensive human resources information system; developing training  programme for clinical assistants- mid-level cadre that will support the public health sector with clinical  services where doctors are limited.

Also, developed a programme to train specialist Medical Doctors in country and working on a comprehensive community health worker policy and strategy to enhance the health workforce’s ability to cover hard to reach population.

With the launching of human resources for health strategy 2017-2021, the Minister noted will continue on the progress by providing roadmap through which the health workforce will be strengthened.

“The plan will address the most critical human resource challenges across multiple interventions areas including: pre-service and in service education, training, regulation, financing and management,” she said.

She pleaded with all sector players to use the 2017-2021 strategy as an indispensable tool to rebuild the health system and make it resilient to future shocks, by investing in the core component of our health system.

Talking on the significance of the document, the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, Matron Hossinatu Koroma, said the strategic plan has gone through series of process from steering formation to steering committees, consultation with major stakeholders in the health sector and also sought international best practices in other countries.

 She confirmed that nursing and midwifery were the largest subsets of the human resources for health and the role nurses and midwives play in health, the Directorate of Nursing and Midwifery Services participated and contributed to the development of the plan throughout the process.

Her Directorate, she maintained was not only working on  increasing the  number of skilled nurses and midwives but also working on  improving  on standards to improve health outcomes.

With support from development partners, she explained that they have developed an abridged midwifery technician curriculum; preceptorship manual; guidelines on standards of nursing and midwifery education; student clinical policy and accreditation tools for nursing and midwifery schools.

She stated that they have reviewed the State Certified Midwifery curricula for the two Midwifery Schools in the country; reviewed the SECHN Curriculum to nurse midwife technician programme; reviewed the nurses and midwives Act of 1956 that has been approved by Cabinet for transition to a council for public safety.

She said her Directorate has piloted a facility based CPD at the Princess Christian Maternity Hospital in the form of Emergency Obstetric and newborn care and plans to roll out in the regions and Districts.

With support from BMZ and Islamic Development Bank, she said there were plans to increase the current number of Midwifery Schools in Bo in the South and Kenema in the East.

The Director of Human Resources for Health at the Ministry of Health and  Sanitation,  Mr. Edward Kwame Yankson, observed that  although  a skilled  workforce  is critical for rebuilding  and strengthening  the health system to perform efficiently ,  there were limitations in other critical aspects of our healthcare delivery , such as : a well distributed  health  infrastructure, requisite technology; medicines, good policies and regulation which greatly affect health outcomes.

 “However, without a well-motivated and qualified health workforce, even a well-resourced health system cannot deliver the needed services” he said.

Mr. Yankson maintained that the overall goal of the strategy is to plan, deploy and maintain a resilient and highly motivated health workforce to enhance socio-economic development to ensure equitable, affordable and highly- quality health care for over 7 million Sierra Leoneans.

The Chief Medical Officer 1, Dr. Sarian Kamara said the Ministry of Health has invested heavily in the health workforce since the beginning of the Free Health Care Initiative.

She informed her audience that at present the Health Ministry has employed over 10, 000 health workers nationwide across more than 1, 300 work stations including hospitals, District Health Management Teams (DHMTs), peripheral health units and administrative officers.

Dr. Kamara stated that the Ministry’s vision and goal for the Human Resources for Health as defined in the policy sets the long-term overall direction of national health workforce development and serves as the starting point for strategic discussions forming the HRH strategy.

The Permanent Secretary, Mr. David Banya said the Ministry of Health and partners in the health sector have invested enormous resources in terms of finance, material and time to ensure a steady flow of health workforce since the inception in the Free Health Care Initiative.

He said the Health Ministry in partnership with stakeholders in health service delivery in the recent past undertook a highly consultative exercise to develop a national strategy that can stand the test of time.

Other speakers include WHO Representative, Dr. Anders Nordstrom and the Country Director, Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), Jason Houdek.

May 9, 2017  By Sahr Morris Jnr 

President of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA), Isha Johansen, has been appointed as the head of the Confederations of African Football (CAF) Women’s football Committee.

Madam Johansen’s appointment came at the inaugural meeting of the CAF Executive Committee which took place on Monday in Manama, Bahrain, on the margin of the 67th FIFA Congress starting on Tuesday.

The SLFA boss was also named as the Vice Chair of the CAF Fair Play and CAF Social Responsibilities Committee.

It is the first time in CAF’s 60-year history that a Sierra Leonean has been appointed to head such a committee at CAF.

In August 2009, the then SLFA boss, Nahim Khadi was appointed as member of the CAF Organising Committee for the African Futsal Championship and in October 2013, Madam Johansen and the current CAF education officer, Abdul Rahman Swarray, were both appointed members of the CAF Organizing Committee for Management of CAF club licensing system and the CAF Disciplinary Board respectively.

Madam Johansen, who is already months away to end her first term reign as President of the SLFA becomes the first Sierra Leonean to be elected to the CAF Executive Committee after defeating Lydia Nsekera by 23 votes out of 47 votes casted at the CAF 39th Ordinary General Assembly in Ethiopia this year.

Meanwhile, President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Melvin Pinnick was appointed President of the CAF Organizing Committee for the Africa Cup of Nations – the most important committee in the workings of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) aside the Executive Committee, while Ghana FA president Kwesi Nyantakyi was confirmed as the first Vice president of the Confederation of African Football.