…Prof. Thompson debunks

August 10, 2017 By Joseph S. Margai

Prof. Ekundayo Thompson has refuted rumour that diploma courses will be banned at USL

Vice Chancellor and Principal of the University of Sierra Leone (USL), Professor Ekundayo Thompson, has refuted claims that the institution has banned all diploma courses.

Wide rumours on social media this week allege that authorities at the countries maiden university has banned diploma courses in all the three constituent colleges – Fourah Bay College (FBC), Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM) and the College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences (COMAHS).

But Prof. Thompson told Concord Times in a telephone interview yesterday that the rumour was totally misleading and that it was a calculated ploy to undermine efforts the university has been making over the years to impart knowledge to students.

The university don said only the university senate has right to terminate or give permission for courses to continue at the various constituent colleges.

“Senate has never taken such action and no one else has the power to do so. We are about to issue a statement in order to inform the public that the rumour did not come from us. We want the public, especially media practitioners, to always cross-check some of the issues with us so as to get first-hand information about what obtains in the university,” he said.

The USL vice chancellor said the university would continue to offer courses that meet the demands of all students who fulfill university requirements.

Prof. Thompson said USL operates an open door policy and that they are always ready to clarify anything members of the public might want to clarify.

August 10, 2017 By Memunatu Bangura

Twenty-one year-old Ibrahim Sillah was yesterday (8^th August, 2017) remanded at the Male Correctional Centre by Magistrate Hannah Bonnie of Court No.1 for the offence of murder.

The particulars of offence stated that the accused person on Monday 31^st July, 2017 at No.17 Kanigo, Juba, allegedly killed one Christopher Mansaray.

The matter was prosecuted by Assistance Superintendent of Police, Samuel Kamara.

The matter was adjourned to 18^th August, 2017.

In a related matter in the same courtroom, one Kaprie Koroma was also granted bail in the sum of fifty million Leones, one surety ,who should be gainfully  employed with a Bank statement of twenty million Leones, and bail should be approved by the Deputy Master and Registrar.

Koroma was before the court on one count of obtaining money by false pretence contrary to law.

The police alleged that the accused person on diverse dates between January and December, 2013, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of twenty four million Leones from Fredrick J. M. Kamara by falsely pretending that he has some piece of land for sale at Baoma, Goderich.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge, stating that he collected the sum of twenty four million Leones from the complainant (Fredrick J M Kamara) in exchange of the said plot of land.

He said the land had been made available to the complainant without interference from any third party, adding that the complainant has also planted signboard on it.

Magistrate Bonnie said the accused was granted bail because the offence was a bailable one and that he was presumed innocent until proven guilty before the court.

She cautioned the accused person to make all necessary arrangement in connection with the land, noting that she can’t joke with matters of such nature.

The accused was represented by Lawyer D J Lavallie and matter was adjourned to 18^th August, 2017.

August 10, 2017 By Yusufu S. Bangura

Magistrate Hannah Bonnie, who is currently deputizing Magistrate Albert Moody of Court No.1 yesterday (Wednesday 9^th August, 2017) sent one Mohamed Jalloh to the Male Correctional Centre for allegedly sexually  penetrating a fourteen year old child.

He was charged with one count of sexual penetration of a child contrary to Section 19 of the sexual offence Act 2012.

According to the particulars of offence, Mahamed Jalloh, on 26th July, 2017, at Hill Station, Freetown, did penetrate a girl.

Prosecution witness, constable 9909 Komba, recalled on the 24^th July, 2017 while he was on duty at the Family Support Unit (FUS), a case of sexual penetration was reported by one Isata Momoh on behalf of her daughter.

“I issued a police medical to the victim for examination. The medical was later returned to me and I obtained statement from the witness,” he said.

He told the court that he arrested the wife of the accused (Mahawa Kamara) on the same date because his husband was not around at that time.

“I and Detective Police Constable (DPC) 10827 Kargbo M. interviewed Mahawa Kamara. On the same date, the accused was arrested and he made a statement,” he told the court.

He said the accused was later charged with the offence of sexual penetration of a child.

The matter was adjourned to the 17^th August, 2017.

August 10, 2017 By Elizabeth A. Kaine

One Issa Fofanah  was yesterday (Wednesday 9^th August, 2017) remanded at the Male Correctional Centre on Pademba Road by Magistrate Santigie Bangura  of the   Pademba Road Court No.1 for allegedly stealing $45,000, two iPhones, and one samsung Galaxy mobile phone.

 Police say the properties plus the cash the accused carted amounted to three hundred and forty five million Leones , belonging to one Alie shaaba.

Fofanah, 26, was dragged to court to answer to two counts  charges of conspiracy to commit a felony and House breaking contrary to Section 26 (1) of the Larceny Act of 1916.

According to police prosecutor, A.S. Mary Joe, the accused on Sunday the 23th July, 2017 at Wilkinson Road in Freetown, conspired with unknown individuals to commit a felony to wit house breaking and Larceny.

The prosecution furthered that the accused did enter the dwelling house of the complainant and stole therein the aforementioned properties.

In his brief testimony, Shaaba identified the accused as his home servant and told the court that on the day of the allege incident, the accused was on duty till the time he was supposed to go back home.

He explained that when he went down stairs, he noticed that the accused was still within the compound, but he said nothing to him, instead he went out of the compound.

He said upon his return, he noticed that some money and other properties were missing in the house.

He told the court that he later noticed that the accused gained entrance into his house through one of the windows.

Magistrate Bangura refused to grant the accused bail on the grounds of the seriousness of the alleged crime.

The matter was adjourned to the 18^th August 2017 for further hearing.

August 10, 2017 By Joseph S. Margai

Collapsed ferry

means passengers now use locally-made boats

 The ruin of the Mabang Bridge and subsequent non-operation of the single ferry that used to ply the route have contrived to hamper economic activity for residents along Makoi, Mabang, and Ribbi and Rotifunk axis.

The colonial iron bridge which links Port Loko and Moyamba Districts collapsed in February, 2013.

Residents, pedestrians and farmers at Mabang village last Saturday expressed dissatisfaction over government’s neglect to repair the bridge for over four years

“Our vegetables are left to perish because of the lack of transportation. We no longer have vehicles that could convey our goods to Waterloo, where we used to sell them. The ferry that was provided by SLRA is not working and nothing has been done to replace or repair it,” said Yabom Sesay, adding that “We only rely on locally-made boats to transport our goods. Using canoes is too risky, especially at a time when the sea level is high.”

Madam Sesay, who had 15 bags of cucumber waiting to be transported across the Mabang River at the time of interview, said traders no longer maximise profit because of delay to transport their vegetables to Waterloo, in the Western Rural District, few kilometers outside Freetown.

On her part, Fatmata Koroma, who claimed to be a single parent with five school-going children, said the ferry used to carry both vehicles and passengers, adding that they were now relying on locally-made boats to take them cross.

 “Sometimes, if we don’t have money to pay motor bikes to convey our goods, we carry them on our heads. This has resulted to so many body pains and headaches. Currently, we are not making much profit, but we do not have an option. This is what we do to enhance our livelihood,” she narrates.

Many other traders expressed similar sentiments and called on the government to either repair the collapsed ferry or reconstruct the bridge.

However, Sorie Ibrahim Kanu, Public Relations Officer of SLRA, contended even if the ferry was in a good shape, it would not have been useful during the months of July, August and September because of high tides.

“The type of ferry they are using at Mabang is only useful in October to June when the water level is relatively low. In fact, it was only provided to improvise for the collapsed Mabang Bridge. Our expectation was that, it should have served the people for two years and within that period we were expecting that the collapsed bridge would have been completed,” he said in an interview with Concord Times and promised that the ferry would be repaired after the rains.

When asked if SLRA takes into consideration the number of youth currently out of job because of the wrecked ferry, Kanu said it was operated by a private contractor who should be doing some of the repair works.

“That contractor is responsible to be paying the workers operating the ferry. But we are not casting blames. Had the ferry not really been broken down, the workers would have been doing their jobs,” he said, adding that no one should pay for services rendered by the ferry.

He appealed for calm and patience as the ferry would be repaired soon, noting that SLRA was also committed to ensuring that the Mabang Bridge and road network are improved.

-Says Deputy Information Minister

 August 10, 2017 By Memunatu Bangura

Deputy Minister of Information and Communication, Cornelius Deveaux has observed that calls by citizens for politicians to declare their asset before election was undermining the laws of asset declaration as enshrined in the Anti-Corruption Act of 2008.

 “The call is undermining the law of ACC Act on asset declaration, because this is just a call and we cannot even determine the citizens that brought the manifesto. Citizen’s manifesto is asking politician to declare their asset when they are nominated. We already have a law that states as to when and how public officials should declare their asset,” he said.

He made the above statement Tuesday 8^th August, 2017 on Radio Democracy 98.1 Good Morning Salone Program.

Deveaux said citizen’s manifesto cannot actually prove the true representation of the views of majority of Sierra Leoneans, and that the call was an opinion of a certain section of people, reiterating that there are laws that supersede people’s opinion.

He said it was not an obligation for politicians to declare their asset and that citizens cannot take such as a benchmark to restrain them from presenting their intention.

He however stated that the Citizens’ manifesto was a demonstration of the fact that people’s participation in governance has been deepened, stating that government was creating the space for civil societies and other citizens to be actively involved in governance.

Minister Deveaux  emphasised that there was no law that compel aspiring politicians to declare their asset publicly and that anybody that wants to limit someone’s ability or intention to contest an election, because he or she fails to declare his or her asset, if challenged in the court of law,  will lose because there was no law  to support his motion.

The Deputy Minister said while government appreciates the  endeavour of people coming together to prepare the manifesto, they also have to look beyond what was presented as citizens manifesto, because the issue of governance deals with everyday lives of people.

He said if people wanted to participate in governance, they should be able to proffer suggestions to take the country forward.

He said the ACC Act states that public officials should declare their assets upon assumption of office, for any succeeding years they stays in office, and when leaving office, and if any citizen has doubt in the wealth of politicians and public servants.

Deveaux said when politicians are nominated; it is not a sanction that they are becoming elected officers, adding that it was not wrong for citizens to ask politicians to declare their asset because Sierra Leone is a law country.

 “When someone is nominated, it does not mean he becomes an elected officer until he is voted for or gets an appointment by President or other forms of employment. And when they become public officers, automatically they are obliged by law to declare their assets,” he said.

CARL urges Parliament, Ministry of Finance to intervene

8^th August, 2017

CARL Executive Director, Ibrahim Tommy demands prompt action

For immediate release

Contact: Ibrahim Tommy, Executive Director, Centre for Accountability and Rule of Law (CARL)

CARL expresses grave concerns over failure by MDAs to submit financial statements to Audit Service Sierra Leone; urges Parliament and Ministry of Finance to intervene 

The Centre for Accountability and Rule of Law (CARL) is gravely concerned about the failure, neglect or outright refusal by a number of public institutions to submit the required financial information for the purpose of conducting the annual national audit. A public statement issued on 7^th August, 2017 by Audit Service Sierra Leone listed 29 (twenty nine) public institutions which, it says, have failed to submit their financial statements for the 2016 Financial Year. The notice added that some of the defaulting institutions have not been audited since they were established.

Under the Public Finance Management Act 2016, the vote controller of every entity is required to submit financial statements to the Auditor-General three months after the accounts of a financial year are closed.

“The statutory stipulated period for public institutions to submit the required financial statements expired more than four months ago, and their failure to comply does nothing to enhance their reputation. Whatever the reasons may be for their failure, it is simply unacceptable and should not go unpunished”, said Ibrahim Tommy, the Executive Director of CARL.

The 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone mandates the Auditor-General to audit the Public Accounts of Sierra Leone and all public offices, including the accounts of the central and local government administrations, universities, public institutions, statutory corporations and other bodies  established by an Act of Parliament. The Public Finance Management Act 2016 also empowers the Auditor-General to request any information, books, records, returns, and documents for the purpose of carrying out the audit of a public entity.

“Citizens have a right to know how their tax monies are utilized, and public servants who are paid to manage the country’s resources have a responsibility to give a full account of their stewardship to citizens. The Auditor-General’s job of examining and certifying public accounts is a constitutional requirement, and the need to promptly respond to information requests is not only the right thing to do; it is also a legal obligation”, Director Tommy added.

This conduct should excite the keen interest of every well-meaning Sierra Leonean, as this appears to be the latest tactic devised by some public officials to undermine the mandate of the national audit office.

CARL calls on the Ministry of Finance and the Sierra Leone Parliament to support the efforts of Audit Service Sierra Leone in ensuring that the defaulting institutions submit the required financial statement. Parliament’s financial oversight functions and the Ministry of Finance’s job of ensuring fiscal discipline are significantly enhanced when the Audit Service is able to effectively discharge its mandate. CARL urges the Ministry of Finance to suspend the participation of the defaulting agencies in the on-going budget process. We also urge the relevant parliamentary committees to summon the heads of the various institutions to provide convincing explanation for their failure to comply with a statutory requirement.

Over the last five years, reports by the Audit Service Commission, including the Ebola Audit report, have shown that public institutions have failed to account for millions of United States dollars. It is worth noting that among twenty-nine defaulting institutions are the highest recipients of state resources and revenue-generating institutions. Unless citizens are convinced that public officials fully account for the resources they manage on behalf of the people, the dilemmas that government faces in its relationship with citizens can only be compounded.

#THE END#

August 10, 2017 By Sahr Morris Jnr 

Alhassan ‘Crespo’ Kamara suffers another setback Photo: www.gp.se

BK Häcken and Sierra Leone international, Alhassan ‘Crespo’ Kamara is on the line to miss the rest of the Swedish Allsvenskan league season due to a patellar tendinitis injury.

Reports in various Swedish outlets stated that, the Sierra Leonean forward alongside striking teammate, Alexander Farnerud, will be missing in action for BK Häcken for the rest of the season.

Fotbollskanalen reports that it is clear that both Alexander Farnerud and Alhassan “Crespo” Kamara, two heavy breaks in the offensive of BK Häcken will miss the rest of the season.

Also Fotbolldirekt.se stated: “Alexander Farnerud and Alhassan “Crespo” Kamara miss the rest of the season, and Häcken is therefore looking for offensive reinforcements before the transfer window closes on Friday.”

In July, the Swedish club confirmed that Kamara will have to wait until the end of August for a further diagnosis to determine when he will be fit to return to action but the club has now confirmed the player could be out for the rest of the season.

Kamara, who joined BK Häcken from Örebro SK in July 2016, has already scored five goals in 12 matches for Häcken this season prior to his injury.

This is the second time the Sierra Leonean striker has been ruled out for the rest of the season due to injury, before his move from Orebro SK, he miss the remainder of the 2015 season due injury.

August 9, 2017 By Sahr Morris Jnr 

Ahmed Khanou…Ready for the next step

Minister of Sports, Ahmed Khanou, has on Tuesday, August 8 issued the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) executive committee with a-week-long ultimatum to convey an ordinary congress for its membership.

In a press conference hosted at the Atlantic Hall,Siaka Stevens Stadium in Freetown, the Sports Minister asked the Isha Johansen led administration to convey congress within the said timeframe or risk facing punitive action.

The country’s sports minister admitted that government is not interested in who run the Football Association (F.A) but how the F.A is run and their call for the ordinary congress is not in any way to prejudice the planned FIFA task-force.

“We respect the collaborative effort of FIFA towards the development of football in Sierra Leone, but we also have our own statutes here which should be respected. The ordinary congress is not in any way to prejudice the planned FIFA task-force,” Ahmed Khanou said, adding that they as government do aware their actions will prompt a reaction and they are ready for such.

Earlier in July, the SLFA was about to stage its annual congress on Friday July 8 which was to pave the way for the elective congress in August, but the world governing body suspended the said congress indefinitely until a task force be sent to Freetown to sort out issues at the SLFA relating to integrity checks.

The world football governing body said their decision was based on recommendations by its member associations committee-a committee which the SLFA President, Isha Johansen is a member.

“The MOU signed by its Secretary General, Fatma Samoura, the Sierra Leone’s Minister of Sport, Ahmed Khanou and Johansen had not been adhered to and as a result the same problems appear to remain unresolved,” the FIFA letter stated.

Minister Khanou called for the ordinary congress came few days after FIFA said the Johansen led administration should remain in power until integrity checks are carried out on current and potential SLFA members in order to allow elections for a new executive committee to be held.

August 10 2017 By Sahr Morris Jnr

Isha Johansen…..What next?

Aggrieved members of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) have expressed their delight with the steps taken by the Sports Minister to give the SLFA a week ultimatum to call for an ordinary congress.

The Sports Minister, Ahmed Khanou on Tuesday, August 8 gave the Isha Johansen led administration until 14 August to hold an ordinary congress that will pave the way for elections and his stance was well appreciated by the SLFA membership, who also last Friday issued a week congress ultimatum.

According to Kashor Holland-Cole, secretary general of the stakeholder’s faction: “It is a step in the right direction. For us we think it is the only way out. Congress is the supreme body of SLFA that is responsible to make laws so going to congress will help SLFA to administer football very well.

“Ordinary congress is very important because it is where the executive members give account of their activities and funds they have received and spent.”

However, it is still unclear whether the SLFA will heed to the call of the sports minister, who refused to mention the next line of action of his ministry should the SLFA failed to adhere to its demand.

“I instruct you to take your membership to ordinary congress as initially planned without prejudice to the FIFA task force and ‘intergrity checks’. Report of the outcome of said congress should be forward to my office for the high attention of President Koroma.”

“All necessary steps to ensure democratic transition through the electoral process of the SLFA should be considered. Should you fail to, I’ll be left with no option but to take the next necessary or expedient step,” the sports minister said.

The aggrieved members on August 4 do state that they no longer recognise Isha Johansen and four others executive members after their term of officer expired on August 3.

August 11, 2017 By Ishmael Sallieu Koroma

Budget Advocacy Network (BAN) yesterday revealed in a new transfer pricing report titled “Are We getting the right prices and returns from our wealth?” that about US$83.7m was forfeited as corporate tax between 2004 and 2014 through mis-invoicing in Sierra Leone.

The report, which was launched yesterday at Hill Valley Hotel on Signal Hill Road, west of Freetown, states that during the iron ore boom, beginning 2011, revenue loss from such practices increased from as low as U$$14.1m to US$205.95m between 2010 and 2013.

The report went further to state that between 2013 and 2015 a total of US$3.69m was lost as a result of mis-pricing of iron ore sales, while the sum of US$1.28m was also lost in Bauxite trade due to the same practice.

It added that in 2015, mis pricing in Rutile trade resulted in a loss of US$0.773m in respect of royalty payment.

The report explains that US$3.96m loss in respect of mis -pricing of iron ore could be translated in terms of development as five times the cost of procuring textbooks and teaching materials for all pre-primary and primary schools in 2015, amongst other social needs.

Speaking during the launch of the report, Andrew Lavali, from the Institute of Governance Reform (IGR), said economic governance remains a real challenge in Sierra Leone, adding that in 2013 BAN conducted a study which reported that about US$244m was lost through duty waivers.

“This report is really mindboggling. So, we have to go beyond research and recommendations and start putting work into reality,” Mr. Lavali urged.

He noted that the country was losing both at the front-end and back-end, adding that only 5% of illicit financial flows stay in Africa, hence the need for more engagement.

Mr. Lavali said the Citizens’ Manifesto is very important as it demands from political leaders who want to lead citizens in 2018 to declare their assets and be accountable, adding that the move would help stimulate economic growth in the country.

Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) Country Director, Joe Pemagbi, applauded BAN for taking up the research work ,thus asking a rhetorical question that: “Are we still having value for our money? We only need to drive through Koidu,Bomabali and Lunsar and you will see whether we are having value for our money?”

“The report is here, what next; what can we do as citizens of this country?” he questioned.

He said the country doesn’t lack frameworks for transparency and accountability but needed constructive dialogue among the citizenry to owning the process and assured of OSIWA’s continuous support to BAN, government and non -state actors in Sierra Leone.

Mohamed Foday, Assistant Director Monitoring, Research and Planning at the National Revenue Authority, said they were concerned as to the issues raised in the report, adding that they have set-up a specialised audit system for mining and telecommunications industries in the country.

“Through IMF, we have started training our workers on specialised auditing,” he said and assured BAN that the revenue authority would reflect on the findings and recommendations.

He reiterated NRA’S role of assessing, collecting domestic taxes and non-tax revenues in the country, thus encouraging all sectors in revenue generation to work together in alleviating price manipulation in Sierra Leone.

He revealed that NRA has the complete data on duty waivers from 2005 to date, adding that they had helped BAN with their data collection whenever they had been approached.

Dr. Shaka Bangura, an official at the Sustainable Development (SDG) Secretariat, Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MOFED), said the issue of illicit financial flows has far-reaching implications on the country’s development.

“The loss to illicit financial flows is around 50-60 billion United States dollars, according to a panel headed by Thabo Mbeki, former South African President,” he said.

He stressed the need for more internal revenue collection and generation, adding conceding that debates, engagements and discussions were critical to helping solve economic problems in the country.

He suggested that a national tax action forum be conveyed where discussions could be sustained around the economic development of the nation. He also assured of government’s commitment to achieving the sustainable development goals through the Agenda for Prosperity.

How The Youth Ministry Shortchanged Participants and Sidelined Eligible Youths!

August 11, 2017 By Regina Pratt

Minister Bai Mamoud Bangura , you have to take responsibility

A ‘Performance Audit Report for May 2017 on Youth in Drainage Clearing Project (YDCP)’ implemented by the Ministry of Youth Affairs (MOYA) has concluded that the implementation of the said project was not linked to the intended outputs and objectives since there was no framework for proper planning and implementation.

According to Auditor-General, Lara Taylor-Pierce, performance audit of the project in the ministry was undertaken to assess its implementation in respect of creating much-needed livelihood for unemployed youth.

The report states that the ministry implemented the YDCP in November 2013 without a project proposal that indicates needs assessment done for the provision of livelihood for youth until March 2015, adding that there was no signed Memorandum of Understanding between the ministry and key stakeholders for the implementation of the project, although one was drafted in July 2013 which highlighted the roles of key stakeholders.

“This MOU was later suspended in a meeting between Road Maintenance Fund and the ministry in October 2013 which left the implementation of the project entirely in the hands of the ministry,” the audit report states, adding that there were delays in the payment of stipends, as various deductions were also made from the stipulated amount of stipends to be paid to participants of the project.

“In particular, the absence of a signed MOU poses serious financial impediments and commitment from various stakeholders in implementing the project. The irregular supply and limited use of personal protective equipment posed serious risk to the health and occupational safety of the youth, while executing their assigned duties,” the report further states.

It adds that participating youth were to receive a monthly stipend of Le 400,000; supervisors Le 500,000 and monitors Le 1,000,000 monthly, although “payment of stipend to beneficiaries was not done on a monthly basis and even in cases of payments, deductions were made from individual stipends and that had contributed to ill-motivation of participants which led them not to be reporting for duties on regular basis.”

The May 2017 audit report further states that the absence of unique identification of participants posed further challenges in ensuring that payment was made to deserving participants, adding that it affected efficient and effective monitoring and auditing.

The Performance Audit Report maintains that the ministry limited the involvement of Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA) and failed to establish adequate systems to identify and certify the scope of work done by the youth, which caused an increase in the risk of misuse of project funds and raised the question of creditability in the whole process.

“The identification and recruitment of youth was not based on defined eligibility criteria, thereby increasing the possibility for the exclusion of deprived and vulnerable youth from benefiting from the livelihood programme,” the reports states.

The report recommended, among other things, that the ministry should establish clearly defined eligibility criteria for the identification and recruitment of youth into the project and it should be made public or advertised.

“Information on the recruitment of youth should be properly documented (for example, application forms, recommendations form, screening and evaluation records, appointment records) and a database maintained and updated with all relevant details of recruited youths on the program. The Ministry should ensure that each participant on the project is assigned unique identification and such records should be maintained in the Ministry and provided to the participants,” it recommended.

The report recommended that the ministry should adhere to the provisions of the National Youth Policy which emphasises the prioritisation of registered youth groups in implementing the drainage clearing project and that the relevant stakeholders should be involved in the implementation of the project based on signed MOU clearly defining their roles and responsibilities.

It again recommended that the scope of work per youth group should be prepared routinely by designated personnel and that work done should be certified by responsible personnel before payment is made.

“The Ministry should review the payment of allowances and clearly determine the payment of each category of beneficiary. Once this is done, all deductions from beneficiaries should be formerly agreed upon and communicated to all parties concerned.

“The Ministry should ensure that the tools and equipment procured for the use of the project should be based on needs assessment and are utilised for the purpose. There should also be records of distribution of the tools and equipment maintained. They should ensure adequate systems for the safe custody of working tools. A maintenance plan should be in place for the tools and equipment and provision for necessary replacement. Personal protective equipment (protective gears, rain boots, gloves, nose marks) and first aid kits should be provided by the Ministry and they should ensure that youths use them while performing their assigned duties,” concludes the report.

August 11, 2017

World Bank Country Manager, Parminder Brar

The World Bank Group, through its agency, the International Development Association (IDA), and acting as administrator of funds under the Japan Social Development Fund (JSDF), is providing a grant of two million, seven hundred and fifty thousand United States Dollars (US$2,750,000) to the Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) to help strengthen social cohesion and reinforce the role of Local Councils in delivering public services, among others.

The grant will be used to facilitate the conduct of meetings, forums and health workshops; create platforms for citizens to discuss Local Council public services; and finance the projects that beneficiaries select through participatory budgeting. This will be done in Freetown City and Port Loko District. Meetings, forums and health talks will also be conducted in the Western Area Rural District and Bombali District. These are the four districts most affected by Ebola.

The objective of this grant program is to promote an integral approach toward strengthening social cohesion and resilience, reinforce the role of Local Councils in delivering public services, and empower communities to choose how resources are best allocated to serve their needs. The project also promotes social accountability and direct citizen engagement at a time of lower collective efficacy and mistrust over formal institutions after the Ebola epidemic. It also includes training for public officials on how to better respond to future emergency situations.

The World Bank’s Joint Country Assistance Strategy notes that Sierra Leone “has taken important strides in distancing itself from the extremely fragile status of the war years, (but) these gains are yet to be consolidated.”

“Reducing social stigma and ensuring that vulnerable groups are included in public deliberations is essential to guaranteeing social justice and prosperity in Sierra Leone,” said Parminder Brar, World Bank Country Manager for Sierra Leone.

The project reinforces the World Bank’s US$26 million Decentralized Service Delivery Program (DSDP2), now in its second phase, by scaling up some of its mechanisms such as the Community Monitoring Intervention and social accountability, and introduces participatory budgeting as well as complementary activities designed to strengthen community mobilization and local council service delivery in the post-Ebola context.

The project also builds on the successes of the US$1.62 billion World Bank Ebola Emergency Response Plan, and is aligned to contribute to the strategic objectives of the GoSL’s Agenda for Prosperity and Post-Ebola Recovery Strategy, especially in building community engagement to answer to the long-term development challenges of Sierra Leone.

The project will be officially launched in November 2017.

-Says young fashion designer

 August 11, 2017 By :Ishmael Sallieu Koroma

Millicent senava Mannah

A young fashion Designer, and Journalism student at Fourah Bay College, Millicent senava Mannah, has urged Sierra Leoneans to embrace local products so that people like her will see reason in venturing out into fashion business.

Millicent Mannah said in countries like Nigeria and Ghana, people respect and buy their fashion products and wear them in all their formal gathering and occasions.

Speaking to concord Times in an exclusive interview, Mannah disclosed that she started her fashion career in 2014.

“In 2015, I gave full attention to fashion business after designing for someone in the United Kingdom. They appreciated my products so much,” Miss Mannah said.

She narrated that her love and passion for fashion was a gift from God and that it has helped her generate some income, especially in the area of covering transportation cost to attend classes on campus, money to photocopy materials among several other benefits.

“I’m actually taking care of myself through this business .I have lessened the burden on my parents,” she stated.

She added that she does her fashion job during her free time as her studies sometimes challenged her in doing more.

“I’m working on contract basis as I don’t have space or apartment. Through contacts on Facebook and friends, people who see my products usually meet me and ask me to craft some for them. They appreciate me a lot,” she said.

“I do design necklace, ear rings, bangles, belts, shoes, bags, purses, sandals, boe-tie which caters for all ages and all sexes.”

She expressed facing lots of challenges when it comes to fashion design in Sierra Leone as young designers could not access the needed capital to expand their businesses.

“Fashion design will be nice for the country as it will increase the middleman power and economy of the country,” she said.

She added that even her parents initially did not appreciate her fashion business “but they were later convinced after seeing me making some money from the practice.

She cited that most Ghanaians and Nigerians have become rich through fashion design, adding that they have schools where fashion designers are trained and given the requisite skills to change society.

She said she believes that not only law, Mass Communication, and medicine are professions, but fashion itself can also be a profession as it pays a lot.

She appealed to the government and partners to invest in fashion design, so that young designers like her could grow and employ more people, which she observed will help in reducing unemployment in the country.

August 11, 2017 By Hassan Gbassay Koroma

The Ministry of Health and Sanitation on Wednesday 9^th  August, 2017 officially launched its 2016 and second Annual Health Sector Performance Review Report (HSPRR).

The report highlighted the successes and challenges of the ministry to render quality health service delivery in the country.

While launching the report at the Catco International Hotel on Wilkinson Road in Freetown, the Minister of Health and Sanitation, Dr. Abu Bakarr Fofanah, started off with the adage ‘in management, if you can’t measure, you can’t manage well’

He stated that for the Ministry to achieve its aim, they needed to have a reference point that would tell them how far they have gone.

He said the gap between those two points was a measure of their work that was why they introduced the Annual HSPRP some two years ago to serve as a tool to assist them in gauging their progress as well as identifying their weaknesses and challenges.

He said through the HSPRP, they were now better placed to make more informed public health decision because such decisions would be evidenced-based and data driven.

He said that was the second Annual HSPRP the Ministry was producing under his regime, and that the report was significant because it contains the report of the first full year of implementation of the post Ebola health sector reconstruction activities.

He further stated that the report captures most of the World Health Organization’s core indicators.

 “The mandate of the health sector is to contribute to the goal of improving the quality of life for all Sierra Leoneans by reducing the risk of ill-health, and the occurrence of premature death, thereby, contributing to the social and economic development of the country. I am therefore, pleased to report that, overall, compared with previous reports, there has been marked improvement in the 2016 report,” he said.

Dr.Fofanah  noted that he was profoundly pleased to witness the progressive and well documented achievements accomplished in the health sector, and that services have been expanded in terms of not only quantity but also quality.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Sarian Kamara, said the report provided them with the opportunity to take stock of the performance of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation for the year 2016.

She said the country’s health system, like others around the world, has multiple national challenges ranging from economic crises to environmental disaster.

She said the rolling of health sector performance has incredibly helped the ministry to do effective service delivery.

While he congratulated the Ministry for a job well-done in the health sector, Alexander Chimbaru, Officer in Charge of the World Health Programme in Sierra Leone, said Sierra Leone had won an award for the controlling of minor diseases.

Dr. Amit Buandari, Senior Head Adviser at DIFiD also congratulated the ministry for the progress made in the health sector and called on them to continue building a better health delivery service in the country.

He called on the ministry to address the human resource gap that it has been faced with over the years to ensure better health service delivery.

Presenting the 2016 annual HSPRS, Alhassan Fouard Kanu, stated that the overarching aim of the Health Sector Performance Report was on the performance and progress of the sector.

He said the specific objectives describeb key quantitative indicators of health sector and provides an analysis of the trend in performance of Sierra Leone.

He said the chart describes key quantitative indicators of health system pillars and priority health thematic areas and provides an analysis of the trend in performance at the district level.

August 11, 2017 By Jariatu S. Bangura

Members of Parliament on Tuesday approved the newly appointed Board Chairman of the Sierra Leone Road Transport Corporation nominated by President Koroma.

Hon. David Bai Sesay was a former member of Parliament  for  Constituency 63, Tonkolili district from 2007-2012 and Chief Executive Officer of Tibempa Enterprises Ltd and  Construction and General Services Company.

Hon. Conteh said his functions as board chair were adequately spelt out in the corporation’s Act and that he would work in favour of the country.

“I intend to stick to that and to implement the law as provided in the Act.  I plan to work and collaborate with management, staff and colleague board members to develop good policies that would stand the test of time,” he said.

He assured the public of a safe, reliable affordable and sustainable transportation system in the country.

Members of Parliament across party lines expressed fine sentiments and commended the nominee for his good works and efficiency in pertinent work situations whilst he was an MP.

Hon J. B Mansaray advised that the nominee should work as a Sierra Leonean and not on partisan basis as there were many challenging issues in the transport sector.

August 11, 2017 By Sahr Morris Jnr

Sierra Leone national U-17 women team will face West African opponent, The Gambia in a renew rivalry for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Uruguay 2018.

Both nations will open their qualifying campaign in the preliminary round with Sierra Leone hosting the Gambians in Freetown on 14 October for the first leg before traveling to Banjul a week later for the return leg tie.

Reacting to the draw, the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) director of competition, Sorie Ibrahim Sesay, said it is a good draw, hence they were looking forward to selecting players from the Ladies Cup which will kick-off in the respective regions.

For the Gambia Women’s Football Coordinator, Sainey Sissoho, he told Gambian media outlets: “It’s a good draw! Again we are aiming to qualify for the World Cup. I think this time we have seen more talented players than the team that went to Azerbaijan in 2012. And we have confidence in these players that they can take the country again to another level.”

Already, Mariama Sowe who is the head coach of the Scorpions National Women’s Team, has been assigned to lead the team into the qualifiers and will be assisted by Foday Bah of Wallidan Football Club, while the SLFA are yet to name their technical team.

The qualifier has been designed in three folds and in a round robin format for a place into the World Youth Championship showpiece, which will be held in Uruguay in 2018.

The winner from the double header between Sierra Leone and Gambia will face Ghana in the second round in December before the third and decisive round qualifier in February 2018 against the winner between Tunisia and Djibouti or Libya.

This will mark the second meeting between Sierra Leone and Gambia. The last time they faced each other was in 2012 when The Gambia secured a 3-1 victory in Freetown and went on to win the return leg again 3-0 in Banjul.

August 11, By Sahr Morris Jnr

Sierra Leone national football team, Leone Stars, continues their impressive progress in the monthly FIFA world ranking, moving seven places up from 83rd to 76 for the month of August, after gaining 447 points.

The West Africa nation was one of the best movers in the July classification as they moved 30 places to 83rd from 113 with 177 points then.

However, they have showed consistency this term moving upwards despite the senior team has not been in action since they defeated the Harambee Stars of Kenya 2-1 in Freetown in the opening match of their 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in June.

The country also made a step progress in the Africa ranking moving up from 17 to 16 which saw  them above Congo, Kenya, Libya, Mauritania, and the 2017 African Cup of Nations host, Gabon.

Sierra Leone’s group F 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier opponents, Ghana are placed 50th in the world stage and 9 in African while Kenya followed in 82nd and 18th in World and Africa respectively.

Ethiopia are the least ranked team in the group and despite their progress, they still sits 36 places in African and 120 in the global stage.

Egypt retained the top spot in the continent followed by Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal Tunisia and African champions Cameroon in respective order while Brazil knocked World Champions Germany off the top in the world rankings. Argentina are in third while Switzerland sit fourth places.

Decision September 2017: SLPP’s Bio confirmation and APC‘s elect or select

August 11, 2017 By Alusine Sesay

September is just around the corner and the two main political parties-the Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) and the ruling All Peoples Congress (APC) are expected to go into their delegates’ conventions to either elect or select their flagbearers who would contest the March 7, 2018 presidential election. Momentum within the parties is high and dozens of people have aspired for the two enviable positions. The ruling APC has set out criteria for people who would aspire to run for the flagbearer position of the party, while the SLPP has demanded each candidate to pay a whooping sum of one hundred Million Leones to be eligible to contest for the position.

Almost nine people including Retired Brigadier Julius Maada Bio have aspired to contest for the flagbearer position of the party. It is quite clear that the said convention would just be formality .We don’t need to study rocket science to read the writing on the wall that, Maada Bio has already been decided upon to lead the party in the 2018 presidential election. Deputy Chairman and Leader of the party, Dr. Prince Harding, has openly endorsed him as the man that would lead them in the 2018 election. Aside from Dr. Kandeh Yumkella who would have given him tough time, all other aspirants in the likes of John Oponjo Benjamin among others, are innately not hopeful to emerge victorious. They are just participating to magnify their loyalty and sense of belonging to the party. More importantly, they would want to be recognized for being with the party in thick and thin and subsequently be considered for any ministerial positions should their party wins the 2018 elections.

With all sincerity, Maada Bio is already a political battle tested soldier. He has undergone all the processes and the convention would only be a confirmation of his position as flagbearer of the SLPP to contest in the 2018 elections. Like any Catholic Christian, Bio has taken political baptismal classes, politically been baptized, taken first Holy Communion and now awaiting confirmation come September, 2017. He contested in the 2005 Makeni convention and secured a third position. With his resilience and enthusiasm as a true political battle tested soldier, he contested the 2012 SLPP flagbearer race and emerged victorious .He contested the 2012 presidential elections although he lost to President Ernest Bai Koroma. Above all, he has been called all sort of names and there is nothing new, in my view, his political opponents would say against him. The question that now lingers in the minds of many is that, does he has the national clout to win the presidential elections? Many of his fellow SLPPiens, if I may lend that word from Mohamed Sankoh aka One Drop, who are dissatisfied with his persistent move to lead the party, are of the view that he would not win an election for the party because he has a lot of clean up issues.

Like the SLPP in 2005, the ruling APC is currently at a cross road as to who would take after President Ernest Bai Koroma. The outcome of the September 5-7 convention might make or break the party .It is possible that they might be obsessed with the fact that they are in governance and that they have all it takes to win the 2018 elections, even with the weakest candidate. But that will be a complete misjudgment and a possible political own goal. Although the APC Party’s Constitution is open to two options-either elect or select, it is glaring that they might make the same mistake as the SLPP in 2005, when Tejan Kabbah greatly influenced the outcome of their convention in Makeni. Having enormous powers as president then, Tejan Kabbah   influenced the outcome of the convention which left an indelible scare on the party and led to it downfall. Eight people contested in the said convention but former Vice President Solomon Berewa emerged victorious.  People like the late Joseph Bandabla Dauda who contested in the convention suffered severe consequence after the process in Makeni. He was relieved of his duty as Finance Minister and replaced with John Oponjo Benjamin. But sadly though, Solomon Berewa whose flagbearership was grossly manipulated by late Tejan Kabbah, turned out to be  an unpopular choice for not only supporters of the SLPP,  but also the general voting population across the country, hence lost woefully to President Ernest Bai Koroma in the 2007 elections.

While President Ernest Bai Koroma has not made any public pronouncement as to who would succeed him, it is glaring that he has somebody in mind and he would use all his powers as president, chairman and leader of the party to influence whatever decision the party would arrive at regarding the party’s  flagbearer position.  During the APC youth conference in Port Loko, he made series of innuendos and stated that flagbearer aspirants had beaten the gun by declaring for the position. Cleverly, he has won the hearts and minds of the APC youth wing and they would be willing to support whatever decision he might influence. Evidence of that fact is that they have already coronated him as a lifelong chairman and leader of the party. As President, chairman and leader of the party, he wields enormous powers which he has been using to stampede whosoever within his cabinet that aspires for flagbearer position. He ordered the removal of Hon. Ibrahim Bundu as Majority Leader of Parliament because he openly declared his intention to vie for the flagbearer position.

 Using Alpha Khan as bait, he succeeded in getting some of his ministers, who vest interest in the flagbearer, to resign their positions. Although Khan has vested interest in the position, but he clearly knows that his chances of becoming the flagbearer, either through election or selection, is very slim. To me, he is just a playmaker around whom the political game of President Koroma is centred.His resignation as adviser was a complete ploy to lure people like Dr.Kaifalah Marah and others to resign, knowing fully well that their chances are narrow. Through his utterances, he triggered the sacking of Alimamy Petito Koroma and Hon. Ibrahim Bundu as members of the National Advisory Committee (NAC) of the APC.With over ten people now vying for the position, who would be the choice of the king maker-President Ernest Bai Koroma? Would he decide on a familiar face that has little to convince voters or put up a candidate from the blues like it happened to him prior to the 2007 elections? Maybe the APC political history would provide better answers to those questions. And it is possible that President Koroma would do like Siaka Stevens, who handed over power to Brigadier Joseph Siadu Momoh to the surprise of the entire APC and the country as whole. Going forward, speculations are rife that the APC convention would send a shock wave to not only the contenders but the entire nation.

August 11, 2017 By Sahr Morris Jnr 

Walsall’s striker Amadou Bakayoko scored his first goal of the season as Sheffield United came from a goal down to beat Walsall 3-2 on Wednesday evening at Bramall lane.

Bakayoko’s opener was his fourth goal in four matches against the Blades and his first of the season and it was Walsall first goal of the which came in the 13th-minute – when Oztumer beat the offside trap and squared for Bakayoko to side-foot home from six yards out.

Ched Evans, who was introduced in the 52nd-minute set up two goals on his second Sheffield United debut as they fought back from 1-0 down to beat Walsall in the EFL Cup first round.

First, his 74th-minute shot was deflected into his own net by Kory Roberts, and then he crossed for Nathan Thomas to score before Daniel Lafferty added a third.

Erhun Oztumer made it 3-2 with an injury-time penalty. Meanwhile, Walsall lost their opening League One encounter away to Bury last Saturday.

Bury missed two penalties but still opened their Sky Bet League One campaign with a 1-0 victory over Walsall.