August 18, 2017 By Jariatu S. Bangura

While giving tribute to the memory of August 14th Flood and mudslide victims which left over 300 dead, Members of Parliament yesterday unanimously adopted a resolution calling on the Sierra Leone police to arrest and charge anyone who transfer, display or parade nude pictures and videos of victims in any shape or form on social media.

Moving the motion, Majority Leader of Parliament, Hon. Leonard Fofanah, said  issues surrounding the disaster should not be politicised as it was a natural disaster beyond human control and that sharing those images is tantamount to disrespect for the dead.

“The way and manner people are parading and transferring photos of the affected victims is not patriotic, but rather tarnishing their image. Respect should be given to the dead”, he said.

Hon. Sheku Amani Sannoh of Constituency 112, Lumley, extended gratitude to the sympathizers since the disaster occurred on August 14.

“It is bad for people to portray negative pictures of the recent incident. Let us be more patriotic as per the laws of this country. This is a call to Nationalistic and patriotic. As we speak, dead bodies are still being retrieved,” he said.

He called on SLRA and Works Ministry to connect communities that have been disconnected by the flooding.

Hon. Ibrahim Ben Kargbo of Constituency 030, Portloko district, said the county lacks capacity to effectively handle post disaster issues, as only two machines were available to excavate dead bodies from the rubbles.

He called on authorities concerned to handle the issue with the utmost respect it deserves, especially on issues regarding the evacuation of the people from those prone disaster communities.

Hon. Alhassan Kamara said it was a disgrace for people to share naked photos of people that were gruesomely killed by the mudslide, thus noting that those that would fall short should face the full force of the law.

“There is need to regulate social media because of this sad incident. No more should we allow corpses of the mudslide be shared. Their memories are not respected. Let go out and provide body bags rather than displaying their nakedness,” he said.

Minority Leader, Hon. Dr. Bernadette Lahai said the disaster encompassed people from every area across the country; therefore it was a concern for all.

 “We are now bound to implement our Environmental laws. We will go back and plant the green belt that we once have. I encourage the government to provide alternative lands. The cracks at those affected communities are still there. There must be a central command to make

August 18, 2017 By State House Communication Unit

The Government of the People’s Republic of China has donated One Million US Dollars to the Government and People of Sierra Leone as immediate response to the flooding and mudslide tragedy that hit parts of Freetown few days ago. Mr Wang Xinmin, Charge D’Affaires at the Chinese Embassy in Freetown made the pronouncement at State House on Wednesday 16th August, 2017.

President Ernest Bai Koroma thanked his Chinese counterpart President Xi Jinping and the people of China for the donation and commended the efforts of Chinese companies operating in the country for their assistance to victims of the unprecedented August 14 tragedy. The intervention, he emphasized, was no surprise.

The Chinese Community including Chinese companies operating in Sierra Leone had earlier made a cash donation of $83,860 and over Le 100 million in cash and materials towards victims of the mudslide and flooding. The donation was received by the Honourable Vice President who is now overseeing the committee receiving all donations relating to the emergency response.

Flooding and mudslide sparked by torrential rains and onrush of water from the slopes of Sugar Loaf have adversely affected Mortormeh, Kamayama and Kaningo communities on the outskirts of Freetown.

Government has set up a Response Center to coordinate emergency response efforts under the following pillars: health and burial, social welfare, security and rescue, logistics and communications.

August 18, 2017 By Sahr Morris Jnr

Following the deadly mudslide and flooding that have caused hundreds of casualties in Sierra Leone and displaced around 1,100 households, the European Union has released an initial amount of emergency humanitarian assistance of €300,000 for the most vulnerable families affected by the disaster, a release from EU country office stated.

The EU has also activated its emergency Copernicus mapping system to provide damage assessment maps to help with the relief efforts and a Commission humanitarian expert is on his way to assess the needs on the ground.

EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, Christos Stylianides   said the EU stands in full solidarity with Sierra Leone during these difficult times.

“My heart goes out to the people of Sierra Leone, a country I visited when it was on the frontline of the Ebola outbreak. Our new emergency funding will help provide essential supplies such as water, sanitation hygiene, food assistance, basic shelter and protection. The EU is doing all it can to help.” He said adding that overall EU assistance to Sierra Leone amounts to €376 million in long term development support from 2014-2020 adding that the EU together with Member States was also at the forefront of efforts to support the country during the Ebola outbreak.

“Total assistance of €2 billion over 2014-2016, was provided to the three countries affected by the crisis which included Sierra Leone, including €70 million of humanitarian assistance from the European Commission,” Stylianids stated.

UNOPS, MOE Donate 1,000 solar lanterns

August 18, 2017 By Joseph S. Margai

Few of the solar lanterns being displayed on the table

With support from UKAID, the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy (MOE), has donated one thousand (1,000) solar lanterns to the Office of National Security (ONS) in order to aid rescue operations at the recent mudslide sites in Freetown.

The handing over of the solar lanterns was done in the presence of the British High Commissioner, Guy Warrington, Ministry of Energy, Ambassador Henry Macauley, UNOPS Country Manager, Nick Gardner, and officials of ONS at Tower Hill in Freetown.

UNOPS Country Manager, Nick Gardner, said the fund for the donation was from UKAID and it was distributed by UNOPS.

“Each of the solar lanterns is five watts and could last for ten (10) hours. This will help rescue operations at the recently mudslide sites in Freetown. We doing what we can to support rescuers and the survivors,” he said.

He said UNOPS is part of the United Nations (UN) Country team which is supporting the mapping and surveys exercise to try to assess the extent of the damage.

“We are also supporting the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) to identify areas that are disaster prone so that we could prevent any further occurrence of such incident,” he said.

Minister of Energy, Ambassador Henry Macauley, said the donation would go a long way in helping rescue operations, adding that they would also be used by internally displaced people.

He said the solar lanterns have the capability to charge mobile phones and because the rescue workers do work at night the lights would be very useful.

British High Commissioner, Guy Warrington, said the people of Britain were very much concern of what was happening in Sierra Leone, adding that the solar lanterns are just the first step in wide range of programs aligned to help the people and government of Sierra Leone in the midst of the disaster.

He said it was his greatest honour to handover the British designed solar lanterns to the ONS.

August 17, 2017 By Sahr Morris Jnr

FIFA President Gianni Infantino (L) shakes hands with President of the African Football Confederation (CAF), Ahmad Ahmad Photo:  AFP PHOTO / STRINGER

World football governing body, FIFA and the Confederations of African Football (CAF) have joined the international community to send in condolence messages to Sierra Leoneans for the recent mudslide and flood disaster in the country.

In a statement, the FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, expressed his grief to people who lost their lives in the tragic incident.

Infantino message reads: “It is with great sadness that we learned of the tragic mudslide which caused the death of hundreds of people and destroyed the lives of thousands more.

“On behalf of the international football community, I would like to join you in expressing my deepest sympathy to the families of the victims, the injured and those still missing as well as my solidarity with the people of Sierra Leone at this time of great mourning. Our thoughts are with all of the families and communities.”

The FIFA president hoped that their words of support may help bring the victims little peace and solace in this time of sadness.

Like the world football governing body president, the CAF boss, Ahmad Ahmad on behalf of himself and the African football family expressed their total solidarity and my overwhelming sense of sadness.

“Please kindly bring this message of commitment and solidarity to his Excellency the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone and confirm that we share this great pain and moments of prayer and grieve of the population of our brother country and friend of Sierra Leone,” reads the CAF president message addressed to the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) boss, Madam Isha Johansen.

August 17, 2017 By Sahr Morris Jnr

Ibrahim Kargbo on target ….Photos by Dave West

Former Sierra Leone national team captain, Ibrahim ‘Obreh’ Kargbo opens his season account last Tuesday by helping his Dulwich Hamlet side secured 2-3 victory over Harlow Town at the Harlow Arena in the English Bostik League Premier Division league.

The strike was Kargbo’s first of the new campaign and The Hamlet first win in two matches as they seek promotion this season.

Kargbo gets Dulwich quickly out of the blocks just in the second minute to give them the lead after an half cleared ball landed in front of the former Sierra Leone international, who wasted no time to lob a volley over Lee.

Syrus Gordan cancelled out The Hamlet lead just 7 minutes later before Alex Read then gave the Hawks the lead on the half-hour mark – a lead they held until the final 6 minutes when two goals from substitute Muhammudu Faal gave Dulwich Hamlet the all three points.

Elsewhere, Abdulia Bell-Baggie was introduced in the 78 minutes for Poole Town 0-1 win over Chippenham Town while Alie Sesay played full time for IFK Frej in their 4-0 win over Helsingborg.

August 18, 2017 By Sahr Morris Jnr

Kei Kamara heart shaped hands foundation

In less than 24 hours, Sierra Leone and New England Revolution striker,Kei Kamara, has raised over U.S $861.23 for victims of the August 14 mudslide and flood disaster in Sierra Leone.

The Revs striker joined others in calling on the  international community , embassies and individuals in raising funds for victims and his appeal came through various social media platform using his ‘Kei Kamara Heartshapedhands.com foundation’ for the victims.

On Thursday August 17, the veteran forward took to tweet on his @keikamara with the message: “Less than 24hrs and nearing $1k you guys are awesome. TO DONATE visit http://heartshapedhands.com.”

The veteran forward’s appeal came through various social media platform using his ‘Kei Kamara Heartshapedhands.com foundation’ for the victims.

“Please help flood victims in Sierra Leone & donate to the #Heartshapedhands relief fund. I’ll match all donationshttp://heartshapedhands.com,” Kamara message reads.

The former Middleborough striker moves came just a day after the country’s President, Ernest Bai Koroma called for a week long national mourning.  He also called on his compatriots to pray for the country and victims of the disaster via social media from the USA.

Meanwhile, Kamara’s national teammate, Khalifa Jabbie has donated food and clothing to the victims in Freetown. Jabbie’s donation is said to worth more than US $3000 which is expected to help some of the thousands who were left homeless by Monday’s disaster.

He said: “I’m shocked and left dumbstruck upon hearing that a mudslide had occurred. My heart goes out to the victims.”

The 24-year old Jabbie, who recently left Moldovan club FC Sheriff, has urged others to donate whatever little they have to help the victims who are in desperate need.

August 18, 2017 By Sahr Morris Jnr

BAD DAY AT THE OFFICE… Kwame Quee sees another red card

Sierra Leone international midfielder, Kwame Quee, on Wednesday received his second dismissal in 11 matches on his debut season with Víkingur Ólafsvík‏in, the Iceland top tier league; the Úrvalsdeild.

The young midfielder, who is on loan to Víkingur Ólafsvík‏in from FC Johansen was shown a straight red by the central man, Helgi Mikael Jonasson, in the 69th minute but his side went on to secure a 0-1 away victory over IBV Vestmannaeyjar.

Reacting to the Sierra Leonean midfielder’s dismissal, the club’s manager, coach Ejub Purisevic, refused to admit it should have been a red card.

“I was close to this and it was never red in my opinion. If we only look at the line that the referee put in this game and other decisions, I did not think this was red. It’s ok to watch this on TV and be sure, but it’s a big and big decision, especially if the referee was not sure,” Ejub told visir.is

It was the second dismissal for Quee who on his debut day, 14 May 2017 was sent off eight minutes from time in a 3-1 win over Grindavík.

The 21-year-old received double yellow in 65 minutes and 82nd minute before giving the matching order a decision which  the club’s manager coach Ejub Purisevic describe as soft one then.

Meanwhile, the win moved Víkingur Ólafsvík‏in way above the relegation zone to seventh place with 19 points from 15 matches. Quee has already bagged three goals in all competition for Víkingur Ólafsvík‏in.

August 18, 2017 By: Jariatu S. Bangura

Minister of Sports, Ahmed Khanou has said it is either the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) executive committee complies with the rules in their statute or the government takes decision through parliament or his ministry under the commands of the president.

The Sports Minister made the above statement on Thursday (17 August) while giving his submission to members of the Parliamentary Committee on Sport on the current impasse in the football family.

“We’ve told the SLFA to go to congress and then present their report which has never been done. They are playing politics with this and yet the FA president does not want political interference.

“The burning issues currently is they either comply to the rules in their statute which is within the frame work of their constitution or government will make decision through parliament or my ministry which works under the commands of the country’s President” Ahmed Khanou said.

The Minister further stated that there was no issue between his ministry and SLFA but that of SLFA and its membership.

He said: “I was appointed to provide leadership and create a level playing field to everybody in the football arena. Let her go and do her work properly,” adding that one cannot continue to hide under the umbrella of political inference while doing the wrong things.

Hon. Alhassan Kamara, a member of the committee said nobody is against the SLFA president, Isha Johansen neither the Minister wanted her to step down, but as a committee they wanted to see peace reign in the association.

He said: “We want her to go to the membership and conduct congress, if her time is up, let he go and renew her mandate in congress, even members of parliament after every five years we do the same. We are tired as a nation of these scrabbles; media war and so on. We are appealing to them to go to congress.”

Other members of the committee also suggested that the two parties come together and ensure the congress is held for the happiness of football loving Sierra Leoneans.

August 21, 2017 By Mohamed Massaquoi

Over the weekend, Eclipse Microfinance Sierra Leone Ltd donated food and non-food items worth millions of Leones to mudslide victims at the Africa Young Voices (AYV) Broadcast House in Freetown as part of the company’s humanitarian and cooperate social responsibility to the government and people of Sierra Leone.

The items include bags of rice, vegetable oil, toiletries, bundles of portable water, among others and a cash of two million Leones to those who were involved in Monday disaster.

While donating the items and cash to the management of AYV for the mudslide victims, Eclipse Managing Director,  Kwaku Ampadu Afoani said the company was incorporated in Sierra Leone in October 2015 and  licensed by the  Bank of Sierra Leone to operate as a microfinance  institution in the country.

He added that the donation is part of their cooperate social responsibility to help venerable Sierra Leoneans, adding that even though Eclipse has its headquarters in Ghana, yet they are pleased to effectively operate in Sierra Leone.

‘’We are pleased to be here today at the AYV media complex to give our own support to the Monday mudslide victims. Our people have suffered greatly as a result of this calamity and it is timely for all of us to give helping hands to those who survived this disaster. Our support may be small but it goes a long way in creating good relationship between our company and the people of Sierra Leone,” he said, adding that Eclipse Microfinance is a member of the UN Global Compact on Sustainable Development Goals and that the company is advancing SDG 1, 8 and 10 by creating the necessary impact in the community where they operate.

‘’EMSL has started Financial Literacy program with SLBC  to enhance Financial Inclusion, whereby the majority of the key economic players in the informal sector can have increased access to finance for the innovation and expansion of growth oriented businesses with the sole objective of impacting on their living standards and working towards poverty alleviation,” he noted.

August 21, 2017

PEL, on behalf of Constituency 110/128 and Sierra Leone Peoples  Party (SLPP) donated 20 bags of rice to flood and mudslide victims in Matomeh community.

While doing the presentation, Pel Koroma  empathised with the bereave families, saying that it is a challenging moment for them and the whole country, but with courage they should render their hope and trust in God for he is the only refuge left. The presentation was done together with the party’s Regional and Constituency stakeholders including other party members who also made salient contributions.

The community people appreciated SLPP for the gesture; saying that the donation was done to the right people as many donations coming for them are being tapped by unidentified people.

Through PEL’s effort together with the party executives (both Constituency and Zonal levels), the SLPP Party with no complacency is sure of winning this constituency. There is no two ways about it; PEL has all what it takes to win this constituency . He is a man with integrity, vision, passion for his party and his people, popularity, political base, humility and leadership charisma. He is indeed the kind of aspirant the people fall for.

In not so many words, this man is an attractive, affordable and accessible commodity in the political market, so SLPP as a credible company just has the responsibility to label him as its product to realize a remarkable turnover.

August  21, 2017

After the catastrophic mudslide and flooding on August 14, 2017, the Chinese Military Medical Expert Group participated actively in the disaster relief efforts of the Sierra Leone government through the coordination of the Joint Medical Unit of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF).

Responding to the call of Military Aid to Civil Power by the Sierra Leone government, the Chinese military medical experts contributed to the emergency treatment for the injured that are brought to the Joint Medical Unit and donated through local Chinese community. As experts in infectious diseases control, the military medical group analyzed the possibility of epidemic outbreak which usually comes with large scale disaster and brought up methods of prevention to the Joint Medical Unit of RSLAF.

With counterparts from RSLAF, Head of the expert group GUO Xuejun and Deputy Head HUANG Lei visited the mudslide hit area and one of the victim settlements near Mansaray’s Drive in Regent trying to figure out what is the urgent demand of the victims and the possible infectious disease prevention plan. On August 17, the group brought more than 100 boxes of drugs, such as anti-dysenteric, antibiotics, anti-malaria, and antipyretics, together with food, drinking water and mosquito repellent to the settlement and distributed to the victims.

To avoid possible outbreak of infectious diseases, Professor GUO Xuejun led his team and sterilized the peripheral of the settlement and sprayed insecticide to prevent the breeding of vector species. The medical experts also provided medical services to the victims instructed them how to prevent infectious diseases.

Mrs. Sarah in the settlement from the Office of National Security invited the group to join meetings to discuss further activities for disaster relief.

The Chinese Military Medical Expert Group is currently in Sierra Leone on bilateral agreement between China and Sierra Leone to help to establish an infectious disease center, which could significantly improve the infectious disease control capability of the government of Sierra Leone, at the Joint Medical Unit of RSLAF.

August 21, 2017 

Bishop Oyedepo at State House

Following the devastations caused by flooding and mudslide on the outskirts of Freetown on August 14 at the beginning of this week, President Ernest Bai Koroma continues to receive not only condolence messages but also high powered delegations from countries across the sub-region and beyond.

This morning Friday August18,2017 the president received a high level delegation led by Bishop David Oyedepo of World \mission Agency aka Winners Chapel.

According to the Bishop his visit was to console and pray for Sierra Leone following Mondays tragedy.

He prayed that such predicament would not repeat itself in this nation and that there would be a turnaround in the country.

For victims of the flooding and mudslides, Bishop Oeydepo pledged assistance of food items and general provisions, including 250 bags of rice,  250 liters of vegetable oil, 250 bags of onions, 250 blankets, clothing, washing soap among others.

President Koroma thanked the bishop for his quick response describing the visit as a source of great hope.

He lamented on the incident, narrating that a particular church was observing all night prayers when the unimaginable and unprecedented tragedy occurred and consequently claimed hundreds of lives.

He also bemoaned the story of the six innocent children who went to study in the home of one of their brightest colleagues, and the young man who was due to marry today, saying that they all had their plans for the next day but were swept away from their sleep on to untimely deaths.

The president pointed out that Sierra Leone’s economy was apparently doing well when the Ebola struck and reversed every gain.

Even the country is faced with another huge challenge in the aftermath of a successful recovery process, he however expressed hope that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

August 21, 2017 By Hassan Gbassay Koroma

The United Bank for Africa, (UBA) one of the leading pan African financial Institutions, has named Mr. Chinedu Obeta, as the new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO) of its Sierra Leone subsidiary.

Mr. Obeta, is taking over from Ndubuisi Ejiofor, who has now been appointed as the pioneer turnaround and relief Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer UBA Africa, a reward for Ejiofor’s immense contributions and impressive track records in UBA Sierra Leone and now MD/CEO of UBA in neighbouring Guinea.

Before the appointment, Obeta was the Executive Director (ED), Wholesale Banking of UBA Sierra Leone, a position he held since 2012. He is credited along with the outgoing CEO towards ensuring the subsidiary’s sustainable profitability, thus taking UBA Sierra Leone to an enviable position in the financial landscape in the country and within the UBA Group.

The Group Managing Director/CEO of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka while announcing the appointment charged the new MD/CEO for Sierra Leone to sustain the incredible feats achieved over the years by venturing into uncharted territories in order to meet the corporate strategies earlier earmarked for 2017 financial year and beyond.

He congratulated Mr. Obeta, on the good work he has put in over the years and urged him to deliver more excellent service and ensure that the bank is taken to greater heights in line with his new role.

On his part the newly appointed MD and CEO Mr. Obeta expressed delight and promised to work towards promoting the bank’s tenets and deliver greater and satisfactory service to customers of the bank in Sierra Leone.

 “I am honoured to be leading such a talented group of people and I want to seize this opportunity to express my gratitude to the former MD for the great platform he laid before me for subsequent succession and sustainability.

He further that he wish to continue the good work of the outgoing MD, and to register even more impressive and enviable records as a subsidiary in the Group and as a bank in Sierra Leone.

UBA (SL) Ltd is wholly owned by UBA Plc. UBA Plc is a leading financial service institution in sub-Sahara Africa with its headquarters in Nigeria and presence in 18 other African countries, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and France. UBA Plc, with balance sheet size of US$9.2B, has over eight million customers who are served by her 12,745 workforce. The group shared Core Values are Enterprise, Excellence and Execution.

August 21, 2017 John Baimba Sesay

Our resolve as a nation has been tested again. It has often been tested; a decade long civil war that led to the death of thousands of our people; an Ebola outbreak that saw the demise of our beloved ones and just recently, we have been hit by a disastrous mudslide, killing hundreds of people including women and children. Psychologically, we are broken, emotionally, we are shattered. But by our faith, we shall remain   strong and be hopeful that with God, we shall rise again for we are a resilient nation. We fought a civil war for a decade, then came a time to put an end to it. We did that, today becoming a global example on issues of peace keeping and building.

That we were able to fight a deadly virus was also demonstrative of our commitment to work collectively as a nation. The Ebola virus snatched away thousands of our beloved compatriots; we mourned, we screamed but eventually came to the conclusion that it was the Will of God and in Him and only Him should we look forward to, for comfort. Our faith is shaken but we should be firmed.  Collectively as a country, we have come a long way. With the astute leadership provided by the President and government, we have made progress in a range of sectors. We have rebuilt our infrastructure; we have positioned our image well, globally.  Yes, we have been hit by a plethora of challenges but never have we succumbed to such challenges for we have always stood above them.

I visited the mudslide scene together with the country’s Vice President, Ambassador Bockarie Foh, who, just like his (our) Boss the President, was shaken and heartbroken seeing the level of destruction and lives taken by the mudslide. They, like the entire nation, literally are in tears this moment. So far, the President, ably assisted by his Vice, has provided the needed leadership in terms of general government response.  This has been another difficult and challenging period for our country’s leadership. But as we saw in the President’s efforts in handling the Ebola outbreak, I am certain, that we shall live up to expectations.  At the highest level, there has been effective coordination of responses both in terms of logistical and human resource support.

We may have our differences yes, but we are a nation that can also be united for a common course and purpose. Our national response to the recent mudslide disaster is just one of several pointers to how united we could be. The intervention of our security forces, including the Military, Police, and Fire Force was timely, same with the role played by our youth.   And as we go through the psychological trauma and other challenges left by the recent mudslide we should bear in mind that God’s plan for mankind shall never be challenged. It was touching and tough when the President said “we would” as a nation “bury our beloved ones” but that our hopes will not be buried. His words should give us courage that all is not lost. It also encourages us to continue to demonstrate the resilient nature we are known for.

The response especially from countries like the United Kingdom, the People’s Republic of China and from our African sister nations like Guinea, Liberia, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Togo, Liberia,  and others has all been commendable and for which we should be grateful. It is, in my view, a show of how our country’s leadership has positioned itself globally over the years.   The arrival today, 19^th August, of the Ghanaian Vice President has also been in conformity with the African solidarity and a total show of support and a demonstration of brotherhood. This has been impressive. We say thank you all for standing by us during this difficult period in our history.

May the departed souls Rest in Peace. May God continue to direct our country’s leadership during this challenging period! We shall overcome though we are a nation in tears at the moment!

August 21, 2017 By Sahr Morris Jnr

Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Wu Peng

Chinese Embassy in Sierra Leone together with the Sierra Leone Table Tennis Association (SLTTA) will on September 1-3 stage a three days intensive Youth Table Tennis Tournament at the Siaka Stevens stadium Table Tennis gym in Freetown.

The three days tournament which has already been divided into two categories for male and female lads aging from 10-13 years and 14-16 years will attract at total of 32 young lads.

On the tournament registration requirements, SLTTA head coach John Bobson Taylor said: “Valid photo ID are required for registration and sign up players will be allocated to different groups according to gender and age.”

Coach Bobson also revealed that the SLTTA has the final say on qualifications of players according to pre-match game in an event the sign up players exceed the required numbers adding that the Youth Table Tennis Tournament will be played in a single player knock-out match in a best of three sets under the international table tennis standard rules.

Meanwhile; the Chinese Embassy has already categories tournament award for winners in four categories; Grand Prize: 1 per each of the 4 groups, second prize: 1 per each of the 4 groups, third Prize: 2 per each of the 4 groups and the excellence prize: 4 per each of the 4 groups.

August 21, 2017 By Patrick Jaiah Kamara

12 years old Mamusu Conteh narrowly escaped the chase of three giant women who were hired by her grandmother to forcefully take her to the nearby bondo bush for the initiation process.

She narrated her story to me in a shanty village called Kamranka in the Bombali District, northern Sierra Leone, after she fled from her original village to avoid being mutilated.

“My life is not safe in that village. People are hunting me for FGM against my will,” she narrated. She was rescued by some local campaigners who are advocating for the abolition of FGM in Sierra Leone.

Conteh fears members of the all-powerful female secret societies were going to break into her room with the consent of her grandmother and take her away.

Like many other Sierra Leonean children, Conteh has good reasons to be afraid as forceful mutilation is evidenced across the country, especially in the Bombali district headquarter town of Makeni, despite calls by international partners to avoid act.

The ban on the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) has faced stiff resistance from traditional women who saw it as a means of livelihood.

Despite a government moratorium that prohibits the initiation of children less than 18 years, the practice is still common among women in the northern town of Makeni.

A year ago, a girl below age 18 died shortly after undergoing the initiation ceremony in Makeni town, thus igniting the arrest of several soweis (FGM leaders) although they were later released.

According to Plan International, FGM also known as female circumcision, is the excision or genital cutting, comprises all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the genital organs for non-medical reasons, mostly carried out between infancy and age 15.

The country’s Minister of Social Welfare Gender and Children’s Affairs, Sylvia Olayinka Blyden, has said the government’s focus is on children under 18, which is the age of consent under Sierra Leonean laws.

This has however, left anti-FGM campaigners divided on whether an under-18 ban will have any impact on the practice. While others believe that it is a minute step in the right direction. Some say it would create little or no impact as traditionally, parents make decision for their daughters, irrespective of their age.

According to the World Health Organisation, about 88% of women in Sierra Leone between the ages of 15 and 49 have undergone FGM.

The practice as at this time is yet to be subsided. Many women that have undergone the initiation are making a comparative analysis that if their own practice is ban, then the secret society of men as well should be banned.

By all indications, banning FGM  in Sierra Leone is far from being achieved due to the entrenched attachment to the practice by a  majority of women folks in the country.

August 21, 2017 By: Samuel Yomba

As the 5th Asian indoor and martial arts games come closer,Turkmenistan celebrates Day of the melon in an extra ordinary way.  A unique holiday in honor of the “queen” of melon plantation was celebrated a longside the Gala concert on the occasion of 30 days countdown  to the kick off of the Asian games.

The  celebration ciphered  the erection of yellow pyramids of ” fruits”, mountains of watermelons, decorating not only the markets, but also the squares of the capital and centers of the country to expose a variety and the most unusual forms of melons, appreciate the sweetness and aromatic power of the Turkmen melon and immerse Oneself in the festival atmosphere of radiant summer holiday, at which everyone is a welcome guest including those who came from across the world.

This special event was glamoured with art exhibitions,Concerts and performances in the Olympic Village was graced by  Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov(the sports loving President of Turkmenistan). All celebrations were dedicated to the queen of melon field, as well as a celebration ahead of the special  Asian games to start from 17-27th September.

Turkmenistan is the first Country in the Central Asian region to host the Asian indoor and Martial Arts Games in a unique Olympic Complex come the 17th -27th September 2017 and the residents can’t wait to witness the games at a special Olympic Complex.

There are many varieties of melons and the most popular are, of course, “vakharman” from Murghab valley, lebap “gulyabi”, dashoguz “gurbeki”, akhal “garrygys”, fragrant fruits, grown on dry lands of Balkan,they number in 400 only in domestic breeding.They exist in different forms,flavour,sugar content,period of growth and pulp density.

Paradisiacal fruits were a worthy decoration of the tables of emperors, padishahs and sultans. Today domestic breeders – melon growers continue to work on breeding new varieties, carefully saving all the best that was created by our people for millennia.

The song displays country’s unique culture,  and  words and music of this work express the heightened sense of pride and happiness experienced by million of Turkmenistan’s citizens as per one Citizen.

The Olympic square, where guests were given VIP treatment was lit to greatness and one would think it’s special Christmas.The Gala concert that marked 30 days to the major games attracted several artists, with the country Presidents Major song titled “Go forward,  Only Forward, Homeland Turkmenistan”, which is the Anthem for the games.

August 21, 2017 By Sahr Morris Jnr

Sierra Leone international, Mohamed Buya Turay last Saturday dedicate his two goals scored against league leaders Malmo FF in the Swedish Allsvenskan league to both mudslide and flood victim in Sierra Leone.

The 21-year-old was joined by Ivorian footballer Abdul Razak in solidarity as both players displayed the Sierra Leone flag in showing their support to the victim back home. However, both players were cautioned by the referee Stefan Johannesson which forced the Sierra Leonean forward to scream straight and stomped into the ground of anger and frustration over the caution.

Turay fired the home side just 4 minutes in the match to grab his sixth goal of the season and 10 minutes later, AFC increased their lead to 2-0 through a fine goal by Omar Eddahri and in the 28 minutes the Sierra Leone international nodded in his seventh goal of the season after the fine performance of Andrew Fox to give the relegation threat a 3-0 lead.

Jo Inge Berget notched in the consultation goal for the visitors from the penalty spot after Anton Tinnerholm was brought down in the area.

Reaction to his brace and the booking from the referee, Turay said: “I think it was frustrating to be booked by the referee, the display of the flag was my own way to honor the victims of the landslides and flooding back home. I can hardly describe the joy of this victory.”

Meanwhile, AFC Eskilstuna still sits at the bottom of the league table with 11 points from 20 matches while Malmo FF still stays at the top with 46 points.