August 24, 2017 By Mohamed Massaquoi

The Open Government Initiative (OGI) in the Office of the President has reactivated their toll free lines in order to respond to distress calls and other concerns from members of the public, as a strategy to avert further disaster in slum and mountainous communities in Freetown and in the provinces.

 OGI Director, Madam Khadija Sesay, said in an interview with this medium yesterday that her organisation was aggressively embarking on soliciting public perceptions on government response to the incident that occurred on Monday 14 August 2017, adding that they are using the toll free lines to ensure that the concerns of people actually reach government.

 “We are mourning as a nation but we must be able to put mechanisms in place to avert any further disaster. It is based on this backdrop that we have reactivated the OGI 644 toll free lines opened and installed our suggestion boxes at various communities where this incident occurred,’ she said.

“All these are different mediums dedicated to citizens of this country to express their views on social accountability.  In the same vein, it can also be used for complaints, suggestions, recommendations and queries they may have on this mudslide that has occurred in terms of service delivery .It is also a form of monitoring mechanism.’’

She called on humanitarian organisations to come to the aid of victims of the mudslide.

August 24, 2017 By Hassan Gbassay Koroma

Children Media Foundation Sierra Leone, (CMF) on Monday 21^st August, 2017, donated food and non-food items worth millions of Leones to mudslide and flood victims and promised to provide a year scholarship to one hundred and ninety four disaster affected children.

Speaking at the donation ceremony, the Founder and Chief Executive officer of the organisation , Saidu Paul Kamara, said his foundation was in the community to donate to children that lost their parents to the disaster.

He said his organisation sympathises with the relatives of the victims who were gruesomely killed in the August Monday 14^th mudslide and flood disaster.

He said they have visited the two worst affected communities of Kaningo and Regent respectively, and that they have decided to provide a year scholarship including learning materials worth millions of Leones.

 “I felt bad when we visited the Regent Registration Centre. What comes to my mind was how these children are going to face. It is on that grounds that we decided to give our little help to some affected children,” he said.

He further called on other well-meaning organisations, to come to the aid of those children and give them the best education that their parents would have given them.

August 24, 2017 By Memunatu Bangura

Mohamed Koroma, Abu Bakar Suma, Mohamed Conteh and Abdulia Kargbo made their fourteenth appearance before Magistrate Albert Moody of Court No.1 to answer to four counts of conspiracy, larceny and receiving stolen goods among other offences.

Police alleged that the first and second accused persons (Mohamed Koroma and Abu Bakar Suma) on Sunday 14^th May, 2017 at Goderich Street conspired with other persons unknown to commit a felony to wit larceny.

It is further alleged that the first and second accused persons also stole from a vehicle with registration number AHL 666, one red&black bag containing seven thousand, two hundred United States Dollars, fiscal cash of three million five hundred thousand Leones, driver’s license, national identity card, three hundred carat of gold and thirteen pieces of diamond all to a total value of seventy six million, four hundred and seventy nine thousand Leones property of Mohamed Manso Marah.

Police also alleged that Mohamed Conteh on the same date at Fourah Bay Road did receive three million, seven hundred and seventy thousand Leones knowing same to have been stolen from Mohamed Manso Marah.

It is also alleged that on the same date at Susan’s Bay, Abdulia Kargbo ,received one red bag pack, valued ninety thousand Leones, knowing same to be stolen property of Mohamed Manso Marah.

The accused persons made their first appearance on 26^th May, 2017 and the prosecution has also led Witnesses.

Meanwhile the matter has been adjourned for further cross examination of the PW4.

August 24, 2017 By Memunatu Bangura

Community Chief covering Malamah, Sheriff Drive and Regent Road in the Lumley community, Pa Alhaji Alimamy Koroma, has been remanded at the Male Correctional Centre by Magistrate Hannah Bonnie of Court No.2 for the offence of obtaining money by false pretence contrary to law.

Police Constable 9155-Macarthy Dwight alleges  that on Thursday 16^th July, 2017 at No.9 Sheriff Drive, Lumley in Freetown, did obtain the sum of six million, five hundred thousand Leones from Alice Tommy for the purpose of letting a one and parlor, knowing the same to be false.

Chief Alhaji Pa Alimamy Koroma pleaded not guilty when the charge was put to him.

The complainant, Alice Tommy told the court that she was looking for a house to rent when she came across an agent named Arthur, who told her that the accused person (Pa Alimamy Koroma) had a room and parlor to let.

According to her, she went together with the agent to the accused person who confirmed having the house to let for four million Leones per year.

Alice told the Bench that she made an agreement with the accused person to pay the said amount the following day.

She added that on 6^th of July, 2017, she made a payment of six million five hundred thousand Leones in the presence of the accused person’s son and the daughter who signed as witness.

Alice stated that upon payment of the said amount, the accused person issued a receipt to her and promised to handover the key to house on the 7^th of July, 2017.

“He promised to give me the key to the doors the next day but after several attempts, I did not have access to the house,” she said.

She said after one month without having access to the house, she requested for her money which the accused consented to refund, but failed.

Alice said she then reported the matter to the Lumley Police Station.

The accused was represented by Lawyer C. Campbell and the matter will come up today (24th July, 2017) for further hearing.

August 24, 2017 By Memunatu Bangura

Twenty four years old Foday Kargbo was yesterday, 23^rd July 2017 remanded at the Male Correctional Centre for alleged human trafficking contrary to Section 2 (1) of the Anti-Human Trafficking Act of 2005.

The particulars of offence stated that on Monday, 27^th March, 2017 at Solo B drive, Goderich, trafficked a six years old girl.

The accused was not allowed to take a plea and was remanded to the centre prisons.

In another matter, one Fanta Kabba was also remanded for the offence of fraudulent conversion contrary to Section 20 (1) (c) of Larceny Act and obtaining credit by fraud other than false pretence.

It is alleged that the accused person on a date between 1^st January, 2016 and 31^st December, 2016, in Freetown, fraudulently converted to her own use and  benefit, certain properties – wax cotton valued five million, five hundred thousand Leones and Bamako valued seven million, five hundred thousand Leones entrusted to him by Fatmata Barrie for sale.

It continued that on the same date stated above, the accused person incurred a debt to the tune of nine million Leones from Fatmata Barrie other than false pretence.

The matter was adjourned for further hearing.

August 24, 2017 By Joseph S. Margai

youth offloading the bags of rice from a mini-van

Onions and cooking oil

The Western Area Rural District Council (WARDC), have donated assorted food items to survivors of the recent mudslide that wrecked so much havoc on the people of Freetown.

The donated items, which were presented to the mudslide victims ‘command centre at Regent village on Wednesday 16^th August, 2017, included 50 bags of rice, 10 bags of onions, five jerry cans of cooking oil, two cartoons of magi, 500 bundles of pure drinking water, among others.

Deputy Chairperson of WARDC, the Chief Administrator, Public Relations Officer, and other officials of the council were in attendance at the handing over ceremony of the items to the President’s Delivery Team, headed by Zulaikatu Cooper and other ministers of government.

Chairman of WARDC, Alhassan Cole, said the donation was a must from the council as the primary authority of the district where Regent village is situated.

“We have always been doing this whenever and wherever there is a case of disaster within the Western Area Rural District. This is a national concern and we are also committed to ensuring that the survivors are well taken care of,” he said.

Deputy Chairperson of WARDC, Councilor Margret Kargbo, signed for the donated items and on behalf of the council, expressed her heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.

Chief Administrator of WARDC, Ahmed Shekuba Koroma, called on government to dedicate the mudslide site as a memorial ground so that people could always use it to remember and pray for the lives that have been lost.

He also pledged council’s support to ensuring the survivors, who he referred to as “our heroes”, live a normal life.

“WARDC has been taking the lead in the district to ensuring that the lives lost were given a befitting burial. Youth were hired to prepare the grave site for the burial of the mudslide victims. The council also bought 10 shovels and 10 pickaxes and provided food and cash for work for 600 youth at the cemetery,” he said.

NOC-SLE urges associations to select right athletes

August 24, 2017 By Sahr Morris Jnr

Member Associations & NOC-SLE officials in dialogue

President of National Olympic Committee of Sierra Leone (NOC-SLE), Dr. Patrick Coker has urged all sporting associations to select the right athletes without fear or favour for the Australia 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Sierra Leone will be amongst the 70 Nation that will battle for glory in next year’s Games at the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia from 4 and 15 April 2018 and the NOC-SLE boss wants to see the country make huge impact in the Games.

Addressing Sports Association members in their second meeting ahead of the Games, Dr. Coker, who also doubles as the President of the Commonwealth Games Association of Sierra Leone said: “I am urging all the Sports Associations leaders to select the right athletes for the Australia 2018 Commonwealth Games.”

“Sierra Leone must now make its impact at major Games,” Dr. Coker said and stressed on the need for officials to respect time-lines so that the delegation will be well catered for.

He also showered praises on the Chef De Mission, Unisa Deen Kargbo,whom he said was  comfortable with the new system and further revealed that they were not receiving money from the Commonwealth Games Association, but using the Olympic funds to support the country’s preparations.

Also at the meeting, the Association officials were opportune to receive detailed explanations on the new Accreditation System and Visa Application process.

August 24, 2017 By Sahr Morris Jnr

TWO TIMES LUCK… Sierra Leone U-20 team makes progress without kicking a ball

Sierra Leone U-20 team were second time luck as they qualified to the next round of the 2018 FIFA women’s World Cup qualifiers without kicking a ball after the withdrawal of Tunisia from the competition.

At first it was Libyan who withdrew at the Preliminary Round of the competition paving the way for a smooth ride for Sierra Leone to face the Tunisians in the first round; however, the Tunisians have also pulled-out give the West African nation a leeway to the second round of the qualifiers

A statement from the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) confirms the Sierra Leone Women’s Under-20 team progressed to the last eight of the qualifiers citing a letter from the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) dated August 23rd and signed by the Competitions Director, Shereen Arafa.

The SLFA information stated that, CAF confirmed that the fixtures of both legs between Sierra Leone and Tunisia have been canceled quoting a CAF letter which reads: “We regret to inform you that the team of Tunisia withdrew from the Africa preliminaries FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, France 2018 qualifiers. Consequently, the above matches are canceled and Sierra Leone team is qualified for the next round.”

Sierra Leone and Tunisia were earlier on billed to play the first leg in Tunis on September 15 with the return leg in Freetown two weeks later with the Tunisians withdrawal; Sierra Leone will now play the winner between Guinea and Cameroon with the first leg schedule for November 3rd and the return leg two weeks later.

August 24, 2017 By Sahr Morris Jnr

Members offloading the donated items

Sierra Leone and Denizlispor midfielder Alfred Sankoh, has joined other Sierra Leone international team players to donate food items to victims of flooding at the Kaningo Community in Freetown.

The Turkish based midfielder donation is said to worth over Le 8,000,000 and the presentation was done on his behalf by Uncle Daniel Sankoh.

In an interview with Concord Sports via Facebook, Sankoh said he feels obliged to make such donation especially so when he is residing at the said community whenever he is in Freetown.

“Despite away from home but my taught and prayers are with the victims and those who lost their lives. It is sadden and this is my own way of joining others to sympathies with our people back home,” Sankoh said.

Former FC Sheriff Midfielder, Khalifa Jabbie and Turkish based defender, David Simbo have also donated food and clothes to victims of the mudslide and flood disaster victims in Freetown while New England Revolution and Leone Stars striker, Kei Kamara has already raised over US$900 to the victims.

S.O.S: Rihanna’s ‘umbrella’ wanted in Freetown.

August 24, 2017 By Osman Benk Sankoh

Sometimes, in moments of distress, I turn to music for inspiration. These days as updates stream in on the August 14 mudslide that killed nearly 500 persons with about 600 still unaccounted for in Sierra Leone and with reports of donations being made, “the fierce urgency ” (apologies Mr. Obama) of the situation has forced me to turn to Rihanna’s songs. One that has caught my attention is titled S.OS. It goes: “S.O.S. please someone help me. It’s not healthy… for me to feel this way. Y.O.U. are making this hard, I can’t take it, see, it don’t feel right. S.O.S. please someone help me.”

Born Robin Rihanna Fenty, the Barbadian US pop star has been headlining the news in Sierra Leone lately more than ever. Her song, Umbrella, released several years ago was a hit. Street vendors made brisk business selling pirated CD copies of the song, especially during traffic congestion .As Facebook and WhatsApp were not in vogue then, boys trying to steal the hearts of girls turned to Rihanna’s ‘Umbrella’ to narrate their heartfelt love using the old-fashioned letter writing form. And Rihanna’s ‘Umbrella’ lyrics were such powerful.

 What has caught the attention of many Sierra Leoneans and friends, however, are stories making the rounds that Rihanna donated $2 million to the mudslide victims. Make no mistake, $2 million is a huge sum but when it is associated with Rihanna, whose net worth, according to  gazettereview.com is currently about $280 million, even the Reverend Fathers and Imams would not mind having all night prayers for Rihanna’s dollars to keep raining on Sierra Leone.

In Barbados, the Caribbean island where the singer was born, the story of her donation was shared hundreds of times on social media, and was also covered by the news site, Barbados Today. It was mentioned on BBC’s Focus on Africa program. The Sierra Leone media was not left out as Rihanna’s donation grew feet with hundreds of shares from Sierra Leoneans on Facebook and Whatsapp as well. Those who had doubts as to government’s sincerity to be able to account for every single penny of Rihanna’s dollars began practising how to act as anti- corruption watchdogs to police the $2 million.

As this was happening, other stories developed that cast a doubt on the accuracy of the pop star’s donation. Denial came from several fronts but the doubters could have none of it. Some even claimed that government officials wanted to pocket the money for themselves. By late evening of August 21in Freetown, the Sierra Leonean Embassy in Washington D.C issued a press release denying claims that the Ambassador, Mr. Bockarie Stevens, was aware of the donation. Whether his denial was convincing or not, Rihanna’s dollars continued to be the talk of the town. Meanwhile, BuzzFeed, an independent media digital platform, quoting a spokesperson for Clara Lionel Foundation, founded by Rihanna in 2012 in honor of her grandparents Clara and Lionel Braithwaite, said, “The story is untrue and completely inaccurate.”

  Good or bad, Rihanna has already received publicity for the non-existent donation and the expectation for her to come to the aid of Sierra Leone can only increase. It could be a win- win situation if the pop star were to do something for the affected persons.

Like most of the victims of the mudslide, Rihanna tasted poverty growing up as a child in Barbados. The gazettereview.com states: “… her childhood was not all sunshine and rainbows. She helped her father sell hats, clothes and belts on a street stall. She would even sell candies wrapped in packages to her classmates at school to make extra money.” Is this not similar to some of the stories narrated by the mudslide victims?

A street hawker said she lost everything to the mudslide; an okada (motor-cycle) rider told stories of how his friends perished and his motorbike gone; a student cried that his school uniforms, books and parent were gone; a seven- month pregnant lady lamented that her unborn child will grow up not knowing who daddy was; a child kept looking at pictures of parents, uncles, brothers and sisters she will never get to meet; and other stories abound.

I know that Rihanna is kind-hearted and generous having helped millions of people worldwide. Her foundation website, claralionelfoundation.org opens with the message: “we believe in the right to education as a weapon against injustices and inequality, and the right to health as a necessity for happiness and productivity.” She sponsors a microcredit grant program back home in Barbados, a global scholarship program to support young people who come to the U.S to pursue higher education and she has also installed state of the art equipment at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in  that country  to improve healthcare and the quality of life of her people. In January this year, as a Global Ambassador for Education, Rihanna visited a school in Malawi where she taught math and learnt about the educational challenges facing students in that country.

Say whatever you may, whether the initial call was a false alarm or not, Rihanna has got the gravitas to bring attention to the situation of the flood victims in Sierra Leone. Her name had been used inaccurately but this is an opportunity for her jump into the fray.

Let it be told to Rihanna that the rains keep pounding while the victims lie in school compounds with no proper ventilation. They are prone to mosquito bites which may lead to malaria. They have no good toilets. Orphaned kids, unaware of the situation, may be dancing and smiling but their caretakers fear they may lack the basic needs in a short while. Pregnant women and the sick are admitted at several hospitals but they fear what happens next after they shall have been discharged. Houses are gone and how soon will these victims be relocated to a permanent environment is the million dollar question. For our government, the challenges keep increasing. It was Ebola in 2014 and now, the mudslide.

Rihanna, in S.O.S, you sang: “This time, please someone come and rescue me, cause you on my mind, it got me losing it.” In Umbrella, you spiced the song with: “Now that it’s raining more than ever, know that we’ll still have each other. You can stand under my umbrella.”

How significant are those words today. The mudslide victims in Sierra Leone are in distress. They need someone to save their souls (S.O.S). They are prepared to take a bow if only you cover them with your umbrella.                                                               

Disclaimer: Osman Benk Sankoh, a former journalist with Concord Times now works with the United Nations and the sentiments expressed in this piece are his and do not  necessarily reflect those of the organization he works with.

11 Alleged Fraudsters Sent to Jail

August 25, 2017 By Memunatu Bangura

A battery of lawyers yesterday failed to convince Magistrate Albert J. Moody presiding at the Magistrates’ Court No.1 to grant bail to eleven accused persons, who were arraigned before the court for conspiracy to defraud contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.

Five Bankers, five securities and one driver, all attached to the Bank of Sierra Leone were whisked to the Male and Female Correctional Centres respectively, after almost an hour heated debate between the defense team and the prosecution.

Cecilia Fatola Annie Ben-Carew, Abdul Ibrahim Sama, Komba Gbolie, Rebecca Kosonikeh Fuller, Yayah Hamid Gabreel Kamara, Dankawallie Mansaray, Solomon Caulker, Patrick Massaquoi, Albert Jabatti Fortune, Francis Alimamy Sesay and Charles Eric Wilhelm, were before Magistrate Moody on one count of conspiracy to defraud contrary to law.

The particulars of offence stated that the accused persons on a date between 1^st April, 2017 and 12^th July, 2017, at Bank of Sierra Leone, with intent to defraud the Government of Sierra Leone of its needed revenue, conspired with other persons unknown and facilitated the unofficial movement of the Leones and foreign currency (United States Dollars and British Pounds Sterling) out of the said Bank to the hand of private individuals by making false representation that the Bank was engaged in its normal auction exercise, knowing the same to be false.

The Defence team including Lawyer M. E. H. Sesay, S M Sesay, M Dumbuya, H. M. Gevao, B. Pratt, A K Musa, P. T. Bear, J Kapuwa, V. Lansana and O. S Kamara, among others, pleaded with the Bench to put their clients on bail.

Lead Counsel, H. M. Gevao, canvassed the Bench to put his clients on bail, citing Section 79(2) of the Criminal Procedure Act of 1965.

He told the magistrate that the accused persons have been in police custody for eighteen days, thus violating their fundamental Human Rights as enshrined in the country’s 1991 Constitution.

According to him, the police have no right to have incarcerated the accused persons for more than ten days.

He told the crowded court that while the accused persons were in police custody, the prosecution should have prepared their witnesses to testify on the matter rather pleading for an adjournment to summon witnesses.

He also applied for the matter to be discharged because the offence for which the accused persons were before the court was ‘bad in law’ and the particulars cannot be amended.

“In my fifteen years of practicing criminal law, I have never come across this charge that is put before this accused person,” he said.

In his response, ASP Kamara said the prosecution was asking for an adjournment because they wanted to prepare their witnesses and other relevant evidences to prove the case against the accused persons.

He objected to bail, stating that the accused persons were employees at the Bank of Sierra Leone and that the prosecution witnesses were also employees of the same institution, noting that there was possibility for the accused persons to interfere with the prosecution witnesses.

The matter was prosecuted by Assistance Superintendent of Police, Samuel Kamara, associated by Anti-Corruption Commission prosecutor, Lawyer M. Sow.

Earlier, Lawyer Gevoa, objected to lawyer M. Sow’s associating with the police prosecution on the grounds that he is working for the Anti-Corruption Commission which is an institution that has an ‘independent prosecutorial power’.

Meanwhile, all accused persons were remanded in prisons until Tuesday 29^th August, 2017.

Foreign Guests to Grace Confab in October

August 25, 2017 By Regina Pratt

Members of the high table

Foreign dignitaries and social security experts are expected to grace the occasion marking the 15^th anniversary of the National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT) in October, this year.

The conference, which would be hosted at the Bintumani International conference centre on the theme, ”NASSIT at 15, Harnessing the Gains, Challenges and Opportunities for improved Service Delivery” would be followed by several other activities.

The Director General of NASSIT, Dr. Joseph S.Mans Jr, yesterday disclosed that the confab would run from 10^th to 12^th October, 2017.

The Director General was speaking yesterday at a press conference held at Golden Tulip Kimbima Hotel to launch the celebration marking their 15 years of operations in the country.

He disclosed that the conference would be officially opened by  President Ernest Bai Koroma and graced by invited dignitaries including the Director General from Ghana Social Security and National Insurance Trust, Managing Director Social Security and Housing Finance Corporation (SSHFC) from The Gambia, and the Director General, Retirement Benefits Authority (RBA) from Kenya, among  a host of others.

Mr. Mans stated that all the foreign invitees would present a technical paper on the theme of the programme.

NASSIT was established through an Act of parliament in 2001, but effective operations of the Trust started in January 2002.

 “According to the Act, a period of 180 months is equivalent to 15 years”, he said, adding that the minimum contribution period that qualifies any member of the scheme to receive old age retirement benefits was 15 years.

He congratulated those that have already attained the National Retirement Age of 60 years, noting that their contributions have been safely held as the institution was in a “sound financial position”

The other activities that would mark the celebration includes, a nationwide inter-secondary school quiz competition that would focus on social security in Sierra Leone, intercommunity football gala, customer week in which the Trust will engage in charitable activities, targeting selected institutions and communities across Sierra Leone.

He also stated that a special 15^th Anniversary Logo would be launched followed by Muslim thanksgiving service on the 13^th October, 2017, while the Christian would have theirs at St. Georges Cathedral, Freetown.

August 25, 2017

Following the August 14 unprecedented disaster, Tony Elumelu, Founder of Tony Elumelu Foundation and Chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA), on Wednesday 23 August, paid a state visit to the people and Government of Sierra Leone to commiserate over the great loss caused by devastating mudslides and floods that have claimed hundreds of innocent lives and left many more still missing.

Elumelu in the company of former President of Nigeria Olusegun Obasanjo and Sierra Leonean President Ernest Koroma visited some of the survivors at the Connaught Hospital in Freetown upon arrival in the country. Later on at the Sierra Leonean Statehouse, he made a donation of USD$250,000 on behalf of the Tony Elumelu Foundation and another USD$250,000 on behalf of staff, management and Directors of United Bank for Africa (UBA) as emergency aid grants for victims of the mudslides.

Speaking in solidarity with Sierra Leone, Elumelu charged the world and the African private sector to rally around the ongoing rehabilitation and relief efforts. “For me, the little token we are giving is what it is, little, but symbolic. At a time like this, the world must come together to support the victims of this unfortunate disaster. It is not a situation that one prays to be in, but in the event that it does happen, we should all rally to support one another.’’

Continuing, he urged the rest of the world not to turn a blind eye to Sierra Leone’s plight: “We have on our hands a humanitarian disaster of high proportions. It requires the attention of the entire world. We have buried over 600 lives and many hundreds more are still missing. We must turn the global spotlight on Africa. The world must stand with Africa just as in the past, Africa has stood with the world.”

The UBA Chairman reassured Sierra Leoneans of the Bank’s steadfast support. “United Bank for Africa (UBA) will continue to play its role in helping small and medium scale enterprises, and women, especially from the affected areas, to enable them rebuild their economic lives.

The Sierra Leonean President, moved by this act, commended Elumelu’s unwavering presence in the country’s times of need, stating: “In you we have a brother and someone we can rely on.” He praised the consistency of the Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF). “You have always provided us with support. United Bank for Africa (UBA) was here immediately after the war to provide us with banking services to support our rebuilding efforts. Again, during our fight against Ebola, you were here through the United Bank for Africa (UBA) and the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) and provided us with great support. And now again, you have come to support us.”

Elumelu’s donation will support the victims, some of whom are in hospital needing food, clothing and medicine. The much-needed assistance will also go towards the ongoing recovery efforts and the construction of permanent settlements for the affected persons.

The Sierra Leonean mudslide is the third catastrophe to devastate the West African country in the past two decades.

August 25, 2017 By Michael Bockarie 

AdvocAid’s Executive Director, Simitie Lavaly, on Wednesday 23 August, 2017, engaged members of the Human Rights Committee in Parliament on their organisation’s project to decriminalise or declassify certain offences as means of decongesting Correctional Centres across the country.

She made the call while making a statement at the presentation of the OSIWA funded Project entitled “DECRIMINALIZING POVERTY: Advocating for the Reform of Petty Offences in Sierra Leone’’ at Parliament Building, Tower Hill.

The Executive Director further noted that the Project will take a three prong approach-to promote reform of legislation relating to petty offences, reduce custodian sentences for petty offences, and raise awareness about rights, legislation and impact of Criminalizing Petty Offences.

She said Petty Offences include minor criminal act which attract less severe punishment and are considered to be of a lower level of seriousness compared to felonies, adding that they found their origin from the English Laws.  She said most of these laws are found in the Public Order Act of 1965, Criminal Procedure Act of 1965, Children and Young Person’s Act, Cap 44 Laws of Sierra Leone and some Local Council byelaws.

Center for Accountability and Rule of Law (CARL), Executive Director, Ibrahim Tommy, told the Parliamentary Sub-Committee members that there is need to review those laws to make sure that citizens of Sierra Leone have access to justice.

He said the aim of the project is not to encourage loitering, indiscipline or corruption in society, but to declassify some of those laws.

Mr. Tommy noted that it is not wise for government to spend huge resources to prosecute a police officer or nurse for receiving Le 10,000 bribes, adding that it would be better to use an administrative means to handle such matters.

Hon. Habib Munda from Kenema Districts said he appreciated the effort of the two human rights organisation, adding that they have created a difference in the lives of their people. He agreed with CARL Executive Director that the cost of running the correctional centres is a burden on government, hence the need to decongest them.

Hon. Tommy Tucker from Kono District said they are aware that government is spending a lot of money on people who are not supposed to be in Correctional Centres, noting that in the case of loitering, there should be a specific time from which unauthorised people are not allowed to venture certain areas, so that a thief would not take advantage.

Hon. Dan Y. Sesay from Bombali District suggested for the establishment of two types of Correctional Centres- one for the hard core criminals and the other for the petty offenders. Hon. Tamba Entochema also from Kono District and other members of the Human rights Committee supported the two human rights organisation’s view to review some of those laws dealing with Petty Crimes, but cautioned to do it with care.

The Human Rights Committee Chairman, Hon. Komba E. S. Boya, expressed his pleasure to have has the two human rights organisations present their project.

August 25, 2017 By Joseph S. Margai

FCC Mayor: Franklyn Baba Bode Gibson very unhappy with MASADA’s operation in Freetown

Mayor of Freetown City Council (FCC), Franklyn Baba Bode Gibson, has claimed that the relationship between his institution and MASADA Waste Management Company is not as sweet as one would expect, because the latter is sabotaging the operations of the council.

Mayor Gibson, who was speaking on Tuesday, 22^nd August, 2017, during a press briefing held at FCC’s conference room, expressed dissatisfaction over the manner in which MASADA was implementing garbage collection in Freetown.

“MASADA is being given a tipping fee so as to tip all the garbage around Freetown and dump them at the appropriate places, but much is not being done in that regard. Most times, FCC has to intervene because it is our responsibility to clean the municipality of Freetown inspite of the fact that we are paying to them,” he said angrily.

He cited the Monday 21^st August, 2017, incident at Granville Brook, popularly called ‘Bormeh’ in east of Freetown, where tricycles and residents dumped heaps of rubbish outside the perimeter fence, thereby causing vehicular traffic.

“That garbage was cleared by FCC and we had to hire three bulldozers to do so. We have already cleared the two lanes that were blocked by the garbage and we are now dragging it inside the fence. That work must have been done by MASADA because they have a contract with us. This is sabotage!” he stated.

However,Jamil Bawoh, Community Development Manager, MASADA Waste Management Company, said his company  is a private waste management company that was contracted for 20 years to manage garbage in the municipality of Freetown.

“The specification of our contract was to manage 43 transit points, where we deploy our bins for community people to deposit their garbage. The contract we had with FCC through the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development doesn’t spell it out that it is the responsibility of MASADA to manage dumpsites. It is a traditional responsibility of FCC to manage them,” he said.

He said the issue of blame games and pointing of fingers at MASADA by the very institution that should manage the dumpsites, is unfortunate.

“It’s not the responsibility of MASADA to go to communities and collect garbage or clean the streets and drainages. We have a mandate to collect garbage that has been deposited at the transit points,” he said.

August 25, 2017 By Joseph S. Margai

Victorus Beauty Centre in Freetown has on Thursday 24^th August, 2017, donated assorted food items to mudslide and flood victims in both Regent and Charlotte village in the Western Area Rural District.

The donated items included one hundred (100) 25kg bags of rice, 100 gallons of palm oil, and 100 dozens of fresh farm eggs.

Presenting the food items on behalf of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Victorus Beauty Centre at Regent village, Mrs. Mabel Muskuda Stevens-John, the mother of the CEO said the donation was a support to the victims of the recent mudslide and flood.

“The CEO of Victorus is a businessman and an indigene from Charlotte village. He was touched by the unfortunate occurrence and in a time of this sad event, he deemed it fit to support his people. We are mourning with you and we will continue to pray for God to avert such problem,” he said.

At Charlotte village, Mrs. Stevens-John said her son has pledged to reconstruct the bridge that was eroded by the August 14^th, 2017 flooding.

Receiving the donation on behalf of Regent village, Head Woman Elenorah Jokomie Metzger, expressed appreciation to Victorus Beauty Centre for the donation.

“This was not the kind of donation that we were expecting.We were expecting donations to help our children, to build schools, hospitals, roads, and other developments but at a time like this, such donation is timely,” she said.

She called on Victorus Beauty Centre to use the institution to talk to people to abandon disaster prone areas.

Assistant Research Officer attached to the Protection and Private Security Directorate, Moseray Suffian Tarawali, thanked Victorus Beauty Centre for the donation and promised that it would be used for the intended purpose.

Village Head of Charlotte, Catherine Harding, said the mudslide and flooding was a natural disaster.

“We did not loss any life in this village but we were affected seriously because the mud at the only bridge that leads to this village was eroded by the rain. Presently, there is no passage for vehicle and we have been going through lots of constrains to go to other communities or Freetown,” she said.

She recalled a mudslide that took place at Charlotte in 1945, killing dozens or residents and forced many to migrating to other places. “That was why the population is not big as expected,” she added.

Denis Valcarsel, a member of the Charlotte Indigenous Descendant Association, said Charlotte forms part of the history of Sierra Leone, re-echoing that it suffers mudslide in 1945.

He said Charlotte has a waterfall which has now been transformed into a hydro dam, but noted that the village is still prone to disaster.

He called on the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) and National Protected Area Authority (NPAA) to help protect the forest from land grabbers, who are eager to construct dwelling houses.

August 25, 2017 By Sahr Morris Jnr

NEW Assignment …Aziz Deen-Conteh unveiled as Dover Athletic new force    Photo: Dover Athletic web

English National League club, Dover Athletic, on Thursday confirmed the signing of Sierra Leone left-back, Aziz Deen-Conteh.

The 24-year-old, who puts pen to paper for the Whites will wear the number 27 shirt and could possibly be in line for his debut against Macclesfield Town on Friday, August 25 at the Moss Rose Stadium.

Confirming the former Chelsea youngster signing, Dover Athletic, posted in their official website: “Former England under 19 international Aziz Deen-Conteh has joined Dover. The 24-year-old left-back featured in several pre-season games for boss Chris Kinnear’s side after returning to England, following a spell playing for Georgian top-flight team FC Zugdidi.”

Deen-Conteh, who has already three caps for Sierra Leone national team, Leone Stars, has had several spell outside England playing for Greece Super League side, Ergotelis and Moldovan clubs; Zaria Balti and FC Zugdidi.

The former Port Vale defender won the FA Youth Cup during his seven years spell at Stamford Bridge and was also named in then manager Roberto Di Matteo’s Champions League-winning squad in 2012 before being released in 2014.

Born in Sierra Leone, but grew up in Deptford, Deen-Conteh played for the England national Under-16 and 19 before making his Sierra Leone debut in March 2016 against in the 1-1 international friendly stalemate with the Flames of Malawi, in Freetown.

August 25, 2017 By Sahr Morris Jnr

Sierra Leone athletes during the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony in Glasgow

Sierra Leonean athletes will soon benefit from Olympic Solidarity scholarship after the Secretary General of the National Olympic Committee of Sierra Leone (NOC-SLE); Joseph Nyande, confirmed they are working towards that.

The NOC-SLE scribe in Wednesday’s meeting with Sporting Associations disclosed that the Olympic Committee will soon request for associations to submit entries for the Solidarity Scholarships for athletes.

In an exclusive interview with Concord Sports, Nyande said: “The Olympic Solidarity scholarship will cut across all the sporting disciplines and it would purely be for athletes those athletes, who are on the data base of their international associations with good timing.

“We have already made it clear to all associations that the scholarship is not for those athletes who have run-away during international games.”

According to International Olympic Committee (IOC), any athlete receiving scholarship can benefit from funding for items such as access to adequate training facilities, specialised coach in his discipline, regular medical and scientific assistance, accident and illness insurance, board and lodging costs and travel to Olympic qualification competitions.

In February 2015, the international Olympic Committee (IOC), through its Solidarity Fund, provided scholarships for two Sierra Leonean USA based athletes; Catharine Hudor and Afsatu Koroma. The scholarship covered the athletes training and personal expenses.

Also in September 2016, the NOC-SLE Administrative Secretary, Alie Gibril Koroma, confirmed that they have awarded International coaching scholarship to three coaches; Bobson Mansaray of swimming association, Beach Volleyball coach Sorie Kamara and Mohamed Turay of Boxing.

August 25, 2017 By Sahr Morris Jnr

In form Mohamed Buya Turay on target again for AFC Eskilstuna    Stock Photo: Niklas Holm

Mohamed Buya Turay continues his goal scoring form for AFC Eskilstuna on Wednesday 3-1 defeat to Swedish Division One side, Vasalund in the Swedish Svenska Cupen second rounds.

The Sierra Leone striker gave the visitors the lead just 10 minutes before the break but the home side level things up through Carl Björk 68 minutes after the break to force the match into extra-time.

Axel Björnström gave the home side the lead just before the Sierra Leone striker was sent-off for his second yellow card. The dismissal was Turay’s first in his career in a night he scored his eight goal of the season in all competition.

This weeping and wailing must stop!

August 28, 2017 By Sulaiman Momodu

Imagine going to bed after a hard day’s work. The night is relatively peaceful as the skies open. Seasonal rains fall on the corrugated iron sheets as you enjoy your sleep. Suddenly, you hear a loud bang. A deafening blast. No time to ask questions. In a flash, the roof over your head crashes. The walls cave in. Boulders and mudslides sweep you down. In split seconds your body is crushed and you are finished. Apocalypse!

This horror was the fate of our brothers and sisters who retired to bed with plans, hopes and dreams of another day. What they did not know was that 14 August was their last.  Coming on the heels of an Ebola outbreak and a bloody civil war, the recent crumbling of slides of Mount Sugarloaf cruelly snuffing life out of everything in its path was a disaster far too heavy.

“Papa na you dae give na you dae take…” Ya Mabinty wailed uncontrollably (shown on international television networks) at the mortuary premises where the bodies of hundreds of our compatriots laid waste, some of them beyond recognition. All around Ya Mabinty, there was nothing but weeping and wailing. Another horror had just visited our motherland.

The catastrophe has left thousands homeless. Having worked for many years for the United Nations reporting humanitarian issues, I know what it means when people are suddenly uprooted from their homes with all their lifelong possessions destroyed.

As usual, questions are being asked. How did it happen? Why? Could it have been prevented? Who is to be held responsible? Was it nature or neglect?

To shy away from the truth is to live in denial. The recurring tragedies in Sierra Leone is an indication that something is horribly wrong with our country.

First, let us rewind to the civil war. That tragedy did not just happen. A rotten system gave birth to carnage. So-called liberators made a bad situation worse. Could the war have been prevented? Absolutely. But those who were supposed to make the lives of people better became kleptomaniacs and impregnated their bank accounts with their plunder. How many lives were lost in the war? Thousands, including peace keepers.

Just some three years ago, we experienced a deadly Ebola outbreak. Again, I have no doubt that the outbreak could have been nipped in the bud if we had a good health system and if we had not also spent invaluable time denying a looming tragedy. What we did was to politicize things. At the end of the day, the virus wiped out whole families regardless of tribe, region or religion, and dozens of medics.

The untold tragedy of our nation is that we have a very short memory. In the heat of the moment, we suddenly remember God. Civil war? God please save us, we will serve you forever! As soon as the war ended, back to corruption. During the Ebola scourge? Lord, have mercy on us! As soon as the outbreak ended, back to business.  If I may ask – did the Ebola virus not spread up to Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation? Was the outbreak not crushed before claiming several lives?

In the aftermath of the mudslides catastrophe, religious and solemn songs again took over the airwaves. Sadly, while places of worship were offering prayers for lost compatriots during the days of mourning, the bars and nightclubs were booming with “mourners” dancing and boozing.

Osman Benk Sankoh, my co-debater on topical issues spanning many years, believes that sharing weather forecasts would help save lives. Granted that he means well, my take is: why should Ya Mabinty knows whether it is going to rain or not? To stand in the rain and monitor Mount Sugarloaf ? Or to pack her bundles and run? To where? Run to State House or Parliament Building? The reality is that we have thousands of people resident in the hills, mountains and slums. Where will they go if they knew the weather forecast? And in any case, is this not the rainy season?

“So what is the way forward?” asks Benkilism (as I call him). We have to stop being our own enemies. While it is not uncommon for government officials to be involved in illegal land sales, my understanding is that efforts were made some years ago to demolish illegal structures. What did some residents allegedly do? They reportedly took the laws into their hands and allegedly brutally killed a serious-minded government worker who was only passionate about protecting the forest reserve and saving lives. There is a need for experts to thoroughly take a look at all disaster-prone areas and take appropriate actions, including demolishing structures and relocating residents. These illegal settlements must never be allowed to spring up in the first place through an effective monitoring system.

Expressing his opinion in an article: “Sierra Leone’s Disaster Was Caused by Neglect, Not Nature” published in the New York Times, eminent Sierra Leonean journalist and writer, Dr. Lans Gberie, stated that this time President Koroma should do something decisive to leave a legacy other than “an image of a helpless leader always appealing for and receiving foreign donations amid national calamities…if he fails, more of Sierra Leone’s people are sure to die”.

We pride ourselves as being a religious nation. True. However, this love for God is largely in theory. Generally speaking, our way of life is full of corruption, including stealing, greed, injustice, desperation for power occasioned by killings etc. In my opinion, these vices are definitely not the ways of God but the evil one. Let us stop being hypocritical. As aid continues to stream in cash and relief items for victims of the flood and mudslides, there are even reports of the assistance being shamefully misappropriated.  This is insanity. A disgrace.

Come to think of it, it does not matter which political party is in power or who is president; what we need in the country is a radical change. A responsible government must enforce the law.  It is time Sierra Leoneans went beyond the borders of tribe, religion, political sentiments and work to change the increasingly shameful image of our nation being the epicentre of preventable tragedies. This weeping and wailing must stop.  Enough is enough! May the souls of our beloved ones rest in peace!

Note: Sulaiman Momodu is former editor of the Concord Times newspaper and had also worked for the United Nations. He is currently based in Abidjan. Email beyondborders.column@gmail.com