By Mohamed Kai
Three notorious criminals have made their second appearance before Santigie Bangura presiding over the Freetown Magistrate Court No.1 at Siaka Stevens Street for committing grave criminal offenses, which negate certain sections of the Criminal Procedure Act of 1965.
According to the Particulars of Offence, the three accused persons Mohamed Osman Sesay alias Assassin, Lamin Sorie Sesay and Francis Gadd on diverse dates between Monday 7th May 2018 and Tuesday 8 May 2018 conspired together with other persons unknown to commit the offence of fraud.
President Julius Maada Bio’s dream to establish a Student Loan Scheme is quickly becoming a reality, as high powered delegation comprising senior officials of the Ministry of Education, Finance, NASSIT and University goes on a study tour to Ghana and Tanzania in consideration of a Student Loan Policy for Sierra Leone.
The Ombudsman Mr. Melron Nicol-Wilson on Thursday 9th August 2018, presented the 2017 Annual Report on the activities of the Office of the Ombudsman to His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio at State House.
Presenting the report, Mr. Melron Nicol-Wilson first congratulated President Bio on his election as President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, and thanked him for granting him audience. The Ombudsman informed the President that the presentation of the report was in compliance with provisions in the Ombudsman Act 1997 which require him to submit an annual report to the President on the activities of his Office.
Cancer kills nearly 600,000 Americans per year. And this year alone, over 1.6 million people will be diagnosed. So much time and research has gone into the cure of cancer in the last few decades. Yet, because of the stigma associated with marijuana, this wonder plant has been largely ignored by governments and researchers as a potential cure – or a key piece to a cure at least.
Zainab Sheriff, CEO of Zedzee and initiator of Big Sister
The Technical Director of Africa Young Voices (AYV) Media Empire Technical Department, Bangladeshi national, Habibul Munzir recently jetted-into Freetown with state-of-the-art television studio equipment specifically for the upcoming Big Sister Sierra Leone reality TV show.
As he did for the 2018 Election coverage by purchasing state-of-the-art studio equipment in London, Mr. Munzir left for London a few weeks ago where he shopped for state-of-the-art studio equipment that would be used in Sierra Leone’s first-ever TV reality show dubbed Big Sister Salone with the theme: The Ella Koblo Gulama Drama.
L -R Bride's mother and impersonator of bride
The Minister of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs, Baindu Dassama, the Executive Director of the Legal Aid Board, Fatmata Claire Carlton-Hanciles and The Commissioner for the Children’s Commission, Laggah have in a joint press conference held in the Conference Room of the Lumley Police Station in Freetown on Friday, August 10 pledged to work together to ensure justice is served in the ongoing police investigations into the botched child marriage.
Public Relations Department, Mercury Internationl
The premier Sports Betting and Lottery Company, Mercury International has on Thursday 9th August 2018, presented a proposed MOU for the construction of 80 classroom buildings to the Minister of Basic Primary and secondary school education Mr. Alpha Timbo, at his New England Ville office in Freetown.
The proposal is geared towards complementing Government’s effort in achieving its flagship program which is the free and quality education package; taking into cognizance the seeming infrastructural challenge to actualize the free education.
Energy Minister Alhaji Kanja Sesay at the occasion
The construction of a second Bumbuna Hydro-Dam, has attracted an eight hundred million United States Dollars ($800M) from a private farm known as SELI Hydropower.
This huge investment in Energy under the New Direction government came to light during the official handing over ceremony of the land site, meant for the construction of the Bumbuna Phase Two in Kondembaia Town – Diang Chiefdom, Koinadugu District on Friday 10th August, 2018.
By Mohamed Kai
Hon. Justice Sam Margai presiding over the High Court of Sierra Leone has granted bail to eight persons accused of murder in the form of three hundred and fifty million Leones each, and one surety in like sum.
The bail condition states the two sureties should surrender their Title Deeds to the court and bail to be approved by the Deputy Master and Registrar.
(L-R) Rev. Christian Fayia, Dr. Alie Kabba and Mabel Theresa Koketso
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr. Alie Kabba has said, that President Julius Maada Bio’s New Direction agenda will play an essential role in enabling the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society to serve the most vulnerable people within the country.
Dr. Alie Kabba made this disclosure during a courtesy call on him at the weekend by a delegation from the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society led by the Independent Interim Manager, Mabel Theresa Koketso, at the Ministry’s Tower Hill office, Freetown.
Francis Ben Kaifala…ready to free Sierra Leone from thieves
The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) Commissioner, Francis Ben Kaifala has warned that he will not hesitate to go after and arrest any member of the current Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) administration for corrupt practice if he has substantial evidence to warrant an indictment.
He made this statement while responding to questions on whether he will be bold enough to indict members of the current government that are accused or suspected of engaging in corruption or corrupt practices. He said: “I encourage you members of the media to be swift enough in bringing corrupt practices by any member of this current administration to my notice, and help me set a very bright example."
Mercury International Company SL. Ltd through its Charitable Foundation has lifted the hopes of a young Sierra Leonean innovator with a three thousand dollars ($3000) boost as a partial payment to study business and entrepreneurship, starting August 22nd, 2018, at Watson Institute at Lynn University in Florida USA.
Sierra Leonean born Brima Manso Bangura is among other young social entrepreneurs and innovators from around the world who were offered a place to pursue the course in Watson which is an incubator-institute.
By Mohamed Lamin Banya
As part of their corporate social responsibilities, the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society (SLRCS) has distributed hygiene and sanitation equipment to Mortormeh, Regent, Kaningo, Culvert Race Course, Kissy Brook, Dworzak, Kamayama and Wellington communities to mitigate flooding during the rains.
The presentation which was made to the section chiefs of the respective communities, started on Tuesday this week, and will be concluded today Friday 10th August 2018.
Dr. Alimamy Philip Koroma
Experts in Sierra Leone have joined colleagues from 14 ECOWAS countries to a Regional Consultative Meeting in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso to chat the way forward on the leading cause of deaths among women in Africa due to cervical cancer.
The three day Consultative meeting held in Ouagadougou attracted 46 Experts from the ECOWAS Member States, among them the Senior Gynecologist Obstetrician Specialist of the Princess Christian Maternity Hospital (PCMH) and Leading Expert in Cervical Cancer from Sierra Leone, Dr. Alimamy Philip Koroma and the Director of Non-Communicable Diseases, Ministry of Health and Sanitation and National Focal Point in Sierra Leone Dr. Santigie Sesay.
His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio has pledged to support the country’s fishing sector become a thriving industry that supports national development. He engaged the Sierra Leone Fishing Companies Association today at State House.
The President emphasised the importance of the sector to his government, noting that it was a major source of revenue, continued to generate a huge economic activity as well as could provide a powerful avenue for sustainable food security drive.
The Chief Legal and Compliance Officer, Ozone Secretariat of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), Dr. Gilbert M. Bankobeza accompanied by staff of the Environment Protection Agency-Sierra Leone (EPA-SL) has paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr. Alie Kabba at his Tower Hill office, Freetown.
By Mohamed Kai
The General Manager of Metro Hotel located at Wilkinson Road in Freetown; Mohamed Hedjazi has been docked before Santigie Bangura presiding over the Freetown Magistrate Court No.1 at Siaka Stevens Street for the offence of Burglary, contrary to law.
Police claimed that the accused person conspired together with unknown individuals to commit a Felony to wit: Burglary and Larceny, contrary to Section (23) sub Section (13a) of the Larceny Act of 1916.
By Albert George Sheriff
West Africa faces some of the highest rates of financial exclusion in the world and the culture of saving is seriously lacking.
In Sierra Leone, organizations which encourage the culture of saving have become more common. One such organization, the Livelihood Development for Human Rights Promotion Sierra Leone (LIDFOHRP-SL), has come up with Child Investment for Education Initiative Program to encourage parents save money to educate their children. This methodology targets parents in more than 10 communities.
By Mohamed Kai
A Nigerian businessman, Stanley Oluchi Uzoho has been kept at the Male Correctional Centre in Freetown, by Santigie Bangura presiding over the Freetown Magistrate Court No.1 at Siaka Steven Street for importing Heroin substance into Sierra Leone from the Republic of Mozambique without lawful authority.
The accused person is charged with the offence of Conspiracy to Commit an Offence to wit Importation of Illegal Drug to wit heroin, which contravenes Section (15) of the National Drugs Control Act of 2012.
Cross-section of participants
The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations on Thursday 9th August 2018 ended a one day validation workshop for Community Management Associations (CMAs) in various coastal and riverine areas in the country.
The workshop was held at the FAO Wilberforce headquarters in Freetown.
The newly-approved Chairman of the Public Service Commission, Kalilu Umar Bah, and two other commissioners, Muhamed Rakkalonko Koroma and Alhaji Banie Eillah Seisay, have also subscribed to the oath of office in accordance with Section 151(8) of the Constitution of Sierra Leone.
The said section stipulates that: “A member of the Public Service Commission shall, before assuming the functions of his office, take and subscribe before the President the oath as set out in the Third Schedule to this Constitution”.
By Mohamed Kai
Hannah Bonnie presiding over the Freetown Magistrate Court No. 2 at Siaka Stevens Street in Freetown has remitted a case file for reassignment to another magistrate court, against one Rev. Emmanuel Nylander charged with the offence of Human Trafficking, contrary to law.
She informed the court that she was taking her hands off the matter, due to several attacks and aspersions on her staff by the complainants and counsel for the defendant, Barrister Musa Beretay.
By Mohamed Kai
One David John Conford has been granted bail in the sum of eight hundred million Leones by Santigie Bangura adjudicating the Freetown Magistrate Court No.1 at Siaka Stevens Street in Freetown.
The accused person is facing forty seven counts indictments for Obtaining Money by False Pretences with intent to defraud, contrary to Section (32) Sub Section (1) of the Larceny Act of 1916.
By Mohamed Lamin Banya
Chairman, Friends of the Dead Mohamed Bangura
Following the rumor about the breaking open of graves by unscrupulous people in cemeteries around Freetown, the Friends of the Dead operating in the Grey Bush community have embarked on cleaning the Ascension Town Cemetery.
This is according to the Chairman, Friends of the Dead Mohamed Bangura.
By Mohamed Kai
One Rashid Momoh has been remanded in custody by Santigie Bangura adjudicating the Freetown Magistrate Court No.1 at Siaka Stevens Street for allegedly impersonating the Minister of Youth Affairs, Mohamed Orman Bangura.
The accused person is charged with the offences of Conspiracy to Defraud, contrary to law and Forgery, which negates Section (2) sub Section (1a) of the Forgery Act of 1913 of the laws of Sierra Leone.
By Mohamed Kai
Hon. Justice Sam Margai presiding over the High Court of Sierra Leone has granted bail to eight persons accused of murder in the form of three hundred and fifty million Leones each, and one surety in like sum.
The bail condition states the two sureties should surrender their Title Deeds to the court and bail to be approved by the Deputy Master and Registrar.
By Mohamed A. Kabba
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has held a two-day awareness raising event for beneficiaries of the Social Safety Net (SSN) in Charlotte and Number Two communities in the Western Rural District.
The main purpose of the event was to raise awareness on the Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) component of the Social Safety Net (SSN) project and to enquire from beneficiaries the challenges they face in accessing the scheme.
By Kadrie Koroma PRO Unit - MOHS
Deputy Health and Sanitation Minister, Dr. Anthony Augustine Sandy has opened a workshop on disseminating of findings of needs assessment for Rolling out the integrated Human Resource Information Systems (iHRIS) on the theme: “Building a Resilient Workforce” on Thursday August 9, 2018 at the Atlantic Hall of the National Stadium in Freetown.
Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Anthony Augustine Sandy said the Ministry of Health and Sanitation and partners have invested greatly in the health workforce since the beginning of the Free Health Care Initiative in April 2010. He noted that there are still gaps, and part of which is related to putting in place sustainable personnel data management system.
Members and supporters of the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) party have expressed concerns as to the whereabouts of most of the party’s former flag bearer aspirants who opted for the presidential symbol in the March 2018 elections.
Some who spoke to AYV newspaper say after the announcement of the presidential election run-off result, most of the party’s former flag bearer aspirants lay dormant, leaving the daily affairs of their party in the hands of the few, especially at a moment when some APC members and supporters are alleging of political intimidation and constitutional violations from the ruling party.
His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio has told the world that he is early looking for investors that would be interested in the construction of a bridge that will link Lungi to Freetown.
According to the president, it is unfortunate that Sierra Leone is the only country that is separated by sea from its national airport. He said any investor(s) willing to undertake the much needed project will be highly welcomed by his government, while emphasizing the need for the bridge to be constructed.