Admini
ACC boss, Francis Ben Kaifala
The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) has manifested interest in a top Lebanese tycoon Hamid Fawaz in Freetown, who has been smeared with corruption allegations in recent times.
A major raid was conducted this week by the Anti-Corruption Commission in search of evidence of an alleged grand corruption racket in Freetown.
By Gibril Gottor
Agriculture, which many say is one of the most lucrative self engagements in the world, in Sierra Leone studies have shown that it is an engagement for the poor and marginalized.
Kambia district, in the Northwestern part of Sierra Leone is according to research one of the bread basket in Sierra Leone following the huge agricultural potential, but yet one of the districts with the highest number of farmers that are finding it almost impossible to provide themselves a basic meal a day neither they can afford to send their kids to school.
By Sam Alpha Lahai
A woman by the name of Adama Mustapha, an aunty to one Fatty Koroma resident at Samai town in the outcast of the city of Kenema is alleged to have beaten to death the latter. The incident took place on Wednesday 8th August, 2018 at 19 to 20:00 hours at the said residence.
Kasho J. Holland-Cole
The Chairman of the Western Area Rural District Council WARDC Kasho J. Holland-Cole has returned home after a successful tour in China.
Mr. Cole departed the shores of Sierra Leone a few weeks ago to attend a conference in China on the invitation of the Government of China through its Embassy in Freetown.
Save the Children Sierra Leone country office has made donated a large consignment of drugs to the Ministry of Health and Sanitation valued at 42,850 Euros.
The donated drugs are for infection prevention and control and were delivered at the Lumley Government Hospital and 34 Military Hospital respectively, this week.
Some school and library materials to be shipped soon
Founder and Director of the Australia-based Madiba Project Incorporated, Mikhail Kallon is appealing to Freetown Terminal Limited (a subsidiary of Bollore Group) and the shipping company responsible to bring in school materials that are about 2-3 40ft containers to waive the demurrage cost because the materials are sent to freely support the government’s free education program.
Chief Superintendent of Police, Alimamy Bangura, Local Unit Commander Kambia Police Division told AYV that they have made two major arrests within a week involving 100 cartons of assorted pharmaceutical drugs mostly Free Health Care drugs and a large consignment of Sierra Leone’s precious rice and palm at the Madamaya Police Checkpoint located along the Freetown/Conakry highway on rout to Guinea.
By Sam Alpha Lahai in Kenema
Before March elections After March elections
The regional and district office of the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) situated on Hangha road in Kenema has been sold to the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) who has repainted it with its bright green and white from its original flashy red and white colours.
According to our sources in the district, heavy weights within the SLPP have negotiated and bought the said property from its original owner, former Vice President Victor Bockarie Foh to be used as a second office for the SLPP in the same region.
The Sierra Leone Red Cross Society will this morning Wednesday 8th August, 2018 commence the distribution of hygiene and sanitation equipment for the seven (7) mudslide/flood affected communities in Freetown.
According to Abubakarr Tarawally, Head of Communications Sierra Leone Red Cross Society the process commenced on 9th August 2018 at Kaningo.
In order to ensure that the first-ever Big Sister Sierra Leone event is prominent and properly arranged so that it is more inclusive and of a national character, the number of competitors have been increased from ten (10) to twelve (12), while event itself has been shifted from 11th August to 15th September, 2018 to make way for better planning and.
By Mohamed Lamin Banya
Mohamed Mubashir Massaquio
Director General of National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA), Mohamed Mubashir Massaquio during a press conference held yesterday 8th August, 2018 said the Authority will be commemorating and launching the Steering Committee and Africa Civil Registration Vital Statistic (CRVS) Day for the first time in Sierra Leone on Friday 10th August 2018.
Lactating mothers at the event
To observe World Breastfeeding Week from 1st-7th August 2018, FOCUS 1000 and partners yesterday sensitized pregnant and lactating mothers on the importance of exclusive breastfeeding at the Satellite Hospital, Macauley Street in Freetown.
World Breastfeeding Week on the theme’ Breastfeeding Foundation for Life' is observed globally to promote exclusive breastfeeding that is cheap, free, readily available, helps to make a child clever, prevents sicknesses and facilitates the proper growth of a child but the various speakers also encouraged women to eat balanced diet to be able to properly breastfeed.
Dylan Sogie-Thomas
The CEO of Sierra Leone Investment and Export Promotion Agency (SLIEPA), Dylan Sogie-Thomas has recommended that, Sierra Leone needs regional integration in doing business to enhance economic transformation for the general good of the country.
The astute CEO made the pronouncement during the Doing Business Better Seminar, which was organized by Cord aid Sierra Leone at the Maritime Administration Headquarters Office, Cube Restaurant, via government wharf in Freetown on Saturday, July 21st, 2018.
In his power point presentation, the CEO said, Value Chain Supply is very much necessary in any business community adding that many Sierra Leoneans have benefited immensely by the recent innovative trainings with competent facilitators from SLIEPA.
President of the Sierra Leone Deaf Sport Federation (SLDSF), Madam Theresa Ramatu Sesay has expressed dissatisfaction over the refusal of the government through the Ministry of Sport, to support the Federation to participate in the eighth session of the West Africa Deaf Football Tournament (WADFT) in Lome, Togo this August 2018.
Madam Sesay expressed her frustrations during the final training session at the National Stadium Practicing field with a host of deaf players and administrators from the Sierra Leone Association of the Deaf on the 2nd August 2018.
By Mohamed Kai
A Nigerian businessman, Stanley Oluchi Uzoho has been kept at the Male Correctional Centre in Freetown, by Magistrate Santigie Bangura presiding over the Freetown Magistrate Court No.1 at Siaka Steven Street in Freetown for importing Heroin substance into Sierra Leone from the Republic of Mozambique illegally.
The accused person is charged with the offence of Conspiracy to Commit an Offence to wit Importation of a Drug to wit Heroin, which contravenes Section (15) of the National Drug Control Act of 2012.
The Charge Sheet states that the accused was arrested at the Freetown International Lungi Airport, in the Kafu Bullom chiefdom, Port Loko district in the northern part of Sierra Leone.
He is alleged to have conspired with other persons unknown to import five kilograms of Heroin substance into Sierra Leone from the Republic of Mozambique between the dates of Friday 1st September 2017 and 29th June 2018.
In his testimony, the first Prosecution Witness, Detective Mohamed Malam Bangura attached to the Transnational Organized Crime Unit (Toku) of the Sierra Leone Police headquartered at Hastings as Exhibit Clerk recalled the incident of 30th June 2018.
He testified that on the said date he was on duty at the TOCU when Detective Inspector Mansaray, also attached at TACU handed over certain exhibits to him for safe keeping.
Detective Bangura went on to say the said exhibits included five Kilograms of Heroin substance, two Republic of Nigerian passports with serials numbers, bearing the name of the accused person, Stanley Oluchi Ozoho.
The witness further said he received immigration travelling details, one Kenyan airway traveling ticket and one brown suitcase and other assorted items, which were produced and tendered in evidence.
The second prosecution witness, who is a forensic expert, Alestine Taucker also told the court that she is Superintendent of Police and a staff of the Sierra Leone Police Analytical Laboratory Department at Connaught Hospital in Freetown.
She recalled on the 30 June 2018 that the said five kilogram heroin substance was handed over to her for forensic examination and findings.
At the conclusion of the examination, the witness went on; she found out that the five kilogram heroin in question is Diacetylmorphine, meaning it has active ingredients found in heroin substance.
According to Superintendent Alestine Taucker, she used the presumptive and confirmative test methods to reach at and reduced her findings into a report, which she later presented to officials at the Transnational Organized Crime Unit headquarter at Hastings in the outskirt of Freetown.
Lead Counsel for the accused Stanley Oluchi Ozoho, M. Jusu canvassed the presiding magistrate to put the accused person on bail, but that the police prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP Ibrahim S. Mansaray vehemently opposed to bail, on the grounds that the accused person is a foreigner and the offence preferred against him is very serious.
After listening to the submissions of the persecution and the defense, Magistrate Santigie Bangura ruled that due to the nature of the offence preferred against the accused person, he would not admit the accused, Stanley Oluchi Ozoho to Bail.
He ordered that the accused person should be remanded at the Male Correctional Centre in Freetown, and adjourned the matter to Tuesday 14 August 2018.
By Mohamed Lamin Banya
Shortly after the return of Baby Mustapha who went to India for Biliary Atresia surgery few weeks ago, two other babies, 9 months old Baby Marian and 13 weeks old Baby Mariama also needs urgent help from philanthropists in and out of the country for their medication abroad.
Baby Mariama is suffering from a complex brain condition and Marian, diagnosed with biliary Atresia causing her eyes to jaundice after her birth, needs financial assistance to undergo surgeries in India.
Former President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma has prayed fervently for his successor, His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio and his government to succeed in their reign as President and Government of Sierra Leone.
The ex-president was speaking past weekend at Makeni where he was addressing hundreds of thousands of people who gathered at the All People’s Congress (APC) Makeni Office to welcome him from his long vacation.
Concluding his address to the people, Koroma called on all Sierra Leoneans to keep the peace and prayed that President Bio and his ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) government succeed in continuing his ‘legacy of national development’.
Despite the failed propaganda by his detractors that he had gone into exile for good, former President Ernest Koroma returned to the nation he developed and loves with pomp and pageantry.
The Chairman, Minister another Members of the Committee
The Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Information and Communication charged with the responsibility to oversee the Information and Communications sector in the country and chaired by the Deputy Leader of Parliament, Hon. Matthew Nyuma on Monday 6th August 2018 at the Conference Room of the Administrative Building of Parliament engaged the newly elected Members of Parliament, the Information Ministry, Sierra Leone Cable Network Limited and the National Telecommunication Company on an information sharing process on the activities of the telecommunication industry in the country.
Minister Kallon partaking in the disposal of waste
In line with President Julius Maada Bio's clarion call to have a healthy environment, the Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs-Lusine Kallon has over the weekend joined his colleague Ministers to clean the Kono Government hospital and other parts of the township.
Head of the Emergency and Resuscitation Unit, Madam Umu Hawa Jalloh described the Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs as "a servant of the people."
"This is a novelty in Kono's history to have a sitting Mayor flanked by two Deputy Ministers and Senior Government functionaries from Freetown to participate in the national cleaning exercise," Nurse Jalloh said. She averred that the beauty about President Bio's New Direction is a collective effort that is backed by action.
By Mohamed Lamin Banya
The High Table
The National Olympic Committee (NOC) Sierra Leone with support from International Olympic on Monday 6th August 2018, commissioned a resource center. The event took place at the Henry Moore Auditorium, Milton Margai College of Education and Technology (MMCET) Goderich campus in Freetown.
The resource centre is first of its kind in Sierra Leone for the promotion and development of sports and education respectively.
By Mohamed Kai
Santigie Bangura presiding over the Freetown Magistrate Court No.1 at Siaka Stevens Street in Freetown, on Friday 3rd August 2018 detained three accused persons at the Male Correctional Centre in Freetown for the offence of importation of a prohibited drug into Sierra Leone without lawful authority.
The three accused persons, Nigerian-born Isaac Chukwunonso, Inspector Donald Kandeh Zizer and Sergeant, Ibrahim Bangura both of the Sierra Leone Police Force are facing multiple and grave criminal charges.
The Chief Executive Officer of LAKE Production Company Limited – Alhaji K. Tarawally fondly known as Laj-K has on Friday 3rd August 2018 received an official notification by the Confederation of West African Youths (CWAY) that he has been voted amongst the 100 Most Influential Young Persons in West Africa.
The 100 Most Influential Young Persons Award/Forum is an annual event conceived to identify and give proper recognition through conferment of Award of Excellence and distinction to individuals and organization who have distinguished themselves as brilliant exemplars and who have contributed towards the development of youths in the region. www.cwayafrica.com.
As research continues on Bombali Ebola outbreak; Residents Cautioned Against Dead Animals
Ministry staff engaging Bombali stakeholders
Residents of Bombali district, northern Sierra Leone have been cautioned against the eating of sick and dead animals.
The warning, which came following the outbreak of Ebola in the district which researchers say is currently found in bats, came from senior staff of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation through its Social Mobilization Unit of the Bombali District Management Team.
Speaking to Bombali district stakeholders over the weekend at the Wusum Hotel Conference Hall in Makeni, Dr. Amadu Tejan Jalloh, Deputy Director Live Stock and Veterinary Officer at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security advised stakeholders to at all time frame from eating sick/dead animals as most of these animals may have died from illnesses that can only be identified by a professional.
The Late Lieutenant-General Samuel Omar Williams
Four accused persons Ibrahim Kalokoh alias Kartel; Festus Mansaray alias Bigman; Ahaji Stevens Bangura alias Stigma and Alhaji Umaru Jalloh alias Maju have been relocated at the Male Correctional Centre in Freetown by Hon. Justice Manuella Harding of the High Court of Sierra Leone for the offence of Murder, contrary to law.
By Mohamed Lamin Banya
Councilor Zachariah Kanu of Constituency 112 in Leicester, Tree Planting, Gloucester and IMATT communities in complementing the work of President Bio, on Saturday 4th August 2018 joined the Minister of Water Resources, Minister of Social Welfare Gender and Children Affairs, SOGEFEL SARL Construction Company and thousands of residents to participate in the monthly cleaning.
By Mohamed Kai
A twenty five year-old baker, Isaac Simeon was remanded at the Male Correctional Centre in Freetown by Hon. Justice Monfred Sesay of the High Court of Sierra Leone for the offence of Sexual Penetration of a Child under the age of eighteen years, contrary to law.
The accused person is said to have penetrated the sex organ of a seventeen years old girl (name withheld) on Saturday 19 December 2015 at Tengbeh Town in the west part of Freetown, which contravenes Section (19) of the Sexual Offences Act of 2012.
By Mohamed Lamin Banya
In complementing President Bio’s decision to reactivate a day of national cleaning, the Project Manager of SOGEFEL SARL Construction Company from Guinea, Aliou Shaibou has provided support to Councilor Zachariah Kanu as part of his company’s corporate social responsibility.
Shaibou says his dream is to see the Tree Planting community rated as one of the best communities that is economically strong, with viable structures and hygienically placed.
Chairman, Kambia District Council, Mohamed Yayah Bangura
By Gibril Gottor
The Kambia District Council has been accused of implementing what the residents describe as ‘killer taxes’ meant to make their lives harder than it already is.
It could be recalled that the Hut Tax War of 1898 was a resistance in the newly annexed Protectorate of Sierra Leone to a new, severe tax imposed by the colonial military governor. The imposed tax constituted a major burden on residents of the Protectorate; 24 indigenous chiefs had signed a petition against it, explaining its adverse effects on their societies, to no avail. The Temne chief Bai Bureh, a general and war strategist is typically identified as the chief who initiated an armed resistance in the North in 1898.
In Kambia District in the 21st century, a replica of the Bai Bureh story is apparently rearing its ugly head as many residents in the district have accused the Kambia District Council KDC of imposing exorbitant tax by blatantly breaching Part VIII of the Local Government Act 2004.
By Mohamed Lamin Banya
In a bid to promote locally-made products, Minister of Trade and Industry Peter Bayuku Konteh has ordered supermarkets and shop owners to create space or shelves in their supermarkets, shops and stores to sell mainly ‘made in Sierra Leone’ products and that they are to do this within the next ninety days.
It could be recalled that President Bio when he assumed office committed himself to promoting and supporting the Local Content Policy when he addressed the opening session of parliament earlier this year.
-Native Consortium Warns
Executive Director, Native Think Tank, Edmond Abu
In an open letter to President Julius Maada Bio, the Executive Director, Native Consortium and Research Centre/Native Think Tank, Edmond Abu (Jr.) wrote that as far as it concerns pressurizing the government to rethink and reduce the price of petroleum products, the consortium “is not prepared to compromise.”
