August 31, 2020 - Public Review Newspaper

THE OSWALD HANCILES COLUMN Bio Challenged to Harness the “Human Resources” of Andrew Keili

Passengers onboard the SLAVE SHIP-FREEDOM SHIP: Can we PLEASE (!!!) Does critical analysis of this delightful and informative piece written by Engineer Andrew Keili, and help to forge solutions to some of the issues he has raised? In the article of his “PONDER MY THOUGHTS” Column of August 27, 2020, titled “AFROBAROMETER: THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN”, Andrew Keili has indicated that he was an aspirant for the SLPP presidential candidacy for the 2012 presidential election. He has not stated that as an eminent indigene of Kailahun District, he committed ‘heresy’ by leaving the SLPP (for those who don’t know, the SLPP is not just an ordinary political party to nearly all peoples of the Mende-speaking Southeast of Sierra Leone, it is a religion – stronger in its cohesive force than the Islamic and Christian religions people in the region claim adherence to) and pitching tent with the National Grand Coalition (NGC), with its key founder being Hon. Kande Yumkella (also another SLPP-heretic who left the SLPP to form the NGC); Kande Yumkella, to me, is, indisputably, the MOST GLOBALLY-FAMOUS SIERRA LEONEAN EVER IN OUR COUNTRY’S HISTORY. Andrew Keili did not write in his article he was Vice President candidate to Kande Yumkella in the 2018 presidential election. As I have often stated, the SOURCE of an information can sometimes be more important than the content of the information itself. It may help you to appreciate Andrew Keili’s article – always ‘peppered and salted and ogiri-ed’ with witty anecdotes – with a bit more information on Andrew Keili. ANDREW KEILI AS MINING ENGINEER Andrew Keili was an engineer in the diamond, and rutile, mines from his 20s; there, he lived a life of luxury, by Sierra Leonean standards. And a life of being overworked by his largely white man bosses. (The A Staff area of Sierra Rutile when Andrew Keili was middle-rising-to-senior-engineer there in the 1980s to 1995 when the RUF rebels sacked their mines and drove them out… used to be called “Small America” – because of the affluent lifestyles in suburban ambience by the senior staff families who lived there). Andrew Keili’s story was not one of rags-to-riches, rather, it was partial-riches-to-riches story, as Andrew Keili is one of the seven sons of late Bishop Keili, the first non-Krio (“kontri man”) bishop of the most-upper-crust-Krio conservative-Krio churches since the Krios as freed slaves from the Americas founded Freetown in the late 18th century, the Anglican church. (That should tell you that Andrew Keili would have mutated from being a Mende man into a ‘Krio boy’ from his cradle – sociologically, if he couldn’t do so genetically). ANDREW KEILI AS SUCCESSFUL ENGINEER- ENTREPRENEUR After the RUF rebels had attacked the Sierra Rutile concession in Moyamba and Bonthe districts in 1995, Andrew Keili and the rest of the engineers relocated to Freetown. While most of the other senior engineers appeared disoriented in Freetown, some falling into hard times, others migrating to other countries to seek for mining jobs, Andrew Keili teamed up with his ‘Krio brothers’, the over-confident and/or snobbish son of an upper middle-class Krio family, Tani Pratt, and Alex Kamara (a Temne man whose mutation has surpassed Andrew Keili; for Alex Kamara is a white man in mannerism and speech – though he has ebony black skin) … to establish the engineering consultancy, CEMMATS. Both Tani Pratt and Alex Kamara, like Andrew Keili, were mining engineers who rose up to management levels in the Sierra Rutile company, positions reserved then for white men. Andrew Keili, Tani Pratt (his junior sister tried unsuccessfully to teach me the French language in the Albert Academy in the 1960s; she bemused us then with her “schwen-schwen” accent, typical of the English-accented Krio of upper middle class Krios), and Alex Kamara: within ten years they developed CEMMATS into an unparalleled engineering and business success. At one time they successfully managed the National Power Authority (NPA) of Sierra Leone when the company was in the doldrums in the early 2000s. CEMMATS has won contracts in all spheres of engineering in Sierra Leone, and West Africa, and as far away as Asia. They have leased a huge building off King Harman Road, in the Westend of Freetown, and ferry their staff to their engineering sites in company-owned coaster buses. Theirs is a symbol of pooling together rare Sierra Leonean intellectual prowess; and they have manifested rarer Sierra Leonean emotional maturity in sticking together as their wealth grew. ANDREW KEILI’S PUBLIC SECTOR AND OTHER LAURELS Andrew Keili was also coordinator of President Tejan Kabbah’s advisory board in the 2000s. He can take credit for the resurgence of the post-war economy of Sierra Leone; and the sprouting of vibrant and productive national institutions like the National Revenue Authority (NRA), and the monolithic pension fund for public sector workers, NASSIT. Andrew Keili was fortunate enough to have as junior brother, late Christian Keili, the most unimpeachable honest journalist I have come across working in Liberia, Nigeria, and here in Sierra Leone. Andrew Keili and Christian Keili were co-owners of Salone Times newspaper. Probably, in honor of his almost-saintly brother, Christian Keili (womanizing is an excusable sin, right?), Engineer Andrew Keili has learned, improved on, and evolved into a master in writing – becoming today among the top 1% of most widely-read, and respected, columnists in Sierra Leone’s history. Andrew Keili’s wife, Helen Keili, a veteran teacher; a beauty-queen-beautiful lady with class and grace and firmness, would not deny that Andrew Keili is the brain behind the success of one of the most academically-successful private educational institutions in the history of Sierra Leone – the Modern Elementary School, and the Modern High School. The schools are now housed in huge four storey buildings at 19 Jomo Kenyatta Road, at New England Ville in the West End of Freetown. Their pupils would always rank among the top three in all public exams in Sierra Leone. WRITER WITH RARE WIT AND INTELLECTUAL DEPTH As a writer, Andrew Keili has that rare

Sierra Leone Rotary, others considerably score achievement in the eradication of Polio

Health, Health & Fitness, Lifestyle

Saidu Kanu, President of Rotary, WHO Representative witnessing News Correspondent The Sierra Leone Rotary and other partners in health have jointly commemorated the reserved efforts on the eradication of the polio-free in Sierra Leone, the even was occurred on the 25th August, Wilkinson Road, Freetown. President, Saidu Kanu Rotary Club of Freetown, in his speech, said, they were to attain such achievement through the relentless fundraising effort on their parts to ensure that polio comes to end life in the country. He stated that every year, Rotary sets funding goals of millions of dollars and successfully exceeded them each year. In 2020, Rotary poises to raise $100 million to enhance the efforts, and in three years, Rotary ad the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has announced an increased combined pledge of up to $450 million with a 2-to-1 match from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation if Rotary reaches its funding target. The Rotary Clubs in Sierra Leone will continue to play its parts to contribute to the yearly fundraising goal. He maintained that Rotarians in Sierra Leone will remain more active as they have joined all partners to raise awareness, aggressively advocate the cause to public and private institutions, ensuring they contribute to the Global Fundraising process. He also emphasized that they will popularize immunization and surveillance programmes that government and partners were committed to supporting. The Rotary president stated that Sierra Leone became Polio Free in 2010 and has remained so through the scheduling of local and national immunization days, routine surveillance and engagement at community and institutional levels, through decades of commitment and hard work Rotary with partners over 2.5 billion children have received the oral polio vaccine and have been save the scourge of unnecessary childhood paralysis. Evans Liyosi, Representative of World Health Organization (WHO) intimated that, many years ago, when every day more than one thousand (1000) cases of polio were recorded globally, the thought of reaching such stage in the fight against the disease was farfetched.

NSA Director Calls on Corporate Houses to Support Sporting Disciplines

Sport

By Wisdom Kamara Director of the National Sports Authority, Alie Sesay, has called on corporate houses to support sporting disciplines in the country, including sporting associations that must also work hard in cooperating with these corporate so that sport will develop in the country. He said the ultimate aim of the NSA is to increase participation for sporting disciplines in the country, but for that to be achieved we need money. It’s why he is at the NSA. I will use my international contact to don ally partner around the world to help sporting discipline in Sierra Leone. “We will look for sponsorship which will help sporting disciplines and the NSA to organize courses for sporting associations at the district level. Corporate houses certainly have a bigger part to play for the sport to develop in the country,” he said. He said his plan is for sporting disciplines to rally wearing their respective jerseys to get support and sponsorships; set up workshops for marketing officers and public relation officers so they will learn how to approach business houses and parastatals for sponsorship. “If the NSA is to succeed indeed, sporting disciplines must support the NSA so that sport will have a different face in the country,” he concluded.

ACC INTERRACTS WITH POLICE PERSONNEL IN KAMAKWEI

Corruption, Security

The Regional Manager of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in the North-West Region, Al-Hassan Sesay has told Sierra Leone Police personnel in Kamakwie that actions of Police officers should resonate and uphold the mantra of being a FORCE FOR GOOD. This comes after the national corruption perception survey report conducted by Center for Accountability and Rule of Law that named the SLP as the most corrupt institution in Sierra Leone. At a customized meeting with personnel of the Kamakwei Police Division on the 31st July 2020, he urged the leadership of the SLP to change this ugly perception held by the public about the institution. “Your actions should not be seen defeating or conflicting the mantra of the SLP,” he emphasized. Manager Sesay said the ACC values the relationship between the ACC and SLP and expressed the need to deepen interaction and foster collaboration through public engagements and sensitization, while at the same time informing them about the ACC regional office located in Port Loko City. He went on to state that as police officers they are to play a critical role in maintaining law and order and to fairly dispense justice without fear or Favour with keen attention to their interaction with the public and maintaining best practices in their operations. He noted that even though the SLP is a responsible partner to the ACC, issues of corruption and of public interest will be treated by the ACC with utmost concern. Commenting on the corruption perception survey, Manager Sesay said the national corruption perception survey report that placed the Sierra Leone Police as the most corrupt institution was determined as a result of public interaction and visibility with Police officers and therefore urged the SLP’s senior management board to see the report as an opportunity for reforms and continuous engagement to address corruption vulnerabilities in the SLP. He outlined and explained related corruption offences and informed them that with the 2019 amendment act of the ACC, fines and jail terms have been increased to five years and fifty million Leones respectively, cancellation of contracts deemed not in the interest of the public and made provision for trial in absentia. The Regional Manager expressed dismay over numerous public complaints indicative of soliciting and extortion of monies on the issue of bail in Police stations across the country. “Bail is free and the process and conditions are clear on it with no financial attachment,” he emphasized. The Local Unit Commander Superintendent Koroma Vandi in his welcome address expressed thanks to the ACC team for sensitizing them and promised to cascade the message to other police officers in the district of Karene, noting the need for effective collaboration and sustained public education engagement. Public Education Officer Mohamed Thullah who spoke on the role of senior management in the fight against corruption accentuated the significance of maintaining ethical standards and high sense of integrity with a meaningful demonstration of supporting and resisting demands of corruption. Thullah highlighted various methods of reporting corruption and underscored the central role reporting corruption occupies in combating same. Question and answer session followed by presentation of IEC materials formed part of the engagement.

Inspector General of Sierra Leone Police Consolidates Relations with the SLRSA

Local Government, Security, Social Issues

As part of efforts to strengthen collaboration between the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA) and the Sierra Leone Police (SLP), the Inspector General of the Sierra Leone Police, Mr. Ambrose Sovula on Tuesday August 25, 2020 paid a courtesy visit on the Executive Director of the SLRSA at his Kissy Road Office in Freetown. The Inspector General of Police who was accompanied by his Deputy Madam Elizabeth Turay and other senior Police Officers said, his visit was to reaffirm his support to the SLRSA as he put it, “I have been part of the SLRSA family for a very long time”. The IGP called for synergy between the Sierra Leone Police and the SLRSA in order to restore sanity in the Road Transport Sector. IGP Sovula noted that, the Sierra Leone Police is overwhelmed with crimes around traffic issues and hence the need for collaboration between the SLP and the Road Safety Corps. He noted that, the Motor Vehicle industry has it membership drawn from all facets of life and as such, policing their everyday activities was a herculean task. He called on the Executive Director to closely work with the Drivers Union and the Bike Riders Union as this will create the enabling environment for both the membership of the drivers and riders and the Road Safety Corps. The Inspector General of Police assured the Executive Director of the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA) in the areas of training, joint operations and other related issues. He called for frequent meetings with Stakeholders in the Transport sector to discuss issues affecting the sector and find solutions. Welcoming the IGP and his team, the Executive Director of the SLRSA Mr. Ibrahim Sannoh was pleased to receive the IGP to the SLRSA headquarters and emphasized the need for collaboration between the SLRSA and the SLP. Mr. Ibrahim Sannoh outlined some of the major reforms he had introduced in the Authority since he took over as Executive Director three months ago, including the E-Fitness, Biometric License, Vehicle Record Card and Vehicle Number Plates. The Executive Director disclosed that he had discussed an Inservice training proposal with the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Memuna for Road Safety Corps. In her remarks, the Deputy Inspector General of Police Madam Elizabeth Turay thanked the Executive Director and the SLRSA management for the warm reception accorded them and pointed out the need for a good working relationship among front line officers of the two institutions. The Deputy Executive Director of the SLRSA Mr. James Baggie Bio embraced the path of the Inspector General of Police in expressing his desire to deepened collaboration between the SLP and the SLRSA. He disclosed that, this initiative was the desire of His Excellency the President Retired Brigadier Dr. Julius Maada Bio for all MDAs to work together in advancement of the New Direction Agenda. The vote of thanks was moved by the Director of Safety and Enforcement Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority Mr. Augustine Kaitongi. Mr. Ambrose Sovula has a long history of working with the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority, first as a trainer of the first batch of Traffic Wardens in 2005 as Commandant of the Sierra Leone Police Training School and later as National Traffic Coordinator of the Sierra Leone Police. It was as a result of his exemplary performance during his tenure as National Traffic Coordinator that the West African Road Safety Organization in 2014 conferred on him the title of honorary member of that Organization at the Miatta Conference Center.

MUSA KALLON, THE ESSENTIAL MISSING ELEMENT IN THE NEWLY INITIATED DEVELOPMENT PROJECT OF THE SOCCER ADMINISTRATION.

Sport, youth Affair

The initiative to give the Sierra Leonean football a solid foundation is a laudable venture. In this regard, I must thank the Sierra Leone Football Association and The Ministry of Sport for taking this bold decision. Meanwhile, I will like to utilize this golden opportunity to congratulate the newly appointees, I wish you all the best in your new challenges. I am certainly certain that a good leader is the one that can consolidate and reconcile with the various differences in his or her area of jurisdiction. In this respect, I must commend the leadership of Madam Isha, who have displayed the aforementioned characteristics. It could be recalled that the current Head coach of the Sierra Leone senior team undermined the position of his boss (Madam Isha), and both parties were not at peace for certain period. But President Isha knows too well that she should reconcile the difference between her and the current Head Coach, who she described as her son, for the general good of national football. Coach Kiester is a man that has sacrifice a lot to see sustainable development in the Sierra Leone just like Coach Musa Kallon and many others. Nonetheless, in my unbiased view, Coach Musa Kallon can give his developmental experience in this development project. He has successfully served in both national and international capacity as a coach and player. It’s important for me to remind you that Coach Musa Kallon has served in different Academies around the global community and his absence is seriously felt by these instructions. It no gain saying that can contribute immensely in the modeling of our game as he is a football architect. We need to give him a chance. It is against this backdrop that we the people of Sierra Leone are making a passionate appeal to both the Sierra Leone Football Association and The Ministry of Sport to see reasons and add Mr. Musa Kallon in this Development project as his contribution would create a positive impact. Everyone can equally agree with me that he is a football technocrat who is so enthusiastic to see the country’s football system develop to the expected standards. Let all football actors consolidate and reconcile their differences for the betterment of our beautiful game (soccer)

ACC Covid-19 Task Force Ends Engagements with Dicovercs In the South and East

Health

Two members of the Strategic Team of the COVID-19 Response Transparency Task Force of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), the Coordinator of Operations, Emmanuel Koivaya Amara Esq., and the Director of Public Education and Outreach, Patrick Sandi, have on Friday 14th August, 2020 concluded engagements with five (5) District Corona Virus Emergency Response Centers (DiCOVERCs) in the South (Bo, Moyamba, Bonthe and Pujehun) and Eastern (Kenema and Kailahun) regions of Sierra Leone. The engagements which were very interactive aimed at ensuring that the DiCOVERCs are mindful of the accountability and integrity regimes in the management and utilization of public and donor resources meant for the control and containment of the pandemic. Addressing staff of the DiCOVERCs, Director, Public Education and Outreach, Patrick Sandi outlined the composition and rationale for the establishment of the Task Force, led by the Commissioner, and the Deputy Commissioner. He underscored that the meetings with the DiCOVERCs Pillar Leads were not to undermine their good efforts in the response, but one which sought to ensure the effective and judicious use of public/donor funds and resources that will guarantee efficient quality service delivery. Mr. Sandi updated members of the DiCOVERCs on the activities and operations of the Task Force since its establishment and launch. In his submission, the Coordinator of Operations, Emmanuel Koivaya Amara Esq. highlighted the relevant provisions in the Anti-Corruption Act of 2008 as Amended in 2019 as they relate to integrity, transparency and accountability. He also stated that the law has the appropriate preventive and punitive measures, once any person contravenes it. However, the ACC was keen on the prevention of corruption and corrupt practices rather than on prosecution-hence the engagements with the DiCOVERCs are to instill and mainstream best practices in their programs and activities. The District Coordinators of the DiCOVERCs appreciated the move by the ACC, and pledged their commitments to support accountability guidelines as would be recommended by the Commission. Various Pillar Leads of the DiCOVERCs; quarantine, psycho-social, laboratory, data management, logistics, case management/surveillance, social mobilization and risk communication, finance and administration, and security, provided updates on their programs and activities, and also catalogued the challenges. Key among the challenges are; the delays in the payment of incentives and allowances meant for health and non-health care workers, and the delays in the turn-around time of 48 hours for COVID-19 Test results, with only Kenema District that has the laboratory to service all the seven (7) Districts in the South and East. The ACC team also provided skills-support to the Admin/Finance, Quarantine and Logistics Leads in the areas of records management and proper reporting mechanisms that would eliminate the opportunities of corruption which were obvious in the programs and activities of the DiCOVERCs. Visits to treatment centers and quarantine facilities, including radio talk shows formed part of the exercise. Similar engagements to provide a comprehensive, holistic and national perspective and impression on the operations of the DiCOVERCs will be held in the remaining Districts of the North-East, North-West Regions and Kono District.

HRCSL, VP OFFICE TRAIN COMPANIES ON CONFLICT PREVENTION AND BUSINESS AND HUMAN RIGHTS

Human Rights

The Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone (HRCSL) is jointly conducting a training exercise with the Office of the Vice President with support from UNDP for selected Companies in Pujehun and Moyamba Districts. The training of company officials and stakeholders in Pujehun and Moyamba Districts is taking place in Bo City today Wednesday 26th to Friday 28th August 2020. Participants were drawn from VIMETCO, Sierra Rutile, SOCFIN and Natural Habitat include workers, security personnel, Mammy Queens and other key community members from the two districts where the Companies operates. The training is on Conflict Prevention and Mediation, Business and Human Rights, Prevention of SGBV & Protection of Women’s Rights within Concessionary Areas. The Oversight Commissioner for Monitoring and Research Commissioner Dr. Gassan Abess noted the fact that the concept of Business and Human Rights is still in its emerging stage and has propelled the need for consistent capacity building engagement for all stakeholders involved. Commissioner Dr. Abess said the Commission has not only been building the capacity of its staff, but saw the need for engaging all companies and other stakeholders have become a major concern for the Commission. He said baseline studies conducted by the HRCSL and the consultation carried out by WFP, UNDP and CSOs have justified the need for robust training for companies in their dealings with members of host communities, especially so when looking at the situation of women as they are most often than not prone to discrimination and other sexual and gender based violence practices. “The activities carried out by these separate entities clearly brought out the fact that all companies contacted have little knowledge on the subject of Business and Human Rights and the issue of monitoring and compliance is predicated on the knowledge base of the parties involved”. He said. In Malen and Makpele Chiefdoms in Pujehun district, the palm oil companies of Socfin, a company from Luxembourg and a subsidiary of the French Bollore group and Natural Habitat, a Dutch Company, together occupies 14,669 hectares of prime farming land. In Moyamba District, the Australian owned rutile mining company Sierra Rutile-the second largest Rutile Company in the world-has a mining lease of 56,000 hectares spanning across the three chiefdoms of Bagruwa, and Lower and Upper Banta. In Dasse and Lower and Upper Banta Chiefdoms in the same district, the Romanian Bauxite (aluminium ore) mining company Vimetco operates a 32,100 hectare mining lease. Rutile and Bauxite mining is highly environmentally destructive, contributing to the contamination of water resources, flooding and damaging of lowlands that communities use for agriculture.

WANEP LAUNCHES YOUTH FOR PEACE NETWORK SL

youth Affair

The West Africa Network for Peace Building (WANEP), launched the Youth for Peace platform on Sunday 24 August, 2020, on the theme “Changing the Narrative” -Youth Contributions to National Development and the fight against COVID-19 Pandemic. This was realized through Virtual Zoom Meeting and lived on Facebook. The Youth for Peace Networks aim to support WANEP’s ongoing effort to promote and advance the Youth peace and Security agenda by fostering the contribution of young people towards the maintenance of lasting peace, security and development in Sierra Leone. In her opening remarks during the launching ceremony, the National Network Coordinator (NNC) of WANEP, Dr. Isata Mahoi stated the objective of the platform, which according to her is to mobilized diverse Youth-led Organizations, youth activists and other organizations in the drive towards the promotion of peace and stability in the country. She further affirmed that young women and young men have a critical role in promoting and maintaining both national and international peace and security. This is in line with the thought that demographic importance of youth is an asset that can contribute to the establishment of lasting peace and economic prosperity, provided that mechanism such as youth platform is in place to contribute in realizing this broader national goal. She however, lamented that the voice of youth has been muscled for a very long time by age limit and lack of effective policy instrument towards addressing their concerns. She affirmed that it is against this backdrop that WANEP, in line with the Security Council resolutions 2250 (2015) and 2419 (2018) on young people, peace and security that WANEP is establishing the Platform as a safe space for young people to brainstorm and proffer solution to peace and security challenges in the country. She reiterated that WANEP is also establishing the Youth 4 Peace Network in compliance with the above stated universal ideal to contribute in helping to mitigates the wide spread youth violence and youth marginalization in the country. Dr. Mahoi further expressed the concern that some people have branded youth as people disturbing the peace of the nation and perpetrating violence across the country. She encouraged everyone to reframe from such negative statements and interpretation of young people. She however refuted such contrary perspective about youth that is being circulated around, and concluded by affirming that majority of youths are not violent, rather, they can – and do – play active roles as agents of positive and constructive change. The Program Manager of WANEP, Madam Mariama Jusu Koiyia stated the specific goal of the Youth platform, which according to her is to create a platform for exchange and experience sharing between various youth actors on peace, security and development matters in their countries; coordinate and implement joint and concrete actions to propel forward the implementation of the Youth, Peace and Security agenda with a view to better involve young people in peace and security processes. She emphasized that this platform will play a pivotal role before, during and after every electoral process in the country. It will be recalled that in the past couple of months, lots of upraising by youths have been experienced across the country and tendency for a spill over will hinder the peace process of the country. This is why the setting of this platform will serve as a tool to put an end to such problems.

Youth Commissioner Engages Youths in Six Districts

youth Affair

By Bampia James Bundu The Commissioner of the National Youth Commission (NAYCOM), Ngolo Katta, over the weekend engaged residents of Koinadugu, Falaba, Kono, Bo, and Moyamba districts on the Skills Development Fund Project implemented by the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education. According to Mr Katta, the government is poised to build the middle-level manpower through Technical Vocational Education and Training – TVET. He explained that their visit across the country is to monitor some of their projects and also see how they can improve on their activities. The Commissioner and his team visited the NAYCOM Youth Demonstration Farm in Bombali District. Speaking to the farmers, he said that this year the Commission is poised to expand the farm on the request of the community youth who worked on it last year. He added that they have also supported youths to start their own farm in Rorinka so as to enable them to improve on their skills. The Youth Leader, Santigie Conteh, said they were given rice seeds and financial support to hire a tractor for ploughing. He maintained that they are now able to take care of their families through the farming activity the Commission has supported them with. At the Government Technical Institute in Koinadugu district, the team had a discussion with the Principal, Magba Kargbo, who informed them that the Center has serious challenges affecting its operations including lack of funds to run the Center, tools, computers, accommodation and the generator which was vandalized by thieves. He furthered that there is a high demand for skills training in the district that is difficult to meet amidst the aforementioned challenges. He said he would be grateful if the government supports them with equipment to make the Center fully operational. He acknowledged that education is very important in eradicating poverty and that his effort alone is not enough to change the status quo without the tools. The team also visited the farm in Kowama, Bumpe Ngao Chiefdom, Bo District. The Deputy Commissioner, Emmerson Kamara, commended the farmers for their hard work and determination in expanding their farm. He assured them of the Commission’s continued support. Youth Chairman, Mohamed Jusu, explained that the farm started last year on a small scale but was expanded this year. He said they are hoping to further expand it in the next planting season. He highlighted their challenges, chief among them unavailability of the tractor to plough the farm and expressed gratitude to NAYCOM for all its support. In an effort to support agriculture and boost the Commission’s Youth Demonstration Farms, the Commissioner presented a cheque of Ten Million Leones (Le 10,000,000) to the Koinadugu District Youth Council as support to their youth farm. The Chairman, Alhaji Sheku Koroma, described the funds as “a milestone for us in the farm because right now we don’t have rain gears and food for work. We are going to use this fund for the right purpose.” Commissioner Katta disclosed that through a GIZ support of about one hundred and thirty million (Le 130,000,000), his Commission presented assorted items and COVID 19 kits to youths in Koinadugu, Falaba and Kono districts. In Koinadugu district, the items were presented to the Youth Council and the youth of Cow Yard, a popular youth hangout within the township. In Falaba district, the items were presented in Mongo to the District Youth Council for distribution among youths in the district.

Abu Bakarr Turay Declares for Bar Association Vice Presidency

Chinese Learning Program Promotes Cultural Diversity and Language Education

In Sia Alleged Murder Trial: Doctor says effect of CPR may Lead to “Fractured Ribs”

Bai Mamoud Acquitted of Failed Coup Charges

Maritime Administration on a Two-Day Management talks to Develop Five-Year Strategic Plan

ACC REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO MONITORING PSSNYE PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION

Standards Bureau to Introduce Standardized Market Measurements

IMF talks on sustained reform momentum & efforts to improve macroeconomic conditions in Sierra Leone

ECOWAS National Office Takes on Wai Community in Pujehun on Cross-Border Project Implementation

NSA Certifies 10 Law Graduates

Sierra Leone”s new Ambassador to Morocco resumes duty

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