His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio has toured the two Tambakha Chiefdoms in the Karene district and discussed his government’s plans to construct the first Senior Secondary School in that part of northern Sierra Leone. Explaining the historical relationship between the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) and the people of the two Tambakha Chiefdoms, Constituency Youth Leader, AlhajiKamara, said they had been a major player in the formation and development of the party. He added that that was why after the late President Ahmad TejanKabbah, President Bio was the second sitting president to visit their chiefdoms, regardless of what he called a hard-to-reach area. “Your Excellency Sir, the youth and everyone in our two chiefdoms are happy that you visited. We will continue to support your agenda to transform the entire nation,” he stated. Alhaji Kamara also advocated for the construction of a community centre, a health facility, a senior secondary school, the construction of major roads and a bridge that would link the two chiefdoms with Kamakwie, which he said would ease the long-suffering of the people. In his response, the President told people of the two Tambakha Chiefdoms that after nearly three years in office as President of the country, he saw the need to tour the district and discuss development plans with the people. He further stated that the people were at the centre of his development agenda, saying that he would continue to strengthen the human capital of the country for lasting development. “For a country to develop the people should be better educated. Education is the fastest way to transform a nation,” President Bio affirmed. He said his government was paying school fees for about 2.5 million children in pre-primary, primary, junior and senior secondary schools across the nation. He, therefore, encouraged the children as the direct beneficiaries of the Free Quality Education to take their studies seriously, noting that they would be the ones to take care of their parents in future. The President said in a short while his government would replace the broken Kabba Ferry with a modern bridge that would link the two chiefdoms with other chiefdoms in the Karene District, adding that the people would also benefit from the Munafa Macro Credit facility that would help promote small businesses. “Since I came to power, my Government has approved 364 schools in Karene with financial assistance, distributed teaching and learning materials to all schools in Karene District, 73,456 teaching and learning materials (core textbooks supplied) and 1 School Bus for Primary 1-6 and from JSS 1-3, he confirmed. Bumbuna Murder Lands FourIn Remand By Feima Sesay Tamba Kamara, Siao Kargbo, Tamba Turay and Daddy Ballinga  has been arraigned before  Justice Hannah Bonnie of the Freetown High Court for the allege murder of one Ibrahim Kamara.  It was also alleged that the deceased was beaten by the accused persons at a poro society bush and later thrown him at the Bumbuna waterfall as he was caught taken photos of theporo bush during initiations. Led in evidence by state prosecutor Ernestine Spain, the witness Sergeant 6566 Mathew GavaoKarim attached to the homicide unit  Criminal Investigations Department(CID) recognized the accused and recall on the 11 March 2020. He said on that day he was on duty when a transfer case and enquiry file of murder together with the accused persons were brought to the station from the Magburaka police station for further investigation. He furthered that on the next day a team of detectives led by inspector D.A Munu left Freetown for Bumbuna town and upon their arrival they were led to the  Bumbuna waterfall and there after they were led to a place called Bo road where the remains of the deceased was found. The witness further that on 4 April 2020, he interview all the accused persons separately by observing the judges rules and on the 16 April 2020 he charge the accused with the offences of conspiracy and murder. After reading the interview and charge statements of all the accused persons in court, the witness was cross examined by defense counsel K.P Koroma. However also, the accused persons were arraigned before Justice Hannah Bonnie on two counts of conspiracy to commit a felony and murder contrary to law. According to the indictment, the state alleged that the accused persons on 7 February 2020 at Bubuna Waterfall via Magbruka conspired together with other persons unknown to murder Ibrahim Kamara. The accused were remanded in custody and the matter was adjourned to the 12 April 2021. ANALYSIS ON THE MONEY DISBURSED TO THE MINISTRY OF SPORTS ACCOUNT FOR THE INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL MATCHES AND DEVELOPMENT OF SPORTS FOR THE YEAR 2018 TO 2021. A TOTAL OF sixty eight billion, three hundred and eighteen  million six hundred and ninety four thousand six hundred and thirty two leones seventy five cent. (Le68,318,694,632.75) According to the Ministry of Finance press release of 26th March 2021. They disbursed a sum total of eight billion, eight hundred and thirty five million three hundred AND twenty five thousand seven hundred and sixty nine leones(Le8,835,325,768) for the away match between Sierra Leone vs Lesotho. This is the largest amount of money disbursed by the Ministry of Finance to the Ministry of Sports for a single international match in the history of Sierra Leone. The Ministry of Finance and Sports did not show value for money and best practices of previous matches supported by government. ACC most act now or never The Executive Committee of the SLFA said they only  requested for (One billion, nine hundred and twenty three million seven hundred and fifty thousand leones. (1,923,750,000)For the Lesotho away match. THE DISCONNECT BETWEEN WHAT WAS PURPORTEDLY APPROVED AND DISBURSED AND WHAT WAS RECEIVED IS CLEAR CASE OF GRAND CORRUPTION BETWEEN THE MINISTRY OF SPORTS AND FINANCE. The difference between MOS and SLFA on the amount below. Le8,835,325,769 Le1,923,750,000 Is a total of Le6,911,575,769. six billion, nine hundred and eleven million five hundred and seventy five thousand seven hundred and sixty

By LansanaFofanah The Algerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sabri Boukadoum, yesterday paid a courtesy call on His Excellency, the President Julius Maada Bio and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Nabeela F. Tunis. Ambassador Boukadoum came at a time when Algeria and Sierra Leone are enjoying multi-lateral ties in the area of trade and investment and international diplomacy. Welcoming Ambassador Boukadoum and delegates at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation conference hall, Tower Hill, Freetown, Minister Tunis said that President Bio’s meeting with the Ambassador, was successful as they were able to identify key priorities in the area of trade and investment, education, mining and agriculture. The Minister said that Algeria’s relationship with Sierra Leone, span way back since 1980 when the country hosted the Organization of Africa Unity. The Minister commended the President of Algeria for extending an invitation for President Bio to visit Algeria which is expected to happen anytime soon. In response, Ambassador Boukadoum gave his admiration about Sierra Leone’s rapid development in terms of peace and security,human capital development. He said that both Sierra Leone and Algeria maintain similar position on Committee of Ten agenda in the United Nations. Ambassador Boukadoum, promised to reactivate the investment roadmap that was agreed between the two countries before the outbreak of coronavirus as his visit to the country has given him lots of positive thoughts that he will relay back home. “Sierra Leoneans should not underestimate what the have as there are positive developments going on under the leadership of President Bio,” he said.

By Abdul Malik Bangura President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, His Excellency Julius Maada Bio has expressed confidence that the visionary leadership of Rt Honourable Sidie Mohamed Tunis will undoubtedly leave a formidable legacy at the regional ECOWAS Parliament. His Excellency President Bio made this statement during his remarks on the occasion of the opening ceremony of the fifth legislature of the first 2021 extraordinary session of the ECOWAS Parliament currently on going in Freetown, Sierra Leone between 29th March and 2nd April 2021. During his statement as head of state of the home country of the Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament, His Excellency President Bio said as a country, Sierra Leone welcome one of our own, the Rt. Hon Sidie Mohamed Tunis. Permit us, as a country, to thank this august body for unanimously electing him Speaker of this Assembly during your inaugural session in Niamey, Niger on 9th March 2020.”  The President expressed extreme sentiment that Honourable Sidie Mohamed Tunis cares very deeply about the advancement of the African Continent and its peoples.” In addition, President Bio said that Sierra Leone commends the ECOWAS Parliament for its contribution to the promotion of peace, security, democracy, and good governance in the region as demonstrated in the deployment of election observation missions that monitored elections in Member States.” Hence, the President said “it is, indeed, an honour, for all of us, Sierra Leoneans, for the first time ever, to host the 2021 First Extraordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament here in Freetown. On his side, the Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament, Rt Honourable Sidie Mohamed Tunis during his opening speech said Freetown and indeed the whole of Sierra Leone is very delighted and proud to receive the ECOWAS Parliament and “all of her rich culture and hospitality are yours to enjoy.” HE Tunis expressed gratitude to the President, His Excellency, Dr. Julius Maada Bio, for the unprecedented support accorded him from the very beginning of his journey to take over the leadership of ECOWAS Parliament. He said that the support of the President of Sierra Leone for his administration and the ECOWAS Parliament is enormous, adding that “your advice and affectionate concern have helped us achieve greatly and I have no words to express how grateful the ECOWAS Parliament is for the support you have shown.”  He said the President’s support is a “clear demonstration of not just the ECOWAS Parliament, but the ECOWAS policy on regional integration and the drive to bring ECOWAS and its organs closer to the people we serve.” Expanding on the achievements made so far by his administration just one year since taking over, Speaker Tunis said we successfully held three Delocalized Meetings in Cotonou, Bissau and Lome respectively; One Ad-hoc Committee Meeting in Lagos; the First and Second Extraordinary Sessions of 2020, held virtually; two Fact Finding Missions to Mali; five election observation missions to the Republics of Guinea, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Niger and Cote d’ Ivoire; and list of other engagements with state actors and regional organizations, all geared toward securing a peaceful, stable and prosperous region.” On the purpose of the 1st extraordinary session 2021, Speaker Tunis said they are holding it to present and adopt a Strategic Plan for the 5th Legislature (2020-2024) of the ECOWAS Parliament. He said “the plan, which has been drafted by the Administration of the Parliament under the supervision of our outstanding Secretary General, is guided by the provisions of the Community Strategic Framework and the ECOWAS Vision. He said that the framework will identify program areas, with themes and priority areas that would systematically assist the Parliament in executing its mandate, as defined by the Supplementary Act. Meanwhile whilst making his goodwill message at the opening session, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, His Excellency Jean-Claude KassiBrou said the Strategic Plan is indeed an important tool to structure and make effective the action of Parliament. He said that the plan is a real compass which is aligned with the development priorities of the Region, emphasizes the participation of people in community affairs, in accordance with the Vision of ECOWAS which is to build a ECOWAS of People’s. The President of ECOWAS Commission added that the implementation period for ECOWAS Vision 2020 has just ended. He said that “this transformational vision aimed to create a region without borders, peaceful, prosperous, and based on good governance where people would have the capacity to benefit from the enormous resources of the region and exploit them by creating opportunities for sustainable development and environmental preservation.” He said in order to consolidate these achievements of Vision 2020 and to face the new challenges of our time, “the ECOWAS Commission has therefore set out to develop a Vision 2050 that will guide the Community’s actions for the next 30 years.” He acknowledged the support of the Honourable Members of Parliament is essential for mobilising Community resources to member states. The opening session climaxed with a family photo of the ECOWAS Members of Parliament, President of ECOWAS Commission, Members of the ECOWAS Parliament and invited guests.

A delegation from the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs and the National Tourist Board (NTB) led by the Minister, Dr.Memunatu Pratt has attended the launch of the Association in Tourism, Southern Region and the presentation of award to the Minister at Dohas Hotel in Bo. Explaining the purpose of the launching, the chairman for the association in tourism, Sam Goba said they are beginning a new dawn of tourism in the Southern Region and showcasing to the authorities present that they are pushing the agenda in tourism. The hotelier of Dohas Hotel who also doubles as the Deputy Chairman of the Association in Tourism, SalehYayah stated that they took the venture to launch the Association in Tourism because of the enthusiasm in the Minister and the Tourist Board. He mentioned that they took all steps to ensure that the association is recognized and given the power to operate under the rules and regulations of the tourism act and to make Sierra Leone a place to reckon with for tourism. Delivering her keynote address, Dr.Memunatu Pratt said that since her appointment, this is the biggest launching of tourism association she has attended thus far. She maintained that all over the world tourism grows with a strong public private partnership including a very strong hotel or tourism association. “Before now there was a weak Ministry of Tourism, weak private sector and no existing association which gave me a difficult task in putting the Ministry and NTB together”, she affirmed. She noted that the Ministry is doing a lot in exploring new tourism development areas which she said will attract investors to the sector, revealing that the Budapest, Bamako finish line that sold Sierra Leone enormously will happen in 2022 with a much bigger representation. The event was climaxed with the presentation of an award to the Minister for her relentless efforts in improving the hospitality sector and also crowning SalehYayah as an ambassador for tourism. Awards were also given to the NTB, and other stakeholders of the ministry for their dedication to the tourism sector.