By Joseph Turay The bye election that took place in ward 155 in Koinadugu District  which the opposition cried foul over the result which was announced by the electoral commission(NEC) is soon to be contested. in a press conference organized by the opposition, All People’s Congress (APC) at their headquarter, 11A Old Railway Line, Freetown, the Secretary General Dr. Osman Foday Yasanneh highlighted, that, there were instances of institutionalized electoral malpractice involving staff of the National Electoral (NEC) and the manner in which that institution conducted the by elections in Koinadugu for District council chairman and ward 155 held on 2nd October 2021. The Secretary General continued to state that during these elections “our polling agents caught staff of NEC directly tampering with results and altering them in favor of the governing Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP); and during the tally process for the councilor for wards 155, the ICT staff tampered with the results for station (1), at the MCA primary school in Fumbakoro in favor of the SLPP. also, the correct scores which were 049 for SLPP and 083 for APC for that station, signed by NEC officials, polling agents and observers, were fraudulently entered by a NEC staff as 149 for SLPP, leaving the APC votes the same, that this was what criminally inflated the SLPP candidate’s votes by an extra 100 and fraudulently affected the final outcome of the bye election for councilor for ward 155, that the reconciliation and result forms (RRF) clearly confirm the facts. He continued that, they produced our copies of the RRF signed by NEC officers and polling agents which carried the same figures as those on the original copy in NEC’s custody, yet the presiding commissioner, Edmond Alpha from the southern region who was sent to oversee elections in north refused to make the necessary correction before making the provisional announcement of the results. He asked the APC to raise objections with the commission which they did in a letter addressed to the chairman of the commission on 5th October 2021. Regrettably, the chairman ignored the evidence we provided and went ahead on Wednesday, 6th October 2021 to confirm the results. This gives credence to the spate of institutionalized electoral fraud being perpetrated by a collusion of NEC officers and knows SLPP operatives, says by the secretary general. He further noted that on Sunday 3rd October 2021 during the tally process for the District council chairman election in kabala, the Assistant Director of operations-Northern Region, Mr. Paul M. Damba was caught tampering with results in favor of the SLPP when he criminally changed the SLPP results from 069 to 169 for polling centre code 06096, MCA primary school, alkalia(station1). In his statement he added that in another instance, at the same polling centre and location (station 3), the NEC officers swapped the figures. Instead of recording APC 122 and SLPP 088, they recorded APC 088 and SLPP 122. This discovery forced commissioner Edmond Alpha to correct the numbers and Mr. Damba, the electoral crime perpetrator was removed from the electoral process pending further investigations. He stressed that, these incidents and number of others, including electoral disruptions perpetrated by government ministers on polling day was also reported by the National Elections watch (NEW). That Sierra Leoneans and international community have invested so much in trying to nurture and sustain democracy in Sierra Leone , that a lot of resources and effort have also gone into reforming NEC to strengthen its capacity to conduct credible elections. Regrettably, what the commission has demonstrated is the highest degree of electoral fraud that renders the entire electoral process irrelevant if NEC officials can change results with impunity. This will not undermine confidence in the ability of NEC to conduct credible elections; it will also threaten the peace and stability of this nation. He therefore demand an immediate recount of the votes for ward 155 based on NEC certified RRFs be conducted with a view to making sure that they reflect the will of the Koinadugu electorate; adding that if this is not done, the APC will take appropriate court actions against the NEC officials involved in the perpetration of electoral fraud; and getting the national electoral commission to respect the law and international electoral practices. The APC will utilize all legal and reasonable means at our disposal to continue to seek redress.

The Court of Appeal Judge presiding over cases at the Sexual Offences Model Court, Hon. Justice Alhaji Momoh-Jah Stevens has today sentenced Hassan Sesay popularly known as LAJ, Abu Bakarr Turay also known as Dente and Francis Pessima to ten years imprisonment for sexual penetration. Accused persons, Francis Pessima and Hassan Sesay alias LAJ were convicted for sexual penetration after being jointly charged on a two count of Conspiracy and Sexual Penetration Contrary to Section 19 of the Sexual Offences Act No. 12 of 2021. According to the particulars of offence, the accused persons on the 10th day of July 2019 at Freetown, in the Western Area of the Republic of Sierra Leone, conspired together to commit a felony to wit Sexual Penetration, and also engaged in an act of Sexual Penetration with the victim who was 8 years of age on the date of the allegation. The Application for trial by judge alone was granted by the Honourable judge. The Prosecution led in evidence the formal witness who issued the medical report form, cautioned the accused persons and charged them to court. At the close of the Prosecution’s case, the accused persons relied on their sole denial statements made to the police. Delivering his judgment, Honourable Justice Stevens said; “The Law is clear, this court has proven beyond reasonable doubt that the case of the prosecution has been proven beyond reasonable doubt and the accused persons are as guilty as charged. There’s no defence to the case of the prosecution.” Both accused persons were convicted on both Counts and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment each; five years for each of the counts. In another related matter, Abu Bakarr Turay alias ‘Dente’ was before the court on a one count indictment of Sexual Penetration Contrary to Section 19 of the Sexual Offences Act No. 12 of 2012. The prosecution had alleged that the convict on the 19th day of January 2019 in Freetown, in the Western Area of the Republic of Sierra Leone engaged in an act of Sexual Penetration with a nine-year-old child. Upon his arraignment before the Court, the accused pleaded not guilty to the charge. The prosecution filed an Application for trial by Judge alone pursuant to Section 114(2) of the Criminal Procedure Act No. 32 of 1965 as repealed and replaced by Section 3 of the Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Act No. 11 of 1981. In the absence of any objection by the Defence Counsel, the Hon. Judge granted the Application. The Prosecution led in evidence four Witnesses in support of their case including Police investigator, DPC 14214 J.M Kamara and the alleged victim. The victim who doubles as the Second Prosecution Witness, admitted to knowing the accused as a friend of her Uncle called Junior. Led in evidence by Lawyer Musa Pious Sesay, the alleged victim told the Court that the accused suddenly met her around Ascension Town area and made approaches to her which she refused. She said later the accused pursued her and forcefully held her even after the intervention of a certain man and a woman whom the victim didn’t know, passed by at intervals and pleaded on her behalf. She stressed that the accused had claimed that she was his sister. She went on to note that the accused took her to a corrugated building and placed clothes into her mouth and eyes and sexually penetrated her. At the close of the Prosecution’s case, the accused relied on his voluntary caution statement he made to the police and raised the issue of Alibi. Testifying for the accused, Defence Witness, Sulaiman Tarawally, a team mate of the accused of Eastern Tigers, told the Court that he was in the company of the accused on the date of the allegation. In his ruling on the case of Alibi raised by Defence Lawyer, C. Taylor Younge,  Hon. Justice Stevens said; “I hold that the defence of Alibi raised by the accused cannot hold because there are inconsistencies in the testimony of the Defence Witness and the accused.” He added that the act of Sexual Penetration done by the accused on the victim was corroborated by the endorsed medical report of Fatmata Sullay Kamara and Kadiatu Sesay, the 3rd and 4th prosecution witnesses. Hon. Justice Stevens convicted the accused of sexual penetration. In his allocutus, the accused pleaded for mercy and was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment. Minister Inspects Waterloo, Tombo Water Supply Systems The Minister of Water Resources Ing. Philip K. Lansana accompanied by a cross section of the Management staff of Guma Valley Water Company on Friday 24th September, 2021 visited the project sites of the Waterloo and Tombo Gravity Water Supply Systems to assess progress on the works carried out so far. The projects which are part of improving access to safe and clean water, sanitation and hygiene for the 55,000 residents of Waterloo and 40,000 in Tombo Village are funded by the Governments of Sierra Leone and Iceland. The two Gravity Water Supply Systems Projects includes construction of concrete intake weir structure, laying of Transmission pipeline from intake weir to storage tanks, construction of a 150 m3 and a 100 m3 storage tanks; rehabilitation of a 300m3 storage tank, laying of Distribution pipelines, laying of service connections and construction of over 25 kiosks points in the Waterloo community  and 200 public stand posts at Tombo. At Waterloo, the Minister expressed concern at the slow pace of the works. In his response, the Contractor, Brunnenbrau Conrad (Bbc) explained that the main challenge the project is facing is timely allocation of land space for the laying of the distribution mains and construction of the kiosks by the local authorities. In contrast to the Waterloo project, the Tombo project is 99.9% completed and will be commissioned in the next few weeks. In another development, the Minister also visited the Guma Pipe Yard at Kissy to inspect the pipes and other materials procured under the Freetown Water Supply Rehabilitation Project funded by UK Government. After

His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio has received a report on the findings of the Complaints and Dispute Resolution Committee that was mandated to investigate land disputes in the Western Area from April 2018 to January 2021. Committee Chairman, Alhaji Mutada Sesay, who was representing the Inter-Religious Council of Sierra Leone, thanked the President for the confidence reposed in him and the 9-man committee to serve the country, emphasizing that land issues were not only common in the Western Area these were also happening across the country, posing potential security challenges to the peace and community cohesion. “After the formation of the Committee, we made a number of site visits, where necessary, to add value to our work. I want to assure you that within the timeframe and resources at our disposal, our work has been thorough, fair, just and empathetic,” he said. The chairman further stated that the committee’s work had also resulted in the identification of the several challenges that would inform the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Country Planning to execute a sound and informed understanding of the problems around land ownership. He also noted that if the recommendations were fully implemented the decisions could prevent future problems in the ministry. Presenting the report to President Julius Maada Bio, Minister of Lands, Housing and Country Planning, Dr. Turad Senesie, said he is happy that the findings of the committee were finally submitted, adding that just after his appointment, he had the task to restore sanity and calmness to the many issues around land ownership in the country. He added that inasmuch as the report revealed that some members of his ministry were the cause of the many problems, the public too did not help the situation. “Your Excellency, most of these problems are because the country lacks a regulatory framework for land management and ownership. This report will attempt to put the issue to rest. It is now my privilege to present the committee’s report to you,” he concluded. His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio thanked members of the committee and staff of the ministry for what he said was a great task, adding that land disputes had remained a problem to the peace of the nation. He noted that it was because of the many conflicts around land issues that his government put the committee together and tasked its members to find ways to properly manage land administration in communities. He recalled that the civil war devastated the country, took away lives, destroyed property and reversed development. He, therefore, encouraged citizens not to allow land disputes and related issues to be another source of conflict in the country. He added he already charged the ministry to institutionalize the system of land acquisition in ways that could put those problems under control. “I want to thank you all for putting this difficult task together. Cabinet will look at the report and implement the recommendations therein. You have done a great job,” he concluded. Vice President Inspects Lands Ministry The Vice President of the Republic of Sierra Leone on Thursday October 7, 2021 made an unannounced inspection tour to the Ministry of Lands Housing and Country Planning. The visit was meant to ascertain reports of massive progress at the Ministry since Dr. Turad Senesie was appointed Minister months’ ago. Vice President Dr. Juldeh Jalloh expressed satisfaction over the work being done by the minister and team towards restoring peace, justice and order in a sector that has been marred by violent clashes and complaints of injustice over the years. He called on the Minister to continue with his professional leadership at the Ministry. The Vice President was accompanied by Deputy Minister of Finance, Madam Patricia Laverley. Court Reporters Association Appreciate Chief Justice  The Sierra Leone Court Reporters Association (SLCR) has presented a plaque of honour to the Honourable Chief Justice, His Lordship Justice Desmond Babatunde Edwards in appreciation for organizing the first professional training for Court Reporters across the country. The training was held in June this year at the former Special Court building in Freetown to acquaint the Reporters with Legal Terminologies; the Challenges of Court Reporting, Accessing Court Files and Officials; News gathering and reporting techniques; Civil and Criminal trials and the Divisions of the Court among host of other topics. According to them, the training has guided and improved on their professional work as journalists. Presenting the team to the Hon. Chief Justice, the Head of Communications, Judiciary of Sierra Leone, Elkass Sannoh, said the leadership of the association approached him to be given access to the Hon. Chief Justice to commend him for providing capacity training for them as Court Reporters. He said they affirmed that the training provided by the Judiciary through the Judicial and Legal Training Institute has positively impacted their work as journalists. In his brief statement, the Secretary General of the Association, Salifu Conteh thanked the Chief Justice for the premium his administration has placed on the pivotal role played by journalists in the democratic space. He said, “We want to thank you for granting us this privilege to be trained. We’ve been yearning for it for quite a long time. We only asked for a day but you gave us two days that was heavily loaded. We enjoyed everything and the facilitators were excellent in their delivery.” He went on to note that even though the Association had loved to have the Hon. Chief Justice in attendance during the training, his absence didn’t deter the training as the team from the Judicial and Legal Training Institute made the training a huge success. Handing over the plaque with wonderfully inscripted words, the Vice President of the Association, Aminash Brima commended the Chief Justice for what she referred to as the “freest space” ever to be given to journalists in the Judiciary’s history to access court files and prompt responses to concerns from the public through the Communications Department of the Judiciary. In his remarks, the Hon. Chief Justice

The Court of Appeal Judge, Hon. Justice Alhaji Momoh-Jah Stevens has sentenced 18-year-old Ibrahim Sesay to six years imprisonment for manslaughter. The convict was first indicted for Murder before the Prosecution subsequently amended the charge to Manslaughter. According to the particulars of offence, accused Ibrahim Sesay on the 4th day of October 2018 at Service Secondary School in Freetown, in the Western Area of the Republic of Sierra Leone did kill Joshua Bockarie. At the time of the commission of the offence, the convict was a juvenile. The convict was involved in a fight with Bockarie in the classroom at the Services Secondary School in Freetown which later led to the death of Bockarie. During the trial, the accused decided to change his plea after the charge was read and explained to him. He thereafter pleaded guilty to the offence of manslaughter. In his allocutus, the convict pleaded for mercy, adding that he had no intention to kill. Following his plea, Hon. Justice Stevens sentenced him to six years imprisonment including the time already spent on remand. In another related matter, Hon. Justice Stevens convicted and sentenced Allarine Billoh Bah alias “Allah Blessed” to six years imprisonment for manslaughter. The convict was first indicted for Murder before the Prosecution amended the charge to manslaughter on the 8th day of July 2020. According to the particulars of offence, the convict on the 20th day of February 2019 at Freetown in the Western Area of the Republic of Sierra Leone killed Sheriff Jalloh. The accused was involved in a fight with Jalloh which later led to his death. During today’s trial, the amended charge was put to Bah and explained to him and he pleaded guilty to the offence of manslaughter. In his allocutus, the convict pleaded for mercy and said he had no intention to kill the deceased. After his plea, Justice Stevens sentenced him to six years imprisonment including time spent on remand. Citizens Urge Fair Treatment for Investor Ahmad Mackie By Alhaji Turay There are many investors around the world, who are there to boost national economy, because majority of them have hundreds of employees and are helping government day to day running the affairs of the state through payment of tax and CSR. As the investor employs large part of the population in any country, they do take up to 50% or even up to 85% of employees in any country that come from the private sector with only 15% make up from the government. This 15% from government goes with three different functions. They take the executive functions, judiciary and legislative functions. With these officials commonly called state functions, you have the president and his cabinet making up rules and regulation which they sent to the legislative for enactment, also finalized by the judiciary that deals with the law breakers that has be put in place by the executive and legislative organs. For the three organs function properly they sort out employment for few people who can help them to push their day to day activities of the state, for this to be well this organs especially from the executive whirring you have the minister of Trade who is expected to open doors for genuine investors that be able to create more employment, so that government in that state will coming as an overseer. Sierra Leone is one the countries in West Africa the has always open for investors to invest, but yet still the country’s lack some of this criteria, but because of mare understanding and injustice doors are still open for them to come in by the government. Amongst genuine investor that are hailed by many Sierra Leoneans, poor and rich, old and young is Ahmad Mackie a true investor because of his dealings with people in Sierra Leone, meeting corporate social responsibilities as he cares for ordinary citizens and not for his personal benefit. In a vox pop interview citizens in Freetown called on the government to support Ahmad Mackie to do more investment in Sierra Leone. They also demanded that government should give him fair treatment so that he will be able to handle his businesses well in the country, especially during hard times. Ahmad Mackie has been a cement importer in Sierra Leone for decades and even when Sierra Leone used to have shortage of cement, he stills maintains and stabilizes his price. Investment Stakeholders End Dialogue The National Investment Board on October 7th, 2021, ended a three days pre-presidential public- private dialogue they organized at the Office of the Vice President- Tower Hill in Freetown. The dialogue created an interface between investors and the investment stakeholders in the country to meet and discuss challenges affecting Sierra Leone’s investment space and map out appropriate solutions to them. It held representations from investment stakeholders, the import and export sector, small and informal business in the country and had examined issues relative to taxation, customs, legislative reviews, Sierra Leone’s legal tender, export licenses, enforcement of existing laws to address street trading, trade monopoly, and lack of equal opportunities etc. Professor Marda Mustapha, Executive Director of the National Investment Board, said the essence of the dialogue was to prepare themselves before they meet the president. “What we intend doing here is to actually listen. The importance of this is to prepare ourselves, to present ourselves to the president so that the issues that we identify here and the recommendations that we make will be laid before the president and hopefully the president will give us marching orders as to how to fix the problems.” Professor Marda Mustapha added that the dialogue was different because they were not there just to make a talk shop. “We are intending to take it to the president. And at the end of the day we will all agree on something. There are challenges we know, but the agreement will give us a quick fix and everyone will be forced to keep to their sides.” The NIB boss revealed

“The world is approaching that critical turning point – in less than two months – when we must show that we are capable of learning, and maturing, and finally taking responsibility for the destruction we are inflicting, not just upon our planet but on ourselves.” These were the words of Prime Minister of England, Boris Johnson speaking at the UN General Assembly. He stated that his government is committed to providing £11.6 billion to help the rest of the world tackle climate change. He added that in spite of all the pressures on finances caused by COVID, “we have kept that promise to the letter.” He went on to explain to a galaxy of world leaders and dignitaries that in the allotted lifespan of a million, humanity has been around for about 200,000. He further said that “We still cling with part of our minds to the infantile belief that the world was made for our gratification and pleasure and we combine this narcissism with an assumption of our own immortality. We believe that someone else will clear up the mess we make, because that is what someone else has always done.” He maintained that weekly, “we are doing such irreversible damage that long before a million years are up, we will have made this beautiful planet effectively uninhabitable – not just for us but for many other species.” He informed his audience that is why the Glasgow COP26 Summit is the turning point for humanity. The British Prime Minister stated that “We must limit the rise in temperatures – whose appalling effects were visible even this summer – to 1.5 degrees. We must come together in a collective coming of age. We must show we have the maturity and wisdom to act.” He stated that he is pleased and encouraged by some of the pledges the UN body has at the UNGA, including from Denmark, and “a very substantial commitment from the US that brings us within touching distance of the $100 billion in pledges.” But we must go further, and we must be clear that government alone will not be able to do enough. He rounded up by saying that he hopes that COP26 will be a 16th birthday for humanity “in which we choose to grow up, to recognize the scale of the challenge we face, to do what posterity demands we must, and I invite you in November to celebrate what I hope will be a coming of age and to blow out the candles of a world on fire.” Judiciary Ready to Act on Abolition of Death Penalty The Sierra Leone’s Chief Justice, His Lordship Justice Desmond Babatunde Edwards has assured His Excellency, President Dr. Julius Maada Bio  that the Judiciary under his watch will fully apply the Abolition of Death Penalty Act of 2021. “We in the Judiciary note the change and are ready to apply the new law, the Abolition of the Death Penalty Act, 2021 without let or hindrance where applicable,” Hon. Justice Edwards assured. According to him, today marks an important date in the annals of the Country’s history in that Sierra Leone will be joining over 144 countries that have abolished the Law and Practice of Death Penalty. He said Death Penalty found its way into Sierra Leone Laws courtesy of Certain Statutes viz Murder under the Offences against The Person Act 1861, Robbery with Aggravation under Section 23 of the Larceny Act, 1916, Mutiny under the Sierra Leone Military Forces Act, 1961 and the Law of Treason under the Treason and State Offences Act, 1963. The Hon. Chief Justice said Death Penalty was the way of life to addressing crimes like treason, murder and robbery. He said, “Excuse me if it seems I am talking a lot about the Death Penalty – I am paying tribute to the Death Penalty for after today, it would be laid to rest and would be heard of no more.” He highlighted that countries such as Greece, UK and Italy have all abandoned the Death Penalty and in fact all European countries have abolished the Death Penalty except for Belarus and Russia for which there has been a moratorium since 1996. He said the effect of the Abolition of the Death Penalty would mean that Judges would no longer be required to pronounce that gruesome sentence by first undressing with the removing of their wigs in place of a sinister black draper or cloth as head-covering. On his part before the symbolic signing, His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio said, “When I first proposed abolishing the death penalty in all totality for all capital crimes, there was widespread skepticism, cynicism, and outright hostility. Some cautioned that it was unwise to let go of the ultimate cudgel that had kept political opponents in line. Others wondered whether that was really what I wanted to do. Those who did not wish to be seen as hard dissenters made counter proposals that we could keep the death penalty for some crimes.” He recalled that his position has always been a ‘hard and firm No’ to the death penalty in all its forms and for all crimes. He went on to note that the state has absolutely no obligation to undertake judicial killings of its own citizens in order to instill law and order or for political gain. “The all-too-familiar phrase of hanging persons by the neck until they die or tying persons at a stake and gunning them down is cruel, inhumane, and degrading,” he said. He told members of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps that Sierra Leone is a civilized nation that will never again execute any persons in this sovereign republic. As President, he reiterated, “I have made a solemn commitment to good governance, justice, and to upholding, promoting, and protecting the lives and rights of every citizen. Our governance and justice sector reforms have opened up more democratic spaces, unfettered free speech, and expanded access to justice for hitherto un-served and under-served populations.”

By: Amara Kargbo The Sierra Leone Seed Certification Agency (SLeSCA) which is charged with the responsibility to regulate all seed activities in the country seeks the supports of the government through the Ministry of Finance to allocate the agency with the sum of 2.8billion which the agency intended to undertake it deliverables for 2022 Dr. Robert Chakanda, Executive Director presented the agency budget on the on-going Fiscal Year budget discussion at the ministry of finance that his agency needs to be felt in the provincial districts by establishing five district offices; equipping the national seed testing laboratory; reducing the importation of rice to at least 50%; reactivating seed production value-chain which will start with research on to private sector development and promoting private -sector growth in all sectors along the seed value chain. He informed the budget technical team that, SLeSCA aims to build a strong and sustainable seed sector that will guarantee seed sufficiency which will lead to food security in the country through it 2022 strategic plan policy objectives, to provide technical and logistical support to the agency to ensure effective implementation and monitoring of programmes and activities within it mandate, promote seed testing through activities, quality control, production, certification and ensure farmers have quality seed inputs in good time, thereby enhancing agricultural productivity. The Executive Director highlighted that the agency is constrained with logistical challenges like inadequate mobility, laboratory equipment and field equipment. Hence, other challenges include poorly defined seed actors;  struggling public awareness; low capacity among staff and other actors; non-availability of high quality and affordable seed; limited private sector involvement and limited coordination of the seed sector. He chatted the way forward, that the agency needs support to strengthen the institution Instruments-Review Policy, Act and Regulations, assistance for public awareness, increasing collaboration with partner institutions like Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institution and enhance capacity to coordinate the seed sector at all levels. The budget technical team and stakeholders made their submissions that the agency needs to be bolstered because if government is to succeed in agricultural production the agency could be arriving actor in doing that. PUBLIC REVIEW ARTICLE THE OSWALD HANCILES COLUMN ‘Ernest’ Warns Investors… Need for ‘Mass Tourism Education’ in Salone    (Published in Sierra Leone’s CONCORD TIMES newspaper on August 13, 2013; slconcordtimes. com) On the 3rd  of April, 2013, the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, H.E. Ernest Bai Koroma, issued a stern warning to ‘investors’ that would be granted land  leases  by government  to spawn some marketable investment – from tourism to mining – but, would fail to utilize such lands for legally agreed purposes; he said that government reserves the right to repossess such lands, because it is obvious those who have not developed these lands lack the “technical and financial capacity to do so”.  This was during the launching of Sweet Salone’s The Place luxury resort on the idyllic Tokeh beachfront in the Freetown peninsular, Sierra  Leone. President Koroma praised Sweet Salone for being “the first serious investor in tourism” from 2007 – during his first term in office – to the present.  The President’s blend of praise and tough talk was ‘fallamakata-ed’ (emulated) by his land/environment minister, Musa Tarawally.  The latter said that Sierra Leone is determined to give every encouragement to foreign investors;  and  issued a caustic warning to not only questionable foreign investors, but, also citizens who are like cancerous cells on the environment –  “land grabbers and squatters”.  Minister Tarawaly said  that government would ensure “healthy and proper use of land”, so that “meaningful investment …won’t be strangled”.  Construction of Mansions above the ‘Green Line’ – with Impunity!! Last week, I went to one of  my paternal villages, Gloucester (my father, Ethelbert Hanciles. was born in Bonthe; but, my grandfather, V. Hanciles, was born and bred in Gloucester, in Freetown, and went to work in Bonthe in the early 20th century, where he died and was buried).  Gloucester is  one of the first mountain villages where slaves freed in the Americas, bundled  to Britain, repatriated to ‘Freetown’, settled in… at the end of the Protracted Holocaust of the Atlantic Slave Trade in the late 18th century.   My  nephew resident in Gloucester, Frederick Hanciles, guided me as I directed video recording with a Freetown-based film company, Studio J (owned by French Jew, Charles Ostrov).   Environmental degradation in Gloucester is chilling, and criminal.  There is an ‘environmental law’ in Sierra Leone which forbids any development – for building or farming – on the mountains above the ‘green line’. (That is just about the middle of the mountain from the bottom).   But, in Goderich, on nearly all the mountain ranges, developers and farmers have gone way  above the ‘green line’ – in some areas, right to the peak of these mountains, wantonly destroying the rich tropical forests, exposing the bare rocks underneath them. What these land grabbers are doing in Creole villages like Gloucester (and, the ‘collective village’ of all Sierra Leoneans) would be deemed by deep thinkers as  worse than what the white man in America/Europe did when they enslaved the fore-parents of these Creoles in the Americas for over three hundred years.  The land grabbers are simply putting fire on the forests to clear the land.  The loss of invaluable biological life that results would make ardent environmentalists wail nonstop for ten years at the magnitude of   such loss unfolding.   Sierra Leone has lost over 95 percent of  its virgin tropical rainforests.  The tropical rainforests in these Creole villages are the few remaining  with largely intact tropical rainforests.   About 60 percent of plant and animal life remaining on earth can be found in such tropical rainforests.  Over 65% of the ‘raw materials’ for the billions of dollar global pharmaceutical industries  are found in such forests.   Even locally, a large number of herbalists depend on these forests as the only ones remaining in Sierra Leone from which they can extract herbs from.   These forests have been saved from being ravaged by subsistence farmers with

Former President Dr Ernest Bai Koroma has been honoured with the award of the African Bar Medal of Merit in Leadership by the African Bar Association (AfBA) at the on-going 2021 AfBA Annual Conference in Niamey, Republic of Niger. The former President received the award on Monday, 4th October 2021, alongside three other former colleagues during the opening ceremony of the conference. The other awardees included former President of Nigeria Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, former President of Niger Mohammadou Issoufou, and former President of Liberia Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. AfBA President Barrister Hannibal Uwaifo, who presented the award, described the awardees as Africa’s good governance ambassadors and thanked Koroma for his efforts in promoting peace and democracy in Africa. Speaking shortly after receiving the highly acclaimed award, former President Koroma  ‘IPRP is Under Funded’  –Chairman Says                        IPRP Chairman making his statement during the budget hearing  By IPRP Communications Unit Chairman of the Independent Procurement Review Panel (IPRP) Emmanuel Saffa  Abdulai, said the IPRP was underfunded. He made this disclosure during a one –day Budget Hearing for the Financial Year 2022 at the Ministry of Finance (MOF) Tuesday, 28 September, 2021. He said quotas being allocated in the previous years were ridiculous to run the daily operations of the office as compare to the magnitude of work. This Year allocation was only Five Hundred Million Leones allocated to the Institution, adding that the coming Fiscal Year of 2022 requesting for over a Billion Leones to run the institution and implement plan activities. The hearing was witnessed by staff of MOF, IPRP, Non State Actors (NSAs), the media and Community Based Organisations (CBOs). The IPRP is a creation of section 65 (1) of the National Public Procurement Act No. 10 of 2016. The IPRP is charged with the responsibility to review complaints from dissatisfied bidders about decision of procuring entity. Speaking during the hearing Chairman Abdulai said previous budget allocations of Five Hundred Million Leones to run the daily operations of the secretariat was paltry. The IPRP Secretariat was located at the National Public Procurement Authority Office at Tower Hill during his predecessors’ era and only one staff was representing the IPRP. He noted that such an operations undermined the IPRP in executing their duties efficiently, and referenced that one could not be a coach and at the same time referee for a team. He told budget hearing members that under his administration he had set up the Secretariat on 3A Wellington Street that was up and running with staff being recruited. ‘’ Our major constraint the Secretariat is without a generator in case of any power outage and vehicle for operations’’. He said He said the role of the IPRP was very vital in the procurement cycle, and that government spends over 70 percent in procuring goods, works and services. He said the amount requested for was not much and if the said amount being allocated in the next Fiscal Year would enable the secretariat to implement its plan activities. The chairman said activities for 2022 was to intensify stakeholder sensitization and community outreach especially in the provincial towns as well as Local Councils on core mandate of the IPRP. Also, to develop policies and other framework for effective and efficient complaints management. Moreover, to develop a website that would target the general public on awareness raising on activities of the institution. “IPRP Secretariat is here to restore accountability and transparency in the procurement processes,” he said. The Auditor General reports are vivid case study of breach of procurement rules, adding that 70 percent of government resources misappropriated due to flout of the PPA of 2016. Senior Financial Secretary MOF, Samuel Momoh appealed to the IPRP to roll out activity plan that was not executed, and that challenges highlighted during the presentation would be considered. Mr. Momoh asked members present at the hearing if the budget proposal presented by the IPRP for the Fiscal Year 2022 be accepted was in the affirmative. Regional Coordinator Non State Actors Kambia district Foday Dada, appealed to MOF to disburse the said quota requested by the IPRP so that their activities could be roll over to the next Fiscal Year.  ‘’Such an institution needs to be empower to effectively carryout their core mandate as procurement is becoming a bed rock for corruption in the country’’ he said. The budget technical team and stakeholders made their submissions that the Agency need to be bolstered because if government is to succeed in agricultural production the Agency could be a driving actor in doing achieving that. PRES. BIO AWARDS BEST TEACHERS  Below is the speech delivered by President Julius Maada Bio at the event of awards to teachers Distinguished teachers and school administrators, The Honourable Vice President, 1. You may have noticed that I deliberately reversed sequencing in protocol in order to highlight the importance of teachers not only at this event but in our lives and for the future of this nation. In that regard, I crave your indulgence to all stand up and give all teachers – young, experienced, more experienced, retired, sick, or late — a standing ovation for one minute. Thank you. Thank you! Thank you! 2. If a bare-footed, five-year old village boy, who stared in awe and with great curiosity on his first day at school, today holds degrees from institutions of higher learning, can speak English and French, use technology, think critically, interact freely with world leaders, and is today President of this Republic of Sierra Leone, it is all because of the sacrifice, care, nurture, and patience of teachers. 3. Therefore, on this day set aside as World Teachers’ Day, it is all appropriate to celebrate, to honour, and to thank every teacher for all they have done. Through war and through pestilence, teachers have been at the very heart of our nation’s resilience and recovery. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, they kept schools open, imparted knowledge with characteristic selflessness, patiently prepared students for transitional examinations, and continued to mould

By Joseph Turay The British High Commissioner to Sierra Leone Lisa Chesney has said that Sierra Leone will be invited on the COP-206 UK Climate change conference that will be taking place on the 31st October to November 2021 in the United Kingdom. Commissioner Lisa said the UK-Sierra Leone relationship has brought along history and her primary Goal is to make sure that she take such relationship from strength to strength. She continued to say that a country like Sierra Leone is vulnerable to climate change and that she will make sure that Sierra Leone’s bio-diversity is protected in order to foster economic growth. The Commissioner added that some of her top priorities in her agenda are making sure that they focus more on climate change, human capital development, health, education and economic growth and commended the government of Sierra Leone for working on some of these areas.    She continued to say that the conference is to bring world leaders Climate change campaigners expertise come together to take action to tackle climate and protect the environment. She said some of the most challenging issues Sierra Leone is facing were biodiversity adding that Sierra Leone is international insignificant in it biodiversity and deforestation because 80% of Sierra Leoneans depend on wood and coal and it is challenging on climate point of view. She continued that the British High commission and the national council will be showing 5 films to mitigate some of this activities is to raise awareness on climate change by using awareness using the talent of sierra Leoneans film makers. The Commissioner said during the Cop-26 climate change summit they will be inviting all countries to come along with national develop constitution plan adding that her government is ready to work with every one including civil societies. ‘’Because Sierra Leone is making more progress in putting policies on climate change therefore the country need to have access on climate change finances provided by development countries’’ she said. The Commissioner said access to energy is another important priority the government of UK has invested €65M. in renewable energy for the smart climate policy and sierra Leone will be a beneficiary in that policy. Adding Sierra Leone has water power and the UK government with the World Bank has looked out for a power line between Bo and Keneme and mini solar grid that will be benefit about 600,000 people of Sierra Leone having access to energy. Commissioner Lisa Chesney ended that in achieving this challenges there must be an involvement with all the formal and informal sectors including government and the civil societies. Civil Rights Coalition Calls for Tax Waiver On Smartphones By Feima Sesay                           Internet is now considered as a significant part of the daily life of people and contributes in the development of nations across the world sharing and exchanging ideas, information and connecting business people, government schemes worldwide. It is against this backdrop that Alphonso Manley, National Coordinator of the Civil Rights Coalition, on Friday 1st October 2021 at his Fort street in Freetown, called on the government of Sierra Leone to offer tax waiver to smart phones importers. According to him, Africa is yet to catch up with Europe and the United States digital economy, and internet access is a key driver for economic growth and societal development. He said as a factor to achieve the sustainable Development Goal (SDG), and  also the need to access basic services through digital means, such as E- governance, E- education and  E-health and mobiles, which he said is now the most reliable, cheapest and easiest way for financial transaction and other major electronic services. Alphonso further stated that Sierra Leone still has the lowest internet penetration,  standing at 18% which he said is as a result of the low access to smart phones in the country, as compared to other nations across Africa that have high penetration with rural connectivity. He stated that the problem is that mobile Network o He added that GST tax custom duty on smart phones, which will in turn increase access to smart phones and digital penetration in the country, should be removed, adding that majority of the population rely on smart phones to access internet that will pave the way for Mobile Network Operators to reduce the prices on data. Orange Making Remarkable Footprint in Africa & Europe By Feima Sesay Orange is in Sierra Leone with a strong industrial project that will lead to invest significantly to cover most of the population in the country with telecom services. As a result, Orange can now comfortably boast of the widest network in Sierra Leone covering about 85% of the country. Their ambition is to deliver an unmatched customers experience. The desire to increase customer satisfaction with the fastest internet speed on the widest coverage was central to this dream. Today,  Orange SL have far more sites than any other telecom service provider in sierra Leone with more than 445 sites carrying voice and date with the best customer experience nationwide thereby connecting thousands of new localities. Orange’s Green Energy projects in Africa and the Middle East targeting 2040. This project is geared towards ensuring that the company’s operations are environmental friendly whilst promoting health and safety. Orange is accelerating its solar projects in Africa and the Middle East to reduce its carbon footprint to zero by 2040. Across the entire region, many sites are not connected to the electricity grid and when they are, the quality of the grid often requires alternative backup solutions. To avoid using generators that run on fuel (fossil energy that emits CO2), Orange is putting in place several initiatives such as solar panels. Orange wants to be the major stakeholder of choice in the energy transition. In several of its subsidiaries, Orange is deploying innovative solar solutions and the latest generation batteries with partners specializing in energy. To reduce its environmental footprint, the Group is positioning itself in these countries as the biggest deployer of solar panels,