Three senior Sierra Leone Football Association officials led by the President Thomas Daddy Brima have yesterday Tuesday July 11 joined other WAFU Zone-A Members in a meeting with CAF President, Motsepe and WAFU-A zonal Executive Members at Sofitel Hotel in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. The other two members are the Acting General Secretary Mohamed Benson Bawoh and Executive Committee Member Brima Jalloh. The meeting aims at deliberating on issues pertinent to the development of football within Zone-A with specific focus on the CAF playing venue requirement for competitions in all categories. The President in his submission requested: “CAF to reassess their strategy on stadium inspection”, noting that “some of the stadiums used in other continents for FIFA World Cup qualifiers are not better than the stadiums banned in Africa”. He added that, “Consideration has to be given to MAs with playable stadium facilities away from the capital with specific reference to Sierra Leone.” The said meeting is one of the zonal consultations held ahead of CAF’s 45th Ordinary General Assembly scheduled for the 13th July, 2023 in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

By Feima Sesay Magistrate Hadiru Daboh of Ross Road Court No3 has sent Ibrahim Koroma on remand for alleged theft case at Kissy Police Station. The accused Ibrahim Koroma is charged on 4 counts of larceny contrary to Section 2 of the Larceny Act 1916, unlawful possession contrary to Section 13 (1) of Cap 37 as amended by Section 5 of Act No. 6 of 1981, being found at night armed with offensive weapon with intent contrary to Section 28 (1) of the Larceny Act 1916 and loitering with intent contrary to Section 8 of the Public Order Act No. 46 of 1965. According to the charge sheet on count 1, the accused Ibrahim Koroma on Monday 29 May 2023, at Kissy Police Station, Kissy, Freetown, stole from a vehicle with registration number APD 565, one black dell computer laptop, one Tecno Spark seven mobile phones and other items totaling to twenty thousand five hundred Leones, property of Bockarie Kallon. The police alleged on count two that, the accused on the same date and place was found in possession of one red vehicle jack, one car DVD Player, one DVD MP3 Digital touch screen car tape and two reflectors reasonable suspected to have been stolen or unlawfully obtained. Count three states that the accused on the same date and place was found with a scissors with intent to break and entered into the vehicle of Bockarie Kallon and stole the properties of Bockarie Kallon Whiles count four added that the accused on the same date and place was found loitering with intent to commit a felony.  Magistrate Daboh remanded the accused at the male correctional center and adjourned the matter to the 21 July 2023. Sergeant 9155 Dwight Macarthy is Prosecutor.

A ten year old boy Mohamed Fofanah was diagnosed of suffering from a Muliloculated Cyst Lesion for several months. Muliloculated cystic is a rare benign renal tumor characterized by a typically unilateral, solitary, Muliloculated cystic mass consisting of small, non-communicating cysts with flat, cuboidal or hobnail epithelial lining). His condition has been causing him a great deal of pain and discomfort and it’s affecting his daily life. Mohamed had always been an active and outgoing child, but the pain and discomfort has caused him to shy away as he is always feeling weak, to even go the rest room is a burden as he will toss and turn all throughout the night as his hardened protruding stomach discomforts him greatly. Mohamed is unable to do the things he loves such as playing football as any other children would. He had stopped going to school due to provocations and because of his protruding stomach he is been labeled with so many disgusting names by his peers and elders of his village. Mohamed’s family has taken him to several hospitals in the province but no solutions were proffered, until they reached the Sick Pikin Project, which contacted Dr. Lebbie whom has consented to do his surgery which is estimated at Thirteen Thousand Leones (NL 13,000) His pre medical reviews were funded by a kind gentleman named Claude Sellu. He has equally pledged to cover the projected cost of additional 4,000 for Mohamed’s medications. His family members are reaching out to kindhearted people through the Sick Pikin Project for help in raising funds to cover the cost of his treatment. They are of the conviction that with the right medical care, Mohamed could recover from his condition and live a healthy and fulfilling life. According to the Sick Pikin Project, together we can make a difference in the life of this young boy and help him overcome this challenging medical condition. The Sick Pikin Project is of the view that any donation, no matter how small, will make a significant difference in his life and provide hope for a brighter future. It states that to be a part of the blessing in saving Mohamed, anyone can contact the Sick Pikin project or donate through any of their various means listed below:

Sierra Leonean students in China face numerous challenges in pursuing their education. While in China, thousands of them have expressed profound frustration over their present status. Moreover, one particular issue that has sparked immense dissatisfaction and frustration among these students is the persistently delayed disbursement of the Sierra Leone Grant (SLG). The SLG is a vital lifeline for Sierra Leonean students studying abroad, allowing them to overcome financial barriers and continue their educational pursuits effectively. Unfortunately, a significant number of Sierra Leonean students in China have been subjected to protracted delays in receiving their SLG, leaving them in a precarious situation both academically and financially. Those students have stated the following urgent actions: 1. Immediate Attention from Authorities: The Sierra Leone government and relevant authorities must acknowledge the distressing situation faced by Sierra Leonean students in China and take immediate action to expedite the disbursement process. Timely allocation of funds is vital to alleviate the financial burdens and restore faith in the support provided by the government. 2. Transparent Communication Channels: Establishing clear and transparent communication channels between the Sierra Leone Student Union, Sierra Leonean Embassy in China, and the Ministry of Education is crucial. Regular updates on the progress of SLG disbursement will help alleviate anxiety and provide students with the necessary information to make informed decisions. 3. Inter-Agency Collaboration: Collaboration between the Sierra Leone Student Union, Sierra Leonean Embassy, Ministry of Education, and other relevant stakeholders is essential to address this issue comprehensively. A joint effort, involving all parties concerned, will expedite the disbursement process and ensure that the voices of the students are heard. Conclusively, the prolonged delay in receiving the Sierra Leone Grant has caused immense dissatisfaction and distress among Sierra Leonean students in China. It is imperative that immediate action should be taken to address this pressing issue. Only through timely disbursement, transparent communication, and collaborative efforts can we provide the necessary support for these students, enabling them to continue their academic journeys without the undue burden of financial strain. Let us prioritize the well-being and future of our students, ensuring that they receive the support they rightly deserve.

By Feima Sesay Police Inspector Amara Makiue has on Thursday 13th July 2023, tender the statement obtained from Ibrahim Mohamed Kalokoh (herbalist) who allegedly accused of killing Former FBC Lecturer Kabba Santigie Bangura. The accused  Ibrahim M Kalokoh made another  appearance before Magistrate Mark Ngegba of Pademba road court No1 and was arraigned on one count charge of murder contrary to law. According to the charge sheet, it was alleged that the accused on Monday 6th March 2023, in the Waterloo head quarter judicial district in the western Area Rural murder Kabba Santigie Bangura. He said  whilst on duty at around 10:30 am  at the Homicide unit of the Criminal Investigation Department Headquarters Pademba Road Freetown, he  received a transferred cash and enquiry file from the Central police station with an offence of missing person with C/R No.469/2023 containing abstract report request for the trace of call logs on registered sim number 076706699 and 073742578 promulgating letter and document bearing the deceased photos and name,  one grey 4 Runner vehicle with registration number ASM 939, with five statement of the complainant, witnesses and the accused person for the continuation of Investigation. The witness said in the transferred case of inquiry files the wife of the deceased accompanied by her brother in law, Adikalie Santigie Bangura reported that on the above date at around 18:00hr her husband the deceased, Kabba Santigie Bangura got missing and his corpse was later discovered on Saturday 15th April 2023 at Shebro Town, Newton, off Waterloo and thereby suspect a foul play. He added that on the 17th April 2023 Contemporaneous interview statement was obtained from Michael Tamba Simbo and Deborah Simbo and they are with the police helping with Investigation, adding that on the 18th a team of police officers including the scene of crime officer together with doctor Simeon Owizz Koroma and relative of the deceased went to conduct and witness the Autopsy which was later postponed to Wednesday 19th April 2023 due to unavoidable circumstances. Inspector Makieu said on the 19th, March 2023, they took the body to the Connaught mortuary hospital for postmortem to identify the cause of death. He said on the 17th of April 2023, he obtained statement from the accused person which was produced and tendered in court to form part of the court records, adding that on the 19th April 2023 the accused person was charged with the offense of Murder the charge statement was produce and tendered in court to form part of the evidence. The witness was cross examined by the accused person. Meanwhile Magistrate Ngegba sent the accused person to the male correctional center in Freetown whiles the matter was adjourned to the 21st July 2023 for further hearing.

By Alusine Fullah Orange foundation in a bid to boost digitalization, distributed Digital School Kits to five primary schools in Freetown. The Digital School Kits is part of Orange Foundation Group initiative which provides support to primary schools across the country. The donated digital school kits costing thousands of dollars were presented to cross section of primary schools across the countries, including, the Kelmond Pre Primary School, Bethel Temple Preparatory School, Providence International Elementary School, Dele Preparatory School and Chesterton Academy. The digital school kit package comprises of Tablets, Raspberry Pi’s, Laptops, Bluetooth speakers, Projectors and screens, headset extension cables amongst others. The essence of these digital kits is to boost digital and technological learning for primary school pupils

By Alusine Fullah Mohamed Bangura, a prominent member of the All People’s Congress (APC) made a defiant move by appearing in parliament, despite the party’s decision for all elected APC MPs to boycott parliamentary proceedings. Mohamed Bangura’s decision to attend the 6th parliamentary session has sparked a lot of debate/ argument within the political landscape. A senior member of APC, Ady Macauley stated: ‘Mohamed Bangura has committed a political sin that cannot be forgiven…he acted selfishly…he betray his supporters and the party…he is a contributor in killing democracy…” Thousands of APC supporters have expressed dissatisfaction about the actions of the Mohamed Bangura. They said: “Out of 54 MPs for APC, Mohamed Bangura stands apart…he is a bad egg for APC…” Apart from the opinions of those supporters, a staunch APC member, who has decided to remain unanimous, said: “Mohamed Bangura is a real betrayal. He is a judas…he signed to the document of ‘APC MPs non-participation to the 6th parliamentary session’…for me his decision is not about the country as he may purport, but about his personal interest…we need to defend the democratic principles of this country…” On his part, Mohamed Bangura said: “I took this decision not for the party but for the sake of my country…country first…” he went further to emphasize that he is going to commit himself in building Sierra Leone.  A day or two after the presidential elections were announced by the Chief Electoral Commissioner, Mohamed K. Konneh, the All People’s Congress party took a stance on the outcome of the 2023 general elections. According to their stance, the APC highlighted the following conclusions/ demands: On the 5th July, 2023 the just elected APC MPs released their statement: “we the elected representatives of the part, for Parliament, hereby wholeheartedly endorse the Party’s position. We shall not participate in the 6th Parliament of Sierra Leone in line with resolution of the party…until the demands of the party are fully met.” In nexus to the foregoing, Mohamed Bangura did not heed to the expectation of his party, APC. As it stands, thousands of Sierra Leoneans (especially APC supporters) are pondering and questioning the next action of APC executive to Mohamed Bangura.