Robert Kowa Appointed Solicitor General

Newly appointed Solicitor Robert B. Kowa

Following recommendation from the Judicial and Legal Service Commission (JLSC), the President His Excellency Dr. Julius Maada Bio has today appointed Lawyer Robert Baoma Kowa as the Country’s Solicitor General.

JLSC is chaired by the Chief Justice, His Lordship Justice Desmond Babatunde Edwards, and five other members as provided for by Section 140 (1) of the Sierra Leone 1991 Constitution.

The newly appointed Solicitor General obtained his University education at Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone in 2001 where he first graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English. In his quest to become a razor-sharp litigator, he enrolled to study Law. In 2003, he graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) with Honours. In 2004, he was certified by the Council of Legal Education, Sierra Leone Law School with a Degree of Utter Barrister after his excellent performance in his Bar final examination. On 8th October, 2004 he was called to the Sierra Leone Bar.

In July, 2018 the new Solicitor General was admitted as Commissioner for Oaths and Notary Public. 

His insatiable desire for quality education compelled him to enrol for his Masters in Law (LLM) at the Salford University in Manchester in United Kingdom, where he graduated in July, 2020. Robert B. Kowa Esq is currently a PhD student.

As a multifaceted Sierra Leonean, R.B Kowa Esq has won many awards including the ‘100 Most Outstanding Sierra Leonean 2019-2021;’National Professional Award for Outstanding Leadership in 2021; 2019 award from the Office of the Administrator and Registrar General on presentation of Registrable Instrument and Bar Association 2021 recognition award for dedication and selfless service.

He has over 17 years’ experience in legal practice and was former Chairman Income Tax Board of Appellate Commission. He was Commissioner, Law Reform Commission and Non-Executive Chairman of Corporate Affairs Commission. 

He was President of the Sierra Leone Bar Association.

S/Leone Tourism Minister Woos Spain Royal Family

In Fitur in Madrid, Spain where the 2022 International Tourism Trade Fair is underway since 19-23 January, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Memunatu Pratt graciously met the Spanish royal family, King Felipe VI and Queen Kerizia.

Madam Pratt was among dozens of Tourism Ministers from across the globe that attended the prestigious meeting with the Spanish King and Queen aimed at creating durable social networks amongst touristic countries, with Spain being a leading international tourist destination.

Fitur is a global meeting point for tourism professionals and the leading international tourism trade fair.

The focus of the fair, where Sierra Leone has  a unique cultural booth, is on Sustainable Tourism Development; taking full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities.

Along that line, Madam Pratt met with colleague ministers from across the world, dozens of tourism partners and the media from different countries as she showcases the unique tourist experience that Sierra Leone has to offer to an international market.

Madam Pratt has also met with officials of the United Nations World Tourism Organization, a specialized organ tasked with the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism.

UNWTO dedicates itself to meeting the specific needs of member states and supports them in their efforts to develop and promote the tourism industry as an engine for socioeconomic growth and poverty alleviation through the creation of employment.

With tourism expected to grow in the coming years, Madam Pratt also met with top airline operators including the British Airways General Manager in Madrid, Juan Carlos Alvarez Flores.

Also, the General Manager of the National Tourist Board (NTB) madam Fatmata Carew held fruitful discussion with key tourism stakeholders at the Trade Fair and assured them that Sierra Leone has the platform for safe investment into Eco Tourism and hospitality.

“You all are welcome to our beautiful country Sierra Leone and we are ready to receive you all at any time in our country” Madam Fatmata Carew noted.

Contraband Bitter Kola Flooding Sierra Leone

After thorough findings or Investigations on which entity is involved in the production of the best Bitter Kola and that of the fake one which many believe to be unfit for human consumption, this medium discovered that there are about three companies engaged in the production of Bitter Kola alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages in the country including Kadco SL Limited at Murray Town, Shankerdas and Sons at Ferry Junction and Selina Enterprises at Carlton Carew Road in Freetown.

Our investigation revealed that Kadco SL Limited were the first to register the Bitter Kola brand product with the office of Registrar General at Roxy Building, followed by Shankerdas and Sons who spelt their own product like this “Beeta Kola, while Selina Enterprises spelt it own product this way “Dragon Bitter Kola”.

Investigation revealed that Kadco SL Limited started the production of Bitter Kola brand in Sierra Leone 2000.

Speaking to a cross section of Journalists, the Public Relations Officer for Selina Enterprises, Mr. Dakwa intimated press men that their own product is different to that of Shankerdas and Sons Beeta Kola because he said, it begins with the word “Dragon Bitter Kola” with different label or logo.

Mr. Dakwa was asked by the Investigating Journalists to tender business registration certificate and other relevant documents to prove and believe in the authenticity of the existence of Selina Enterprises, a request Mr. Dakwa had agreed to honor or address in the next meeting.

According to further investigation, the management of Selina Enterprises had lots of questions to answer with regards the alleged boycott of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), failure to pay subscription fees for workers to NASSIT scheme and under payment of vulnerable staff.

In that regards, the vulnerable consumers across the country are calling on the swift intervention of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Committee on Trade in Parliament, Sierra Leone Standards Bureau, Consumers Protection Agency and Civil Society Organizations to investigate activities of companies involved in the manufacturing of the bitter Kola brand for the protection and safety of the vulnerable lives of innocent consumers and to also understand who is impersonating by illegally inventing the much talked about fake bitter.