Monthly Archives: November 2019

November 29, 2019 Abdulai Mansaray: Sierra Leone Telegraph While some will see journalism as “organised gossip”, the majority will agree that it’s a force for progressive social change that maintains democracy. The role of journalism in any given society is so central that, it is often fondly described as the 4th Estate. Many see its role as the barometer of society and thermometer of opinion. It occupies the vacuum of alternative opinion to governments and seen as voice of the voiceless and downtrodden people. Although we cannot overemphasise the role of journalism in our society, it is equally nauseating that …continue reading

November 28, 2019 Courtesy :Abdul Rashid Thomas   The government of Sierra Leone in collaboration with the World Bank, today launched the Integrated and Resilient Urban Mobility Project, supported by a US$50 million grant to improve access and quality of public transport, address climate resilience and road safety in selected areas in the Western Area, as well as enhancing institutional capacity across the transport sector. The project offers an integrated approach in responding to the challenges faced by the urban transport sector, as Greater Freetown is now at a turning point to become an engine for transformation of the country. …continue reading

November 29, 2019 By Abdulai Gbla: Sierra Leone Telegraph The Parliament of Sierra Leone Tuesday 26th November 2019, debated and unanimously ratified  three  financing agreements, including agribusiness, social safety net and finance cooperation, costing millions of dollars. Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr. Patricia Laverley after her earlier absence from parliament to personally present the agreement to MPs, spoke about the importance of the agreements in terms of their job creation potential, improving the livelihood of those suffering extreme poverty, and the development of the country’s infrastructural., Parliament ratified a Protocol signed between the Republic of Sierra Leone and African Development …continue reading

November 29, 2019 By Abdulai Gbla: SLT   On Tuesday 26th November 2019, Sierra Leone’s parliament was brought to a grinding halt after it was known that majority of MPs had not taken their seats in the well to commence the business of that day. It was past 10:00 am and the Speaker of Parliament, Honourable Abass Bundu had taken his seat as always – since the Bo Declaration was signed recently amongst various political parties in parliament. The issue of lateness of MPs in the Sierra Leone Parliament was first flagged up on Tuesday’s sitting by the MP representing …continue reading

November 25, 2019 By Staff Writer: African Union Commission His Excellency Ernest Bai Koroma has arrived in Namibia to lead the African Union Election Observation Mission. The Mission comprises 40 Short Term Observers (STOs) representing various Member States of the African Union (AU), deployed since 21 November 2019. The delegation consists of members from the African Union Permanent Representatives’ Committee (PRC), Pan-African Parliament (PAP), African Election Management Bodies, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Independent Experts and Academic Institutions. Preceding his arrival in Namibia, a two-day orientation and briefing programme for AUEOM observers took place from 23 – 24 November 2019. The …continue reading

November 24, 2019 By SLT/ART Sierra Leone’s opposition National Grand Coalition (NGC) party, has won yesterday’s local council bye-election in the Ward 210 of the Kambia district with a majority of 54.1% of the total votes cast. The ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) came third, behind the main opposition All people’s Congress party (APC) with just 14.2% of votes, despite flying-in a throng of senior government ministers to help their candidate with campaigning. The All People’s Congress Party came second with 29.3% of the votes. The by-election was called following the death of the incumbent councillor in August 2019. (Photo …continue reading

By Staff Writer The Commonwealth has announced a new partnership designed to reduce domestic violence in member countries. Today, Secretary-General Patricia Scotland signed a memorandum of understanding with the NO MORE Foundation which is a global movement of 1,400 allied organisations and 40 international chapters working together to stop and prevent domestic violence and sexual assault. The two parties have agreed to work together to implement initiatives that work on the prevention of domestic violence and sexual abuse as part of wider efforts to achieve the 2030 sustainable development goals. According to the World Health Organisation, one in three women …continue reading

November 14, 2019 By Staff Writer The budget and financial statement for next year, put forward to parliament by finance minister Jacob Jusu Saffa was approved and passed into law by MPs in parliament yesterday. The Finance Act 2020 contains some of the most radical measures put forward by any government in the country’s recent history, to tackle poverty and stimulate economic growth. These measures include the reduction of company taxation to help boost investment and job creation; reduction of goods and services tax on all aviation charges which will reduce the cost of flying to the country; reduction of …continue reading

State House Contributor Past governments in Sierra Leone had not paid the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) the attention it deserves as an organisation that covers all facets of development. But that seems to be changing when Sierra Leone’s president Julius Maada Bio (elected in April last year) recently met with Audrey Azoulay, the UNESCO Director-General and discussed his government’s flagship programme, Free and Quality Education and other issues with her in Paris,France. Indeed the free education program has been accepted and applauded by even the usually very critical Sierra Leonean opposition and civil society groups although …continue reading