In its usual press briefing, the Sierra Leone Peoples’ Party (SLPP) Chairman John Oponjo Benjamin said that this government’s number one qualification for reappointment is that the person should come from Bombali District.
“If we win and take over, we will not replace Wusum Stars with Kamboi Eagles because we believe in our party’s motto and[...]

Honourable members of parliament from the mines and minerals committee both SLPP and APC parliamentarians in collaboration with a civil society organisation have expressed shock and dismay over the massive devastation of the environment by both artisanal and large scale mining companies.
After visiting mining companies and also discussing with affected communities of mining operations the[...]

The much expected 40% salary increase for staff of the National Power Authority (NPA) that should have come into effect this July has hit stony grounds. According to a spokesman for the senior staff association even though the Board of Directors had approved the salary increase, both the Minister and the National Commission for Privatization (NCP) objected to its implementation. Furthermore the NCP had reportedly instructed that the proposed 40% salary increase will be looked into by October, without being very definite about the outcome. The workers have been complaining about the lack of increase in their salaries, loan facilities, yearly appraisal form and salary advance. This lack of facilities have left the staff in a rather unpleasant mood and one even questioned [...]

The Chairman of the physically challenged persons in Daru town Jawei chiefdom in Kailahun district Augustine Kallon has expressed his dissatisfaction over the marginalisation they are subjected to by authorities in the chiefdom. Kallon made this revelation about their plight when talking to the press in Daru town Jawie chiefdom recently where he accused the Jawie chiefdom authorities of excluding them from all forms of decision making processes in the chiefdom. He described the attitude of the Jawei chiefdom authorities towards them as negative saying it is a violation of their human right to participate and contribute to the development of their community contrary to International Human Right laws. He says disability is not an inability adding most of the physically challenged [...]

The former President of Ireland Her Excellency Mary Robinson and representatives of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation yesterday took a conducted tour at the Cottage Hospital and Grey Bush Health Clinic to observe the fruitfulness of the Free healthcare programme since its implementation. Ex-President Robinson during the tour at the Grey Bush, Ola During and Princess Christian Maternity Hospitals respectively, was accompanied by officials from the Office of the Vice President; including the Second Lady, the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Medical Doctors and Nurses to get a first hand perception about the success and the way forward to achieve a national health concern. Being the President of Realizing Rights Organization and a former United Nations High Commissioner for [...]

The General Manager of LEOCEM Company the only cement producing company in the country Arne Birger Johansen has disclosed that his industry has the capacity to produce cement more than what the public market demands. He made this statement at a press conference held yesterday at the Ministry of Information and Communication where he briefed the media on the scarcity of cement in the country some few days ago. He said they produce 25,000 bags of cement per day which is more than what the daily market demand for cement requires adding that due to inadequate storage they presently lack the capacity to stockpile a huge quantity to be released in case of shortage in the market. “The scarcity of cement in the market was due to the fact that we experienced a delay in the shipment [...]

Miracles and wonders never end, this is what our reporter based in Kenema city Saffa Moriba went out to prove about a traditional healer Dr. Alpha Koroma commonly known as “Labwai” which in the Mende language means great and wonderful. Labwai was on Sunday 18th July 2010 awarded a certificate by the national President of the Sierra Leone Indigenous Traditional Healers Union (SLITHU) Dr. Alhaji Sulaiman Kabba at the Holy Trinity hall along Blama Road in Kenema City for his outstanding performance in the dispensation of traditional medicines in the sub region. Dr. Alpha Koroma was born at Doujou village in the Small Bo Chiefdom Kenema District to Pa Alhaji Alpha Koroma and Iye Koroma. Dr. Koroma when in his teens started schooling at the Islamic primary school Doujou [...]

UK Minister for International Development, Stephen O'Brien MP, is visiting Sierra Leone today (Friday 30th July 2010), the first visit to Sierra Leone by a minister of the new United Kingdom coalition government. During his visit Mr. O'Brien is expected to meet the Minister of Finance, Dr Samura Kamara; the Minister of Trade & Industry, Hon. David Carew; the Minister of Mineral Resources (& Political Affairs), Hon. Alpha Kanu and senior government officials. Stephen O'Brien will also visit development projects around the country supported by DFID to see the progress made and challenges remaining. In particular he will see the impact that the Free Health Care initiative is having on reducing maternal mortality. Mr O'Brien will also meet with a range of Sierra Leonean women to [...]

Francis Momoh Gbanya one of the Public Relation Officers of the National Revenue Authority (NRA) was yesterday charged to the Freetown Magistrate court No6 on three counts of forgery, altering document and attempting to receive money with false documents. According to the charge sheet, on dates unknown in July 2010 Francis is alleged to have forged the signature of the Director of Loans Abdulai Turay of Ecobank to fraudulently secure the loan of Le 4 million (four million Leones). In his application for bail to be granted to his client, Lawyer U Koroma pleaded that the accused will not jump bail neither interfere with the prosecution witnesses. He added that his client have credible sureties to bail him out, adding that if granted bail the accused will always appear in [...]

Senior female cricket player Sarah Johnson has revealed to Awoko Sports that they are hoping to return home with the trophy from The Gambia when they will be participating in their first international cricket competition in October this year. According to Sarah, the female cricket team comprises of both young and old players that can make a good blend that will represent Sierra Leone in any international competition. She also stated that since the team started training they have learnt a lot from their coaches Abdul Sesay (KoKo) and Mohamed Boys Kamara, and they are determine as a team to pass the knowledge gain into reality during the competition. She made an appeal to companies and individuals to come to their aid to give support to the team as this will be their first [...]