The Chairman and Leader of one of Sierra Leone’s newly registered Political Party, Citizen’s Democratic Party (CDP), Joshua Albert Carew has stated his party’s determination to change what he said is the current “rotten system” in the country that has caused severe hardship and suffering for majority of the people because of bad leadership. “My[...]

Stellar Diamond shares gained over 6 per cent at week close last week following bulk sampling results from Dyke 1 of the Tongo Kimberlite project, in Sierra Leone, that were described by Stellar as “excellent”. The group also confirmed it is on track for a maiden resource statement by the end of this quarter. The[...]

SweRoad contracted by the World Bank to embark on a study aimed at “reaching a consensus with Government of Sierra Leone and multi sectoral stakeholders on improving road safety management capacity in the country” has said in a draft final report presented to GoSL and key stakeholders that “there has been a general oversight and[...]

The General Manager of the National Tourist Board (NTB) Cecil Williams has disclosed estimated contribution of tourism to the Sierra Leone economy in 2011 has significantly jumped to a massive US$36,926,920. This is an increase of 36.2% over the 2010 estimates of $27.1m Mr Williams explained that the number of visitors or tourists to the[...]

I am much divided in my mind as to whether I should keep to my promise of last week or devote this week’s letter to the voter’s registration exercise that started on Monday 23rd January. That fact that the long knife of the President was used this week should have encouraged me to keep my[...]

As the Biometric Registration exercise reaches its fifth day, there has been complaints in some areas of people's faces changing into snakes and masks through the cameras used by registration operatives. Johnny Lavalie, Coordinator of Ward 381 at the Freetown Secondary School told Awoko yesterday, that a certain woman's face showed that of a 'Bondo' mask when her identification photo was taken. He said more than three attempts was made to take the woman's photo and all the attempts showed the symbol of the 'Bondo' mask. “We could not do otherwise, but to let the woman go and come back some other time,” Mr. Lavalie said. He also revealed to Awoko that at a certain registration center in Waterloo, another incident was reported which had to do with a man whose image through [...]

Since the Act that established the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) came into effect, there have been hiccups, as noted by the Clerk of Parliament, Hon. Ibrahim Sesay, in effectively steering the Commission's mandate to expedite the administrative activities of the House of Parliament. Honourable Sesay being the Clerk appointed in the wake of the Commission's establishment, yesterday summoned a meeting to which donor partners who have contributed and are still contributing to maintenance of the independence of the Commission were invited. He expressed gratitude for their support and explained the challenges faced by the Commission. The donor representatives who included EU, UNICEF, UNFPA UNAIDS, IOM and DFID, were welcomed by the Deputy Clerk, Mohamed Lebbie. He [...]

At the ongoing preliminary investigation involving one of Sierra Leone's hip hop rappers, Alhaji Amadu Bah aka LAJ and Mohamed Massaquoi aka Big Fish, Magistrate Herbert Davies Cole yesterday denied bail to Big Fish who was charged with manslaughter and LAJ was released on bail for a road traffic offence. LAJ was charged with five count charges ranging from dangerous driving, driving without a license, driving an uninsured vehicle among others, whilst Big Fish was charged with seven count charges ranging from motor manslaughter, dangerous driving, among others. Dressed in white T-shirt and black jeans and red snickers and holding a red handkerchief, LAJ stood inside the dock with hands behind his back and listened attentively to back and forth arguments between his defense [...]

In an effort to boost the interests of Sierra Leoneans to participate in the biometric voter registration, First Lady Sia Nyama Koroma has launched the Biometric Registration system in Bombali and Kono Districts, with a special appeal to women to fully partake in the process. Welcoming the First Lady, in well attended meeting, Mayor of Makeni City Council, Moses Sesay commended her for the developmental projects she has been embarking on across the country. He noted that the biometric registration system for this year's election is very important. APC Member of Parliament, for Constituency 29, Bombali District, Alimamy Kamara thanked the First Lady for honoring their invitation to launch the biometric system of registration in the district. He appealed to APC supporters to [...]

The Minister of Health and Sanitation, Haja Zainab Bangura yesterday, Thursday, 26 January welcomed a team twenty-nine (29) Cuban medics sent in to augment health care delivery in the country. The 29 arrived onboard Air France last Wednesday and will be deployed in various parts of the country, including, Bo, Kenema, Kono, Lungi in the Port Loko district, the Princess Christian Maternity Hospital (PCMH), Ola During Children's hospital, the Kissy Mental Home and Connaught hospital among others. The team is made up of surgeon specialists, pediatricians, gynecologists, obstetricians, dental surgeons, bio-medical engineers, anesthetists, midwives, and intensive care unit specialists. Addressing the team, at the Ministry's conference room, the Minister said that the coming of the [...]