Sierra Leone’s leading media institution, the Africa Young Voices (AYV) Media Empire is all set to give the world a 30-day live and uninterrupted television coverage for the first time held ‘Big Sister Salone Reality TV Show’ in Sierra Leone.

All happenings in the Big Sister Salone Show which has been scheduled to commence at the Atlantic Lumley Hotel on Lumley Beach, Freetown tomorrow 14th September, 2018, will be broadcasted uninterruptedly, live on AYV TV Channel 34 for 30 days.

Ambassador Alieu Sesay

Sacked Independent Media Commission (IMC) boss, Ambassador Alieu Sesay is among lots of other Sierra Leonean senior citizens that have been arrested by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) following the execution of arrest of certain persons at the US Embassy in Freetown’

A Chinese-American investor, Juliana Evelyn Stark, has told this medium in an exclusive interview that she is determined to invest massively in Sierra Leone, thereby creating jobs for Sierra Leoneans and improving standard of living in the country.

Ms. Stark, whose company, United Nations Commutech Group, based in New York, is set to commence operations in Sierra Leone. She was speaking to Concord Times at the Embassy of the Republic of Sierra Leone in Beijing after deliberation with Ambassador Ernest Mbaimba Ndomahina.

The only variety show for Sierra Leonean youngsters in the United Kingdom (UK) was held Bermondsey recently. It is the fourth such annual event with organizers saying that this particular event helps children find their unique talents and steers them away from crime.

The SaLone Kids Variety Show finals dubbed SKVS-2018 was held at the Wheelshunters Social Club on Hornshay Street, and organized by LMTS Promotion.

Commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Francis Ben Kaifala Esq, has noted that corruption is a dangerous act that has the tendency to attack the foundation of democratic governance and bestow more importance on individuals than the collective.

“Corruption is a dangerous thing. It attacks the very foundation of democratic governance, it makes the individual more important than the collective and when the individual is more important the collective suffers because without the collective there is no stake,” he said.

The British High Commission on Thursday, 9th September, hosted a Pre-Departure reception for eight successful Chevening candidates who will soon leave Sierra Leone to pursue Master’s degree in the UK as Chevening scholars.

The courses they will study reflect the president’s desire to address the real developmental needs of the country and import more medical expertise, with the UK sponsoring six medics, one lawyer, and an engineer.

Over the last 35 years, the UK has sent more than 50,000 outstanding professionals to develop in the UK through the Chevening programme. In 2018/19 there will be more than 1,500 students from over 160 countries studying in the UK as part of the Chevening scholarship programme.

His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio has completed the verification, updating and registration exercise being conducted by the National Civil Registration Commission (NCRA) for all civil and public servants in the country.

Shortly after the process, Director General NCRA, Mohamed Massaquoi, thanked President Bio for going through the biometric verification exercise. He disclosed that the process was in line with the request by the Ministry of Finance and the Human Resources Management Office to clean up and then set up an accountable government payroll system.

Ministers who returned with His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio from the combined trips of a state visit and the Forum for Africa-China Cooperation Summit (FOCAC) in Beijing have addressed the press on sector specific interests.

Present at the conference hall of the Ministry of Information and Communications at Youyi Building in Freetown were the Finance Minister, Jacob Jusu Saffa, Development and Economic Planning Minister, Nabeela Tunis, Agriculture Minister, Joseph Ndanema, Information and Communications Minister, Mohamed Rhaman Swaray, Trade Minister, Peter Bayuku Conteh, and Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman, Yusuf Keketoma Sandi.

The Managements of the Africa Young Voices Media Empire and the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary are almost completing partnership arrangements for bringing goodies to the people of Sierra Leone, especially schools, Churches, colleges and organizations in and out of the country.

Tacugama management yesterday 12th September hosted AYV management on a conducted tour aimed to give the latter a first hand assessment and view of the Sanctuary situated at Regent.

Director General of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), H.E. Dr. Sidi Ould Tah, has assured President Julius Maada Bio that the bank will support his government to achieve its priority areas.

He said BADEA was closely following the initial steps already taken by the new administration, noting that they were pleased with the gains made so far. He added that the bank was determined to push for more Arab capital to invest in Africa and expressed hope that President Bio would help with the cooperation between Sierra Leone and the Bank.

By PRO Unit - MOHS

IPC National Coordinator and team handing over the items to the In-Charge of the Health Centre

In continuous support to health facilities on hygiene and sanitation practice, the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Unit of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation on Monday, September 10, 2018 supported the Dwarzack Community Health Centre with hygiene and sanitation items.

By Max A Konneh, Press Officer, MLGRD

Minister of Local Government addressing particpants

As President Julius Maada Bio’s New Direction Agenda focuses on improving the welfare of the “rural poor”, development partners continue to deliberate on issues that would ensure the president’s dream is realized. At the Taia Resort, Taima, Moyamba District, last week end, a two-day Strategic Planning Retreat on the National Framework for Inclusive Governance and Local Development was organised by a Local Non- Governmental Organisation, Fambul Tok International in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, United Nations Development Programme and Catalyst for Peace. The main thrust of the forum was to offer a deep dive into the Wan Fambul National Framework for the new government leaders, harmonise the framework and emerging national policies and plans, clarify roles and responsibilities among the relevant ministries and the secretariat, operationalise a working relationship between the different  ministries and the secretariat and develop a fund raising Action Plan.

A teacher must be well paid

Some teachers who were contracted to undertake special lessons for Senior Secondary School (SSS) Pupils promoted to SSS3 have threatened to stage a sit-down strike action, alleging government’s failure to pay them for the service they have rendered during the vacation period.

NRA Commissioner General Dr. Jibao

The Chairperson, Board of Directors of the National Revenue Authority (NRA), Ms. Tuma Adama Jabbi, has told this press that: “Frankly, NRA is on the best path now as we speak and all President Bio is interested in is to make sure that his legacy that stays behind is to build Sierra Leone. He wants to make Sierra Leone great again and make the people of this country to be proud wherever they go. Sierra Leone is a country that can generate its own funds and look after itself.”

The Chairman, National Commission for Privatization (NCP), Umaru Napoleon Koroma Esq. has marked his first 100 days scoring very high marks in overall performance. The lawyer-cum-politician was appointed on 30^th May, 2018 to shepherd the privatization of state parastatals into viable entities.

Following a needs assessment/familiarization visit to the Freetown International Airport on 13 June, 2018, the young and dynamic NCP chairman identified certain operational constraints at the sole international airport, including the need for a reliable and sustainable power supply and the need for a modern fire engine to keep it in line with international aviation standards. His subsequent intervention swiftly led to the approval for the procurement of a brand new one-megawatt standby generator for the Freetown International Airport at Lungi.

By Mohamed Kai

Kenyan-born Chimmezie Ume Ibeh and two Sierra Leoneans, Sheka Massaquoi and Moses Williams made their first appearance yesterday before Santigie Bangura presiding over the Freetown Magistrate Court No.1 at Siaka Stevens Street for importing one point seven kilograms of Heroin into Sierra Leone.

The three alleged drug traffickers are charged with the offence of Conspiracy to Commit an Offence to wit: Importation of a prohibited drug into the Republic of Sierra Leone, contrary to Section (15) of the National Drugs Control Act of 2008.

By Joseph S. Margai in Hangzhou

“We need the Chinese experience, knowledge and skills in Africa in order to enhance development. We need the transfer of relevant technology that will be beneficial to us. Private Chinese enterprises are welcome to invest in Africa at all times.”

The above is part of his keynote address during the opening ceremony. President of the Republic of Senegal, Macky Sall, urged Chinese companies to start processing Africa’s natural resources into finished products in the African continent.

-New Chief Warns

University of Sierra Leone former lecturer, Professor Thomas Yormah has started work as the country’s new Executive Director of the Sierra Leone Standards Bureau (SLSB). Ha has warned staff at the Bureau that during his tenure there is no place for sacred cows. He succeeds Ing. James Saio Dumbuya.

The handing-over event last week was attended by the acting Minister of Trade and Industry, Rev. Abraham Sesay-Jones, the Permanent Secretary, Abdul Rahman Fofana and the Director of Trade, Charles Mere-weather Thompson.

By Mohamed Lamin Banya

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) together with Civil Society Consortium on Community Accountability and Service Delivery on Tuesday 11^th September 2018 signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to help tackle corruption in the country.

National Coordinator of the Consortium William Sao-Lamin said as a consortium they are determined to work with the ACC, adding that they had already began working with the ACC before signing the MOU.

Some of the participants doing practical

Gynecologist and Superintendent of Bo Government Hospital, Dr. Roland Williamson Taylor has warned that a particular type Intra-Uterine Contraceptive Device (IUCD could have negative impacts on the user.

“This is a particular type of IUCD and if you don’t get it right, it can create problem for the womb of the woman, with risk of bleeding, infection and perforation of the womb,” he said.

The area in Mile 91 where the incident took place

There is disquiet in the community of Mile 91 and surrounding villages, after a combined team of armed police and soldiers allegedly raided two villages in the area at 5am on Sunday, 9^th September, shooting dead a 29 year-old man.

The Local Unit Commander (LUC) of the police station said the team of armed security personnel arrived in his area of operation without his knowledge, in contravention of standard police protocol.

 Pilgrims arriving in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

What was to have made this year`s Hajj an epoch making event was marred by the death of two Sierra Leonean women who were part of the delegation performing the Hajj rituals in the Holy Land.

Their death, according to medical reports, was attributed to heart failure. They are, 63 yearw old Haja Adama Mannah Sesay from Mange Bureh, Port Loko District and 61 years old Haja Marie Koroma.

The Freetown City Council has announced a competition meant to encourage residents to clean their environment.

The Mayor of Freetown Municipality, Yvonne Aki-Sawyer, said on Thursday that the approach is the latest in a series of initiatives designed to free the city of filth while preventing recurrent flooding.

A Sierra Leonean woman and educationist Mrs. Memuna Warne, who was on a visit to London and was due to fly back to Sierra Leone last week, has reportedly died in a fire which engulfed the house she was staying in Woolwich, South-East London.

According to a London Standard News report, dozens of firefighters tackled the flames after the blaze broke out at the house in Centurion Square, Woolwich, in the early hours of Thursday, 6 September 2018.

NCP Chairman, Umaru Napoleon Koroma

The newly-appointed General Manager of the Sierra Leone Road Transport Corporation (SLRTC), Mr. Isaac Ken-Greene has taken over control of the institution in a colorful ceremony at the corporation’s headquarters at PWD-Kissy in Freetown.

Chairing the Program, the Chairman of National Commission for Privatization (NCP), Umaru Koroma commended the outgoing Manager, Bockarie Lewis Kamara for doing his best during his tenure. He assured the incoming boss his administration’s full support in whatever capacity to transform the sector to its true value.

Africa Young Voices (AYV) Channel 34, yesterday, Monday 10th September, 2018 officially commenced Full Broadcast.

It can be recalled that AYV’s management has has been working  together with its Technical Head, Habibul Muzir, Daniel Palmer, the Graphic Manager and Mustapha Conteh,

The British High Commission past weekend hosted a Pre-Departure reception for the eight successful Chevening candidates who will soon leave Sierra Leone to pursue a Master’s degree in the UK as Chevening scholars. The courses studied reflect the President’s desire to address the real developmental needs of the country and import more medical expertise, with the UK sending six medics, one lawyer, and one engineer.

By Prince C. Kamara

The National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA) has kicked-off yesterday September 10, what it describes as biometric verification, update and registration of all public and civil servants and all others in this category that are paid from the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF).

This move, according to NCRA Director General, Mohamed Mubashir Massaquoi is for the government to have a clear idea of the number of public and civil servants on payroll and other details which would greatly assist the government in planning ahead.

By Bockarie Mattia

As a way of introducing more courses in the Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM) of the University of Sierra Leone (USL) and fast-track construction of its proposed residential campus, IPAM administrators recently met to map out a strategic plan spanning the next five years (2019 – 2024).

It could be recalled that over the past few years, the institution introduced additional courses expanded on its infrastructure.

By Alhaji Mohamed Wusha-Conteh

In a bid to celebrate the International Literacy Day, the Sierra Leone Library Board over the weekend joined other libraries worldwide with the theme “Literacy and Skills Development – Promoting Reading Amongst Children for a Sustained Reading Culture”.

In his opening remarks, the Chief Librarian Sierra Leone Library Board, Mr. Sallieu Turay stressed the importance of literacy in every facet of our activities and national development and emphasized that over the years Libraries have been contributing to improve on the Literacy rate and reading culture in the country. He said the renewed focus on integrated approaches is grounded, on the one hand, in persistent literacy and skills challenges, and, on the other, in the new skills demands and impetus generated by the current context of globalization, digitization and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.