IRC,CHRDI, EWSL, and NEC, together with other stakeholders engaged the Kpeje-Bongre and Penguia chiefdoms
The Election Conflict Prevention and Mediation Group (IRC, CHRDI, EWSL), National Electoral Commission (NEC), together with other stakeholders engaged the Kpeje-Bongre and Penguia chiefdoms stakeholders and community members in Kailahun district, Eastern region.
Human rights cement the bond between individuals and promote peaceful coexistence, thereby making societies more resilient. Sustaining peace further promotes a holistic approach integrating all three pillars of the UN’s engagement—human rights, peace, security, and development—so as not only to contain the immediate consequences of conflict but also to prevent the outbreak of violence by addressing the root.
Non-prosecution for such violations are often drivers of conflict. Monitoring human rights, therefore, could provide early warning of, and help prevent destabilization of societies. We provide support to political parties, civil society organisations and the community in protecting and promoting human rights, including the equal rights of men and women, while ensuring security. This work includes efforts to improve the protection of human rights in the security sector, to support women’s participation in promoting peace and security, to strengthen democratic institutions and practices, including elections, and to bolster the rule of law.
President Bio visits Jendema, Pujehun District
Jendema, Sierra Leone-Liberia border. Saturday, February 21. 2021
The President of Sierra Leone, Dr Julius Maada Bio has paid a well-received visit to the border town of Jendema after stopping at several places en route.
This visit which has been described as a Working Visit is one to be long remembered by the people of Jendema and Sorogbema as a whole.
President Julius Maada Bio in his thank you message to a mammoth crowd gathered to receive him, stated that Jendema has always been a strong base for the SLPP, not forgetting to mention the commendable role played by the SLPP Liberia Chapter to whom the president expressed equal gratitude.
Cataloguing the many gains since his assuming office in 2018, President Bio spoke about the Free Quality Education program under the New Direction government which he promised to expand and improve upon for the benefit of the children and the nation at large.
“Education is the main key to the success of any nation”, President Bio told the exuberant crowd, emphasising that “educating children is the best any country can do to strengthen their future”.
The president revealed that 2.5 million children are currently benefitting from Free Quality Education (FQE). “In Pujehun district, statistics show that 80 thousand students are presently attending school. That number stood at 55 thousand before the introduction of the FQE”, the president noted. He said that the government was also providing learning materials as well as, increasingly, food items for the students. He also reminded his audience that all public exams are now free, paid for by the government.
His Excellency also encouraged parents to invest in their girls by giving them the privilege to go to school. He expressed great satisfaction in noting that in both NPSE and BECE, the girls were not only equaling the boys but were now beginning to lead.
In a direct appeal, the president encouraged the students to remain focused and he cautioned the men to stay off the young girls and allow them to study, pointing out the penalty that is occasioned by rape.
In a bid to improve the lives of his citizens, President Bio spoke about the 100 billion Leones that have been set aside for microfinance. He also stated that Pujehun District was on the list of beneficiaries from the NACSA support program.
President Bio went on to throw some light on the plans to boost the Agricultural sector, stating that it was time for the country to produce its food and therefore the Agriculture Minister is working with all farmers by giving them seeds and also providing machines for agricultural purposes. An adequate number of youths are being trained to work on these Agro-implements.
As Jendema is the main border crossing to Liberia, President Bio spoke on the plans to build an International Market at the border. He also promised to build a health centre, provide light and water for the people of Jendema, Sorogbema district.
President Bio explained to the people how Sierra Leone has been deservingly placed in the good books of the International community. The president cited the example of the recognition of the government’s hard work by stating that in about three years under the New Direction Government, Sierra Leone has been awarded a very favourable position by the MCC with a potential for the country to receive millions of dollars in donation.
In his concluding statement, he promised the people of Jendema that he will engage his counterpart, His Excellency President George Weah on the reopening of the border.
In his contribution, the Speaker of Ecowas Parliament Hon. Sidie Mohamed Tunis who hails from Pujehun District also thanked the people of Jendema and the SLPP Liberia Chapter for their unflinching support and their staunch loyalty to the government. He promised to continue working in the interest of the Government and the people of Pujehun District and invited the people to continue to work in close unity.
Earlier, the Sierra Leone Ambassador to Liberia, His Excellency Eddie S. Massally, heartily welcomed the President and stated few challenges the people of Sorogbema Chiefdom were facing, including the need for public health centers, electricity and the desire to see the official reopening of the Jendema- Bo waterside border.
Mamawa Sombo Richards
Information Attaché
Sierra Leone Embassy in Liberia
+231886617864
mamawakanneh@yahoo.co.uk
Kissy Freetown – An unbelievable rescue effort
Kissy Freetown – An unbelievable rescue effort. Watch at your own discretion. Disturbing content.
Endorsement of Dr Samura Kamara as the flagbearer of the APC for 2023 by BBSL Group
Endorsement of Dr Samura Kamara as the flagbearer of APC for 2023 Elections by BBSL group live in the regional office in makeni today 20th February 2021.
FCC To Begin Property Rate Collection Further To Receipt of National Guidelines
The Freetown City Council thanks the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development and the Ministry of Finance for the formulation of the national property rate guidelines. FCC has fully reflected these guidelines in the 2021 property rate assessment—all rates have been updated to reflect these guidelines. The FCC will begin delivering 2021 Property Rate Demand Notices on Monday 22nd February. We ask that you kindly welcome the FCC delivery agents when they visit your property.
2021 property rate payments can be done in two ways: (1) make payment at any Freetown branch of Ecobank or Rokel Commercial Bank; or (2) visit the New City Hall premises at 17 Wallace Johnson Street to make payment at any of the banks there, which are Ecobank, Rokel Commercial Bank, Standard Chartered Bank and Zenith Bank. Please only make payment through one of the designated banks to ensure transparency, accountability, and better service delivery outcomes for Freetown.
Your property rates will enable the FCC to make our city clean and green, to invest in essential infrastructures like drainage and markets, to improve conditions in our municipal schools, and to provide the much-needed upkeep of our cemeteries. We thank you for your support and ask that you continue to play your part so that we can #TransformFreetown.
For more information about your assessment, payments being made from overseas banks and discounts applicable for persons over the age of 70 and persons with disabilities, please visit the FCC website at www.fcc.gov.sl. Additionally, a help desk has been set up at Freetown City Council to answer any questions you may have. Please call +232 78 333 000 / +232 88 333 000 / +232 34 333 000 to arrange an appointment.
Let’s work together to #TransformFreetown!
©️FCC Communications
Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio Makes Major Announcements in Pujehun, Catalogues Successes in Education, Health, Agriculture and Infrastructure
Pujehun, Southern Province, Friday 19 February 2021 – His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio has said in 18 months his government will build and furnish a Junior and Senior Secondary School of Excellence exclusively for girls.
“It will cater for 300 pupils…It will be a full boarding school with state-of-the-art facilities. As it is a new secondary boarding school, we will plan for its future growth and expansion… We are building in a green zone to enhance the landscape, support the teaching of biology through maintaining the natural vegetation at the location, and keeping a land bank for future development,” he said.
The President noted that already they had granted full tuition waivers for all pupils at the Basic and Senior Secondary education level for all 326 approved schools that benefit from government financial support, adding that 18,318 pupils were already benefitting from school feeding, 415,866 students had received free teaching and learning materials and core textbooks and 2 School buses had been provided to serve thousands of students in the district.
President Bio further stated that his government would continue to provide support for agriculture in all chiefdoms throughout the district, adding that they were making available 200 hectares of new cocoa variety farms for 200 farmers in Galiness, Barry and Sorogbema chiefdoms in 2020/2021 farming season.
“We are also developing 109 hectares (Ha) of Inland Valley Swamp (IVS) for rice cultivation in Dama, Gaura, Koya and Tonkia chiefdoms for 211 households in 2020/2021 farming season. The developed swamps will promote double-cropping per year with expected yield of three to four (3-4) metric tons per hectare with improved seed rice variety,” he said.
Regarding infrastructure, the President said in addition to ongoing work, the government would tar 3 km of township roads in Bandajuma Sowa and throughout the district, the government had funded 100 solar-powered boreholes with 15 standposts for each town to serve about 12,000 people in Pujehun Kanga Chiefdom, Masam Kpaka Potoru Barri and Zimmi Makpele chiefdoms.
The President was also taken on a conducted tour of the facilities and investments of Socfin Agricultural Company Sierra Leone Ltd Oil Palm Plantation in Malen Chiefdom, wherein 2019 a refinery was commissioned to process over 100 tons of crude palm oil per day producing cooking oil, soap and margarine for the local market.
“Our continuing relationship with SOCFIN demonstrates our recognition that agro-based production and industries are critical to economic development and supportive of our core commitment to improving food security. I am also informed that SOCFIN supplies two local refineries in Freetown and Sierra Leone has become a net exporter of palm oil. I am, therefore, happy to commission this important production factory,” he concluded.
For More Enquiries
State House Media and Communications Unit
+23276758764/+23278394949
info@statehouse.gov.sl
Kabala Township Electrification Project Kicks Start
©️ General Swalliho
President Bio’s quest to ensure the electrification of the Length and Breadth of Sierra Leone, today 19th February 2020 after 33 years in darkness has seen the commencement of the Kabala Electrification Project.
Electricity is one of the most important blessings that science has given to mankind. Electricity, also known as power, has many uses in our day-to-day’s life, it is the power that drives the wheel of the economy in every society.
The current Ministry of Energy is headed by a visionary person at the Pinnacle of Leadership who had an excellent track record in service delivery.
Hon Alhaji Kanja Sesay has remarkably and expeditiously increased access to electricity from only 18% to 23% in less than two years since his appointment to serve in such an enviable ministry.
At the commencement of the work was the Deputy Minister of Political Affairs, Hon Kallon who is an indigene from the Koinadugu District. Kabala Township electrification project is one among the six (6) rural townships electrification projects being undertaken by this government.
We Move!!
SLADEA CERTIFIES EIGHT POTTERS
The Sierra Leone Adult Education Association (SLADEA) has certified eight potters from its Lettie Stuart Pottery/Ceramic Centre at Campbell Town, Waterloo on Saturday 20th February 2021.
After a series of consultations and meetings in 2018, the Sierra Leone Adult Education Association (SLADEA) signed a partnership agreement with Aurora Foundation in Iceland. The partnership enables the training of local potters thus enabling the production of local ceramic materials like cups, plates, bowls, flower vase, etc.
At the graduation ceremony, the head of Aurora Foundation in Sierra Leone Regina Bjarnadottir congratulated the learners for their perseverance and determination to finish the program. A total of ten trainees were initially enrolled for the training, but only eight of them made it to the graduation day after going through the full eighteen months training course. Regina thanked SLADEA for the fruitful cooperation between Aurora Foundation and SLADEA. She ended up her statement by advising the graduates to put more effort and be open up to learn more so that they will grow.
The Honorary President of SLADEA Professor Joe A.D Alie in his statement praise the Aurora Foundation and prays that the partnership will not only sustain but will grow to higher heights. He also said the SLADEA Waterloo branch is a unique one because what it offers in terms of learning skills is first of its kind as it is not found in any other SLADEA centre. The Professor went on to say that the quality of the products has improved considerably which calls for a big thanks to visiting tutors especially Peter who is currently on a visit to Sierra Leone. He urged the waterloo people to make use of the Pottery/Ceramic centre and concluded by thanking all those who played a role to make the program at the centre a successful one, especially the Aurora Foundation.
The chairman for the graduation ceremony Bamike Williams in his summary statement spoke about the National Education Week exhibition which was held at the Youyi Building, Freetown in mid-December last year, during which SLADEA’s Ceramic products attracted many high profile personalities in the country including the Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Dr. Sengeh and also the Vice President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Dr. Juldeh Jalloh.
The graduation ceremony was climaxed by the issuing of certificates to the graduates followed by group photos.