Feature

Youth of our homeland, 

You are indeed our nation's future. 

Do not scorn the staircase of the mentee,

The Savings Account of potential;

Be proud, but without the sin of pride. 

Pride, the predecessor of the prostrate, 

Resists guidance and nurturing, 

Challenges authority, ridicules sound counsel,

Pursues and pollutes promise;

That gem embedded in every human,

Which in you, resides in abundance. 

Pride promotes and presents the pompous, 

By Idrissa Hlton Gogra in Berlin

I’ve been observing the political scene in the Federal Republic of Germany over the last few weeks as the country builds up to its parliamentary elections. There are indeed certain aspects of the politics in this country that Sierra Leone can either emulate or use as a base from which to further solidify our democracy.

By Abdul Tejan-Cole

From 31 October – 12 November 2021, Glasgow, Scotland, will host the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26). The Conference, which brings 190 Governments, international organisations, humanitarian actors, private sector representatives and civil society together, has four main goals to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

By Joseph Bankole Thompson MD, PHD

Sierra Leone recorded 0.08% and 0.14% increase in COVID-19 total infections and total recoveries respectively over the week, from September 5-12, 2021.

By Abdul Tejan-Cole

First, it was the Paradise Papers. Then in 2020, the FinCen Files were released. Last week, the Pandora Papers was published. According to their website, the documents, about 2.94 terabyte in size, expose the offshore secrets of wealthy elites from more than 200 countries and territories. The elites included 130 Forbes billionaires, 330 politicians, celebrities, royals, religious leaders, ambassadors, drug lords and fraudsters – all people who use tax and secrecy havens to buy properties and hide assets and avoid paying taxes.

By Abdul Tejan-Cole

Earlier this year, eight Ghanaian MPs introduced a Bill in parliament to criminalize lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI+) activities in Ghana and ostensibly “promote proper human sexual rights and Ghanaian family values.”

By Abdul Tejan-Cole