Feature

By Dr. Ishmail Pamsm-Conteh

Justice in Sierra Leone is an issue which has been under scrutiny and debate for a quite a long time. There have been allegations galore of bribery, correction and the delay in passing court judgements, amongst others. This had even preceded the country’s eleven-year long civil war between 1991 and 2002. Sadly the situation has not changed much, since.

By Mohamed Jaward Nyallay

Shocking! Disgusting! Inhumane! These are just some of the many adjectives that have littered our social media conversations, highlighting a deep-seated frustration over the death of five-year old, Khadija Madinatu Saccoh after allegedly being raped and strangled to death.

This was never supposed to happen, Khadija deserves better. Sadly, what happened to her is not an isolated incident; hundreds of other girls are going through the same situation in Sierra Leone. Like Khadija, some are even dead.

By Abdul Tejan-Cole

By Emma Black

Aminata spent almost three years trying to collect child maintenance from her husband, Foday. After engaging with the Family Support Unit (FSU) of the Sierra Leone Police, the Legal Aid Board and the Courts, Aminata has given up. Her husband has repeatedly ignored agreements made with the FSU, LAB and a court order to pay Aminata Le200,000 per month per child (approximately $40 USD per month in total).

By Carola Buscemi

Across the world, the COVID-19 pandemic has led people to fear accessing healthcare facilities. As a paediatrician working for Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in Kenema District,

and as we enter malaria season, I am particularly fearful of what reduced health seeking behavior may mean for children in a country with a high rate of child mortality.

By Major (Retired) Ishmail Pamsm-Conteh

The Commander-in-Chief of the Republic of the Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF), His Excellency the President, Brigadier (Retired) Julius Maada Bio, on Thursday 18 June, retired senior military officers. The reasons were due to the officers attaining the retirement age of 55 years, or on health grounds. This is justified under sections 26 and 27 of the Army Orders of 1965.

By Franklin Sisabu Bendu

It has been two years since Jacob Jusu Saffa and Sahr Lahai Jusu were appointed as Minister of Finance and Financial Secretary respectively. Since their appointment, their obsession and scrupulousness with fiscal prudence has been evident. The Financial Secretary has been at the Ministry for over 20 years, while the Minister has been moving around – Social Action and Poverty Alleviation (SAPA) Programme, World Bank, lecturer and as a private consultant and politician.