Feature

By Alimamy Sultan Koroma

Imagine you have just rented a three-bedroom apartment in the heart of Freetown. Shortly after moving in, you invite your friend to the house. As he enters the compound however, he sees your landlord and greets him politely. Instead of responding, your landlord shouts that he does not want to see all types of visitors in his property. If it were you, what would you do?

By Mohamed Jaward Nyallay

On September 19 this year, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) listed Sierra Leone among 41 countries in the world that needed food assistance. Sierra Leone is in that bracket with Eswatini, Somalia, Yemen, and Afghanistan.

Like many other international reports, this one just faded in the background. No one is talking about it or at least not loud enough.

By Abdul Tejan-Cole

By Kemo Cham

For someone who has been following keenly development in the health sector, I must acknowledge that there has been a lot of progress, especially since after the 2014 – 2016 Ebola outbreak.

A lot of money, mostly donor funds, has been poured into the health sector, both during the response to the epidemic and in its aftermath as part of the recovery efforts. And we have heard repeated blaring of political statements, which show that there is the commitment, even if just in words.

By: Stephen T. Fomba

The Sierra Leone Police has a long history of protecting the interest of the ruling party of the day, which includes using excessive force against political oppositions and other groups and ordinary citizens who oppose or deny support for the ruling government. However, public awareness and a stance against police brutality is realized now more than ever before, with a strong demand for the immediate reformation of the national police force.

By Fatmata Sorie

I do not believe there is any activist in Sierra Leone who did not consider the Public Emergency on rape and sexual penetration a laudable venture. This singular act has seen the passing of the Sexual Offences Amendment Act of 2019 which now sets a minimum of five years for rape and sexual penetration and a maximum of life imprisonment depending on the age of the perpetrator and aggravating factors that our Judges would consider before sentencing.

By Mohamed Jaward Nyallay

And so, it ends - women’s right campaigners, gender activists, social workers, politicians and female MPs punching the air, sending high fives and sharing hugs. All in celebration of a significant achievement: the passing into law of the amended Sexual Offences Act. It had been four months in the making. The celebrations are worth it.