Feature

By Mohamed Jaward Nyallay

It’s 5pm at Congo Town in Freetown in the month of May and it’s raining; the place is foggy and dark. Rains do come with fog but not in May. This is not even a fog; it is another thick blanket of smoke that usually envelopes this area and its surrounding.

By Sitta Turay

They are often times brought to Freetown from the provinces, especially from villages. They are taken to strange homes and handed over to strange people in the hope that they will be taken care of. These host families are sometimes so strange that even their skins are different. Their parents are assured that their children will be well – meaning they will be treated like normal children in a normal family, attending school, playing and being happy. Pretty much like any other child of the world.

By Abdul Tejan-Cole

On 29 April 2019, with the ratification by Sierra Leone and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, the Agreement Establishing the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) reached the 22-country threshold. According to Article 23 of the Agreement, it comes into force 30 days after the 22nd instrument of ratification is deposited with the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC). As a result on 30 May 2019, the Agreement came into force. On paper, Africa now has a new free trade zone.

By Hajaratu Kalokoh

Every time you think about microfinance there are a number of things you think of.

Firstly it is a scheme that promotes financial inclusion and secondly it helps in reducing poverty. But to get to this point, it involves a lot of issues. 

By Mohamed Jaward Nyallay

Maigore Christan Kallon, Executive Director of an environmental group, has said he wants to generate wealth from waste. He said so during the launch of his organization’s latest project titled, Green and Clean Campaign.

Waste management is major problem across the Sierra Leone. In the capital Freetown the situation is even worse. This week the Environment Protection Agency said they are looking to solve the challenges of waste management because it is a major source of air pollution.

By Abdul Tejan-Cole

Today, June 13, the world observes International Albinism Awareness Day. Adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2014, the day focuses on raising public awareness about albinism and preventing attacks and discrimination against persons with albinism. All UN member states, as well as international and local organizations and civil society, are encouraged to hold and participate in events and activities to mark the day.

By Mohamed Jaward Nyallay

Water is life, they say. So the debate about its safety is very important.  In Sierra Leone, the discussion about water has mostly been about access and less about safety. The reason for this is logical, there will be no debate about safety if there is no access.

But whether there is a shortage of water or not, today almost everyone is a consumer of sachet water, especially in urban areas like Freetown.