News

By Septimus Senessie

Sixty participants including women leaders, traditional authorities, civil society groups, judiciary and journalists over the weekend underwent training in women’s rights to property, land and access to justice.

The training was the second phase of the UNDP-funded project in Kono, Port Loko and Bombali districts and Western Area on the topic: “Women’s Rights to Property, making right a reality,” implemented by COOPI International.

By Septimus Senessie in Kono.

Fiama Chiefdom in Kono District has officially inaugurated 62 village headmen, town and section chiefs at their chiefdom headquarter town of Njegbwema.

It followed a highly-contested election for sub-chiefs in the chiefdom.

Sia Abu Nanoh won as town chief of Bandasuma after she had first won a petition against her by one of her brothers with Fiama now boasting of having two female town chiefs for the first time despite customs and traditions which frown on women becoming chiefs.

By Crispina Cummings

Opposition MP, Emma Kowa has called for tougher laws to address violence against women and girls "because despite all the sensitisation that has been going on women and girls are still victims of everyday violence".

She was speaking during an outreach programme by MPs in their constituencies to educate them on sexual and gender-based violence.

Judge Advocate Otto During

By Aminata Phidelia Allie

New fire engine on full display

By Bampia James Bundu

The minister of transport and aviation, Leonard Balogun Koroma on Tuesday commission a new "sides fire engine" for the Sierra Leone Airport Authority (SLAA).

By Mustapha Sesay

The executive director of ActionAid, Sierra Leone has informed the media his organization has received international backing from twenty countries in the fight against "land grabbing" in Africa.

Mohamed Sillah made this announcement while issuing a news released to journalists at his office in Aberdeen, Freetown. He said the twenty countries included Kenya, Tanzania, India Cambodia Denmark, Italy, USA, France and the Netherlands.

The Chargé d’Affaires of the US embassy has said in Freetown that all governments have a commitment to uphold freedom of speech which she described as a "fundamental freedom".  Kathleen Fitz-Gibbon said  "restrictions on journalists are restrictions on all of us in a democracy. Journalists and other members of the media must be able to investigate, research, publish, and disseminate news, information, and opinions freely. They need to be able to do so without intimidation or fear and threat of physical harm".