News

By Chernor Alimamy Kamara

In order to strengthen the political participation of women in Sierra Leone through media monitoring, a Gender Media Scorecard has been released which calls for increased gender-sensitive reporting during the upcoming June 24th, 2023 elections.

The Launch of a Policy Brief and 2023 Media Gender Scorecard on the coverage of women in politics took place on the 21st of February 2023 at the Atlantic Hotel in Freetown. 

By Saio Marrah

James Baimba, 31 of Four Mile, an area just outside Freetown has appeared before a magistrate in Freetown and charged with defrauding the sum of (one hundred and twenty-two thousand and seven hundred new Leone NLe 122, 700 from different people on the promise of facilitating their travel abroad.

The accused pleaded not guilty to all nine counts ranging from obtaining money by false pretences to altering and forging documents.

By Chernor Alimamy Kamara

The main opposition All People’s Congress Party has overwhelmingly elected Dr. Samura Mathew Wilson Kamara as the Party's Presidential Candidate ahead of the June 2023 elections.

Dr. Samura will be contesting again against incumbent President Julius Maada Bio.

He is yet to announce his running mate after he was elected during the party’s delegates' conference in Makeni yesterday. 

By Saio Marrah

Former Chairman and Leader of Alliance Democratic Party (ADP), Mohamed Kamarainba Mansaray has been handed a 32-year sentence after he was found guilty of sexually penetrating a 15-year-old Junior Secondary School (JSS) pupil on different occasions in Kono and Freetown. 

The judgment by High Court Judge Samuel Omodele Taylor in Freetown on Friday 17^th February 2023 also saw co-accused Marion Arouni sentenced to 15 years imprisonment after being found guilty on two counts.

By Politico Staff Writer

President Julius Maada Bio has at a High-Level Africa-CDC Forum shared Sierra Leone’s experience of the Ebola and COVID-19 outbreaks.

Speaking on 18 February 2023 at the programme in Addis Ababa, Bio said that one thing they’ve learnt is that pandemic prevention, preparedness and response is everyone’s concern. He emphasized that keys for managing outbreaks include political leadership, health diplomacy, technical capabilities, active community engagement, flexible funding amongst others.

By Prince J Musa in Kenema

Police personnel attached to the Criminal Investigations Department in Kenema are currently investigating one Sheku Balley of 9 M-Line Tokpombu section in Kenema for the disappearance of one Vandi Kallon, a land vendor of 74 Dama road in Kenema and two of his sons.

Police Media officer attached to the community relations department Kenema, Sub-Inspector Brima James Musa briefed journalists on the 14^th February, 2023 about a report they received from relatives of the missing persons.

By Nasratu Kargbo

The 50-50 Group Sierra Leone has expressed disappointment over the recently enacted Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Act which the group says does not make it mandatory for a minimum 30% women representation in elective positions.

In a press release dated 17^th February 2023, the group explained that the mandatory 30% commitment in the bill was focused on the private sector. “Neither the Parliament nor the Executive have been subjected to mandatory minimum 30% representation” a part of the release reads.