News

By Francis H. Murray

The World Bank has warned that the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic will lead to the first economic and social recession in Sub-Saharan Africa in 25 years.

According to the latest Africa’s Pulse 2020 report, the World Bank’s bi-annual analysis of the state of the region’s economies, the outbreak will cost the region between $37billion and $79billion in output losses for 2020.

By Kemo Cham

The World Health Organization has admitted mistake in a social media report over the weekend suggesting that Sierra Leone had recorded a death.

The report which was released via the official twitter handle of the agency’s Africa regional office, sparked reactions from the Sierra Leone government with officials describing it as false.

Information Minister, Mohamed Rahman Swaray, took to Twitter to debunk the report, while Presidential spokesman, Yusuf Keketoma Sandi, dismissed the report on his facebook.

By Kemo Cham

An umbrella body of health reporters in Sierra Leone have called on the government to ensure proper coordination of its response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Health Reporters Network - Sierra Leone (HRN-SL) made the call as part of a report from its monitoring of the nationwide lockdown from April 5 to 7.

By Mohamed Jaward Nyallay

President Julius Maada Bio has warned of a bumpy ride ahead as the country responds to the Covid-19 pandemic, urging Sierra Leoneans to be prepared for it.

“It is not going to be the same. It is going to be tough, as it is all around the world. We must brace up for some tough times ahead,” the President said at a press briefing at State House on Wednesday, the first presser after the end of a three-day nationwide lockdown as part of the Covid-19 response.

By KEMO Cham

The Independent Media Commission (IMC) of Sierra Leone has warned public officials and institutions to desist from stonewalling journalists thereby preventing them from accessing public information in the course of their work.

The warning is part of recommendations contained in a ruling on a case between the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society (SLRCS) and Politico Newspaper. The Red Cross had filed the complaint over a September 2019 publication it claimed was damaging to its reputation.

By Mohamed Jaward Nyallay

The Sierra Leone government is contemplating passing a law to crackdown on fake news, Minister of Information and Communication, Mohamed Rahman Swarray, has said.

Mr Swaray told Politico that the process of developing the law was at an advanced stage.

“Fake news is definitely undermining the fight against COVID-19,” he said, adding: “Saving Sierra Leoneans’ lives is far better than watching some faceless people sitting somewhere and sharing information which they know is not correct.”

By Mabinty M. Kamara

Kekeh (Rickshaw) riders within the Sierra Leonean capital, Freetown, have said they might not obey the new transport fares that has been announced by the government, citing its implication on their livelihoods.

Last week, among a raft of new measures, the government reduced fuel prices and negotiated the reduction of transport fares for all forms of commercial transport. As per the new fares, Kekeh are supposed to collect Le1, 500 per destination, down from Le2000.