News

By Mohamed Jaward Nyallay

The Commission of Inquiry (COI) report has ordered all those who took “unsecured” loans from the Sierra Leone Commercial Bank to repay them.

The COI was established as a result of recommendations made by the Governance Transition Team report that was done by a committee appointed by President Julius Maada Bio immediately after he assumed office in 2018.

Three judges independently conducted investigations and put together their findings which were presented to President Bio on Wednesday.

By Prince J Musa in Kenema.

The Kenema District Emergency Operations Center has inspected checkpoints lining the highway leading to the district.

The body, which is made up of the Office of National Security (ONS), police and military, among others local authorities, completed the inspection on Wednesday as part of their monitoring of the implementation of measures geared towards preventing the Coronavirus from entering the district.

By Francis H. Murray

The Independent Police Complaints Board (IPCB) has cleared a police officer who shot at a civilian at the residence of the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Lahai Lawrence Leema, of any wrongdoing.

The incident in February left Alie Sajah Foster seriously injured.

A report on the outcome of the IPCB investigation which was unveiled at a press briefing on Wednesday states the officer, Aiah Fengai, acted with “extreme restraint” and “professionalism”.

By Kemo Cham

A new report on Female Genital Mutilation or Cutting (FGM/C) has revealed that the extent of the practice has been underestimated.

The report which was published last week revealed that FGM, which is also called Female Genital Cutting (FGC), is occurring in over 90 countries and is far more widespread than it’s generally thought. Importantly, it reveals that the number of women and girls who are affected is woefully underestimated.

By Newman Anthony Levey in Bo

The Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources and the National Minerals Agency have held a one-day consultative meeting with stakeholders in the mining sector in the Southern region.

The meeting was designed to solicit the views and concerns of the relevant stakeholders regarding the ongoing review process of the 2009 Mines and Minerals Act.

By Mabinty M Kamara

Drivers of commercial transport vehicles briefly halted their services over the weekend and part of this week following the latest restriction announced by the Government of Sierra Leone as part of measures to prevent a spread of the coronavirus disease in the event it spills over into the country.

The move ordered by the Ministry of Transport and Aviation was meant to enforce adherence to health and safety regulations and calls for social distancing.

By Alpha Abu