News

By Kemo Cham

As the coronavirus edges closer to home, with Guinea having recorded a case, the Sierra Leone government has announced a raft of measures including stringent ones, while they have modified existing ones with the aim of preventing it from spilling over into the country.

Minister of Health, Dr Alpha Wurie, says they have activated the Emergency Operations Center and increased the country’s alert level to 2, the second highest, to coordinate all response measures to the disease.

By Kemo Cham

Former Education Minister, Dr Minkailu Bah, was briefly interrogated on Friday by agents of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Politico learnt.

A source in the Commission said Dr Bah was questioned over his role in the agreement that led to the establishment of the Limkokwing University of Creative Technology, which is currently the subject of public debate.

The source said Dr Bah reported to the Commission by himself, after been invited, and that he was released after answering to a series of questions.

By Hajaratu Kalokoh

President Julius Maada Bio has appointed Ambrose Sovula as the new Inspector General (IGP) of the Sierra Leone Police (SLP).

The decision was officially announced on Friday evening in a statement from State House.

Sovula, who until his appointment was Assistant Inspector General of Police, replaces Richard Moigbeh, who was required to step down after attaining the mandatory retirement age of 60.

By Prince Musa in Kenema

The Ministry of Information has engaged stakeholders on its vision for digitalization in the communications sector. The engagement was held in Kenema as part of a retreat for stakeholders in the sector last Thursday.

The meeting attracted participants from mobile operating companies, the regulating agency NATCOM and the Independent Media Commission.

By Francis H. Murray

A 55-year-old rape victim has recounted her ordeal in the hands of her alleged rapists in one of the most captivating incidents of sexual and gender based violence in Sierra Leone.

The alleged victim explained to the court that she was dragged naked through the village by members of the “Poro” society after being gang raped in front of her door.

By Mabinty M. Kamara

Statistics Sierra Leone, in Partnership with the African Population and Health Research Centre (APHRC), an independent research institution based in Kenya, is set to conduct a research on resources available to access safe abortion in Sierra Leone.

The research, according to Samuel Ansumana, Director of Communication and Information at Statistic Sierra Leone, falls under a four-year project “Challenging the Politics of Social Exclusion” (CPSE) project to be implemented in Sierra Leone.

By Hajaratu Kalokoh

The Commonwealth Africa Summit 2020 has honored Sierra Leone’s Anti- Corruption Commission (ACC) for its “Outstanding Contribution to the Anti-Corruption campaign in Commonwealth Africa’’.

The aim of the award is to recognize exceptional performance in tackling corruption in Commonwealth countries on the theme: "Moving Forward Stronger Valuable."

The awards ceremony was held at the Commonwealth summit gala dinner at the Regent Park in England.