News

By Mabinty M. Kamara

The father of a 13-year-old deaf and mute girl who was allegedly raped at Kossoh Town last year has in an open letter appealed for government intervention to prevent the case from dying.

The girl who was raped almost six months ago is still struggling to adjust in her community and in school.

By Francis H. Murray

The West African Health Organization (WAHO) and it partners have concluded a two-day conference on adequate health financing and universal health care in Freetown.

The joint meeting of the Parliamentarian National Implementation Monitoring Committees (NMC) and the Network of Champions for Adequate Health Financing and Demographic Dividend (NOCAHF-DD) in West Africa was convened from February 27 to 28 at the Bintumani Hotel.

By Francis H. Murray

Sierra Leone’s President, Julius Maada Bio, has launched the first phase of the country’s National Social Safety Net Project in Kenema, eastern Sierra Leone.

The project costing US$30 million is funded by the World Bank. And government officials say it is geared towards tackling poverty, fighting inequality and strengthening livelihoods of the beneficiaries through job creation schemes for the poorest, and skills development initiatives and micro-enterprise schemes of for Sierra Leoneans generally.

By Hajaratu Kalokoh

Government sponsored students at the Limkokwing University of Creative Technology have expressed concern over the continued delay in the payment of their tuition fees, which they say has prevented them from attending lectures, four weeks since they commenced.

Only students who are sponsored privately are currently attending lectures.

By Mabinty M. Kamara

The main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) has condemned the decision by the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA) to register and verify citizens for the purpose of the voter list.

In a press conference held on Thursday, the party described the move as “illegal” as it’s within the mandate of the Authority.

National Secretary General of APC, Alhaji Osman Foday Yansaneh, said they had already written a letter to President Julius Maada Bio clearly stating their position on the issue.

By Mohamed Jaward Nyallay and Francis Murray

Members of Parliament have highlighted major loopholes in the National Disaster Management Agency Bill that was brought in front of the house on Thursday, causing a delay in passing it as expected.

The concerns raised about the bill ranged from the leadership of the board, the necessity of the agency itself, its function and possible overlap of functions with similar institutions.

By Mabinty M. Kamara

The Government of Sierra Leone has convened a seminar to focus on fixing the country’s economic challenges and increasing service delivery. The seminar comes just six weeks after a cabinet retreat which also focused on service delivery. In that retreat, President Julius Maada Bio declared 2020 as “The Year of delivery”. Tuesday’s seminar was aimed at giving the different heads of government the political orientation they need to follow the President’s “New Direction” agenda, according to government officials.