News

By Kemo Cham

The latest batch of presidential appoints have subscribed to the oath of office as the final step to assume their assignment in the ‘New Direction’ government.

A total of seven officials, including deputy ministers of Finance and Health and Sanitation, took the oath of office in front of President Julius Maada Bio at State House on Wednesday.

Also subscribing to the oath were new Commissioners of the Local Government Service Commission.

By Francis Murray

Organizers of the first ever prison beauty pageant in Sierra Leone have announced plans to roll out a mediation programme as part of efforts to integrate former inmates who were granted presidential clemency in honor of the New Year.

Three out of the over 500 convicts released on New Year’s eve participated in the Miss Correctional 2019, and one of them was the winner of the pageant.

The three girls are yet to return home since their release.

By Newman Anthony Levey in Bo

The Driver’s Union in Bo is in a standoff with the Resident Minister of the Southern Region, Mohamed E.K Ali. The Secretary General of the union, Moses Sandi, accused the minister of undermining the current executive by working with the former president of the union, Abu Saidu (Abu White).

The standoff reached a new height when the union vowed this week that drivers will not take part in future general cleaning exercise as a sign of protest.

By Mabinty M.Kamara

The Sierra Leone government has defended President Julius Maada Bio’s much criticized frequent travels, with Minister of Information Mohamed Rahman Swaray saying they have brought a lot of benefits to the country.

Swaray urged Sierra Leoneans to appreciate the President for this, noting that he is doing all of it for the growth and development of the country.

The minister made this statement at the weekly press briefing held at the conference hall of the Ministry of Information and Communication.

By Hajaratu Kalokoh

The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Freetown has opened a book of condolence for victims of the United State of America (USA) airstrike on their citizens in Iraq.

The book was opened on Thursday in honor of their slain Major General, Qassim Soleimani and four others who were killed in the US strike early this week.

By Mohamed T. Massaquoi

The Minister of Labour and Social Security, Alpha Osman Timbo, has affirmed his government’s commitment to creating more employment opportunities for youths with skills training.

Timbo made this commitment at the Young Women Christian Association (YWCA) vocational training institute in Freetown, where 45 youths mostly women are currently undergoing a three months skills training.