News

By Newman Anthony Levey in Bo.

Residents of Kennedy, Shellmingo and Johnny Street communities in the city of Bo have welcomed the inauguration of a new school which they say will mark an end to their struggle for quality education for their children.

The Matilda Simbo International School, which officially opened on December 20, 2019, had been under construction since 2018. The project was funded by a private citizen, Ms Matilda Simbo, an educationist.

By Hajaratu Kalokoh

A Sierra Leonean based innovation company, Light Salone, has launched an antennae that can tune in all four local television stations in the country. The innovation which has been name “Lili Antenna”, is the first of its kind to be made in the country by Sierra Leoneans.

The product was launched last week at the Africell American Corner in Freetown.

By Kemo Cham

British Actor and musician, Idris Elba has been granted Sierra Leonean citizenship in his first visit to the country where his parents were born.

Elba was presented a diplomatic passport by President Julius Maada Bio at a ceremony held at State Lodge in Freetown at the end of December to confer him citizenship of the country of birth of his father.

Elba’s visit, which was described as a private visit, lasted for about four days, during which period he visited Bonthe Island, where he is reported to be planning to invest.   

By Kemo Cham

The winner of Sierra Leone’s first ever beauty contest for female prison inmates has been granted a presidential pardon.

Ms Sia Kembe, 20, was among over five hundred prisoners released as part of a presidential clemency to mark the New Year. The list also included two other girls who participated in the contest that was organized in November by the Gender and Equal Opportunity Unit of the Sierra Leone Correctional Service (SLCS).

By Mabinty M. Kamara

Sierra Leone has joined seven other countries in West Africa to reduce network tariff on mobile phone roaming calls. This means that people who travel from Sierra Leone to other countries can make calls at local rate with their network.

For Sierra Leonean subscribers, the cost of roaming calls has been reduced in the following countries: Benin, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso, Senegal and Togo.

By Politico Staff writer

President Julius Maada Bio on Wednesday officially commissioned the Government Technical Institute in Kambia Town, Northern Sierra Leone.

The institute which was part funded by the Islamic Development Bank, is one of about a dozen being rolled out across the country as part of the government’s effort to increase access to technical and vocational training opportunities.

Sierra Leone’s Parliament on Wednesday passed into law “The Appropriation Act 2020”, otherwise called 2020 budget.

The approval of the bill followed debates by Members of the House issues within the document leading to some amendments.  

The move by the House effectively authorizes expenditure from the consolidated revenue fund for the services of Sierra Leone for the 2020 financial year.

The budget totaling Le8.6 Trillion was presented to parliament in November.