News

By Kemo Cham

Former Sierra Leone President Ernest Bai Koroma is to deliver the keynote address at this year’s lecturer series remembering Nigeria’s first President, Nnamdi Azikwe, the former President’s office announced on Tuesday.

According to a statement released via social media, the office said Koroma departed Freetown on Tuesday for Awka in Anambra State in southeastern Nigeria.

Koroma, according to the statement, is the guest of the Nnamdi Azikwe University, which is hosting the event.

By Kemo Cham

The rights watch dog Amnesty International has called on Guinean authorities to address mounting human rights violations amidst ongoing protests by pro-democracy activists in the country.

Guinea has been on the cusps of civil unrests over the last four years after elections in 2015 when President Alpha Conde was re-elected for his second and final term. Since those disputed elections, public discontents have been growing in the face of the deteriorating socio-economic situation in the country.

By Kemo Cham

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) says investigations it mounted revealed that Chief Minister Prof. David Francis has nothing to answer for in an alleged bribery.

Prof. Francis became the subject of public discussion for much of Monday and Tuesday after it emerged that he’d ordered the arrest of a journalist who sent him text message on Monday enquiring about the alleged bribery involving US$1.5million.

By Mabinty M.Kamara

The Deputy Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Dr. Turad Senesie has said that the government is one third gone with the review process of the Universities Act of 2005.

Dr. Senesie made this pronouncement at the weekly government press briefing on Thursday. Speaking on the essence of the review, he said it is being done to reflect contemporary issues.

By Politico Staff Writer

The Sierra Leone Parliament on Tuesday 12^th November passed into law “The Finance Act 2020”, paving the way for deliberation on and subsequent enactment of the 2020 Appropriation Bill, otherwise known as budget.

The Finance Act contains provisions that alter and introduces new tax regimes for the Financial Year and it explains how the funds are raised for the projections in the budget. As per constitutional requirement, the passing of the Finance Act must precede the passing of the budget.

By Politico Staff Writer

The Speaker of Sierra Leone’s Parliament, Dr. Abass Chernor Bundu, has called on members of the All Political Parties Association (APPA) to espouse peace and help to cultivate a culture of non-violent elections.

Mr Bundu was speaking to the members of the newly elected executive of the Association who called on him on Wednesday.

By Hajaratu Kalokoh

The National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA) has announced plans to expand its activities across all sixteen districts in the country. The expansion will be supported by a $30 million fund from the World Bank, which was provided to the commission some six months ago.

Chairman of NaCSA, Abu Bockarie Kokofele, said in a press briefing on Thursday that their work before now just covered 10 districts, and that the new financing will help them expand their programs like the social safety net.