News

By Politico Staff Writer

The coordinator of the Media Initiative for Women and Girls' Empowerment (MIWGEM), Adama Sillah, has stressed the importance of creating more platforms to hear women’s voice as part of efforts to empower them. Ms Sillah said the voices of women and girls mattered in society as their contributions can make a great difference in terms of development, noting that given them the platforms to hear their voices will also help them achieve their aims and aspirations.

By Mabinty M. Kamara

The new country representative of the International Monetary Fund, Dr. Monique Newiak and the Head of the IMF Mission Karen Ongley have held talks about deepening ties with the government of Sierra Leone.

Both IMF officials held discussions with President Bio at State House on Monday.

Dr. Monique Newiak is the new IMF representative to Sierra Leone who replaced the out gone Dr. Iyabo Masha, whose tenure of office in Sierra Leone came to an end few months ago.

By Umaru Fofana

Hundreds of Sierra Leonean staff working for 11 UN agencies in the country have resolved to embark on an indefinite sit-down strike if their demands over pay and conditions are not met by the 25 November 2019.

The staff – from UNDP, IOM, WHO, UN Women, UNFPA, FAO, UNICEF, UNOPS, WFP, UNAIDS and UNIDO – have issued a 21-day notice within which period they are wearing black to go to work. 

By Mabinty M. Kamara

President Julius Maada Bio says he understands there is an economic hardship in the country and appeals for patience, noting that his government is doing all it can to ameliorate the situation.

Bio made the statement during the opening of a Technical and Vocational Center for the Sierra Leone Police Wives’ Association.

By Hajaratu Kalokoh

Subscribers of rival mobile operators Q-Cell and Africell have been left in limbo amidst an apparent silent war between them.

Many subscribers say they have to try multiple times to make cross calls between the networks. But most of the complaints is that it’s difficult to call from a Q-Cell line to an Africell line.

Patrick Kamara, a Q-Cell subscriber, was surprised when his wife told him she couldn’t connect through when she called him from her Africell line to his Q Cell line, even though his phone was on.

By Kemo Cham and Prince J. Musa

Three Chief Administrators were briefly detained between Monday and Tuesday this week on the orders of lawmakers over violations of the Local Government Act of 2004.

The Chief Administrators from Kailahun, Pujehun and Kenema were all detained on the orders of the Chairman of the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Transparency and Accountability, Festus Mohamed Lansana of Constituency 015 in Kenema District. He accused the officials of lying and contempt.

By Mohamed T. Massaquoi

The Consultant Pathologist in the ministry of health, Dr. Owizz Koroma was cross-examined on Tuesday by the legal defence team for Abubakarr Daramy and Herbert George Williams in the ongoing preliminary investigations into the alleged murder of Journalist Ibrahim Samura before magistrate Mark Ngeba in Freetown.