News

By Kemo Cham

A major partnership deal between Sierra Rutile (SRL) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) has been inked on Monday.

The US$60million equity investment, which is geared towards the expansion of SRL’s operation, gives IFC a 10% stake in the company which mines the Titanium mineral, otherwise called Rutile.

Details of the agreement indicate that the investment will help the company doubles its rutile production from the current 150,000 tons per year and extend the life of its mine to at least 2035.

By Mohamed Jaward Nyallay

Sierra Leoneans must do away with over two decades of a political system that promotes identity over performance if the country is to make any head way in its development, a new report has suggested.

The report, the result of the latest study by the Freetown-based Think Tank, Institute for Governance Reform (IGR), strongly recommends for the depoliticization of the public sector and urges the country’s political class to focus on performance rather than the ethnic identity of individuals serving it.

By Kemo Cham

Sierra Leone is losing a whooping Le403.9 billion annually due to the effect of tobacco consumption, a new report has revealed.

The report released on Thursday also noted a staggering number of lives lost - 3, 300 - annually due to tobacco related illnesses. Some 900 of these deaths are said to be linked to second hand smoking, according to the report which also said the poor segment of the population suffer the brunt of this menace.

By Allieu Sahid Tunkara

The National Elections Watch (NEW) has called on the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) to speedily investigate and prosecute all electoral offences allegedly committed during the recently concluded bye-elections in Kono District.

By Allieu Sahid Tunkara

The Sierra Leone Police (SLP) has vowed to bring to justice perpetrators of last week’s riots at Fourah Bay College (FBC).

The SLP told Politico that they are waiting on the outcome of ongoing investigation by the college authorities, as sanctioned by the government through the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education.

By Hajaratu Kalokoh

Justice Bankole Thompson has ruled against State Counsel’s application to compel Persons of Interest to attend the commission and take the stand. The judge listened to almost a week of deliberation between the State and Defense Counsels concerning this application.

Justice Thompson’s commission was investigating the Ministry of Agriculture. The former Ministers of Agriculture, Joseph Sam Sesay and Professor Monty Jones, are among persons of interest the State Counsel demanded to appear in court.

By Prince Musa in Kenema

The deputy minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Ms Melrose Kargba, has commissioned the newly constructed waste management plant in Kenema.

The facility constructed by the Germany aid agency Welthungerhilfe (WHH) is meant to address a perennial problem of waste management in the city. Officials say the facility which is located at Tiloma, just outside Kenema City, is equipped to recycle waste into other uses, like fertilizers.