News

By Mustapha Sesay

Members of the parliamentary oversight committee on works have expressed dissatisfaction over the slow progress on Kono and Kabala road projects. The projects are being implemented by a Guinean company called Guico Press.

Rosaline Jariatu Smith, a member of the committee, described Guico as the worst government contractor in terms of delivering on its promises.

By Mustapha Kamara Jnr

As Sierra Leone is fighting to get to zero on the deadly Ebola epidemic, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NERC of the National Ebola Response Center(NERC), Retired Major Palo Conteh, has said Moa Wharf, a slum in the east of Freetown, is the new hot spot for the disease in the country.

By BampiaJames Bundu

Ambassador Alie Bangura, a one time Minister of Trade under the SLPP (Sierra Leone Peoples Party) lead government, who also served as High Commissioner in Ghana, may be facing the greatest challenging to his political career. According to reports, he is on the verge of being expelled from the party he sought to head in 2013.

Ambassador Bangura, according to sources, may face serious disciplinary actions which could possibly lead to his expulsion from the party for allegedly violating its constitution.

By Joseph Lamin Kamara

A Guinean court has sentenced to life in prison 11 people for murdering people who were educating villagers about dangers of contracting Ebola, State Prosecutor William Fernandez is reported to have said on Wednesday.

Fernandez had requested death penalty for the culprits.

By Aminata Phidelia Allie

Civil Society Organizations in Sierra Leone have challenged President Ernest Bai Koroma`s release of two female Kono detainees, referring to it as “discriminatory” against the men since they were all arrested and detained at the same time and for the same reasons.

In a press release issued on Monday, April 20, the Center for Accountability and Rule of Law (CARL) and AdvocAid, said men and women had the same rights and so it was discriminatory to release the women while the men were still being held in custody.

Chinese steel giant Shandong Iron and Steel Group has acquired the remaining 75 per cent stake in the Tonkolili iron ore mine from mining giant African Minerals Limited (AML), reports Tuesday indicated.

The deal involving over $170 million reportedly increased the Chinese`s control on the vast iron ore resources in Sierra Leone`s Tonkolili District to 100%. It also means Shandong will assume control of AML`s associated infrastructure company African Port and Railway Services, a press release by the Shandong-based steel manufacturer said.

By Mustapha Sesay

Former Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Education, Mani Koroma, on Tuesday informed the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in parliament that the minister of Education and his deputies were yet to account for overseas travel expenses in 2013.

He was reacting to issues of non-documentation of allowances and other travel expenses which were raised in the 2013 audit report presently before The House for discussion. Koroma said there were no supporting documents to explain how certain amounts of monies were expended in that year.