SIERRA LEONE PRINT MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS- Friday 20th September, 2013 CONCORD TIMES Le350 million or 3 years for corrupt official The former Principal Health Economist in the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Dr. Michael Matthew Amara who was indicted by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for misappropriation of donor funds was on 19th September 2013 convicted on a single count of corruption and fined Le350 million or an alternative of three years sentence by Justice John Bosco Katutsi. The paper recalls that Dr. Michael Matthew Amara was charged with 19 other officials of misappropriating $520 million donated by the Global Alliance for Vaccination and Immunization, the World Health Organization and UNDP. UN envoy urges Sierra Leoneans to unite for democracy and development Several dailies inform that the Executive Representative of the United Nations Secretary General in Sierra Leone, Mr. Jens Anders Toyberg-Frandzen has called on Sierra Leoneans to set aside their differences and work together to advance economic development and democracy as the UN prepress to wrap-up its mission in the country by 31st March next year. According to the paper, briefing the Security Council on 19th September 2013, Mr. Jens Anders Toyberg-Frandzen reported that implementation of the mission’s transition and exit strategy is on course enlightening that at the same time, Sierra Leone has embarked on major undertakings: the launch of the country’s development agenda, or Agenda for Prosperity and the Constitutional Review Process. Police launches Performance Management System The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Francis Munu on 19th September 2013 launched a new Performance Management System for the police, a tool to track the performance of officers as they discharge their routine duties. The paper adds that the new system will help police officers know and keep records of their colleagues underscoring that it is an introspective assessment of the police force to determine how far the police has improved on security and reduction in crime rate in the country. AWOKO Solar street lights contract shoddy The paper reports that the recently installed solar street lights in the city that caused tax payers millions of Leones are being removed in some parts of the city because the lights are not bright enough to serve the intended purpose. The paper adds that this has resulted to people questioning the quality of the work. GLOBAL TIMES SLPP to attend UK Conservative Party Conference The SLPP Secretary General, Mr. Suliaman Tejan-Sie will depart Freetown on 23rd September 2013 for the United Kingdom to attend the Conservative Party Conference to be held in Manchester Central from 29th September–2nd October 2013. The paper adds that the SLPP’s Chairman/Leader and the 2012 presidential candidate are expected to join Mr. Suliaman Tejan-Sie in the UK next week. Minister signs MoU on rail and port development The Minister of Transport and Aviation, Mr. Leonard Koroma, who is in Beijing, China, on 16th September 2013, signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Sierra Leone and the China Kingho Group for the development of Railway and Deep Seaport. According to most of the papers, when fully developed, the port and railway projects are expected to expedite the growth of the country’s transport capacity and the development of industrial, agriculture and service trade sectors with a view of realizing a stable and sound economic growth. APC allegedly abandons District Chairman The former Bo District Chairman of the APC, Mr. Abdul Kofi Koroma, whose house was attacked and looted for allegedly hiding stuffed ballot boxes during the 17th November 2012 elections, has accused the APC of neglect. According to the paper, Mr. Abdul Kofi Koroma disclosed that since his house was vandalized, the party hierarchy has not provided any help to rehabilitate him. The paper quotes the APC Secretary General, Mr. Osman Yansaneh of promising to look into the matter. NEW VISION Deputy Minister attends Africa Research Forum in Australia The Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security I, Mrs. Marie Jalloh has informed over 500 participants in the just concluded Africa Research Forum in Australia that for Africa to achieve an improved agricultural research for a green revolution, they have to revamp the research systems in the continent and go green, through concerted efforts with a holistic approach. According to the paper, Mrs. Marie Jalloh also called for the promotion of diversified commercial agriculture through the private sector. NASSIT to establish Health Insurance Scheme The National Social Society and Insurance Trust (NASSIT) has disclosed plans to establish a Health Insurance Scheme to enhance the health of the people as well as alleviate poverty. The paper adds that the scheme will be made up of health practitioners and other stakeholders. Sierra Rutile scrap metals generate Le100 million for development Sierra Rutile Mining Company has discovered an ingenious way to raise environmental awareness and contribute to local community development by capitalizing on the growing market for scrap metals and transforming its scrap metals into cash. According to the paper, the company has predicted the worldwide market for scrap metals alone to reach 761 million tons by 2018 adding that because the company has generated several tons of scrap metals over the years, they are now sold and the proceeds divided among community groups. The paper concludes that in the last two months, Le100 million has been raised from the project for community development. PREMIER NEWS Sierra Leonean refused bail in US uranium case 33 year-old Patrick Campbell from Sierra Leone faces a maximum of 20 years jail and up to $1 million in fines if convicted of attempting to violate the American embargo against Iran. The paper informs that Patrick Campbell was ordered jail until trial on US charges that he attempted to broker an illegal deal to ship tons of uranium ore from Sierra Leone to Iran, including a trip to the US with uranium ore samples concealed in shoes inside his luggage. THE NEW CITIZEN Le9 billion for road construction The Chief Executive Officer of the Road Maintenance Fund Administration (RMFA) in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, Mr. Abdul Kalokoh on 19th September 2013 informed the media that since March this year, RMFA has budgeted Le9 billion to be disbursed to Local Councils nationwide for the maintenance of feeder roads in their respective cities and towns. According to the paper, Mr. Abdul Kalokoh informed that the RMFA generates funds from subsidy levied on fuel/road users’ charges and revealed that over 113 kilometers of roads are to be constructed after the contracts would have been awarded. Police to raid ghettos The Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Richard Moigbeh on 19th September 2013 informed the media that although the security situation in the country is normal, the police will raid ghettos and other crime-prone areas to arrest suspected criminals. According to the paper, Richard Moigbeh continued that the police have also initiated strategies like community sensitization targeting schools, colleges, mosques and churches as well as other institutions, to curb violence and underscored that the security of the state is the responsibility of all. Le2.5 billion elevators to arrive soon The Chief Mechanical Engineer in the Ministry of Works, Mr. Edward Silma on 19th September 2013 disclosed that the elevators for the Government Secretariat at Youyi Building in Freetown, purchased at Le2.5 billion, will arrive in the country from China in October this year with the experts and that the installation exercise will last for between two-three weeks. The paper adds that the building has been without elevators for the past two years that have resulted to workers and visitors climbing the 192 steps to the ninth floor. Government clarifies New York delegation The Outreach Coordinator in the Office of the Government Spokesman, Ministry of Information and Communication, Mr. Abdulai Bayraytay on 19th September 2013 denied media reports that the Government delegation to New York to among others attend the UN General Assembly is made up of 42 people which he underscored is unfounded and manufactured to attract attention. According to the paper, Mr. Abdulai Bayraytay clarified that the President has never travelled with more than 8 people in his delegation and asserted that allegations that Government is spending huge sums on overseas travels are baseless. THE VOICE PPRC Chairman accused of abuse of power Former Supreme Court Judge, Justice Maitland Tolla Thompson, who is currently Chairman of the Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC), still occupies his former office at the Law Courts Building in Freetown. According to the paper, the continued occupation of the office by Justice Maitland Tolla Thompson is viewed in many legal circles as “an abuse of power” which is now causing problems for the newly promoted Supreme Court Judge, Justice Valicious Thomas who has still not secured an office space at the Law Courts Building. THE DEMOCRAT Sierra Leone attends International Lawyers for Africa Training Francis Garber is representing Sierra Leone in this year’s International Lawyers for Africa training and interactive session in various related disciplines and topics lasting for three months in the United Kingdom and France. Some of the papers enlighten that selected topics to be discussed at the forum include Oil and Gas Management, Banking and Finance Law, Project Law, International Law, Equity, Shares and Mineral and Extractive Law and concludes that Francis Garber is being sponsored by the Law Society of England and Wales. FOR DI PEOPLE Locals call for review of land lease agreements Residents, mostly women farmers, of Bombali Shebora and Makarie Gbanti Chiefdoms in the Bombali and Tonkolili Districts have called on Government to renegotiate a new land lease agreement with multi-national companies, especially with Addax Bioenergy operating in Bombali District. The paper continues to quote some of the women as alleging that the current land lease agreements with multi-national companies are not benefitting them and that they have been deprived of their farmlands. WE YONE Paramount Chief celebrates 40th anniversary Paramount Chief Kompa Bomboli II of Koya Chiefdom in the Port Loko District, North of the country, on 18th September 2013 celebrated his 40th anniversary on the throne. The paper adds that thousands of people attended the ceremony. According to the paper, the Chief appealed to his subjects for peace and urged women and youths to redouble their efforts to transform the Chiefdom. In a related development, the Torchlight reports that 13 aspirants from 6 Ruling Houses have expressed interest to contest the Paramount Chieftaincy election in Peje Nongo Chiefdom, Kailhun District, Eastern Sierra Leone. The paper adds that 500 Chiefdom Councilors, the Electoral College, will elect a new Chief on 27th November this year. AFRICA YOUNG VOICES World Bank discloses status of 16 projects in Sierra Leone In line with its access to information policy, the World Bank has disclosed information about the status of the implementation of 16 projects it is supporting in Sierra Leone. According to the paper, the policy is a stimulus for civil society to demand accountability in a more structured, authoritative and balanced manner. Some of the papers further informed that as of 30th June 2011, the total commitments of the World Bank to Sierra Leone had increased to $157.6 million up 50% compared to the previous year enlightening that the increase came on the back of successful leverage from trust funds and regional allocation. CITY VOICE Tribal Heads appeal for inclusion in Constitutional Committee The Chairman of the Committee of Tribal Heads in the newly constituted Western Area Rural/Urban District Council, retired Superintendent Sahr Orlando Gbekie has called on the Constitutional Review Committee to include the Council in the Committee. According to the paper, Sahr Orlando Gbekie further underscored the role of traditional leaders in the governance of the state as well as mediating and resolving disputes among the people at local level. P.S. The papers reviewed today are: The Torchlight, For di People, The Democrat, The Voice, City Voice, Premier News, We Yone, Standard Times, Africa Young Voices Magazine, The New Citizen, Global Times, Concord Times, Awareness Times, New Vision and Awoko. The above summary of news reports reflects the views of the papers reviewed today not that of the United Nations.
Posted on: Mon, 23 Sep 2013 13:44:36 +0000
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