By: Elizabeth A Kaine Sierra Leone is in the grip of a devastating rice crisis, leaving millions struggling to access this staple food despite its availability. The reintroduction of a 5% import duty under the 2024 Finance Act has sent prices soaring, making rice unaffordable for many. Historically, locally grown rice was more expensive than…
By: Edrie Caleb John In the Magistrate Court, 22-year-old Alusine Kamara, an unemployed individual, made another appearance before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Pademba Road Court No. 1 in Freetown on Friday, September 6, 2024, as the police tendered an exhibit. The accused is facing a single count of House Breaking and Larceny, contrary to Section…
By Edrie Caleb John On Friday, September 6, 2024, Sam Sesay, a 22-year-old caretaker, appeared before Magistrate Santigie Bangura at Pademba Road Court No. 2 in Freetown. Sesay’s brother, Francis Sesay, a steel bender, testified as a witness in the case. Sesay is facing two counts: conspiracy to commit a crime and larceny, contrary to…
Sister to sister talk By: Elizabeth A. Kaine Welcome to our “Sister to Sister Talk” series, where we explore topics that matter most to women in Sierra Leone. In this article, we’ll delve into the world of female empowerment and entrepreneurship, highlighting both the positive and negative impacts on our society. Hey, sis! Let’s talk…
By: Elizabeth A. Kaine The Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs recently held an audition for fashion designers across Sierra Leone. The event aimed to select representatives for the upcoming Women in Tourism Regional Congress, scheduled for October 29-31, 2024, in collaboration with UN Tourism. During the audition, designers showcased their skills in trend analysis,…
By: Edrie. Caleb John In a hearing before Magistrate Sahr Kekura at Court No. 1, Pademba Road, Freetown, Charlie Ahmed Winchester, a 19-year-old Waka Fine Bus validator, was remanded in custody for allegedly forging Waka Fine Bus tickets. The prosecution presented its first witness, Abel Junisa, who identified the accused as a validator for Waka…
By: Lucinda J. Smith The Sierra Leone Police Force has faced numerous challenges with internal corruption and misconduct in recent years, marked by several high-profile cases of officers engaging in criminal activities. To combat this issue and restore public trust, the force has taken robust measures to hold errant officers accountable. On Thursday, September 5,…
By: Elizabeth A. Kaine A historic conference on women’s education brought together First Ladies from African nations in Beijing China September 4, 2024. The event, held at the State Guest House, Fanghua Yuan, aimed to promote women’s education and empowerment. Sierra Leone’s First Lady, Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, joined her counterparts from various African countries…
By: Saidu Jalloh On Wednesday, September 4, 2024, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), chaired by Deputy Speaker of Parliament Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh, ordered Union Trust Bank’s Kenema Branch to pay Le 460 million into the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority’s (SLRSA) account. This directive follows a query raised in the Auditor General’s Report for…
By: Elizabeth A. Kaine On Wednesday, September 4, 2024, a public hearing, ordered by Inspector General of Police (IGP) William Fayia Sellu, was held in Kamakwie Town to address a case of domestic violence involving Police Constable Alhassan Tejan Kamara. The hearing demonstrated the police force’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and zero-tolerance for domestic violence….
