TRACE JOENAL

Past Friday 5th August, 2011 it was a moment of joy in Lunsar Town as the ongoing Africell Hajj promotion first winner emerged in a draw held at the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC). Kemoh Camara a 27 year-old excavator operator at the African Minerals Limited (AML) with cell phone number 077 216754 and of 40 Father Peter Street, Lunsar past Sunday 7th August 2011 gave a vivid testimony. Kemoh Camara expressed confidence and satisfaction over africell for such opportunity more especially in the Holy month of Ramadan rendering rewards to subscribers to fulfill one of the pillars of Islam to perform Hajj in the Holy Land of Mecca, noting, “Africell really shows its transparency and sharing with its subscribers than any other GSM operator in country.” He stated that Africell is the GSM operator he hooked up with due to its numerous services and continue to be loyal to Africell for its generosity to subscribers and its immense contributions to the development of the country,

By Josephine W. Lagawo Alhaji Wattu a Mount Everest Security officer together with one Akmed Kawal has been arraigned before Magistrate Johannes O. Wellington for stealing property worth over Le 16 Million belonging to the Union Trust Bank. The accused persons made their first appearance at the Freetown Court No. 2 yesterday 9th August, 2011. They were charged on two counts of office breaking and lareny on August 3rd this year, at Union Trust Bank Office at Main Motor Road Brookfields. It is alledged that the accused persons break and entered into a Union Trust Bank store and stole one KV generator valued Le16 million. Prosecution witness (PW1) Rtd. Captain Moses Hassan Kamara identified the 1st accused Alhaji Wattu as a Mount Everest Security attached at the Union Trust Bank, Bus Halt. Defence Counsel Christiana Davies-Cole made an application for bail on behalf of the 1st accused Alhaji Wattu while Police Prosecutor Woman Inspector A.F. Heals objected to bail saying t

The Liberia FA has invited the Sierra Leone senior national team Leone Stars to play a friendly match against Lone Stars in Monrovia, Liberia on Saturday. In connection to the above friendly match, the FA has invited five foreign based players. The FA Spokesman, Sorie Ibrahim Sesay said three of the invited foreign based players have assured them, that they will travel to Liberia for the match. The three confirmed players are Ibrahim Teteh Bangura who is presently the hottest striker in Sweden, David Simbo and Christian Caulker. He said Marcel is in doubt for the above friendly. But notwithstanding the technical team of Leone Stars has invited 27 home based players who started training on Monday. The acting General Secretary of the FA Abdul Rahman Swaray said the above friendly is very important for the two countries in that it will help to improve their FIFA ranking as the match will be played on a FIFA calendar date. The above match will also serve as a preparation for the 201

The Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation (SL) Branch in collaboration with the Cultural Consulate of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Sierra Leone on Monday 8th August 2011 engaged over 30 journalists drawn from both print and electronic media at Cultural Centre Office, Howe Street in Freetown. Speaking at the programme the Iranian Cultural Chancellor, Mohamed G. Sofla stated that the purpose of Iftar is to bring practicing Muslim journalists together and break fast wherein discussion and sharing of Islamic ideas will be of topic. He stated that 8th of August is observed in Iran as reporter’s day. He explained the reason behind the observation of the day. He pointed out that as a result of the good relation his Centre have with journalists he therefore decided to observe it. He pointed out that the work of journalists is significant and explained the challenges, constraints involve in searching for news. He also cited their commitment in national development and the impact journalist

By Komba Fillie The Ministry of Information and Commuication on Monday 8th August 2011 organised a five day intensive orientation seminar for all newly recruited staff of the Sierra Leone News Agency (SLENA) and the Ministry of Information and Communication at the Miatta Conference Hall Youyi Building in Freetown. Speaking at the ceremony, the State House Chief of Staff, Kaifala Marah stated that the seminar is for the newly recruited staff to know their roles and responsibilities. He commended the Ministry for the way in which they have been executing the ministry’s activities. He noted that with the calibre of people they have recruited, the ministry will surely move ahead. He pointed out several successes which the ministry has undertaken describing them as pro-active measures being taken by the government. He maintained that the role of the staff is to work in the interest of the ministry and if any one fails to perform according to the expectation of the civil servic

Commentary By Mohamed Jaiah The pronouncement of campaign for the position of flagbearer for the Sierra Leone Peoples’ Party (SLPP) started last year . The sum of Le 50m was placed for the position and 23 names emerged, out of which 19 aspirants paid the above sum to contest for the flagbearership of the Party. Since the start of campaign, members and supporters of the All Peoples Congress (APC) have always looked at Rtd. Brig. Maada Bio as a treat to their party. About a year ago, just after the Rtd. Brig. General declared his intension to vie for the position of flagbearer, the Minister of Information and Communication Alhaji Ibrahim Ben Kargbo was the first to raise his voice agaist Bio. The Minister in one usual Thursday press conferences said that Maada Bio should be brought to justice for the alleged killing of the former Inspector General of Police, Bambay Kamara and 29 others by the National Provisional Ruling Council (NPRC) of which he was a member. Alhaji I.B. Karg