TRACE JOENAL

Sierra Leone Girls Empowerment Network has joined the world to celebrate the International Day of Girl Child. The day which was set aside by the United Nation on October 11 th has it theme “Empowering Adolescent Girls; Ending the cycle of violence”    The event in Sierra Leone took the form of reflection which took place at IPAM Campus central Freetown on Saturday 11 th October 2014. Various speakers made meaningful contribution about the development and the growth of the girl child in Sierra Leone.     Giving a brief background about Girls Empowerment Network Sierra Leone (GEN-SL) a Member of GEN-SL BrimaJohn said it is an opportunity for all Sierra Leoneans to join the world to celebrate such day. He said they can’t seat idle in this country and see girls going through horrible situation. He said GEN-SL have lot of things to do to save the young girls in this nation. He pointed out that they will be meeting other partners that are working with gir...

The leading GSM operator in Sierra Leone Africell yesterday 16th September presented the first set of donation of 3,750 kilos rice in the second consignment of food provision to the Ministry of Health and Sanitation for onward delivery to Ebola epicenters, quarantined communities and other areas significantly affected by the Ebola epidemic. The presentation was done at the Western Area District Medical Center at Cline Town. In his presentation to the District Medical Officer on behalf of Management and staff of africell, Africell Media Relation Supervisor, Tommy Terry Coker said the presentation was in line with the initiative launched by africell Chief Executive Officer, Shadi Gerjawi on 19th August 2014, to set aside Le1.00 (one Leone) for every minute spoken on the Africell network; to be used to provide food provision as part of the company’s continuing support to the Ebola campaign. Terry Coker went on to say that Western Area has 3,750 kilos out of the 20,000 kilos in their se...

The Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MOHS) through the Public Relation Office has thanked the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) for their timely intervention in the Ebola outbreak. Jonathan Abass Kamara is the Health and Sanitation Public Relation Officer “The Ministry is very pleased with the intervention of SLAJ in the fight against Ebola “He made this remark during the MOHS and SLAJ Press Conference at the Harry Yassaneh Conference Hall Campbell Street, Freetown yesterday Thursday 7th August 2014, as their own role in ensuring that the right message reached every citizen of the nation. Kamara went on to say that Journalists indeed followed the announcement made by the President of SLAJ Kelvin Lewis. He said through the intervention of SLAJ, they now have nationwide coverage of sensitization of the virus through TV, radios and Newspapers. He also announced that the update press conference will be coming every forth night. He stressed that President Koroma and the H...

The President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) Kelvin Lewis has called on Journalists to consider the call for help from the Ministry of Health and Sanitation on the Ebola outbreak as a call for national service. He made this call at a one day orientation on Ebola for Journalists organized by SLAJ and the Ministry of Health and Sanitation at the Grass Groot Empowerment Movement (GGEM) on Wednesday 16th July 2014. He asked all journalists, to use their pens, microphones and computers to help fight the Ebola various, he added that Journalists should place strict attention to the outbreak. He disclosed that the official number of death toll is now 118 and the number is still climbing. According to the SLAJ President the orientation is not only timely but very important. He stressed that Ebola is real; pointing out that some lives have been claimed including Nurses, a Pastor and a Journalist that was reporting from the eastern region. “Ebola is real, it has touche...

Some officers of the Sierra Leone Police Force were recently indicted in mob justice after an alleged criminal was beaten by three OSD officers TRACE NEWS has learnt that on Thursday 3rd July 2014 a total number of three OSD personnel who were fully dressed in their uniforms allegedly tortured Ade Manneh of 15 Settra Kroo Street because someone told them that he has stolen 20 Million Leones. According to report, Chernor Kamara and his brother Ibrahim Kamara accused Ade Manneh of stealing the sum of Twenty Million Leones at their resident 7 Conteh Drive Tengbeh Town. Below are photos of the victim: The report states that for the past five years, Ade Manneh has been paying regular visit to his friend who is the younger brother of Chernor and Ibrahim. It was reported that Ade visited his friend at 7 Conteh Drive Tengbeh Town on Thursday 3rd July 2014 and they spent time together and at about 2:pm he left there for his house. According to investigation, Ade received mobile call fro...

Background: One Family people (OFP) is a local human right organization striving for a transformed continent where people with disability – from children to adult, men and women – participate equally in everyday life. Where they are loved and cared for. Giving a space to live up to their full potential. Since its inception in 2008 in Sierra Leone, we focused our work on breaking barriers and changing mindset to ensure equal access to services for persons with disabilities such as protection, livelihood, employment, education, health care and counselling. The management of One Family People now invites applications from suitable qualified Sierra Leoneans for consideration to the following post: Post: Programme Manager Report to: Senior Programme Manager Manages: Not applicable Duty Station: Freetown Date Required: Immediately Duration: 1 Year + Job Summary: The Programme Manager is responsible for day to day management of One Family People activiti...

In their nourishment for life drive and in line with their dream in reaching all, Sierra Leone’s most friendly malt drink, Maltina has been embraced by hundreds of Muslims across the country in this Holy Month of Ramadan. This acknowledgement came as Maltina took one of the biggest nationwide Iftar promotions as a way of celebrating with the Muslims and strengthening the relationship between the Maltina brand and the muslims during this holy month. In her address to the Muslim community, Miss Theresa Musa, Maltina Brand Manager pointed out that Maltina entered into the Sierra Leone market in 1993 with a vision to remain the nation’s leading malt drink. She disclosed that more than 15 years down the line, Maltina has still remained the nation’s most preferred malt drink. Miss Musa went on to state that over the years Maltina has been dynamic and continued to innovate and meet the consumers demand and expectations. She said the main reason for this iftar promotion of Maltina is to s...

JOURNALISTS ARE NOT ENDANGERED SPECIES!! ! Certain politicians, public officers and religious leaders seem to see journalists as endangered species especially Human Rights journalists who report on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) ‘bondo’ and other secret societies violating other people`s rights. The rate at which journalists have been intimidated and threatened for the past years by politicians and government officials is alarming. An instance was when both the broadcasting houses of the main opposition, the Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) and the All Peoples Congress (APC) parties were summarily shut down. No pleas were made on that move by anybody even the media regulatory body, the Independent Media Commission (IMC). Abu Sheku Kamara This medium gathered that on April 2014, freelance journalists and human rights activists, Mohamed Turay, Alpha Jalloh and Abu Sheku Kamara and others were declared wanted because they were advocating for the righte of homosexuals and the aboli...

NAFFSL & FBOs On Constitutional Battle The National Association of Farmers of Sierra Leone (NAFSL), an offshoot of the National Federation for Farmers in Sierra Leone (NAFFSL) which was established by an Act of Parliament to enhance and supervise the farming activities in the country and other Farmers Based Organisations (FBO), are at each other’s throats. This medium gathered that NAFFSL flouted its 2009 Constitution to hold on to power for eight years without elections and has also muscled out some FBOs by cutting down the NAFFSL executive from seventeen to nine, a move that has left out deputies, the Treasurer with only the Secretary having deputy. Sources further revealed to this medium that in 2013 the 2009 NAFFSL Constitution was amended with FAO paying the consultant and after that Amendment in Bo, the NAFFSL President and Secretary, Jess Olu John and Mohamed Kabiru drafted another Constitution, making provision for the two of them running the federation. The sources f...

Massive Rebranding Rocks SLBC But… By Ibrahim Joenal Sesay The Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) came to existent through an Act of Parliament in 2009 but since the Act came into law on the 28th January, 2010 according to the Supplement to the Sierra Leone Gazette Vol. CXLI, No. 8 the SLBC has been creeping since. This has made the Cooperation looks like any one man business that one can crack his brain to source money to run it business. The SLBC of recently has been face with serious renovation and rebranding in all sectors, ranging from structure to studios and administration. This rebranding according to the Director of Media and Public Affairs Ransford Kabia is to demonstrate Management commitment to transform the Cooperation just like any international broadcaster. He said currently the SLBC have a proper filing system and have concluded two successful audits in 2011 and 2012 and they are now working on their 2013 report. The reception desk, board room, the s...

CSOs Trained In Enhancing Effective UPR Participation By Ibrahim Joenal Sesay The Civil Society Oraganisation United Nations Periodic Review Monitoring Group – Sierra Leone (CUMG-SL) has concluded a day training of trainers in ‘Enhancing Effective Sierra Leone CSOs’ Participation in the UPR second cycle and shadow reporting processes,” The seminar which took place on the 8th May this year at the Presidential Lounge, National Stadium Freetown saw CSOs’ government and Non-Governmental Organisation under one humbler to chat the way forward According to the Chairman of CUMG-SL Edward Emmanuel UPR is a United Nations process that includes a review of the human rights records of all states once every four years. It provides the opportunity for each State to declare what actions they have taken to improve the human rights situations in their countries. Sierra Leone he said was reviewed under the UPR in 2011, and the Government accepted 126 out of 129 recommendations included in the fina...

for lack of toilet facilities… City Council Shuts down Shops By Ibrahim Joenal Sesay The Freetown City Council has for the first time in history taken a very proactive move in carrying out their mandate by closing buildings that do not have toilet facilities. “This building exists without toilet facility contrary to the law of Freetown City Council. The environmental authority declares it closed until further notice. By order.” This was the notice placed on the doors of various shops at Kroo Town Road. This move taken by Council took has been welcomed from all sectors of society. This according to Sierra Leoneans in the municipality of Freetown is what they have been yearning. According to some staff of Freetown City Council they have been doing some survey in the municipality to assess the health of the environment. According to them Freetown should be seen as a healthy city at all times and that they are going to ensure that they enforce the bye laws now that they have secured cou...

New X-Ray Machine For Koidu Hospital Kono which is regarded as the bread basket of Sierra Leone since the discovery of diamonds in the District in the 1930s does not seem to have benefitted from this natural endowment. Many companies have come and gone without any clear legacy, all what they left is a destroyed land. It is against this backdrop that a daughter of the soil has come home to change the history of the district in a positive way. The New Citizen in Kono recently met this productive daughter of the soil, Madam Sia Jarieu B, Morsay, who left the soil of Sierra Leone some 24 years ago for abroad and has decided to come home. According to Madam Morsay, whilst in American, she provided scholarships to over 400 school going children whose parents could not afford to pay their school fees. Most of the scholarships awarded were for the girl child within the Kono District. She also made donations of laptops, tape recorders to six media houses in Kono, plasma TV with a generat...

Commemoration of Iran famous Amir Kabir The Cultural Consul of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Sierra Leone Mohammed Sofla has disclosed that today Friday 10th January 2014 coincides with the 8th of Rebial Awal, 20th Dey of Solar Calendar every Year is Amir Kabir Commemoration day. Speaking in Freetown, Mr Sofla said Mirza Taqi Farahani was born in 1807 in Farahan, Iran, entitled Ataback-e Azam (The Chief Minister), Amir Nezaam (The Prince of the State), and Amir Kabir (The Great Prince), is one of the greatest politicians in the recent two centuries of Iran. He initiated reforms that marked the effective beginning of the modernization of at an early age Mirza Taqi learned to read and write despite his humble origins. “Because of his natural gift and talent, he mastered the required knowledge and skills when still very young. He joined the provincial bureaucracy as a scribe and, by his abilities, rapidly advanced within the hierarchy of the administration. In 1829, as a junior m...

TRACE: Time Is What Agenda For Prosperity Failed To Address Happy New Year to my beloved readers, TRACE is very pleased to see you againthis new season. The expectations of Sierra Leoneans are very high this year. Some Departments, Ministries and Agencies will begin to see the changes the 2014 budget bring this year. This is a welcome idea from TRACE, thanks to the government for such initiative. As TRACE was on vacation, TRACE was meditating on some of the words people were saying during the 2013 era. One thing that keeps swinging around TRACE was the issue of TIME. TRACE came to the realization that there are lots of emphases on time by many stakeholders. TRACE critically looked at the Agenda for prosperity under the All People Congress (APC) government. After attending many events during the past years and observing the lives of many Sierra Leoneans, TRACE has come to the realization that people do not value time. The word, in time means not late. The word punctuality is...

No Wahala as… Sierra WiFi internet services officially launch Information and Communications Minister, Hon. Alhaji Alpha Bakarr Kanu on Thursday 12th December, 2013 officially launched the Sierra WiFi internet services at the company’s headquarters on Wilkinson Road in Freetown. Hon. Alhaji Alpha Bakarr Kanu said that Information Communications Technology (ICT) is a core part in the development of any country, but especially in Africa. He went on to illuminate how the importance of the electronic magnetic spectrum can help the ICT industry in Sierra Leone. The Honourable Minister hinted at the introduction of a Computer Licensing program that will help the nation become more computer literate by learning the basics of how to use a computer. He commended Sierra WiFi for its innovations in linking the entire nation to the world of ICT by providing information technology and computers to schools and also the provision of free WiFi zones nationwide. The Minister revealed that Sierra WiF...

Sierra Leone biggest and finest GSM operator africell has take the single leg amputee sports club to another level by been the main sponsor in their ongoing national sport competition in Kenema city.Team from Freetown, Bo, Kenema, Makeni and Kailahun are currently battle it out for supremacy. During the official opening ceremony over the weekend, statements were made by stakeholders in sports and africell being the lead sponsor. In his address, head of Events and sponsorship Arthur Bockery Kallon said among other things that africell appreciate the gain made by amputee since they decided to partner with them in 2007. He disclosed that africell have sport at heart that is why he said they sponsored the national team, African Nations Cup, World Cup, squash and other sporting activities in the country. He went on to say through sports peace and unity can be entails in any community. He encourages spectators to give support to amputee where ever they see them as disability is not inab...

The Accra-based sub-regional rights body, the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Tuesday urged Sierra Leonean President, Ernest Bai Koroma, to respect the independence of his country’s Independent Media Commission (IMC) in carrying out its regulatory mandate. The call followed the withdrawal of the broadcast licence of Afri Radio, a privately-owned radio station, on 12 April by the statutory media regulatory body, the media commission, ”following a direct order from President Ernest Bai Koroma.” ”The MFWA calls on President Koroma and his government to respect the independence of the IMC and allow it to carry out its regulatory mandate under the Act that established it as advised by the State Attorney,” the sub-regional rights body emphasized in a statement. According to MFWA, President Koroma, during a meeting with officials of Sierra Leone’s National Telecommunications Commission on 9 April, reportedly ordered the Chairman of the IMC, Rod MacJohnson, to immediately suspend the...

The formation and operations of Secret Societies in Africa especially Sierra Leone forms part of the cultural heritage. It is believed that Secret Societies serves as a channel through which our ancestors and predecessors communicate with the living, and so the sustenance of secret societies has become a necessity in Sierra Leone. In modern day Sierra Leone, lots of secret societies are in operation. Major among these secret societies is the one known as the Orsupiorso Secret Society that is operating in every district in Sierra Leone. It was founded by the late Jonathan Showers commonly known as Pa Jonathan, a fisherman who had the vision while fishing along the Mambolo River in Kambia district, Northern Sierra Leone, some fifty years ago. The main objective of this society was to acquire wealth and prevent early death, and it is only a male who has obtained the age of 18 years and above is eligible to become a member. The Orsupiorso criteria states that before gaining membersh...