TRACE JOENAL

T he desperate efforts by the ruling All People Congress Government to increase the price of fuel in the country has exposed the consistent inconsistencies and smooth lies of the Government. Early this year, when the world market price of oil per barrel reduced drastically from $150 to $26, the price of fuel remained the same in Sierra Leone. As a result of this, the people started raising concerns but the Government said that the price will not correspond to local price because they have removed subsidies from fuel. According to the former Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Mabinty Daramy, the Government was no longer subsidizing fuel, so the price of fuel will not correspond to the world market. Also the head of the Petroleum Regulation Authority Dan Mason told Sierra Leone in a Government Press Conference in February that the Government was no longer subsidizing fuel and on that regard there would be no reduction of fuel in the country. After the government h...

Hahahahahahahaha, the race for who is the champion is still continuing in this country, nobody wants to give way for the other person. How are you doing, folks? Times without number, TRACE attention has being drawn to the activities of United States of America Lady Gaga, if not for her performance it will be for her dressing.   TRACE became fund of US Lady Gaga because of herself made style. She is not the type of lady that duplicates or copies others. She is so real in her passion. But of late TRACE had about another Lady Gaga, this one is from Sierra Leone.   At times, some people called her the iron lady but this one seems different from the US Lady Gaga. Salone Lady Gaga want to rule at all times even when she is at fault. She wants to be praised for what she did not even do right. TRACE had the opportunity to chart with US Lady Gaga on Twitter (Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) | Twitterhttps://twitter.com/ladygaga). She had the patient to explain some of her l...

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Political Affairs Israel B. K. Jigba has said that the ministry has two vehicles which are used by the minister and his deputy. He made this statement at the budget hearing of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MOFED) budget hearing. He said that the ministry does not have vehicles to do their work and when the Kabala incident occurred, the director had to use the Deputy Minister’s vehicle to go there. He explained that the ministry occupied 9th floor of Youyi building with only four rooms where they are going through huge constrains because the four rooms are not enough for them. He said that the ministry does not have any donor support and that the Africa Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) is presently under the ministry.   According to him, the ministry is well structured and that they served as the engine for sustainable peace and socioeconomic development in Sierra Leone. Edward Koroma from Transparency Internat...

By Ibrahim Joenal Sesay For four years now Sierra Leoneans are waiting for the former Presidential Aspirant of the main opposition Sierra Leone People Party in the 2012 elections, Julius Maada Bio to prove critic wrong that he (Bio) can go to the most powerful country on earth. Bio looking depressed? Maada Bio himself has said that he has no problems that will prevent him to go to the United States of America but SALONE TIMES learnt that several attempts made by Bio recently to get a US Visa have been denied by the Embassy based on the Human Rights records of Bio. Several flag bearer aspirants including Andrew Karmoh Keilli, Munda Rodgers are already in the US to attend the convention for the second consecutive time.   The convention which is taking place in Philadelphia is an annual event of the SLPP in that part of the country. According to Andrew Keili SLPP North America Branch invited them as aspirants to witness the convention. He said the SLPP North America Br...

…PRICE DECREASE on DStv Premium by 7%, Compact Plus by 10%, Compact by 7%, Family by 15%. MultiChoice has announced reduction in their prices as a way of helping Sierra Leoneans. This came through a dialogue by the Minister of Information and Communication when they visited South Africa recently.   At a press conference on Thursday 20 th October 2016 at the Information Ministry, the Minister of Information and Communication Mohamed Bangura said he is very proud of Dr. Adonis Abboud who is the head of Transnational Sierra Leone Limited. He went on to say that Dr. Abboud has contributed in his own little way and they are very proud of him. According to him they scratched heads at the Ministry for them to see how they can achieve some of their basic benchmarks as a Ministry.   He described the process of getting a song aired on DStv as very r igid. The Minster disclosed that the he had been attacked by different stakeholders about the price of DStv but he ...

By John Mansaray Sahr Hakeem Gborie victim A physically challenged man, Sahr Hakeem Gborie, son of a late famous politician from Yormandu Village, Kono District, is wanted by village elders to succeed his late father to continue to uphold and maintain the norms of the Poro secret society. According to a source from the village, this Sahr Hakeem Gborie, who is already in hiding, is a victim of circumstances as the elders want him to serve as leader of the secret society, a leadership the Gborie family vehemently opposes, requesting for his protection wherever he is. Family sources intimated that the secret search for Sahr Hakeem Gborie was launched in 2013 after a tipoff from a close friend, forcing Gborie to go into hiding to save his and his children's lives and other family members because of the dreaded secret society. This Poro secret society is very powerful in Sierra Leone, creating fear in people. Some people who don't want to be part of this secret socie...

The Chairperson of the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Trade and Industry in Parliament, Hon. Veronica K. Sesay has said that trade is the backbone for the development of any country. Hon Sesay made this statement on Tuesday 18th October 2016 when the committee summoned the Ministry of Trade and Industry. The committee noted that there is no price control in commodities and asked what the ministry has done towards that and their status report. She pointed out that when the committee is going on oversight functions they want to see policies of the ministry because they are the people’s representatives the public is asking what the committee is doing as there is no price control in the country. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Trade Abdul R Fofanah informed the committee that he is in charge of the administration of the ministry and   his responsibility is to advise the minister on administrative issues. In his presentation to the committee, Mr. Merew...

Very sad and difficulty moment for Sierra Leoneans as they bid farewell to the Iranian Cultural Consul,Dr. Mohammad Marefat.  Both Muslims and non-Muslims, staff of the Cultural Centre, Imams, Lecturers and Journalists, among others, wished him well Dr.Marefat well as his departure came as a surprise. Most of the scholars at the farewell ceremony yesterday spoke about the good works of the Cultural Consul and how he has transformed part of the Cultural Centre. Sheik Ahmed Tejan Sillah, Chief Imam of the Freetown Central Mosque, first spoke about the Karbala killing of Imam Husain pointing out that the event is not a celebration but a commemoration as one can see the honestly and Godliness in Dr.Mohammad Marefatto serve mankind, adding, "This is not the time his country could have recalled him but while human beings plan, Allah’s has his own.” He prayed for Allah’s guidance and protection upon him and for him to return to Sierra Leone.

In his Keynote Speech marking World Mental Health Day ceremony which was organised by Advocacy for Mental Health and Human Rights Sierra Leone on Monday 10th October 2016, Dr. Adonis Abboud expressed shocked over   Kissy Mess Mess Mental Hospital.  “It is in a real Mess,” he stressed. The day which was commemorated all over the world has it theme: ‘Psychiatric First Aid’ “Having seen the documentary about the inmates in that hospital, it was clear that several of them merely needed proper counseling. Instead, what you see is that the inmates are injected periodically with some kind of heavy tranquilizers,” he said. He went on to say that most traumatic events are experiences that created stressful responses and intense emotional behaviour. The crucial element, he added was the support that they give people who experienced trauma, crisis and distress, noting that they need to ensure that victims get the kind of care that is needed promptly and appropriately. He p...

Hello folks, it is with deep mixed feelings that TRACE is writing this piece considering the level of information TRACE gave to the Freetown City Council about the massive encroachment that is going on in the cemeteries especially the Circular Road cemetery.   TRACE was shocked when the news break about the 72 graves that were opened. This is what TRACE saw years ago. That is why TRACE was calling on the attention of the authorities to act but it turned out to be the mastermind of the crimes because they allowed people to construct dwelling houses and use the cemeteries for all sorts of things. The cemeteries in Freetown now have radio stations, garages and also dwelling houses among others. The authority just sit and watch without taking any action. To jug your memory, TRACE has reproduced one of series about the cemeteries in Freetown and how reluctantly Freetown City Council has acted.   Only In Sierra Leone… Killing The Dead Twice All Because Of A Radio ...

Rev. Arnold H.O. Paker of Greater Heights Global Mission which is situated at 45 King Harman Road Brookfields Freetown has published a must read book titled,   “What Must We Do?” The book which was launched by Lady Commissioner OlayinkaLaggah of the Bethel World Outrich Ministries took place at the church premises on Saturday 15th October 2016 at King Harman Road in Freetown. In his statement, Rev. Arnold Paker explained that “What Must We Do” has to do with the works of God and that it is the first book he has authored and published. He said it was never in his wildest imagination that he would write a book but sometimes around 2010, he began to have sudden surges of spontaneous inspirational thoughts and the urge to write them down. He explained further that when he began it first appeared to be random thoughts and articles but they later crystallized into a book. Rev. Arnold Paker said one of their dreams in Greater Heights is to have an arm of the Mission t...

F ollowing our fist publication about the lesbian nature of Asiatu Sankoh, formerly of 3 Patton Street off Kissy Road in the east end of Freetown who is reported to be on the run for involving in an act of lesbianism, which is against the laws of Sierra Leone, this Press has gathered that her family members, community people and even the country’s lawmakers are looking for her for engaging in such diabolic, disgraceful and shameful act which was least expected of her. According to one of Asiatu’s close friend, who begged for anonymity, she said the reason that got Asiatu into lesbianism was when she started working for one of government parastatals, where she met one Abdul Razak Koroma with whom she fell in love and had a son called Imran Koroma. She revealed that they got married but that when Asiatu was later transferred to one of the office branch in town, her husband Razak dated one of her friend in the same office. She continued that Asiatu was never expecting her husband an...

By Abdulrahman Koroma Academic Researcher, Human Rights, Peace and Security Advocate; Benjamin John Sesay is afraid for his safety if he returns to Sierra Leone. Benjamin who specifically focuses his advocacy on the effects of land grabbing on the lives of landowners in Sierra Leone is presently in Sweden contemplating his home coming. Benjamin first visited Sierra Leone in September 2013 and returned to Sweden after his research in January 2014. He revisited in June 2014 to recollect missing data from his laptop. Both visits to his native Sierra Leone were to do a research for his Thesis titled the "EFFECTS OF THE ADDAX BIOENERGY INVESTMENT ON FEMALE FARMERS’ RIGHTS TO LAND AND THEIR LIVELIHOODS IN BOMBALI DISTRICT, SIERRA LEONE" This was the time when he was a Master’s candidate in International Development and Management at Lund University, Sweden. Benjamin got himself into trouble when officials of Addax Bioenergy and few loyal community elders learnt that he ...

A siatu Sankoh has being reported of being a Lesbian is afraid to return to the country because of stigmatization from her family and the community. Asiatu Sankoh a victim of stigmatization  Like many other anti-social vices, lesbianism, homosexuality, same sex marriage, gay and other western cultural practices are taboo, foreign and imported into Sierra Leone from the developed world for which they are frowned at and are illegal. Mr and Mrs Sankoh have condemned the act of their daughter and demanded for her death or never to see her. According to Pa Sankoh he said they are devoted Muslims and they hold Senior Positions in the Mosque which they his members of the Mosque and the community is looking forward to them as examples. “This is a big disgrace to the family. We can’t have such daughter and we will never have one.  We want her dead for bringing disgrace to the family,” Pa. Sankoh went on to say that they are fasting and offering prayers for God to elimin...

By Ibrahim Joenal Sesay The University of Sierra Leone has awarded the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Civil Laws (honoris Causa) to His Excellency Zhao Yanbo Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the Republic of Sierra Leone, at the Mary Kingsley Auditorium Fourah Bah College Mount Aureol on Friday 30 th September 2016. University Register, Sorie N. Dumbuya in his welcome remarks used the opportunity to inform his audience that the authority for the conferment of any degree or similar award in the University of Sierra Leone is vested in the Head of State in his capacity as Chancellor of the University of Sierra Leone as provided in section 13 A of the universities Act of 2005. “However, section 13 B of this Act also provides for this authority to be delegated to any person that holds the position of Vice-Chancellor and Principal, whether in a substantive or an acting capacity.”   The Acting Vice-Chancellor and Principle Professor Ekundayo J.D. Thompson disclo...