SLPP—NGC Alliance
President Julius Maada Bio announced a second set of cabinet ministers Dr. Yumkella —Chairman Presidential Initiative For Climate Change, Renewable Energy & Food Security.
A serious concern, amid a cost-of-living crisis and with Sierra Leone's economy on a free fall, both the IMF and the World Bank holding back their financial support after the multitier general election in which the main opposition All Peoples Congress (APC) disputed the results, alleging that the election tallying and results management weren't transparent and credible —instructed its newly elected parliamentary members and local council not to participate in the Bio-led SLPP government until their demand for polling station results of presidential and general elections held on June 24 were made public.
Dr. Kandeh K. Yumkella
Chairman Presidential Initiative For Climate Change, Renewable Energy & Food Security
President Julius Maada Bio announced a second set of cabinet posts.
Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella (KKY) was appointed Chairman of the Presidential Initiative For Climate Change, Renewable Energy & Food Security.
Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella, until recently, was the Director General of UNIDO – United Nations International Development Organisation; presidential candidate in 2018 and leader of the National Grand Coalition (NGC) Party; Member of Parliament representing Kambia district during the fifth session of Parliament.
Regarded by many in Sierra Leone as one of the few principled politicians left in the country, Yumkella admitted months ago in a press conference that he was in talks with the SLPP to form an alliance with his National Grand Coalition (NGC) Party.
This decision by Kandeh Yumkella to enter into alliance discussions with the Bio, SLPP, was seen as a betrayal and a sell-out and did not go well with the rank-and-file of the National Grand Coalition as he was mocked ruthlessly by its members, with some in the executive resigning in protest. They view the Bio-SLPP as corrupt. However, Yumkella insisted he did it in the interest of Sierra Leone. He [Yumkella] believes that an alliance between the SLPP and his party, the National Grand Coalition (NGC), would help to unite the country and bring about change.
Ultimately: the decision to enter into an alliance discussion with the SLPP was a strategic one for Yumkella though there are both; risks and rewards associated with this decision.
Dr. Yumkella —Chairman Presidential Initiative For Climate Change, Renewable Energy & Food Security.
Cabinet Ministers | Deputy Ministers | and Other appointments
Some of Bio’s old guards have retained their ministerial portfolio, including Dr. Austin Dembi, who stays at the Ministry of Health with responsibility for sanitation removed from his portfolio.
Tamba Lamina stays at the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs, while Mohamed Orman Bangura remains at the Ministry of Youths.
Kanja Sesay stays as Minister of Energy, and Dr. Turad Senesie continues as Minister of Lands and Country Planning.
Former Minister of Information and Communication Mohamed Rahman Swaray was sent to head the Ministry of Employment, Labour, and Social Security, replacing Alpha Timbo was sacked from the government. And former Press Secretary at the Office of the President — Yusuf Keketoma Sandi, now Deputy Minister of Information and Civic Education.
Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Memunatu Pratt, was sacked after failing to improve the country’s tourism industry. Replace by Nabeela F. Tunis. Adekunle King, formerly a Labour Minister, replaced Nabeela Tunis as Minister of Western Area with strategic responsibility for the development of Freetown.
Dr. Denis Sandy, sacked by President Bio in his first administration as a Minister of Lands, has made a comeback, now the new Minister of Works and Public Assets.
Kandeh Yumkella is expected to play a crucial role in the newly Bio-led government.
About Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella
Dr. Kandeh Yumkella was an expert in development economics and agricultural economics. He had over 25 years of international experience and worked in various high-level policy positions in the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the United Nations (UN).
In UNIDO, he served as Director-General for two four-year terms (2005-2013). He was the first from Sub-Saharan Africa to have been appointed to the position. In this role, he led the organization's work promoting industrial development and technological innovation in developing countries.
He was also the founding Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Sustainable Energy for All (SE4All) initiative, launched by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in 2011. SE4All aims to ensure universal access to modern energy services by 2030.
Dr. Yumkella's expertise in development economics and agricultural economics made him a valuable asset to the UN. He was able to help the organization develop and implement policies that would promote economic growth and sustainable development in developing countries.
Some of his specific areas of expertise:
Private sector development
Public-private sector dialogue and partnerships
Small and medium enterprises (SMEs)
Support systems
Capacity-building in industry and business associations
Trade capacity-building
Agro-industry and rural development
High-level policy dialogue and consensus-building
He was also a member of the UN Secretary-General's High-level Advisory Group on Energy and Climate Change. He brought a renewed and vital focus to global energy issues and; led the coordination of the United Nations' response to renewable energy transformation.
Updated: July 20, 2023; 11:36 pm, EST
With the cost and affordability questions being raised by concerned citizens, over the number of appointees, President Bio of the SLPP government has appointed additional cabinet ministerial positions—at a time when the country's economy is in its worst shape. These appointments brought the number of ministers, deputy ministers, and other appointees over the last weeks to surpass eighty (80) for his final term in office, as allowed by the constitution.
additional cabinet ministerial positions
Whatever Happened to The So-called Strategic Alliance?
KKY; looking for his name in the cabinet ministers' list. As the Chief Minister, Finance Minister, Foreign Minister, and Trade Minister positions swiftly filled by SLPP loyalists, one can't help but wonder if Bio has even spared a thought for any desperate NGC lackeys, even for the lowliest of roles.
A Surreal Spectacle Unveiled!_ By Alan Luke
KKY; looking for his name in the cabinet ministers' list
A Surreal Spectacle Unveiled!_ By Alan Luke
KKY; looking for his name in the cabinet ministers' list. As the Chief Minister, Finance Minister, Foreign Minister, and Trade Minister positions swiftly filled by SLPP loyalists, one can't help but wonder if Bio has even spared a thought for any desperate NGC lackeys, even for the lowliest of roles.
These individuals, who once proudly represented the third largest political party in Sierra Leone, decided to ditch their principles in favor of hopping on the SLPP-led government gravy train.
Prepare yourselves for the grandest act of political betrayal Sierra Leone has ever witnessed! As President Bio triumphantly unveiled his questionable cabinet following the election coup, it became glaringly obvious; that Kandeh Yumkella, Jesmed F. Suma, Andrew Kemoh Kieli, Alhaji Amadu Sheriff, and their fellow NGC stalwarts have shattered all records when it comes to negotiating ineptitude.
These individuals, who once proudly represented the third largest political party in Sierra Leone, decided to ditch their principles in favor of hopping on the SLPP-led government gravy train. They conveniently turned a blind eye to the Bio government's laundry list of excesses, including extrajudicial killings, mammoth-scale fraud, and a knack for sowing division and chaos. It seems personal interests trumped any concerns for the public's welfare, as they shamelessly abandoned everything they once claimed to believe in.
It's safe to say; we will need a superhighway on Damascus Road to prevent a traffic jam as NGC executives and members scramble to join the bandwagon.
During the elections, the NGC leaders were not content with being ordinary supporters; they practically transformed into the SLPP's cheerleading squad, rooting for SLPP candidates for the presidency and Freetown. NGC aspirants were even obliged to campaign for SLPP candidates wherever the NGC failed to field a representative. The 'NGC- vuvuzelas,' the likes of the clueless DJ Million, went out of their way to justify this bizarre alliance.
They claimed it was all for 'the sake of securing SLPP's unwavering support for Yumkella in the 2028 elections.' What a load of hogwash! The reason behind the alliance was that Yumkella deemed it beneath his distinguished self to do what any other grubby politician would do—cross carpet.
As the Chief Minister, Finance Minister, Foreign Minister, and Trade Minister positions were swiftly filled by SLPP loyalists, one can't help but wonder if Bio has even spared a thought for any desperate NGC lackeys, even for the lowliest of roles. Meanwhile, Yumkella and his cronies stood idly by as they witnessed the loss of four MPs, one District Chairman, and the control of Kambia District Council. To add insult to injury, the NGC's vote share nosedived from a measly 6% to less than 1%. With public trust eroded, remaining members disillusioned by the web of lies spun by their leaders, and the party teetering on the brink of bankruptcy, one can't help but wonder: what's next for the NGC leadership, if none of them get a job in government, that they are so desperate for?
Perhaps a career in stand-up comedy would be a fitting alternative.
Tagged: #Comedy Central, Satirical
Congratulations on Your Graduating with a Master of Business Administration—MBA!
We're so proud of you for all your hard work and dedication. An incredible achievement to earn an MBA, but it is even more impressive to do so while juggling work, studies, and family responsibilities.
Sarah B H Ellis; MBA
Arden University, Birmingham, UK; Class of 2023
Congratulations, and we are so proud of you!
We're so proud of you for all your hard work and dedication. An incredible achievement to earn an MBA, but it is even more impressive to do so while juggling work, studies, and family responsibilities.
Congratulations on Your Graduating with a Master of Business Administration—MBA!
I know that it was not easy, but you never gave up. You worked hard, stayed focused, and never let anything get in your way —an inspiration to many, and we are so grateful to have you as a family.
Your MBA is a testament to your intelligence, drive, determination, and commitment to excellence. We know you have big plans for the future, and we're excited to see your accomplishment; with your skills and knowledge, you can make a difference in the world.
We wish you all the best in your future endeavors. Congratulations again, Aru, and we are so proud of you! Continue to do amazing things.
Tagged: #Arden University, Birmingham, UK | #StageClip | #ClassOf2023
Injustice Anywhere is a Threat to Justice Everywhere
Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. Unfortunately, our Sierra Leonean society is now one of too many compromised people and no statesmen or institutions serving as moral guarantors.
By Alhaji U Njai, Freelance writer ‘Roaming in the Mountains of Kabala’
Alhaji U Njai
Freelance writer and concerned Sierra Leonean
When we do the right things with integrity, fairness, and transparency, peace is assured at all times in society.
Everyone is crying out for peace in Sierra Leone: yet no one is crying out for social justice and equity, which are fundamental for creating and maintaining peace. —Crying out for peace when that peace based on our neighbors’ oppression will not bear good fruits or lead to a healthy and progressive peaceful society.
Telling people to move on after an incident without healing is simply telling them to accept wrongful acts in society and normalize those behaviors.
From Independence in Sierra Leone to war, ebola, and landslides to our present debacle, we seemingly normalize wrongful acts with a ‘how for do, na for biya’ mentality. Each time we have the opportunity to make things right, nothing is done—we move on without addressing the problem or root cause analysis; no deep healing occurs, and lessons remain unlearnt.
Hence, we keep developing a society with deep wounds and emotional and mental scars or trauma with no support, healing mechanisms, or therapy in place. We are simply left to cope with the mental or psychological trauma of our social ills, with substance abuse becoming a favorite mechanism for a large segment of society.
Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. Unfortunately, our Sierra Leonean society is now one of too many compromised people and no statesmen or institutions serving as moral guarantors. When we do the right things with integrity, fairness, and transparency; peace is assured at all times in society.
As Sierra Leone Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) post-war found injustices, human rights abuses, greed, corruption, bad governance, lack of accountability and transparency, and leadership failures as the roots of the war; we must never forget the things that led us to years of brutal war.
The lessons of the war must serve as our daily reminder to work assiduously towards developing a thriving, socially just, and equitable Sierra Leone. Upholding the truth, fairness, integrity, and transparency at all times thus matters.
———-
Alhaji Umar N’jai is a Ph.D. Senior Scientist, Associate Professor, Panafrican Scholar, Founder & Chief Strategist of Project 1808, Inc., and Freelance writer ‘Roaming in the Mountains of Kabala Republic.’
Project1808 is a Madison, Wisconsin-based nonprofit organization dedicated to improving community livelihood and technical capacity through school, university, and community projects and global partnerships in Sierra Leone. Project1808 was founded in 2009 by Sierra Leone native Dr. Alhaji N’jai and became an official 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit organization in the United States in 2011.
Project1808 is committed to optimizing partnerships between educational institutions locally, within Africa, and overseas, particularly with the involvement of other African countries.
Bill Barr Ramps Up His Showdown With ‘Troubled Man’ Trump in Stunning CBS Interview
Bill Barr, Attorney General during the Trump administration in a CBS interview with Robert Costa on Sunday, June 18, 2023, unloaded on his former boss.
‘He will always put his own interests and gratifying his own ego ahead of everything else, including the country’s interests. There’s no question about it. This is a perfect example of that. He’s like a 9-year-old — a defiant 9-year-old kid who’s always pushing the glass toward the edge of the table, defying his parents to stop him from doing it. It’s a means of self-assertion and exerting his dominance over other people. And he’s a very petty individual who will always put his interests ahead of the country’s, and the personal gratification of his ego. But our country can’t be a therapy session for a troubled man like this.’
©️Source CulledTheo Edwards
He is Like ‘A Defiant 9-Year-Old’ kid who’s always pushing the glass toward the edge of the table
Bill Barr, former Attorney General
Bill Barr, Attorney General during the Trump administration in a CBS interview with Robert Costa on Sunday, June 18, 2023, unload on his former boss.
Former Attorney General Bill Barr has been the talk of the political world for the past week — after his stunning proclamation that former President Donald Trump is “toast” if half of the 37-count indictment against him is true. Now, after a week of personal insults from the former president, Barr is fighting back with an utterly brutal assessment of his old boss.
In a stunning CBS interview on Sunday with Robert Costa, Barr doubled down on his opinion that Trump has only himself to blame for his current predicament.
Bill Barr, Attorney General during the Trump administration in a CBS interview with Robert Costa on Sunday, June 18, 2023, unload on his former boss.
‘This is not a circumstance where he’s the victim or this is government overreach,’ Barr said.
‘He is a consummate narcissist, and he constantly engages in reckless conduct that puts his political followers at risk and the conservative and Republican agenda at risk,’ he said.
Asked if he believes Trump lied to the Justice Department, Barr said, ‘Yes, I do.’
He then added this jaw-dropping postscript:
‘He will always put his interests and gratifying his own ego ahead of everything else, including the country’s interests. There’s no question about it. This is a perfect example of that. He’s like a 9-year-old — a defiant 9-year-old kid who’s always pushing the glass toward the edge of the table, defying his parents to stop him from doing it. It’s a means of self-assertion and exerting his dominance over other people. And he’s a very petty individual who will always put his interests ahead of the country’s, and the personal gratification of his ego. But our country can’t be a therapy session for a troubled man like this.’
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The Department of Justice made history on Friday, June 9, 2023, unsealing a 37-count indictment against former President Donald Trump related to his handling of classified documents after leaving the White House.
No other president has ever faced federal charges, let alone the prospect of a lengthy prison sentence if convicted (an aide, Walt Nauta, was also charged with helping Trump conceal records).
A View of a Part of Freetown
What is the future of Freetown? Should we give up and start thinking of a new capital? Or, can we, and should we try to salvage what's left of Freetown?
Whatever course we choose as a nation, it would require bold, visionary leadership at both central and local government levels to make any changes. Leaders need to think less politically and stop seeing people as mere 'constituencies' and votes. Because it is those political calculations that are responsible for the inaction of the leaders on many of these issues.
The City is a Market
Freetown the F-R-E-E T-O-W-N: A sprawling slum from east to west
Leaders need to think less politically and stop seeing people as mere 'constituencies' and votes. Because it is those political calculations that are responsible for the inaction of the leaders on many of these issues.
The capital, Freetown, has turned into a sprawling slum. From east to west, it has lost shape, looking less and less like a nation’s capital. What used to be a small, beautiful city on the coast has become extremely busy and overpopulated with no Law and Order. Freetown needs to be free from its freeness; that is what this piece is about.
Establishing the problem here can be done quite effortlessly.
You only need to step out —and are met with a frenzy from virtually all directions and sources.
The city is a market. And it is looking like a slum too. Everyone is selling everywhere. In fact, the norm now is that every new building must have a shop on the ground floor, regardless of the location —commercial or residential zone.
Commercial motorbikes (Okadas) and their cousins’ three-wheelers (kekehs) scattered like an upset swarm of bees crisscrossing the roads with passengers whose life expectancy drops every time they get on one of them.
They make their own rules. In fact, they have no Rules. They can choose to drive in the opposite direction without any consideration for the law or other road users. There are Okada and Kekeh stations everywhere.
Okada and Kekeh stations everywhere
People who own restaurants and bars can install the loudest speakers and play their music way into the night without consideration for anyone or any rules. The churches and mosques are no different.
They use religion to take advantage of communities that are overly respectful of anything that carries the name of God.
Street workshops/garages are popping up everywhere, and you wonder how this is even allowed to happen when there is someone somewhere paid to stop it. Abandoned vehicles? All over the place.
There is filth everywhere. It's either piles of garbage at street corners or litter all over. Communal garbage disposal sites have all disappeared and huge new buildings have popped up where they used to be. And in Freetown today, you have no chance of shielding yourself from this disorderliness, regardless of where you live. Everyone in the city and its neighbor, the rural district, lives in a slum by default. You have no choice. Sad! but this is our reality.
How did we get here?
We inherited a beautiful city from our ancestors, and instead of improving on it and keeping what deserves preservation, we have basically undone Freetown.
We have turned it into an eyesore, and the destruction goes on as we turn Lumley Beach into a massive colony of 'baffas' and as we continue to build into the hills, leaving the landscape looking patchy -increasing the pressure on the environment, contributing to the deadly floods and mudslides that we have been seeing.
Its Citizens and, Everyone with authority should take responsibility for this mess.
Politics would not allow the leaders to make decisions that are in the interest of everyone.
They would rather let dangerous bikes take over the City. Allowing traders turn the City into a market and leave everyone to build where they want _instead of taking action to protect the residents and maintain order and peace in the nation’s capital.
The central Government introduced decentralization but has been unprepared to let go, and it seems to be locked in a perennial war with the current administration of the city. Reason? Politics.
Whether this is true or not does not really matter. What is important is that the Government and Freetown City Council have not been able to work together for the good of ‘Freetonians,’ to borrow a word from Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr.
The Mayor has recently been concentrating on a lot of environmental projects. She is working hard on heat and climate adaptation. This is important considering how fast the globe is heating up and how climate change is impacting the lives and livelihoods of ordinary people. However, we seem to have dropped the ball on the basics, including sanitation; and law and order. The Council has a set of clearly written bylaws. If we enforce half of those laws, the city would not be in this ‘dorti-kata’ and ‘chaka-chaka’ slum state.
The transport authorities and the police are also complicit because they have turned law enforcement into an enterprise. No one is safe on the roads. Police officers and road safety personnel are busy chasing bike riders all day, not to stop them from breaking the rules but for extortion. The sight of police chasing Okadas and hassling them resembles scenes from Tom and Jerry. Jokes!
All of this goes back to some very unfortunate Sierra Leonean peculiarities. We usually have zero consideration for the other person. As long as ‘ar don get sai for pak me motor car, na go ar go so.’ Whatever happens after that is somebody else’s problem. We have lowered the standards on everything—from food and quality of life to development projects and even politics. No standards. So, we could all be sitting on filth in the city and everyone—the Government, the Council, and all the authorities would be fine with it, and they would tell you, ‘We don try’. This national laisser-faire attitude affects the way we the people appreciate and appraise leadership and also influences the leaders’ behavior in office.
A lot of these issues have socioeconomic roots. People are desperate to make a living. So, they sell everything, everywhere.
There are too few jobs and opportunities for young people in the country. So, a lot of them see Okada or Kekeh as employment.
Housing is a massive problem. It is a crisis that we have not acknowledged. Everyone is desperate to build everywhere either; to escape predatory house owners or the well-to-do building of more properties. These are real everyday issues affecting working people. They are also signs that things are becoming extremely hard for people. But there has to be a balance between livelihood and sanity in the city. There also has to be due consideration for the safety and well-being of everyone living in the city. We cannot turn the Capital into a state of anarchy just because the government has failed to look after its citizens and guarantee a life of dignity.
What is the future of Freetown? Should we give up and start thinking of a new capital? Or, can we, and should we try to salvage what's left of Freetown?
Whatever course we choose as a nation, it would require bold, visionary leadership at both central and local government levels to make any changes. Leaders need to think less politically and stop seeing people as mere 'constituencies' and votes. Because it is those political calculations that are responsible for the inaction of the leaders on many of these issues.
If other small countries and cities can get it right, why can’t we?
Original Publication February 11, 2023
Caps Off to You, Graduate!
We're so proud of you, and honored to celebrate graduation day with you!
By Theo Edwards
Estelle Nyandah Edwards
LaSalle University Class of 2023
Congratulations to Estelle Nyandah Edwards on her four-year journey at LaSalle University. We're so proud of you and honored to celebrate graduation day with you! As an Explorer, you never lost. You value the pursuit and exploration of knowledge and faith.
It finally paid off after years of hard work and sacrifice— a degree in Forensic Psychology and Criminal Justice. Your program of study allowed you the opportunity to excel in the Judiciary Field. Your future is beyond bright.
May 13, 2023 Commencement
La Salle News
Highlight reel - Commencement 2023: Prepared for whatever comes next
“Classmates, when you enter the world, continue to remind yourself about how powerful the education is that you received at La Salle. Believe in how much you can accomplish, and if you are ever in doubt, bet on yourself. Use the tools in your toolbox and apply them to every situation you face.”
Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr End Of Tenure Message
Pursuant to a letter from the Minister of Local Government dated 8th February 2023 instructing all Mayors, Chairpersons, and Councillors to “vacate” the Local Councils on 1st March 2023, I write to inform you that my tenure as Mayor of Freetown ends today.
Freetown City Council
March 1, 2023
Dear Freetonians
Pursuant to a letter from the Minister of Local Government dated 8th February 2023 instructing all Mayors, Chairpersons, and Councillors to “vacate” the Local Councils on 1st March 2023, I write to inform you that my tenure as Mayor of Freetown ends today. (For the record, this directive is in contravention of Section 137 of the Local Government Act 2022 which provides for local councils to be dissolved at the earlier of the dissolution of Parliament [25th April 2023] or the fifth anniversary of the first council sitting [30th May 2023]).
I will forever be grateful for the opportunity to serve Freetonians and to embark with you on our collective journey to #TransformFreetown. Yesterday, in a Press Conference at the Freetown City Council, I presented the Transform Freetown Four-Year Report which details our interventions and progress made between January 2022 and January 2023. A copy of the report is attached and copies of the First Year, Second Year, and Third Year Transform Freetown Reports can be accessed here https://fcc.gov.sl. I am excited about our achievements over the course of my tenure despite the many challenges I encountered personally and by the Freetown City Council as an institution.
#TransformFreetown is about transforming lives. Yesterday I was grateful to receive surprise visits and gifts from ordinary Freetonians, market women, and street sweepers, who gave moving testimonies about the 1000s of jobs created during my tenure and their own experiences of personal economic empowerment, growth, and development.
Yesterday afternoon was spent in a fun-filled farewell event with the FCC Staff during which I handed over to Chief Administrator Festus Kallay the 3 decorative mayoral chains as a symbol of the authority of the office of the mayor. It was wonderful to use that opportunity to inform FCC staff that after over 3 years of working on this, the FCC salary harmonization process had finally been completed, and a transparent system of salary bands that objectively reflect qualifications, experience, and length of service was being implemented for all staff from February 2023!
Celebrations of the end of my tenure continued in the evening with a cocktail event. I was so pleased to share the celebrations with All People’s Congress (APC) Party Flagbearer Dr. Samura Kamara, US Ambassador David Reimer, UK High Commissioner Lisa Chesney, Irish Ambassador Claire Buckley, World Bank Country Manager Abdu Muwonge, Tony Blair Institute Country Lead Mariama Anthony-Williams, EU Delegation Representative Serena Bertaina and many others development partners and stakeholders.
One of the highlights of the evening was a performance by the children from the FCC Congo Water Market Early Learning Adventure Center. These bright, confident, and assertive children of the Congo Water market women warmed my heart and are themselves a true representation of the work we have done to #TransformLives!
Yesterday was also an opportunity to thank God and to thank my family who have been incredibly supportive of me and without whom I could not have hoped to succeed. I was pleasantly surprised and deeply moved by a video that was shown at the event in which my mother shared her perspectives on the work that I have done and the impact it has had on the lives of others. (The video is attached below.)
Thanks must also go to the APC party and particularly to Former President HE Ernest Bai Koroma for entrusting the APC Mayoral symbol to me in 2018. I am grateful to the APC not only for the symbol but also for their support throughout my tenure.
#TransformFreetown is a collective action so my deepest thanks are extended to the FCC Councillors and Staff, members of the Mayors Delivery Unit (past and present), our development partners both in the country and abroad, to the central government, and most of all to Freetonians.
I leave office today grateful to have had the opportunity to serve, impact lives, raise awareness about climate change and design and implement interventions to address this major risk and other challenges in our city, and develop and embed systems and processes at the Freetown City Council that provide a foundation for sustainable development.
May I use this opportunity to wish Freetonians and all Sierra Leoneans a peaceful and democratic 24th June 2023 elections and a bright and prosperous future for our beloved city and nation. May God bless us all.
©️Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr OBE
Sierra Leone: Devastation After Fuel Tanker Collision
Friday, November 5, 2021: A fuel tanker exploded following a collision in the capital of Sierra Leone, Freetown, killing at least 99 people and injuring a dozen others, officials said.
Around the Wellington PMB area
A fuel tanker exploded following a collision in the capital of Sierra Leone, Freetown, killing at least 99 people and injuring a dozen others, officials said.
The explosion took place late on Friday, November 5, 2021, after a vehicle struck the tanker in Wellington, a suburb east of the capital, Freetown.
Fuel spilled before igniting, and the resulting inferno engulfed bystanders, those trying to scoop fuel from the tanker, and vehicles at a busy intersection.
Several badly burned victims lay on the streets as flames blazed through shops and houses nearby. The extent of property damage was as yet unknown. Several eyewitnesses narrated in a video. Dozens of people are feared dead.
President Julius Maada Bio, who was in Scotland attending the United Nations Climate Change Conference in a Tweet, said he was “deeply disturbed by the tragic fires and the horrendous loss of life.”
People survey the extent of the damage
Charred Motorcycle
In pictures (Courtesy BBC): Sierra Leone devastation after Freetown fuel tanker collision
Freetown Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr said she saw “harrowing” photos, according to the BBC Africa.
After visiting the scene, Vice-President Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh said it was a "national disaster."
Doctors and nurses were doing their best under very difficult conditions with limited resources and equipment to provide care
President Julius Maada Bio on Sunday declared three days of national mourning following the death of over one hundred people. He promised to set up a Presidential Task Force that will investigate the causes of the disaster and make recommendations for change.
Mass Burial in Freetown. Many of the victims burnt beyond recognition - will be buried in the same cemetery as victims of the 2017 landslide
Mass Burial in Freetown. Many of the victims burnt beyond recognition will be buried in the same cemetery as victims of the 2017 landslide.
Last updated: 11/13 - 06:56 EST.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in a statement issued by his Spokesperson on Saturday, that he was “deeply saddened by the extensive loss of life”, resulting from the crash, when the tanker collided with a lorry at a busy junction in the suburb of Wellington, spilling fuel, before igniting.
“The Secretary-General extends his deep condolences to the people and Government of Sierra Leone, and wishes those injured a speedy recovery”, said the statement.
Support on-going
“The United Nations is prepared to provide the necessary support in the aftermath of this tragic incident”, it continued.
The UN Office in Sierra Leone also issued a statement, wishing “fortitude and peace to the bereaved families, and the Government and people of Sierra Leone, in this period of grief.”
“Furthermore, as partners in the country’s development aspirations”, the UN family in the West African nation said it was closely monitoring the situation and would work with the Government to overcome what the country’s Vice-President, Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, reportedly described as a “national disaster”, after visiting the scene of the crash.
Specialized support
The World Health Organization (WHO) tweeted on Saturday that it was “mobilizing specialized supplies.”
“We are working to deploy burnt-patient care experts. We will provide more support as needed, at this terrible time for the people of Sierra Leone.”
Stay on top of Sierra Leone's latest developments on the ground with YAME (pronounced yuh-may) fact-based news and exclusive video footage.
What Income Level Is Considered Middle Class in Your State?
What is considered middle class? It might take more money than you think to reach this income tier.
Gabrielle Olya, yahoo!finance
Gabrielle Olya
yahoo!finance
gorodenkoff / Getty Images/iStockphoto
What is considered middle class? It might take more money than you think to reach this income tier. The Pew Research Center defines middle class, or middle-income households, as those with incomes that are two-thirds to double the U.S. median household income.
However, because the cost of living and average income varies so widely from state to state, the income needed to be "middle class" in one state could be much more or less than what it takes to be middle class in another. Using Pew's definition of middle class, GOBankingRates analyzed data from the U.S. Census Bureau's 2018 American Community Survey to determine how much two-, three- and four-person families need to earn in every state to qualify for this classification.
Find out the states where it's easiest to be middle class. Last updated: June 17, 2021
Obama becomes minority owner, strategic partner for NBA Africa
Obama’s investment in the league will be used to support youth and leadership programming for the Obama Foundation across the continent, reports CNN
yahoo!news (by Biba Adams)
NBA Africa oversees the Basketball Africa League
yahoo!news (by Biba Adams)
Former President Barack Obama’s investment in Basketball Africa will be used to support youth and leadership programming for the Obama Foundation across the continent.
Former President Barack Obama has hit another milestone.
America’s beloved first commander-in-chief has become a strategic partner and minority owner in the National Basketball Association (NBA)’s African league — Basketball Africa.
U.S. President Barack Obama plays basketball during the annual Easter Egg Roll on the White House tennis court April 1, 2013 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
NBA Africa oversees the Basketball Africa League which has seen investment from former basketball stars, Dikembe Mutombo, Grant Hill, and Junior Bridgeman.
Obama’s investment in the league will be used to support youth and leadership programming for the Obama Foundation across the continent, reports CNN.
The exact terms of Obama’s investment have not been disclosed.
In a statement, the former president wrote, “The NBA has always been a great ambassador for the United States—using the game to create deeper connections around the world, and in Africa, basketball has the power to promote opportunity, wellness, equality, and empowerment across the continent.
“By investing in communities, promoting gender equality, and cultivating the love of the game of basketball, I believe that NBA Africa can make a difference for so many of Africa’s young people.”
The former president’s father was from Kenya on the east of the continent.
NBA Africa’s CEO Victor Williams reportedly wants to build corporate partnerships, expand content and media rights, and support local governments seeking to build new basketball arenas.
NBA Africa CEO Victor Williams (Photo: NBA Africa)
The league is currently made up of 12 teams and games are broadcast to 215 countries and territories across the continent.
According to CNBC, 55 players in the NBA are either native Africans or first-generation immigrants from the continent. The Basketball Africa League is being viewed as a new source for scouting and developing players.
Former NBA players Luol Deng and Joakim Noah are investors in the NBA Africa league via Helios Fairfax Partners Corporation which also counts NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and NBA Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum on its board.
Silver shared a statement of glowing praise about the former president, writing, “We are honored that President Obama has become a strategic partner in NBA Africa and will support our wide-ranging efforts to grow the game of basketball on the continent.”
“In addition to his well-documented love for basketball, President Obama has a firm belief in Africa’s potential and the enormous growth opportunities that exist through sports. NBA Africa will benefit tremendously from his engagement.”
Former President Obama has long expressed his love for basketball, previously acknowledging that while he loved the sport, he did not possess the skills to go professional. Still, throughout his presidency, Obama often played basketball on White House grounds and even invited NBA stars like LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant to go head-to-head with him.
Related Article: NBA Communication
Obama Foundation
And Congratulations! New Graduates
Students have worked hard to get here. It has been a long time coming, and this last year has probably been very challenging. After all the festivities are over, it is time to change focus and to anticipate, 'What's Next.' Time for the next step –Universal job skills that can boost your career. If mastered, it can improve your job prospects.
By Theo Edwards
So What Next
Time for the next step –Universal job skills that can boost your career.
Students have worked hard to get here. It has been a long time coming, and this last year has probably been very challenging. After all the festivities are over, it is time to change focus and to anticipate, 'What's Next.' Time for the next step –Universal job skills that can boost your career. If mastered, it can improve your job prospects.
Transitioning to your next step:
It is not a coincidence some people can hop jobs and industries with ease. They move from one role to a seemingly unrelated one –these lucky souls have universal job skills that have stood the test of time – (aka) transferable skills.
Great communication skills. Can you string two sentences to your colleagues with ease, and do you listen well? Can you put yourself in someone else shoes? These skills may leapfrog you to the front of a job queue. Remember communication, is not just verbal. Good writing grammar spelling is crucial to getting ahead despite what your friends might say. Almost everyone has to send work emails, and as you progress up the promotion chain, you will probably need to write reports.
Flexibility, adaptability, and innovation: Change is a given in organizations, and those people who can be flexible, adapt to change, and innovate are sought after. The employer is more impressed with the person who embraces the new system and sees the potential improvements it brings - rather than the employee who grudgingly accepts that s/he will have to change. Being open to new ideas is an invaluable skill.
Great interpersonal skills. The personable person gets ahead at work. Working well with others is a prerequisite for almost every job – even if you only see your colleagues at weekly team or Zoom meetings. What’s more, if you can build internal or external relationships, organize colleagues to collaborate, you will rack up both brownie points and achievements. Some of the skills you need to succeed in interpersonal relationships are listening, fairness and empathy. Being resilient and able to bounce back is also essential.
Technical skills and initiative universally regarded -Computer skills. Good computer skills get you noticed even if your job doesn’t directly rely on them. You might help your boss solve a confusing and difficult problem or question with an Excel spreadsheet or even more demonstrate the use of the company database more efficiently to colleagues.
Knowing how to find information is a beneficial skill in most industries. The ability to research a subject or issue and give options, tell the boss what the company has done in the past in similar circumstances, or find out how other organizations tackle it.
Finally, relax easy and kudos on your achievement as a COLLEGE GRAD.
International Women's Day - March 8, 2021
Rise WindsorEssex- Omolade Williams as a woman entrepreneur and women in STEM. Read about Omolade's entrepreneurial journey and dedication to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Omolade Williams
A woman entrepreneur and women in STEM
On Day 3 of #InternationalWomensDay – feature Omolade Williams!
Omolade's entrepreneurial journey and dedication to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion:
As a British Born African, I migrated to Canada from the United Kingdom under the Ontario PNP Skilled Workers program. I was educated in the UK at a Master’s level with other professional certifications; predominantly in Information Systems and Business.
Unfortunately, after landing in Windsor I was unsuccessful in gaining employment in my profession. I since retrained as a skill trades Millwright to earn above the minimum wage. My previous work experiences span charitable organizations, government, local councils, businesses, and corporations; mostly in the UK.
As a black female immigrant to Canada, the challenges to finding professional employment are magnified, particularly with the question often put by employers, “Do you have Canadian experience/qualifications?”.
I was blessed to have been born, bred, educated, and 'lived' my education and opportunities in the UK. My son, and others with whom I’ve crossed paths, may not have been as fortunate as me prior to arriving in Canada, hence the birth of my initiative: Beneficent Learning Access (BLAccess).
BLAccess aims to bridge the gap between employers and professional immigrant employees through education focused on culture, diversity, and inclusion. Challenges exist for both employers and employees to understand each other.
I am inspired by current challenges endured by the underrepresented, marginalized immigrants and black professionals; as a consequence, relish nothing more than seeing potential where others do not and bringing it to life.
I’m taking a very active role in promoting Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Technology; and generally workplace inclusivity. In addition, I’m one of WEtech Alliance’s business advisors; I sit on Windsor Hackforge and The Windsor Women Working With Immigrant Women (W5) Board of Directors; I am also a startup member for a couple of local organizations. Finally, I am the Chapter Lead for the Canadian Learning Codes for Girls and Mentor for Black Boys Code, Windsor Chapter.
Banana Republic Blues
I never thought I would be comparing Washington DC to the Green Zone in Baghdad; however, the MAGA crowd brought us to the brink of a very un-American insurrection. Trump stormtroopers aimed was to overturn the will of the American people and, in true Jim Crow fashion, tried to disenfranchise African Americans and other minorities.
The MAGA crowd
I never thought I would be comparing Washington DC to the Green Zone in Baghdad; however, the MAGA crowd brought us to the brink of a very un-American insurrection. Trump stormtroopers aimed was to overturn the will of the American people and, in true Jim Crow fashion, tried to disenfranchise African Americans and other minorities.
The world citadel of democracy was brought low by a rogue’s gallery of white supremacists’, conspiracy theory nuts, and slavish devotees of the cult of Trump.
In Picture: Trump' Stormtroopers
January 6, 2021 will forever be remembered as a day of infamy. You do not have to be Nostradamus to know what was going to happen next.
I kept my literary powder-dry on the outcome of the election. Like an exhausted boxer in the last round, waited for Trumps' spurious clowns to reach their logical conclusion and bow to the inevitable.
The fresh promise of a New year had barely ushered in when Donald J Trump and his merry band of ‘stormtroopers’ attempted to shred the Constitution in a failed de facto coup -so much for law and order.
There is plenty of blame to go around, and Trump is not the only one with blood on his hands.
The catalyst for the Capitol insurrection was based; on a web of hate, disinformation, and misguided racial animus. Social media and political toadies like Jim Jordan, Ted Cruz, and Josh Hawley -helped spread venom into the body politics. Furthermore, acolytes like Rudy Giuliani, Roger Stone, and Rush Limbaugh perpetuate the Myth of a stolen election. Grumpy ‘Moscow’ Mitch McConnell, William Barr exchanged their morality and patriotic duty for political power.
The communal ties that bind our nation have been torn a shred by a megalomaniacal faux tyrant, political poseur, and a mean-spirited dilettante.
Trumps' primary legacy is a nation ravaged by disease, economic devastation, and increased racial animosity. Therefore impeachment seems to be a 'fitting coda' to His four-year reign of terror and endless scandals.
Globally the image of America as a shining bastion of democracy has been shattered.
There have been a few profiles-in-courage on the Republican side: Senator Mitt Romney and Congresswoman Liz Cheney deserve praise for their commitment to truth and honor.
The future of the GOP cloudy on the horizon; a fratricidal civil war is looming between traditional conservatives and Trump-republicans. One can only hope, for the sake of our democracy, the better angels prevail over those who live in the alternative universe of hate and deception.
Hopefully, Joe Biden offers America a chance to reset. He will need all his political acumen to raise the American phoenix from the ashes.
America is a divided nation- One of the most disappointing aspects of the 2020 election despite some disastrous policies and chaotic reign, 74 million Americans still voted for the continuation of Trumps' strange brew of political Theatre.
Trump abrogated every oath he took to protect us from all enemies: foreign or domestic. He left an indelible dark stain on the psyche of our nation.
A major tenet of American democracy is the peaceful transition of power, this sacrosanct principle Trump sought to overturn in a demonic attempt to retain the White House.
With a failure to concedes election, Trump unleashed a motley crew of domestic terrorists on the nation without regard for life or liberty.
Rather than suppressing voter turnout, we need a new Republican party that competes for everyone's vote.
Time to choose country over party, virulent ideology, and political opportunism. We have stared into the abyss and seen the enemy within. Political philosopher, Edmund Burke: '...all that is necessary for evil to flourish is for good men to stand by and do nothing.' After the events at the Capitol, doing nothing no longer seems to be a viable option.
Pompeo Says Russia Was Behind Cyberattack on U.S.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is the first member of the Trump administration to publicly link the Kremlin to the hacking of dozens of government and private systems.
Source: The New York Times: By Steve Kenny: Dec. 19, 2020, Updated 4:01 a.m. ET
The New York Times
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Friday it was clear that Russia was behind the widespread hacking of government systems that officials this week called “a grave risk” to the United States.
Mr. Pompeo is the first member of the Trump administration to publicly link the Kremlin to the cyberattack, which used a variety of sophisticated tools to infiltrate dozens of government and private systems, including nuclear laboratories and the Pentagon, Treasury and Commerce Departments.
“I think it’s the case that now we can say pretty clearly that it was the Russians that engaged in this activity,” Mr. Pompeo said in an interview on the Mark Levin Show.
“This was a very significant effort,” he said, adding that “we’re still unpacking precisely what it is.”
President Trump has yet to address the attack, which has been underway since spring and was detected by the private sector only a few weeks ago. Until Friday, Mr. Pompeo had played down the episode as one of the many daily attacks on the federal government.
But intelligence agencies have told Congress that they believe it was carried out by the S.V.R., an elite Russian intelligence agency.
As evidence of the attack’s scope piled up this week, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency sent out an urgent warning on Thursday that the hackers had “demonstrated an ability to exploit software supply chains and shown significant knowledge of Windows networks.”
The agency added that it was likely that some of the attackers’ tactics, techniques and procedures had “not yet been discovered.” Investigators say it could take months to unravel the extent to which American networks and the technology supply chain have been compromised.
Microsoft said it had identified 40 companies, government agencies, and think tanks that the hackers had infiltrated. Nearly half are private technology firms, Microsoft said, many of them cybersecurity firms, like FireEye, that are charged with securing vast sections of the public and private sector.
“There are more nongovernmental victims than there are governmental victims, with a big focus on I.T. companies, especially in the security industry,” Brad Smith, Microsoft’s president, said in an interview on Thursday.
FireEye was the first to inform the government that the hackers had infected the periodic software updates issued by a company called SolarWinds since at least March. SolarWinds makes critical network monitoring software used by the government, hundreds of Fortune 500 companies, and firms that oversee critical infrastructure, including the power grid.
The national security adviser, Robert C. O’Brien, cut short a trip to the Middle East and Europe on Tuesday and returned to Washington to run crisis meetings to assess the situation. The F.B.I., the Cybersecurity, and Infrastructure Security Agency, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence formed an urgent response group, the Cyber Unified Coordination Group, to coordinate the government’s responses to what the agencies called a “significant and ongoing cybersecurity campaign.”
The Russians have denied any involvement. The Russian ambassador to the United States, Anatoly I. Antonov, said Wednesday that there were “unfounded attempts by the U.S. media to blame Russia” for the recent cyberattacks.
According to a person briefed on the attack, the S.V.R. hackers sought to hide their tracks by using American internet addresses that allowed them to conduct attacks from computers in the very city — or appearing so — in which their victims were based. They created special bits of code intended to avoid detection by American warning systems and timed their intrusions not to raise suspicions.
The attacks, said the person briefed on the matter, shows that the weak point for the American government computer networks remains administrative systems, particularly ones that have a number of private companies working under contract.
President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. said Thursday that his administration would impose “substantial costs” on those responsible.
“A good defense isn’t enough; we need to disrupt and deter our adversaries from undertaking significant cyberattacks in the first place,” Mr. Biden said, adding, “I will not stand idly by in the face of cyberassaults on our nation.”
Investigators and other officials say they believe the goal of the Russian attack was traditional espionage, the sort the National Security Agency, and other agencies regularly conduct on foreign networks. But the extent and depth of the hacking raise concerns that hackers could ultimately use their access to shutter American systems, corrupt or destroy data, or take command of computer systems that run industrial processes. So far, though, there has been no evidence of that happening.
Across federal agencies, the private sector, and the utility companies that oversee the power grid, forensic investigators were still trying to unravel the extent of the compromise. But security teams say the relief some felt that they did not use the compromised systems turned to panic on Thursday, as they learned other third-party applications may have been compromised.
Inside federal agencies and the private sector, investigators say they have been stymied by classifications and a siloed approach to information sharing.
“We have forgotten the lessons of 9/11,” Mr. Smith said. “It has not been a great week for information sharing and it turns companies like Microsoft into a sheepdog trying to get these federal agencies to come together into a single place and share what they know.”
Reporting was contributed by David E. Sanger, Nicole Perlroth, Eric Schmitt, and Julian Barnes.
Sierra Leone: Freetown City Council
The new City Hall Complex consists of conference rooms, a 460 seater multifunctional activities conference hall with the latest technology, an underground power station of two 800KVA Generators, and a car park for over 100 vehicles.
Transform Freetown
Sierra Leone: Freetown City Council on 6th November 2020 hosted the Opening Ceremony for the new City Hall Complex and Hon. Tamba Lamina, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, delivered the keynote address.
Present at the Opening Ceremony was the Ambassador of South Korea to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Sierra Leone, Major General Lee In-Tae and his delegation; the Deputy Minister of Finance, Hon Patricia Laverly, and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon Solomon Jamiru; Esq. Also present were Dr. Kaifala Marah, former Minister of Finance, Mrs. Ebun Strasser-King, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, members of the diplomatic community, Councillors and staff of Freetown City Council.
The 15 stories New City Hall is the administrative complex for Freetown City Council, whose primary purpose will be to serve as the Office of the Mayor and the Council’s Administration - a modern building in the heart of the City’s Central Business District. When all the contractual obligations finalized, the building expected officially hand over to the Freetown City Council administration.
The facilities include:
A rooftop garden, sky-lounge restaurant, kitchen, and ten hotel rooms
Three floors of ultra-modern office space, of approximately 1000 square meters each
A library, computer laboratory, and open exhibition area
Multi-story car park
An auditorium for 460 people with cinema seating, fully-fitted stage, and audio-visual equipment
The New City Hall will provide much-needed space for Freetown City Council to provide services and engage with residents as the Council implements its Transform Freetown Agenda. The council plan to lease out parts of the complex.
The official handing over of the building to the Council Administration is at the end of November, and moving in before December, 31st 2020.
The New City Council: The new City Hall Complex consists of conference rooms, a 460 seater multifunctional activities conference hall with the latest technology, an underground power station of two 800KVA Generators, and a car park for over 100 vehicles.
Corruption Undermines Social Development and Stymied Inclusive Economic Growth
Sierra Leone President: We Cannot Be This Corrupt. "We have to draw the line... we cannot be this corrupt as a nation and expect to develop," he told the BBC's Umaru Fofana in Freetown.
Source: BBC
The White Papers
Sierra Leone President: We Cannot Be This Corrupt. "We have to draw the line... we cannot be this corrupt as a nation and expect to develop," he told the BBC's Umaru Fofana in Freetown.
Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio has said an investigation into allegations of corruption into the administration of his predecessor, President Ernest Bai Koroma, will lead to a large amount of property being confiscated and stolen money being returned to the state.
President Maada Bio said the commission of inquiry, led by foreign judges, was a major breakthrough that would help make corruption unfashionable and risky.
"We have to draw the line... we cannot be this corrupt as a nation and expect to develop," he told the BBC's Umaru Fofana in Freetown.
A lawyer for Mr. Koroma's opposition APC party has dismissed the allegations and said the party would challenge the findings in court.
Listen: Sierra Leone President Maada Bio on corruption
Source: BBC
A country that is desperately poor despite its wealth of natural resources would guarantee a decent standard of life for every one of its 7.5 million citizens.
President Julius Maada Bio, on Thursday, September 24, 2020, received the reports of the Commissions of Inquiry and the White Papers and has assured the Government will fully implement the recommendations therein.
The Government has carefully looked at the reports of the Commissions and the recommendations. The White Paper document recommendations Government has accepted in the interest of the people of Sierra Leone. Unlike other Commissions, the president assured the citizens that his administration would fully implement all recommendations.
In a press briefing, he publicly instructed the office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice to effect the recommendations of the Commissions of Inquiry. “Recover all monies recommended to be returned to the people of Sierra Leone and to confiscate all assets recommended, and all other such penalties as recommended.”
He, however, emphasized respect for the rule of law, adding that: Persons and entities affected by the recommendation are guaranteed a peaceful and transparent judicial appeals process through which they can seek relief.
Summary of Justice Biobele Commission of inquiries reports presentation
The White Papers
223 Billions of Leones where Misappropriated by persons of interest ($94 Million) investigated by Justice Biobele.
126 person of interest investigated in his commission
84 indicted by Justice Biobele, they include:
1 indicted former President of Sierra Leone ( Ernest Bai Koroma)
13 indicted Former Minister
6 indicted Deputy former minister
1 indicted CEO of National Ebola Response Center
1 indicted former secretary to the former President
2 indicted former Governor of the bank of Sierra Leone
1 indicted former chairman of National Commission for Privatisation
3 indicted Member of Parliament
10 Permanent Secretary
1 former coordinating officer of the National Election Commission
1 former head of case management Team at the Ebola operation Center
2 former Director-General
1 former CEO of Small Medium Enterprise Development Agency
1 former Managing Director of Sierra Leone Commercial Bank
5 of the former Director of youth projects where indicated
3 heads of Musical groups in Sierra Leone. (Kolabo and others to refund money giving to them to the Government of Sierra Leone)
26 Person of interest where discharged
5 former Minister where discharged
10 former deputy minister where discharged
2 Permanent Secretary where discharged
9 other persons of interest were discharged including (a ) Kawsu Kebbie; (b) Chief Sadiq Kapuwa; (c ) Ibrahim Swarry of NPPA
The most guilty of all indicted was Limkokwing University, which was not in the interest of the people of Sierra Leone. Everything about its formation is corrupt
17 person of Interest on asset declaration where investigated by Justice Biobel they are:
(1) Madam Finda Diana Konomanyi
(2 ) Miatta Kargbo
(3) Ibrahim Washinga Mansaray
(4 ) Abdul Linoux Koroma
(5 ) Minkalu Mansaray
(6) Ahmed Kanu
(7 ) Alimamy Kamara
(8 ) Mabinty Daramy
(9 ) Bai Mahmoud Bangura
(10 ) Alfred Paolo Conteh
(11) Dr. Minkalu Bah
(12) Alimamy P. Koroma
(13) Mahmoud Tarawalli
(14 ) Dr. Richard Conteh
(15) Franklin Bai Kargbo
(16) Sulata Cooper
(17 ) Raymond Saidu Kargbo
14 of the asset of persons of interest of unexplained wealth where indicted
3 Person of interest asset discharged
All persons indicted who failed to declare their asset should serve an imprisonment of Six Months or pay 30 Million Leones… differential from the money they should refund
All persons of interest who declare their assets only once or twice have also been found guilty, but been discharged ( at least they try) said the Justice Biobele.
All property own by persons of interest that is within there earning are discharged
All accounts owned by persons of interest within there earning are discharged and giving access to them
All property acquired by persons of interest indicted with funds beyond there means of income, are products of unlawful and unjust enrichment, hence, their property would be forfeited to the Government and people of Sierra Leone
All forfeited property should be sold to any interested person in Sierra Leone at a fair value, and the money should be remitted immediately to the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Government of Sierra Leone
All funds in the bank account of persons indicted that's beyond there mean of earning must be forfeited to the Government of Sierra Leone, within 30 days from the date the recommendation is ratified
In the event anybody fails to return or repay the money Government shall use all law within its powers to confiscate all money own by that individual, either money in a bank account, or property moveable or immoveable including houses, vehicles, stocks belong to persons of interest, with the purpose of selling it, in order to pay the amount belonging to the people of Sierra Leone
All persons of interest that failed to attend the hearing of the Commission of Inquiries are thereby indicted and ban 5 years for holding public office
All persons of interest who are banned from holding public office, after there ban expired should write an apology letter to the people of Sierra Leone openly and publish in the various news-papers, and copy the justice department for its records
It is my hope that the Government of Sierra Leone under the leadership of H.E President Julius Maada Bio would recover all stolen money and property and return to the people of Sierra Leone
And these recommendations would serve as a reminder to all present Government Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Director-General, Permanent Secretary that corruption has no place in Sierra Leone any more and they should work purely for the benefit and interest of the people of Sierra Leone
The most guilty of all indicted was Limkokwing University, which was not in the interest of the people of Sierra Leone. Everything about its formation is corrupt
Examination of the Assets of Named Persons of Interest
Properties at Femi Turner, Goderich, and at Robureh, Makeni owned by former President Ernest Bai Koroma are to be confiscated as recommended by the Government White Papers on the Commissions of Inquiry. President Bio has instructed the Office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice to effect the recommendations of the Commissions of Inquiry and confiscate all assets as recommended and recover all monies to be returned to the people of Sierra Leone.
NBA names Victor Williams CEO of NBA Africa
“Becoming CEO of NBA Africa is a compelling opportunity to join the NBA – a widely-respected and admired globally-oriented sports enterprise,” said Williams. “It allows me to blend my professional experience building businesses in Africa with my passion for the sport of basketball. I look forward to working with our colleagues in Johannesburg and Dakar to help grow basketball’s commercial and social impact in Africa and on the world stage.”
Official Release
NBA Communications
JOHANNESBURG AND NEW YORK – The National Basketball Association (NBA) today named Victor Williams CEO of NBA Africa, effective Aug. 17, 2020, it was announced by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. Williams, an accomplished investment banking executive with extensive experience growing businesses across the U.S. and Africa, will be based in the league’s Johannesburg office and report to NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum.
In this newly-created role, Williams will oversee the league’s basketball and business development initiatives in Africa and will be responsible for continuing to grow the popularity of basketball and the NBA across the continent through grassroots development, media distribution, corporate partnerships, and more.
For the last five years, Williams served as the Executive Head of Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB), Africa Regions for Standard Bank Group, where he oversaw the strategy, execution and financial performance for Standard Bank’s business with corporate, sovereign and institutional investor clients in 19 countries across sub-Saharan Africa. In this pan-continental role, Williams was responsible for growing a wide range of business lines across Africa, including global markets, investment banking, and transactional products and services, and helped lead Standard Bank’s expansion into Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, and South Sudan.
“Adding an executive of Victor’s caliber and experience is an important step in our continued efforts to grow basketball across the continent,” said Silver. “We look forward to Victor leading NBA Africa’s operations and helping to accelerate the use of sports as an economic engine across Africa.”
“Becoming CEO of NBA Africa is a compelling opportunity to join the NBA – a widely-respected and admired globally-oriented sports enterprise,” said Williams. “It allows me to blend my professional experience building businesses in Africa with my passion for the sport of basketball. I look forward to working with our colleagues in Johannesburg and Dakar to help grow basketball’s commercial and social impact in Africa and on the world stage.”
Williams joined Standard Bank in 2011 as Head of Corporate and Investment Banking for East Africa and subsequently led Standard Bank’s Corporate and Investment Banking business in Nigeria. Previously, he worked at Wells Fargo Securities in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he was a Managing Director focused on mergers and acquisitions. In this role, he executed more than $5 billion in merger and acquisition transactions and advised senior executives and boards of directors of corporate and private equity firms on mergers, divestitures, acquisitions, joint ventures, recapitalizations, and corporate defense.
Prior to Wells Fargo Securities, Williams was Vice President of Investment Banking at Goldman Sachs in New York City, where he provided strategic guidance to Fortune 500 companies in all aspects of merger and financing analysis and execution.
Williams, a dual citizen of Sierra Leone and the U.S., holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and bachelor’s degrees in applied math and economics from Brown University. He is a member of Harvard Business School’s Africa Advisory Board and has also served on the boards of publicly-listed companies and non-profit organizations in the U.S., Nigeria, and Kenya.
(Source: NBA Communications | Official Release | August 10, 2020)
New Symptom-Detecting Technology At Abu Dhabi International Airport
In video: The Future of Travel.
ETIHAD Airways, the national airline of the UAE, become the first airline to implement a new technology that would screen airline passengers to help identify at-risk passengers. The technology is in the trial phase, as published by The National on July 11, 2020.
Travel: Post-COVID-19
ETIHAD Airways, the national airline of the UAE, become the first airline to implement a new technology that would screen airline passengers to help identify at-risk passengers. The technology is in the trial phase, as published by ‘The National’ on July 11, 2020.
Video Courtesy: The National: Etihad Airways is trialing touchless technology to help screen passengers at Abu Dhabi International Airport for Covid-19.
The technology developed by Australian Elenium Automation is a self-service contactless technology that can monitor the vital sign and assess the temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rate of every passenger for the COVID-19 symptoms or alert staff to take on the assessment and management of the travel process. "The technology is not designed or intended to diagnose medical conditions... it is an early warning indicator."
And Black History for All
This our history. 401-year odyssey encompasses tragedy, triumph, and the indomitable spirit of a battle-scarred people.
America’s redemption will come when it truly comes to terms with its troubled past
As an African American, there are vast areas of our history that I was not aware of. But do not worry, I knew the significance of Juneteenth, and no, Trump did not enlighten me on the matter.
While in high school during Black History, we learned about the usual suspects, and we skated through the Civil War. And I drew anxious gazes from classmates and teachers alike at the thorny issue of slavery. As we watched a plethora of slave-related movies, some of my fellow African American students crouched in embarrassment.
A handful of Black History classes added to my sliver of knowledge in college. The adage that if we do not learn from past mistakes, we are doomed to repeat them in the future. Today, we are at a critical inflection point as the issues of systemic racism threaten to engulf a divided nation. Slavery, violence, and prejudice against minorities are the virulent dark stains on the American tapestry - a litany of broken promises and deadly intent.
1921 Greenwood, Oklahoma: The site of the worst massacres in US history. Greenwood dubbed the Black Wall Street, was a mecca of black prosperity until jealous whites burned it to the ground and slaughtered town residents by the hundreds. Attacks were even launched from the skies as privately owned planes strafed the terrified community below with incendiary devices. Over 10,000 residents were made homeless, and the black lives and prosperity were decimated.
Photos
Justice was denied to the people of Greenwood, nobody was ever prosecuted, and insurance companies failed to honor their obligations to compensate for devastated property and business owners. Today, Greenwood is a hollow shell of its former self. Over the decades, infrastructural and commercial development has bypassed the and unemployment rates for minorities remain high.
“This our history. 401-year odyssey encompasses tragedy, triumph, and the indomitable spirit of a battle-scarred people.”
The multicultural hordes on the streets are demanding an end to systemic racism. America's redemption will come when it truly comes to terms with its troubled past. And strive for that elusive, more perfect union.
The euphoria of Obama’s presidency and the potential of a post-racial society seems to have dimmed in the obsidian shadow of Trump's dark American vision.
We can do better and must do better, the people demand it.
For the wider society, learning about black history and being enlightened by it is crucially important in the quest for empathy and mutual understanding. We live in momentous times with a real chance to reset and end systemic racism.
If the chains of the nation's painful past are broken, then surely we will all be ‘Free at last, Free at last, Thank God almighty we are free at last.’
Related
“Black History Month”
The artist stitches together Black history one portrait at a time.
A former art school teacher, Bisa Butler, used the art of quilt making to stitch together the African American experience and celebrate Black life in America.
#NorahO'Donnell, #CBSnews, #BlackHistoryMonth, #BisaButlerArt, #BisaButler
Video Credited: CBS News
She transformed their stories onto fabric one portrait at a time.