GIABA, FIU Engages Sierra Leonean Youths On AML/CFT

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GIABA, FIU Engages Sierra Leonean Youths On AML/CFT

The Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) on Thursday 21st November 2019, organized its 12th Open House Forum on Anti-Money Laundering, and Counter-Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) for Youths in Sierra Leone. The 12th edition held at Fourah Bah College (FBC) in Freetown, Sierra Leone. The forum brought together student representatives from tertiary institutions, civil society organizations, the media, and officials of regulatory agencies involved in the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing.

By Sylvester Samba

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UN Convention On The Rights Of The Child (UNCRC)

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UN Convention On The Rights Of The Child (UNCRC)

The 20th November 2019, the United Nations General Assembly and State parties celebrated the 30th Anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), which was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in November 1989. Symbolically, 2019 marks the 40th Anniversary of the Defense for Children International Global Movement and the 20th Anniversary of Defense for Children International Sierra Leone.

By Sylvester Samba

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Sierra Leone Military To Grow Own Rice

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Sierra Leone Military To Grow Own Rice

It is projected rice consumption by the security forces will be produced locally in three years.

The Minister of Finance, Mr. Jacob Jusu Saffa, confirmed the government spends huge amount on the purchase of imported rice for the security forces. In a bid to reduce this pressure on the New Direction Government, the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) will start growing its rice as this will partly substitute imported rice provided to the Military.

By Sylvester Samba

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UN Peacebuilding Commission Chief Visit Sierra Leone

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UN Peacebuilding Commission Chief Visit Sierra Leone

The Permanent Representative of Colombia to the United Nations and Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC), Ambassador Guillermo Fernandez de Soto led a high level delegation of members of the Commission to a joint visit in Sierra Leone from 3 to 5 November 2019 with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa, Mr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, and the Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support, Mr. Oscar Fernandez-Taranco.

By Sylvester Samba

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Sierra Leone Eliminates GST on Aviation Charges

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Sierra Leone Eliminates GST on Aviation Charges

Jacob Jusu Saffa, Minister of Finance

To make air transport affordable and accessible to all Sierra Leoneans and also to promote tourism, the Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL), through the Ministry of Finance, has eliminated the Goods and Service Tax (GST) levied on all aviation charges at the Freetown International Airport.

The Minister of Finance, Hon. Jacob Jusu Saffa made this disclosure during the reading of the Government Budget for the 2020 Financial Year in the Well of Parliament. The GST exemption on all aviation charges is expected to take effect in 2020 after the enactment of the 2020 Finance Bill.

By Sylvester Samba

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School Authorities Refund Scratch Card Monies

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School Authorities Refund Scratch Card Monies

As part of its mandate to curb corrupt practices and the enforcement of government policies, the North-West Regional office of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is currently monitoring the refund of monies collected by Principals of Secondary Schools to register candidates for the West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

The government of Sierra Leone, through the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary School Education, instructed principals to refund monies collected from students for WAEC scratch cards for registration for the WASSCE exam.

By Sylvester Samba

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Sierra Leone Passes MCC Scorecard

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Sierra Leone Passes MCC Scorecard

Maria Brewer, American Ambassador to Sierra Leone presenting the MCC Scorecard to President Julius Maada Bio

The United States Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Maria Brewer, met with President Bio on Friday 1st November 2019 and congratulated the Government of Sierra Leone on passing the 2020 MCC Scorecard. She commended the Government for making significant progress on indicators like Girls Primary Education Completion Rates and Control of Corruption indicators.

By Sylvester Samba

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Sierra Leone Parliament Fully Empowers Anti-Corruption Commission

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Sierra Leone Parliament Fully Empowers Anti-Corruption Commission

Francis Ben Kaifala Esq., Commissioner of ACC, and His Excellency, Brig. (Rtd.) Julius Maada Bio

The objectives of the amendment include the need to review and increase penalties for offenses under the Act; strengthen protection of those who assist the Commission, provide the Commission with alternatives to prosecution, widen the scope of corruption; that the accused offered, solicited, obtained or received in addition to gave, and accepted an advantage.

The People’s Anti-Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2019 gives the Commission the authority to prevent the signing of contracts that are not in the national interest.

By Sylvester Samba

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13 Sierra Leonean Students Arrived In Russia

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13 Sierra Leonean Students Arrived In Russia

The offer of thirteen scholarships from the Government of the Russian Federation in favor of students from Sierra Leone was granted in 2017 by the People’s Friendship University (RUDN) in Moscow. In February this year, at a meeting with the Vice-Rector for International Studies at RUDN, the Sierra Leone Embassy in Moscow canvassed for the scholarship slot to be utilized by Sierra Leone.

By Sylvester Samba

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New Maternal & Child Hospital Commissioned

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New Maternal & Child Hospital Commissioned

Easing pressure on 'Cottage Hospital' in the east of Freetown, a new Maternal, and Child health hospital formally commissioned on Thursday 17th October 2019 and opened to Sierra Leonean populace in a bid to protect and save the lives of pregnant women, lactating mothers, and their infants. The new King Harman Maternal and Child Hospital located at Brookfields in the West part of Freetown.

By Sylvester Samba

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International Day Of The Girl Child

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International Day Of The Girl Child

In December 2011, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution 66/170, declaring 11th October as the International Day of the Girl Child. The recognition of this day aims at highlighting and recognizing girls' rights and the challenges faced by girls worldwide. Thus, the main objective is to empower women and girls and at the same time, spread awareness about eliminating gender inequalities against women and girls.

By Sylvester Samba

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ECOWAS Board Of Governors To Meet In Sierra Leone

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ECOWAS Board Of Governors To Meet In Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone, one of the member states of the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS), will be hosting the 17th meeting of Board of Governors of the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) on Monday 7th October 2019, at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Aberdeen, Freetown.

The meeting will bring together fifteen (15) ECOWAS Member States, which include: Sierra Leone Togo, Nigeria, Liberia, The Gambia, Mali, Guinea, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Niger, Ghana, Cote D'Ivoire Guinea Bissau, Cameroon, Benin, and Cape Verde.

By Sylvester Samba

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First Egyptian President To Visit Sierra Leone

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First Egyptian President To Visit Sierra Leone

Following a special invitation, His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi is expected to become the first Egyptian President to visit the West Africa country, Sierra Leone.

President El-Sisi on Monday 21th September 2019 accepted an invitation from President Dr. Julius Maada Bio with gratitude and agreed to visit the West Africa country. It will be a memorable and historic one because President El-Sisi will be the first Egyptian President to visit the country.

By Sylvester Samba

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The Road Map for Universal Health Coverage (UHC)

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The Road Map for Universal Health Coverage (UHC)

Sierra Leone Prepares For Disease Outbreaks

Sierra Leone has had health emergencies with catastrophic impacts on the lives of its citizens, and, on the economy due to the country unpreparedness. With lessons learned from those mistakes, the New Direction Government has assured that they cannot allow such emergencies to recur.

By Sylvester Samba

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Gambian National Security On Study Tour

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Gambian National Security On Study Tour

On Monday 9th September 2019, a high profile security delegation from The Gambia arrived in Sierra Leone on a capacity enhancement tour to learn from Sierra Leone post-conflict peacebuilding strategy and state reconstruction efforts. Their one-week-long stay focuses on security sector reform, policing and law enforcement, immigration, drug law enforcement, strategic planning, and policy implementation, democratization, and justice sector reform.

By Sylvester Samba

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300 New Female Recruits Enlisted In Republic Of Sierra Leone Armed Forces

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300 New Female Recruits Enlisted In Republic Of Sierra Leone Armed Forces

Since 1978 and 1979, when 10 female cadet officers and 64 recruits enlisted in the military, more women had volunteered to serve and had, over 40 years of dedicated service to country, showing an uncommon valor, courage, adaptability, selflessness, leadership, and they had carried through their pledge to defend and protect the land that they loved.

By Sylvester Samba

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Sierra Leone Becomes "Visa On Arrival" Country

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Sierra Leone Becomes "Visa On Arrival" Country

A workshop on the Visa on Arrival policy

Effective Thursday 5th September 2019, the West African country, Sierra Leone, has through its Immigration Department and Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs introduced a new "Visa On Arrivals Policy" which now allows visitors from different countries to travel to Sierra Leone where they can get their respective Visas on arrival at a minimum cost of US $28 for African countries and US $80 for other countries in the world. Sierra Leone Becomes "Visa On Arrival" Country.

By Sylvester Samba

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50 New Buses To Boost Free Quality Education Initiative

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50 New Buses To Boost Free Quality Education Initiative

To boost government Free Quality Education Initiative ahead of the new school year starting 16th September 2019, the fifty (50) school buses that the government of Sierra Leone procured and landed a few weeks back are to commence operations throughout all district headquarters' towns. The cost of the 50 buses is approximately five million US dollars.

By Sylvester Samba

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Finance Ministry Vets University Payroll

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Finance Ministry Vets University Payroll

Prof. Aiah Gbakima, Minister of Technical and Higher Education (Left) and Mr. Jacob Jusu Saffa (Centre) sign MOU

The Government of Sierra Leone, through the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Technical and Higher Education, has for the first time in the country's history, taken responsibility for the payment of salaries and core allowances of the three constituent colleges of the University of Sierra Leone and five original Tertiary Educational Institutions (TEIs).

By Sylvester Samba

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