Sierra Leone Makes Remarkable Progress In Global Corruption Ranking

/
Sierra Leone Makes Remarkable Progress In Global Corruption Ranking

The Corruption Perception Index (CPI), released on Thursday 23rd January 2020, is a clear indication that the thirty-three (33) points scored is the highest the country ever achieved since its inclusion in the TI index. Sierra Leone now leads sixty-one (61) countries in the global campaign against corruption. More than 28 African countries; Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Togo, Kenya, among others.

By Sylvester Samba

Read More

UK-Africa Investment Summit

/
UK-Africa Investment Summit

The British Prime Minister, in his opening address, called for an increased renewed partnership between the UK and Africa. He referred to Africa as a booming continent with staggering levels of growth. Prime Minister Johnson said, “look around the world today, and you will swiftly see that the UK is not only the obvious partner of choice, we’re also very much the partner of today, of tomorrow, and decades to come.”

By Sylvester Samba

Read More

Lassa Fever Under Control In Sierra Leone

/
Lassa Fever Under Control In Sierra Leone

The Government of Sierra Leone, through its Ministry of Health and Sanitation, declared that the Lassa Fever epidemic in Tonkolili District in the Northern part of Sierra Leone no longer considered to be a health emergency. The pronouncement came Tuesday 7th January 2020 after it was confirmed by the World Health Organization (WHO). Tonkolili district and its previously affected areas are now declared safe and free from Lassa Fever.

Lassa Fever, named after the town in Nigeria where the illness first discovered in 1969 caused by a hemorrhagic virus that belongs to the same family as Marburg, and Ebola, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). It is mainly spread by rodents and endemic to parts of West Africa: including Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia, and Nigeria.

By Sylvester Samba

Read More

Idris Elba Arrived In His Father´s Native Sierra Leone For The First Time

/
Idris Elba Arrived In His Father´s Native Sierra Leone For The First Time

Idris Elba arrived in Sierra Leone on Wednesday, December 18, 2019, for the first time where he is due to receive Sierra Leone citizenship and celebrate Christmas with the President, Julius Maada Bio, according to government sources.  Elba planned to visit Sherbro Island renowned for its pristine tropical beaches. The country hopes to revitalize its tourism industry. And, with Mr. Idris Elba as the country's Brand Ambassador, he brings with it new life and vitality.

By Theo Edwards

Read More

At ECOWAS Court of Justice

/
At ECOWAS Court of Justice

In a landmark decision for the West African Region and Africa in general, the court again ordered the government of Sierra Leone to put in place measures including social programs to address increased numbers of teenage pregnancies and sensitize the communities against discrimination.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court of Justice based in Abuja, Nigeria, on Thursday 12th December 2019, ordered the government of Sierra Leone to lift the ban on pregnant school girls with immediate effect. The Court, in its ruling, found that the government breached the right of pregnant girls to education by prohibiting them from accessing school.

By Sylvester Samba

Read More

GIABA Commences Regional Training For Journalists

/
GIABA Commences Regional Training For Journalists

A three (3) day Regional Training Workshop on Investigative Reporting on Economic and Financial Crimes for Journalists in West Africa countries commenced in Monrovia, Liberia. The training, which is expected to come to an end on Thursday 28th November 2019, is organized by the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA). The Deputy Minister of Fiscal Affairs/Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, Hon. Samara P.Z. Wolokolie, on behalf of the Minister of Finance and Development Planning, gave the keynote address and formally declared the training opened.

By Sylvester Samba In Liberia

Read More

GIABA, FIU Engages Sierra Leonean Youths On AML/CFT

/
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

Read More

UN Convention On The Rights Of The Child (UNCRC)

/
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

Read More

The Inter-Governmental Action Group Against Money Laundering In West Africa - Invitation To Participate

/
The Inter-Governmental Action Group Against Money Laundering In West Africa - Invitation To Participate

YAME Editorial Board wishes to congratulate Mr. Sylvester Samba, Global Times Newspaper Senior Reporter, Freetown, Sierra Leone, and YAME News & Media Contributor, for having invited by GIABA to participate in a Regional Training Workshop on Investigative Reporting on Economic and Financial Crimes for Journalists in Monrovia, Liberia, November 26 - 28, 2019.

GIABA is an institution of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) responsible for facilitating the adoption and implementation of Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter-Financing of Terrorism (CFT) in West Africa. It is also a FATF-Styled Regional Body (FSRB) working with its member States to ensure compliance with international AML/CFT standards.

By The Editorial Board

Read More

Kenya Host International Conference On Population & Development

/
Kenya Host International Conference On Population & Development

A three (3) day International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD25) successfully ended at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre in Nairobi, Kenya. The Summit was held from Tuesday 12th to Thursday 14th November 2019, co-convened under the auspices of the Government of the Republic of Kenya, the Kingdom of Denmark, and the United Nations Development Fund (UNFPA).

By Sylvester Samba

Read More

Sierra Leone Military To Grow Own Rice

/
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

Read More

UN Peacebuilding Commission Chief Visit Sierra Leone

/
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

Read More

Sierra Leone Eliminates GST on Aviation Charges

/
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

Read More

School Authorities Refund Scratch Card Monies

/
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

Read More

Ghana's Poverty Rate Drops 23 Percent

/
Ghana's Poverty Rate Drops 23 Percent

The Director-General of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), Mr. Kodjo Mensah-Abrampah, has said Ghana’s poverty reduction strategy made strides as the country’s poverty rate dropped to 23 percent in the last 27 years. Much of this progress was between 1992 to 2005, where the rate of poverty dropped to 25 percent.

By Benson Afful

Read More

Tony Elumelu Speaks On Presidential Dialogue In Accra

/
Tony Elumelu Speaks On Presidential Dialogue In Accra

Mr. Tony O. Elumelu, Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, will join Ghana's president Nana Akufo-Addo, and other private and public sector leaders on the Presidential Dialogue themed "Africa's Money for African Development–A Future Beyond Aid" in Ghana on the 7th November 2019.

The event jointly organized by the Ghanaian Presidency and the United Nations Development Program ...UNDP.

By Benson Afful

Read More

Nigeria To Meet Its Own Fuel Needs

/
Nigeria To Meet Its Own Fuel Needs

Dangote Industries Limited, based in Nigeria, confirmed the country's Federal Government support towards the completion of its Petroleum Refinery.

A press release issued by the group dated Monday 4th November 2019 disclosed that the Honorable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva made the pronouncement that his government is going to ensure the completion of the historic 650,000 BPD, Dangote Petroleum Refinery during an official visit to the Petrochemical complex located at the Lekki Free Trade Zone in Lagos, Nigeria.

By Sylvester Samba

Read More

Sierra Leone Passes MCC Scorecard

/
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

Read More

Sierra Leone Parliament Fully Empowers Anti-Corruption Commission

/
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

Read More