One of the country’s leading mobile companies, Africell, has handed over Le50 million to a tailor who won one of the electronic draws organized by the company.
Manso Conteh, 37, said the money was the biggest sum he had ever held in his life, beating the Le12million he had had before.
“I did not think Africell would lie like other people say,” the husband and father of two said.
The GSM operator is currently hosting a raffle – Africell Ramadan Game Show 2015 – aimed at promoting its millions of subscribers during the Holy Month of Ramadan.
“To participate in the show, Africell subscribers should send blank SMS to or call 777 to automatically qualify for the daily electronic draws. Every blank SMS sent or call made will incur a charge of Le410, and Le410 on-net talk time will be awarded to the subscriber which should be utilized before midnight on the same day,” said Africell’s Chief Corporate Officer, Joe Abass Bangura at the award ceremony on Friday, at their Wilberforce headquarters.
“Your chances of winning increase with every blank SMS or call made to 777. All cumulated chances will however lapse at the end of each day.
“A live draw is held every weekday (Monday to Friday) between 10:00 pm and 11:00 pm. The show is broadcast live on the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation Television (SLBC TV); linking with Africa Independent Radio and other major radio stations nationwide. During the draw, qualifying numbers are randomly selected using special designed software. On selection of a number, the subscriber will be dialled on their phone and then prompted to choose from 60 shining stars, numbered appropriately from1-60. The shining stars contain different prizes and options including winning cash prizes ranging from Le200, 000 to Le500, 000; wining airtime credits; option to spin the wheel of fortune; and option to access the golden moon. Where a subscriber wins the option to spin the wheel of fortune, they stand the chance to win prizes including generator, freezer, Plasma Television, cash, airtime credit and data credit (Megabytes). Where a subscriber wins the option to access the golden moons corner, they will be led to choose from 30 golden moons, one of which has the Star Prize of Le50, 000,000 (Fifty Million Leones). If a subscriber fails to win the star prize, they automatically win the consolation prize of Le250, 000.”
Mr Bangura reminded the public of the provisions of the Finance Act 2008 which state that all winnings from Le500, 000 and above were subject to 10% lottery tax.
“We will deduct this tax from all winnings in this category and will pay over to the National Revenue Authority (NRA),” he added.
The Chief Corporate Officer also warned their subscribers that the only number they needed to call regarding the promotion was 077 777 777.
Prizes won by subscribers from shows held from Thursday 18th June to Wednesday 3rd July, 2015, as summarised, were Le87,800,000; one television; 4 generators, 4 freezers; 1,300,000 airtime credits; 9,298 megabytes and; by 193 subscribers.
Africell will send cash prizes to winners by the electronic means of “splash” and household items will be collected from the company’s headquarters at Wilberforce. But for those in the provinces the company will deliver their items after the Ramadan.
Many people had expressed doubts about the authenticity of the raffles which the company has held ever since its establishment in the country in 2005.
But the 37-year-old tailor, who has worked for 17 years and lives and works at Canteen Street Fourah Bay in the east of Freetown, has never doubted Africell, he said.
“One of my friends kept saying Africell was lying until I won the prize. I did not listen to him. Let them keep doubting Africell,” he flaunted his victory.
“Africell programmes don’t lie,” Conteh told Politico after the ceremony.
He said the purpose of the Le50 million had already been planned, “but I don’t want to disclose it.”
Africell is also supporting needy institutions with Le10, 000,000 each till the end of the Ramadan. The first two of such institutions were the Milton Margai School for the Blind in Freetown and the J. T. Reffle Memorial School.
The end of the ceremony saw the civil society group Media Alliance for Business Administration and Development awarding Africell with a plaque for “outstanding performance in mobile communication, best performance in corporate social responsibility and for remarkable contribution to the promotion of the Agenda for Prosperity.”
(C) Politico 07/07/15
