By Alpha Abu
The country’s first ever Foreign Service Academy (FSA) is to become fully operational on February 1 this year. Sierra Leone’s Foreign Minister Professor David Francis made the announcement during the commissioning last Thursday, of the structure that’s within the precincts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and international Cooperation at Tower Hill in Freetown.
By Alpha Abu
The loan scheme initiated by Government to support Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) has recorded a recovery rate of 91 percent so far, according to Shiarka S. Sannoh - Chief Executive Officer of Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDA).
He told a press conference at their Freetown office last week that recovery continues of the 26.5 billion Leones that SMEDA through the Central Bank handed over to Financial Service Providers (FSPs) for distribution to small businesses in early 2021.
By Ruth Yeabu Sesay
More than half a million Sierra Leoneans will benefit from a $50M (fifty million) Grant from the International Development Association (IDA) under the second phase of the West Africa Regional Food Systems (FSRP-2) which has been approved by the World Bank. The information was made public through press release by the World Bank this month.
The aid is to support the country’s preparedness to combat food insecurity and improve the resilience of its food systems.
By Ruth Yeabu Sesay
A usually reliable police source has told Politico that two people, a man and a woman have been arrested in connection with the fire that destroyed electricity poles in the Tombo area in the Freetown Peninsula. Our source says a team of experienced detectives is on the ground now to continue the investigation. The police source refused to be drawn on the identity of those now detained. Politico understands that 50 poles were destroyed.
By Abass Jalloh
Women in the districts of Kenema, Port Loko, Pujehun and Tonkolili have expressed satisfaction and support for the Customary Land Rights Act and Land Rights Commission Act, noting that these laws have helped them become aware knowledgeable on issues concerning land and their livelihoods as women.
By Abass Jalloh
Executive Director of Sierra Leone Maritime Administration (SLMA) Paul S. Massaquoi and five other officials of the institution have been acquitted and discharged of all corruption charges at a Freetown High Court. Justice Mohamed Bawoh, at the Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court No. 5 freed Massaquoi and the other men who had faced five counts of corruption offences allegedly committed during their tenure of office.
By Saio Marrah
Parliament of Sierra Leone has approved a total of over 50 million dollars deal for Agricultural value chain development project, of which 15 million dollars is a loan from the OPEC Fund for International Development.
The 15 million dollar loan is for the implementation of rural agricultural production feeder roads.
The grant and loan agreement got ratified with five other agreements on Wednesday 21st December, 2022, were tabled in Parliament on Monday 19th December this year.
Supported by: Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA)
