News

By Alpha Abu

With Sierra Leone continuing to face the challenges associated with the coronavirus, reports have emerged of workers assigned to contain the spread of the pandemic in the northern Tonkolili district embarking on a strike action over pay.

The workers believed to come from some of the seven technical pillars of DICOVERC, the district body charged with addressing matters related to the pandemic, say they are yet to be paid their risk allowances amounting to between three and four months.

By Mabinty M. Kamara

As the clock ticked towards her 100^th birthday anniversary on 22 February 2021, Madam Boyenneh Beatia Freeman wished for two things as she awaits the call to the great beyond.

“I have two wishes” she told Politico, which she listed as “a Sierra Leone where there is love and empathy for each other, and to be a delegate in heaven. That’s all I desire”.

By Francis H. Murray 

President Julius Maada Bio has told the people of Pujehun that they would build and furnish a Junior and Senior all-girls Secondary School of Excellence in the district within the next 18 months.

Speaking during a tour of the district over the weekend, the president said the school would “cater for 300 pupils and will be a full boarding school with state-of-the-art facilities”.

By Prince J Musa in Kenema

The running of the National Emergency Ambulance Services (NEMS) which was initially managed by an Italian health NGO, Doctors with Africa (CUAMM), is currently marred by several issues since it was handed over to the government of Sierra Leone in April 2020.

The Ambulances allocated to Kenema, officials say, are currently not in operation due to several factors including the lack of fuel and nonpayment of salaries to the drivers.

By Saio Marrah

The Parliamentary Leader of the opposition National Grand Coalition (NGC) in parliament has asked parliament to conduct a hearing on the allegations in the media on mismanagement of public funds by different institutions within the Office of the President.

Speaking in the well of parliament on Tuesday 16 February 2021, Dr Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella said that as Members of Parliament, they had been receiving so many phone calls from different people asking them about their reaction to the allegations.

By Mabinty M. Kamara

 The Kombra Network in Kailahun district has expressed fear over the reopening of the common borders between Sierra Leone and Guinea and calls for massive community sensitization to prevent the spillover of Ebola into Sierra Leone.

Kombra Network is a coalition of Civil Society activists, Religious Leaders, Market Women, Traditional Healers, the media, Community Leaders, Youth Groups and Women’s Groups set up by Focus 1000 to undertake a range of actions to address underlying health issues in communities across the country.

By Alpha Abu

The Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Food Security has completed a mapping exercise that identified the Ministry’s assets nationwide for possible use by the private sector in agricultural activities.

The deputy Minister, Sam King Brima made the disclosure on Thursday 18 February 2021 whilst highlighting their activities during the government’s weekly press briefing at the Youyi Ministerial building in Freetown.