News

By Mabinty M. Kamara and Saio marrah

People commuting from Freetown to the provinces have expressed dissatisfaction over the manner in which state bus tickets are being handled by road transport corporation (SLRTC) officials at the bus stations.

Many travelers prefer making the long distance journeys on the state buses because they are much safer and more comfortable in that they are not overloaded like the private commercial buses.

By Francis H. Murray

In his first reshuffle in 2021, President Julius Maada Bio has sacked four major players in his administration. Two senior cabinet ministers, a deputy minister and the head of a major parastatal were shown the door.  

The 18 January reshuffle left lands minister (Dr. Dennis Sandi), higher education minister (Prof Aiah Gbakima) and deputy transport minister Sadiq Sillah sacked. 

Abu B Kokofelle was sacked as the head of NACSA.

By Mabinty M. Kamara

The Ministry of Energy has confirmed the indefinite suspension of the top two officials of the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA). The two are the Director General, Dr Joe-Lahai Sormana and his deputy Ing. Francis Nyama.

Ing. James Rogers has been appointed to act as the Director General until further notice.

The supervising ministry would not comment on the reasons for the suspension.

By Francis H. Murray

Chief Justice Desmond Babatunde Edwards has concluded an inspection tour of court facilities in the east, north, northwest and southern provinces of the country.  

The tour, authorities say, was aimed at extending reforms in the judiciary and the justice sector to other parts of the country.

The visit, which was conducted from 14 – 16 January, covered Kailahun, Bo, Kambia, Port Loko, Kabala and Masiaka.

A community-based organisation – Youth in Action for Development –on Saturday 16 January formally inaugurated the Konjo Community Market and the Social Mobilization Centre in Ngiehun Konjo town, Konjo Buima Section, Malegohun Chiefdom, Kenema District.  YAD has been involved in post-conflict development strides in the community for many years.

They constructed and equipped a two-storey building which has a market on the ground floor and a community mobilisation hall on the top floor. They also handed over a two-bedroom-and-a-parlour guest house to the community.  

By Alpha Abu

In what is his first cabinet reshuffle this year Sierra Leone’s president, Julius Maada Bio, today sacked or transferred some of his senior ministers.

The two most high-profile dismissals were the Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Prof Aiah Gbakima and Minister of Lands, Housing and Country Planning Dr. Dennis Sandy.

By Umaru Fofana

The New Year has begun where the dying days of the last left off: Sierra Leone has witnessed a spike in the number of new Covid19 cases prompting many to call it “the second wave”.

From the daily single digit infections being reported at some point in November and early December, the first half of January has recorded 335 cases, bringing the total number in the country to 2,970, as at Saturday 16 January.

The whole of December last year recorded only 194 cases of the virus.