By Kemo Cham
Sierra Leone, alongside West African neighbors Liberia, Mali and Niger are recording some of the highest fatality rates in the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, figures from the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) for the past week show.
By Mohamed Jaward Nyallay
The campaign group, Center for Accountability and Rule of Law (CARL), has called for a special budget to be developed by the Sierra Leone Police for the Family Support Unit (FSU). CARL said this will help the capacity of the FSU to tackle Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV).
The FSU is a unit in the Police force that is responsible to investigate and prosecute SGBV related cases, among several other functions.
By Prince J Musa in Kenema
The Ministry of Information and Communication is on the verge of expanding the country’s fiber optic network to the Eastern region, Minister Mohamed Rahman Swarray has said.
The expansion is part of government’s broader priority to ensure digital inclusion as stated in its Medium Term National Development Plan, Sawaray added as he was addressing journalists in a press briefing in Kenema on Wenesday.
By Mabinty M. Kamara
Former President Ernest Bai Koroma has been recognized for his good leadership style with an award by the United States (US) National Black Caucus of State Legislators.
According to the office of the former president, in a notice dated 1st October, Koroma was bestowed with the award on 30th September during the 5th US-Africa Investment Forum and Policy Dialogue which was held virtually. The conference was held on the theme: ‘US-Africa Relations: A necessary Realignment.’
By Kemo Cham
The main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) has vowed to help its members challenge any move by the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP)-led administration to implement the recommendations of the Commissions of Inquiry (COI).
The opposition party was responding to the publication of the much anticipated Government White paper on the COI.
By Kemo Cham
The Sierra Leone government has announced travel restriction for 131 former officials declared wanted by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
The officials include former President Ernest Bai Koroma and people who served in his administration, from Vice President to ministers and heads of departments and agencies. The officials are said to be persons of interest in the recently released government White paper.
By Mohamed Jaward Nyallay
A new installment of the Afro Barometer report, which was launched on Tuesday, has shown that bribery has increased in the health sector over the last two years. Some 53% of the people sampled said they have paid bribe to access health care at least once in the last year.
The rate of bribery to access medical services is among the highest at 53%, second only to bribery for Police assistance, which stands at 55%.
The figure gives an insight into the cause for the country’s fragile health care system.
Supported by: Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA)
