News

By Mabinty M. Kamara

The rapid rise in the prices of pepper in the market has raised concerns in the general public, particularly among housewives.

Prices for the different varieties of the spicing ingredient, which three months back cost at most Le2000, now cost at least Le5, 000 per cup. Some varieties are as Le7, 000 per cup.

Pepper, which is popular across many parts of the world, is one of the most important ingredients in many Sierra Leonean dishes, as many people hardly enjoy a meal without the spice in it.

By Mohamed Jaward Nyallay

Abdul Fatorma, Executive Director of the rights based group Campaign for Human Rights and Development International (CHRDI) has called for more financial autonomy to be given to the judiciary.

Fatorma told Politico on Friday that this was important for the judiciary to be much more independent. Part of the autonomy he is calling for is to allow the judiciary to develop its own budget to be able to contract magistrates and judges to handle cases.

By Kemo Cham

A Liberian political activist has launched a campaign to free former president and convicted war criminal, Charles Taylor.

Menipakei Dumoe is seeking the support of the Sierra Leone and Liberian governments to achieve his goal. He is calling on the two countries to work together as brothers and sisters to free one of their own.

Mr Dumoe told Politico that he is passionately appealing to Sierra Leoneans to forgive Mr Taylor.

By Kemo Cham

The private sector is crucial in the efforts to end malaria, a member of the Pan-African campaign - ‘Zero Malaria Starts With Me (ZMSWM)’ - has said, urging the Sierra Leone government to turn towards its private sector partners.

James Wallen, the Malaria Programme Officer for Speak Up Africa, a leading member of the global anti-malaria crusade, said private sector was meant to be a major part of the fight against the parasitic disease, yet in Sierra Leone it hasn’t been adequately engaged.

By Prince J Musa in Kenema

Authorities in Kenema have expressed concern over the security situation of the district following a chieftaincy row in Tissor Village. The Provincial Security Coordinating Committee (PROSEC) in the Eastern Region said the situation must be solved as soon as possible to avoid an escalation.

By Francis H. Murray  

The former Vice President of Sierra Leone in the previous All Peoples Congress (APC)-led government, Victor Bockarie Foh, has testified before Justice Reginald Fyn at the Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court in Freetown in the ongoing Hajj Gate trial. He is facing an eight-count indictment of corruption and related offences.

By Mohamed Jaward Nyallay

An Afrobarometer report released on Tuesday has shown that 81% of Sierra Leoneans believe that “some”, “all” or “most” parliamentarians are corrupt. The report reveals a damning assessment of Parliamentarians by citizens on almost every metric that was taken into account. 

Data for the report was gathered in March 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic struck the country.

A total of 1, 200 people across the country were interviewed in the survey.