News

By Kemo Cham

Sierra Leone is set to up its Covid-19 testing capacity from 500 to 1000 tests per day, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

The WHO country office announced on Friday that the development was made possible through a collaboration between it and the German government, which is providing a grant of €500,000 though the German Technical Cooperation (GIZ).

The funding will make it possible for Sierra Leone to procure urgently needed laboratory equipment for the diagnosis and confirmation of COVID-19 cases.

By Newman Anthony Levey in Bo

The Bo City Council, in partnership with the Prince's Foundation, a charitable organization, has commenced a tree planting exercise designed to give a facelift to the Bo Reservation.

The exercise, according to officials, is part of the city authorities’ plan to transform Bo to a modern city to match with other cities around the world. Some 2, 000 trees are to be planted under the project.

By Mabinty M. Kamara

The Sierra Leone media regulatory body, the Independent Media Commission (IMC) has in a press statement applauded the government of Sierra Leone for fulfilling its promise and repealing Part V of the Public Order Act of 1965 which criminalized libel and defamation.

The IMC also praised the enactment of the new IMC Act, which paved the way for the repeal of the criminal defamation law.

By Francis H. Murray

Lawyers representing jailed former Defense Minister Alfred Paolo Conteh have appeared before the Court of Appeal in Freetown for the commencement of an appeal hearing following his conviction for illegal possession of firms and taking same to a public place.

Dr. Abdulai Conteh, representing the Applicant Appellant, in a brief statement expressed dissatisfaction with the absence of his client in court, calling it ‘‘lamentable and regrettable.’’

By Francis H. Murray

Four people arraigned before Magistrate Hannah Bonnie in Freetown have been remanded into the custody of the Correctional Services at the start of preliminary investigations into a two count charge of conspiracy to murder and murder. 

Police prosecutors allege that the four: Ishmael Koroma, Issa Alhaji Mansaray, Ernest Numeh Conteh and Lamin Tarawally on Sunday 8^th March 2020, at Kamagbemgeh Road in the Biriwa Chiefdom, in the Bombali District, murdered one Kadiatu Yeamie Kargbo.

By Francis H. Murray

Magistrate Hannah Bonnie in Freetown has remanded one Sheik Umar Karankay Conteh in the custody of the Correctional Services at the commencement of preliminary investigations into a six count charge.

By Mabinty M. Kamara

The Network Movement for Justice and Development (NMJD) has begun distribution of food and non-food items as support to District Coronavirus Emergency Response Centers (DiCOVERC) across the country.

The gesture, the organization said, is meant to boost the operations of the DICOVERCs and support the communities they operate in to effectively prevent themselves against COVID-19.