News

By Mohamed Jaward Nyallay

The central government has ordered the Freetown City Council (FCC) to halt a plan to roll out a new property tax regime, citing its potential effect on the livelihoods of the city’s inhabitants.

Asked whether he had blocked the implementation of the controversial policy, Minister of Local Government, Tamba Lamina said: “Yes I have!” He was speaking to Politico. 

By Mildrred Christiana Saccoh in Makeni

The Coronavirus pandemic has had a negative effect on the operations of the Blood Bank in Makeni, where officials say fear of contracting the virus as well as social distancing measures have kept potential donors away.

Alex Karim, Lab Technician in charge of the Blood Bank in the Regional Referral Hospital in Makeni City, said prior to Covid-19, turnout of voluntary donors had been “impressive”, noting that they had enough blood to provide anyone who needed it.

By Mabinty M. Kamara

In a bid to help fight against malaria in Sierra Leone, the United States government, through its embassy in the country, has handed over 290, 000 doses of malaria medicines to the Ministry of Health and Sanitation.

By Prince Musa in Kenema

The Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr. Edward Hinga Sandi, has officially launched a community store for the Sierra Leone Produces Marketing Company (SLPMC) in Kenema. The store which is one of many will sell both locally produced and imported rice at a lesser cost compared to the private businesses.

By Francis H. Murray

Dr. Abdulai Conteh, the lead defense lawyer for former defence Minister Alfred Paolo Conteh, who is the first accused in the on-going treason trial, has told the High Court in Freetown that his client had “no burden of proof to the court because the prosecution has failed to adduce any evidence in support of their indictment.”

By Francis H. Murray

Cordelia Jackson, a business woman in Freetown who alleges that one Fatmata Kargbo stole the sum of Le 50,000,000 from her, has testified before Magistrate Hannah Bonnie in the ongoing preliminary investigation into a one count charge of larceny in a dwelling house against the accused. 

By Mohamed Jaward Nyallay

The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) and the European Union (EU) have announced a joint bid to tackle fake news surrounding the global COVID-19 pandemic.

As part of the collaboration, SLAJ will design radio and television shows that are aimed at tackling fake news about the health emergency.

In a joint press release from the two organizations, SLAJ President Ahmed Sahid Nasralla was quoted saying fake news posed a threat to national security.