News

By Mohamed Jaward Nyallay

The Bank of Sierra Leone (BSL) has announced several measures meant to support local businesses with the goal of cushioning the effect of the Coronavirus pandemic.

In a statement by the bank on Friday, it said the Monetary Policy Committee agreed for the Bank to create a Special Credit Facility to the tune of Le500 billion to support the production, procurement and distribution of essential goods and services.

By Mabinty M. Kamara

The Sierra Leone Drivers and General Transport Workers Union has told Politico that the government’s latest order for transport workers to reduce passengers will not be implemented on poda-podas (mini-buses) and taxis.

Alpha Amadu Bah said the law will only affect Kekehs (Rickshaws) and long buses, noting that this was part of the measures that was agreed by government.

By Mabinty M. Kamara

The 24 journalists recently appointed as Information Attaché to various missions abroad will be deployed to their respective missions as soon as the global Coronavirus pandemic is contained, Minister of Information, Mohamed Rahman Swaray, has said.

Mr Swaray told Politico that whiles they wait, the attaches would be given the required training in the coming weeks, to prepare them for their new assignment. He said part of their job description was to rebrand the image of the country on the international stage.

By Francis H. Murray

Four Ministries relevant to the national efforts towards the fight against the Coronavirus disease last week updated parliament on progress in their specific tasks.

The briefing which lasted for two days – Thursday March 19 and Friday March 20 – provided insight into what the country is doing, with the goal of providing answers and clear doubts over the country’s preparedness.

By Francis H. Murray

The Student Union (SU) administration of Fourah Bay College (FBC) is spearheading a campaign against examination malpractice.

Officials of the Union Executive say the move is geared towards sanitizing the institution’s examination process which had been clouded with prolonged problem of cheating during exams.

SU President, Augustine Bona, embarked on a class-to-class sensitization tour in the FBC campus last week to raise awareness on the consequences of cheating during exams.

By Mabinty M. Kamara

In celebration of the 2020 World Social Work Day (WSWD), Social Workers Sierra Leone (SWSL), in collaboration with the Social Work Society of Fourah Bay College, this week marched along major streets of Freetown to raise awareness about the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic.

The street parade, which was held on Tuesday 17^th March, was meant to compliment the Government of Sierra Leone’s effort to prevent the virus from entering the country.

By Kemo Cham

Sierra Leone’s former Minister of Defense, Major (Rtd) Alfred Paolo Conteh, is under investigation over weapons possession, police say.

Conteh is suspected of carrying an undeclared weapon into State House, the office of the president, a police spokesman told Politico.

Assistant Superintendent Samuel Saio Conteh said the former minister was being investigated on allegations that he failed to declare his licensed weapon before entering State House.