News

By Hajaratu Kalokoh

Sierra Leone's President Julius Maada Bio has discussed his plans for the education sector with the United Arab Emirates based group, Global Education Management System (GEMS), which he asked for support to attain his objectives.

GEMS is a leading global advisory and educational management firm that pioneers educational development around the world.

A delegation from the group met with the president on Wednesday at State Lodge in Freetown.

By Newman Anthony Levey 

Police in Bo say they are investigating the death of an unidentified man in a mining pit in Valunia Chiefdom.

Eyewitness accounts suggest that the victim died after the pit he was digging for minerals collapsed on him.

According to the landlord of the mining site, which is in Bomahun Village, Karim Lahai, he was away when the incident happened on Saturday, 8^th February, and he only got to know when he returned a day after the incident.

By Mabinty M. Kamara

Amidst public outcry over the increase in the cost of acquiring passport, the Sierra Leone Immigration Department have defended the move, saying they had to honor the contract signed with the company printing it.

Last week the price of a passport was suddenly increased from Le750, 000 to Le950, 000.

By Francis H. Murray

The government of Sierra Leone, through the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, has said that the delay in salary payment for January was due to high domestic and external debt inherited from the previous administration.

In a statement released by the ministry on Thursday, it explained that the government also had to embark on “pro-poor service delivery”, forcing it to redivert available resources.

By Hajaratu Kalokoh

Lecturers at the University of Sierra Leone (USL) have warned the Ministry of Finance to refrain from “usurping” their powers and settle delays in salary payment.

The Academic Staff Association (ASA) expressed its position in a press statement on Wednesday, 12^th February.

By Francis H. Murray

President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Akinwumi Adesina, has told President Julius Maada Bio that the bank is set to invest the sum of US$14 million in the country’s agriculture sector by June this year.

He made this disclosure to the President and his delegation on the margins of the just concluded African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

By Mabinty M. Kamara

Sierra Leone is hosting 700 tourists from 80 countries across the world.

The tourists are taking part in the Bamako Budapest rally. The 17-days event, which involves 240 teams from Europe, America and Africa, started in January from Hungary and is expected to end in Freetown on Sunday February 16.