By Kemo Cham & Mohamed T. Massaquoi
Lack of integrity in the Sierra Leonean media is frustrating efforts in the fight against graft, the head of the Anti Corruption (ACC) has said.
Liberian ‘meningitis outbreak’ puts Sierra Leone on alert
By Kemo Cham
Last week Liberian authorities identified Meningitis as one of the suspect cases in an ongoing outbreak of a 'mysterious' illness.
The Ministry of Health (MoH) of Liberia said reports from test samples pointed to the tropical disease that affects the brain and spinal cord, even though the World Health Organisation (WHO) appears to be unsure of that explanation.
Child gang rape victim dies
By Mohamed T. Massaquoi
Police have confirmed the death of a 12-year old girl, an alleged victim of a gang rape in southern Sierra Leonean district of Pujehun, a hotbed of sexual violence.
Officials at the Family Support Unit (FSU) of the Sierra Leone Police in the district said Mamie died in the Bo Government Hospital in neighboring Bo District. She was allegedly gang raped by a group of three men, the police say.
The police told Politico that the matter was first reported in February this year.
ECOWAS on verge of becoming first region to end statelessness
By Kemo Cham
West Africa is on the verge of becoming the first region to end statelessness after ministers from the 15-member ECOWAS group announced the adoption of an ambitious plan this week.
The regional action plan adopted at a ministerial meeting in the Gambian capital, Banjul tasked individual member countries to undertake polices in line with international standards to end a rising phenomenon human rights groups say has led to the marginalisation of millions of people across the world.
Manhunt for alleged sexual offender in southern Sierra Leone
Police in Pujehun have mounted a manhunt for an alleged sexual offender who is on the run.
The suspect, Joseph Mende, said to be over 50 years old, is alleged to have had sex with and impregnated a 16-year-old Class 4 pupil.
Mende, who is ironically a former Chairman of the Pujehun District Local Police Partnership Board, currently serves as member of the District Security Coordination Committee. He is also a former District Chairman of the People’s Movement for Democratic Change (PMDC) party.
Gambian President arrives in Sierra Leone tonight
By Kemo Cham
Gambian President Adama Barrow is expected to arrive in Sierra Leone on Wednesday evening as part of a tour of four member countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) which helped negotiate the peaceful resolution of last year’s disputed presidential election in his country.
According to Sierra Leone government officials, he will hold talks and dinner with host President Ernest Bai Koroma, as well as meet with a cross section of the Gambian community living in the country.
Marie Stopes Sierra Leone denies confidentiality breach allegation
By Kemo Cham
The international family planning service provider, Marie Stopes, is fighting to protect its image in Sierra Leone where it is embroiled in allegations of a major confidentiality breach.
The NGO is refuting claims that it disclosed the identity of its HIV positive clients following the publication on social media of a list of girls purported to be living with HIV virus.
