News

By Kemo Cham

The Sierra Leone government has announced the discovery of one of the biggest diamonds ever.
The 709-carat gemstone was found in the eastern Kono District by a Christian pastor, Emmanuel Momoh and is the biggest in Sierra Leone since the Star of Sierra Leone in 1972.
Pastor Momoh and the Paramount Chief of Tankoro Chiefdom, where the diamond was found on Wednesday, presented the gem to President Ernest Bai Koroma at State House on Wednesday. It was subsequently locked in a vault at the central bank.

By Mohamed Massaquoi

Traders in Pujehun town have demanded for compensation of up to Le 6 million from the District Council over allegations of destruction of their wares.
The aggrieved traders are among people whose stalls were demolished as part of an operation sanctioned by the District Council Chairman, Sadiq Silla after a failed attempt to remove them from a location the authorities say was illegally occupied.

...but denies any fist fight

By Kemo Cham

A government spokesman has confirmed reports of an open confrontation between two cabinet ministers over the race for the party's ticket for the presidential election but maintains it was a verbal altercation and not a fist fight.
Information Minister Mohamed Bangura and Justice Minister Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara early this week engaged in a heated argument inside State House – the office of the president.

By Kemo Cham

A United Nations experts’ investigation has revealed a worrying trend of cancer prevalence in Sierra Leone, with an annual death rate of over 2, 000 people.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) say estimated 3,000 people develop cancer each year in the country which lacks the capacity and resources to diagnose or provide care for victims. Much of the cancer cases in the country are preventable or curable if discovered early, the agency said as part of the findings of an assessment conducted last month.

By Prince Musa

A Kenema-based Islamic preacher was reprimanded recentlly on allegation of promoting religious division.

Sheikh Abass Sesay angered the Christian community in the eastern Sierra Leonean district with his annual religious crusade which some pastors say portray their faith in a bad light and have warned that unless action is taken could ignite religious confrontation.

By Kemo Cham

There has been an outpouring of condemnation over the detention of a Sierra Leonean civil society activist who called on parliament to be accountable.

Abdul Fatorma was detained in early february by agents of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Sierra Leone Police on the orders of parliament which accused him of “fabrication and incitement”. He was released on bail after spending a night in a police cell, for "further investigation" by the House.

By Kemo Cham

Air travelers on transit at the Freetown International Airport (FNA) will henceforth have an opportunity to browse the internet like in many other international airports across the world.

The management of the Sierra Leone Airport Authority (SLAA) recently unveiled a high speed Wi-Fi service, with officials saying the move is part of an ongoing exercise of modernization of the country’s only international airport.