Geneva-based UBS Optimus Foundation and the Peter Cundill
Foundation have awarded a 1,050,000 Swiss Francs (10.5 Billion Leones) grant to
the Directorate of Science, Technology, and Innovation (DSTI) to support the
Education Innovation Challenge (EIC) on its quest to improve learning outcomes
at primary schools.

The EIC is under the technical supervision of the Human Capital Development (HCD) Incubator at DSTI.  President Bio launched the HCD
Incubator in December 2018. 

Th…

By Aruna
Rashed Toma Bangura

The Deputy Minister of
Youth Affairs, Lusine Kallon has asserted that the abuse and misuse of narcotic
drugs among youths in Sierra Leone is a global phenomenon.

According to the Deputy
Minister, the Youth Affairs Ministry engaged both the Office of National
Security (ONS) and United Nations to do an assessment and they have come to the
conclusion that there is high percentage of drug addiction.

The Deputy Minister on
Tuesday 28th January, 2020 at the Afric…

By Ayodele
Deen-Cole

Sierra Leone Ambassador to
the United State of America (USA), Amb. Sidique Abu Bakarr wai has disclosed
that they are engaging USA Department to lift the travel ban placed on Sierra
Leone and several other African countries.

The new set of travel ban
was imposed late last year by US President Donald Trump to curb the incredible
flow of illegal migrants to the USA.

While setting the record
straight in the recent deportation of Sierra Leoneans from the USA, Ambassad…

The Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs, Alusine Kallon has warned
that youths indulging in drinking chemicals in pamper lining risk death within
six months.

The Deputy Minister was reacting to the nationwide concern over
youths now boiling pampers to use as drug to get them high. He gave the warning
in the light of findings by medical doctors that the chemicals can have a very
corrosive effect on internal organs, especially the vital ones like the kidney,
liver and lungs.

Testimonies from y…

The National Chairman
of National Grand Coalition (NGC), Dr. Dennis Bright has opined that the
current Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) government is not different from previous
governments in terms of financial uprightness. The NGC National Chairman based
his opinion on the adverse findings on the mismanagement of public funds by
Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government contained in the
Auditor General’s 2018 Report.

“The same old
irregularities that previous audits uncov…

By Ayodele Deen-Cole

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of National
Public Procurement Authority (NPPA), Ibrahim Brima Swarray has recently
disclosed in a news conference in Freetown that the Authority is set to save up
to US$100,000,000.00 (One Hundred Million United States Dollars) this year
through monitoring, compliance and supervision of goods procurement practices
in all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

It could be recalled that last year, NPPA
saved up to US$70, 000,000….

Marketing Manager, Mercury International
Sports Betting & Lottery Company, Samuel Horton has on Monday, January 27,
2020, said they will continue to embark on the promotions for their virtual
games amongst several other plans this year, and will also ensure that their
products are friendly and attractive to the less fortunate or less privileged.

According to Mr Horton, as part of their
early plans this year, they have already finished the mapping out process of
the Company’s Retailers an…

One of the amendments in the revised Anti-Corruption Commission
law that was forwarded to parliament by Commissioner Joseph Ben Kaifala for
ratification last year was that any public official found guilty of corruption
henceforth must have the fruits of the crime seized and forfeited to the state
and that official ban from participating in public life for a certain number of
years.

In this light, it is the fear of the main opposition All People’s
Congress (APC) members that served in 
t…

Three high-profile representatives from the American Institute of
Architects (AIA) – Senior Director of the American Institute of Architects, Mr.
Joel Mills; Senior Director of Design Assistance – Center for Communities at
the American Institute of Architects, Ms. Erin Simmons; and Director of
Planning & Sustainability for the City of Northampton, Massachusetts, Mr
Wayne Feiden have visited the Freetown City Council (FCC) to explore
opportunities for supporting it in planning the city.

D…

The Ombudsman, Leon Jenkins-Johnston
and a cross-section of his senior staff have paid a courtesy call on National
Civil Registration Authority (NCRA) to explain its mandate to the Authority.

The visit, according to Mr. Jenkins-Johnston,
is part of a series of engagements that his office conducts with government Ministries,
Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to explain the mandate of the Office of the
Ombudsman and to interface with other relevant offices to make them aware of
their mandate.

…