The Freetown Golf Club area was on Friday a scene of violence and confusion as squatters around the club battled with Police over their occupation of the land. The General Manager of the Freetown Golf Club, Alpha Bah says that on Friday, a land surveyor was carrying out his routine job within their demarcated land[...]

The Albert Academy Senior Secondary School at Berry Street was yesterday afternoon transformed into a battleground as pupils threw stones and other missiles. In the process , the Police arrested nine pupils who are now in custody. The incident occurred after, according to one SSS 3 pupil (name withheld) the teachers went round to inform[...]

I have always wished for an opportunity to go to China even though I am not a fan of the skies, considering the distance from Sierra Leone where you have to spend about three days in the skies from one aircraft to another. However, my opportunity came true when I received a call from the[...]

Kurubonla town, or call it what you like, is the chiefdom headquarter of Neya Chiefdom located in the south/east of Koinadugu District. It is one of the Sierra Leone's largest chiefdoms giving its amalgamation in about 1952 by the British colonialists. It is an amalgamation of four original chiefdoms, Kulor, Saradu, Neya and Neidu, and these are now referred to as Sections, headed by Section Chiefs hailing from their original chieftain houses in those Sections. In the 1970s, the then All People's Congress (APC) government under Siaka Probyn Stevens split up Neya Section into two, Neya I, with headquarter being Kurobonla and Neya II with headquarter being Porpon. Neya II was carved to create room for its then Youth Leader in that area, the late Gbondo Madusu Lahai II, who was [...]

The Freetong Players International (FPI) is celebrating 28 years of existence after going through thick and thin with over six generations of artists, scattered all over the globe. Director-General of FPI, Charlie Haffner told a press conference yesterday that they are set to celebrate in grand style. He added that as part of their celebration a conference on arts, peace, culture & development will take place at Old School Complex, Hill Station, on Wednesday 22nd May, 2013 @ at 10am with the Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, to serve as chairman at the opening ceremony. Professor Emeritus Cecil Magbailey-Fyle, is to deliver the keynote address. Haffner stated that the Minister of Information & Communication Hon. Alpha Kanu will launch their new newspaper called 'Di [...]

Sierra Leoneans residing in Senegal and surrounding countries have been called upon to be law-abiding and to serve as ambassadors of their country. This clarion call was made by Ambassador Khadijatu Bassir recently, while hosting her counterparts at her official residence. She implored them to take into account that “we are far from home, let me seize this unique opportunity to call on all of us to be law-abiding in Senegal, our country of residence and at the same time make your stay a useful one”. Ambassador Bassir went on to state that “on the homefront, you are all aware that presidential, parliamentary and municipal elections were held last November according to International standards. The elections were acclaimed by all observers as peaceful, free and fair [...]

The Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) concluded a two-day training of 50 police prosecutors at Kingtom Police Barracks on Saturday, as part of the OTP's ongoing effort to build capacity in Sierra Leone's judicial sector. The training was led by Special Court trial lawyer Mohamed Bangura, who recently returned home to Freetown after participating in the prosecution of former Liberian President Charles Taylor in The Hague. The OTP had previously conducted trainings of police prosecutors in the Northern, Eastern and Southern Provinces and in the Western Area of Sierra Leone, as part of a legacy programme which first started in 2009. Bangura noted that criminal prosecutions in the Magistrates Courts are normally conducted by police officers, not lawyers, and that a failure to [...]

Officials of the Ministry of Lands, Country planning and the Environment on Saturday 18th May 2013 carried out a demolition exercise of illegal structures on the right of way in Kenema city known as part of Operation WID. The exercise led by the regional surveyor Rashid Charles Giawo in collaboration with the Sierra Leone Police affected Hangha road, C-Curve along Blama road, Maxwell Khobe street and Combema road in the city centre. Hundreds of traders were affected. The regional surveyor stated that anything that has to do with land is the responsibility of the Ministry of Land, Country Planning and the Environment to see that it goes on properly. The ministry has the mandate to regulate all land use. He said all relevant stakeholders were adequately informed two weeks [...]

On 21st-22nd May in Freetown, we will witness the most important public event ever held about water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in Sierra Leone. Entitled “WASH, For All: Addressing the Current and Growing Challenge”, the Minister of Water, Hon. Momodu Maligi, took time on the eve of this national conference the first of its kind - to talk to our newspaper. Tell us about water supply and sanitation in Sierra Leone and why it is important. Water, Sanitation and Hygiene are keys to lifting Sierra Leoneans out of poverty and in promoting socio-economic growth. Despite our available water resources, millions of Sierra Leoneans do not yet have access to improved water supply or improved sanitation. The situation is even more severe in rural areas and low income communities. [...]

Action Aid International Sierra Leone yesterday updated newsmen on the progress and challenges of their activities in the seven districts they are operating in the country. According to Foday Swarray, Head of Policy and Programmes of Action Aid Sierra Leone, it is part of our commitment and accountability towards the donors, partners and our project beneficiaries in the country to update the public about the work we do in our operational areas. Mohamed Sillah Executive Director, Action Aid, International Sierra Leone properly explained about the aims and objectives of the organization in which focuses on hunger and poverty alleviation and also enhancing social services for the ordinary people. He said “we are also working with communities, so as to enable them hold [...]