MOHAMED SOWE : A VIBRANT NEW VOICE IN SIERRA LEONE’S POLITICS

Wednesday May 24, 2006

One of the vibrant new voices emerging in Sierra Leone politics was heard during the recent APC Fund-raising programs in Somerset , New Jersey. Mohamed Sowe, a young banker , who lives in Franklin Township, Somerset , NJ. caught the attention of many people, including this newspaper. .

A quiet, but very eloquent man, Mr. Sowe, who is Internal Auditor of the APC North American Branch and Secretary General of the New Jersey Chapter  articulated his political ideas  during the fund-raising and  graciously granted COCORIOKO  an interview. Sowe , who looks like one of the positive young blood  in contemporary Sierra Leone politics, holds a B.SC in Accounting and an MBA  and is a Senior Underwriter at the Wachovia Bank in New Jersey.

Read COCORIOKO  on Thursday for a full report on the exclusive interview granted this newspaper by Mr. Sowe . As APC Leader Ernest Koroma told COCORIOKO  last weekend, our nation does not suffer from a dearth of fine minds .Infact, we have abundant youthful resources to step into the shoes of the recycled politicians when they finally leave, but the problem will be how to cultivate the talents of this new breed. Make a date with this newspaper on Thursday for this interesting and inspiring interview.

‘MARGAI ALLEGATION IS WITCH-HUNTING AND DOUBLE STANDARDS …..KABBAH’S  GIRLFRIEND, ISATA JABBIE , BENEFITTED TOO  FROM CONTRACTS  ‘ ….
Public tells COCORIOKO

Monday April 9, 2006

The general public in Freetown was troubled but not moved  by allegations made in a Freetown newspaper last week that the leader of the People’s Movement for Democratic Change , Mr. Charles Margai, gave out contracts to his  “wives,  family members and “proxies”  when he served as Sierra Leone’s Minister of Internal Affairs from 1999 to 2001. .

According to our reporter, Chernor Ojuku Sesay , though the public was bemused by the allegations against Margai, it however dismissed the accusations as “Political Witch-Hunting ” once again against  the PMDC Leader for the simple fact that the award of contracts to family members was an entrenched habit among all ministers of government and even the President, Dr. Ahmad Tejan Kabbah.

According to Ojuku Sesay, members of the public , while decrying the alarming rate of corruption in the country, believed that the report on Charles Margai was leaked out to the press by the government  to embarass the former Minister on the eve of the official registration of his party.

The public suggested that if the government wanted to know how serious  was this problem of nepotism with contracts, it should launch a commission of inquiry to find out how other ministers and government officials award contracts. The public said “Shocking, distasteful revelations ” will be made that it was not only Margai whose family benefited from the award of contracts but even President Kabbah’s girlfiriend , Isata Jabbie .

The public, Sesay went on, made reference to the case where President Kabbah’s girlfriend , Isata Jabbie, was given a mouth-watering contract to supply fishing lines, outboard machines and fishing nets during the incumbency of Mr. Okere Adams as Minister of Marine and Fisheries. Miss Jabbie netted  billions of Leones from the contract but never delivered anything, according to the public. Miss Jabbie was never brought to book for non-performance on a contract.

Sesay further intimated that the public also made mention of the case of a government functionaire, Mr. M.I.K. Bayoh , who was awarded a contract worth 1.7 billion leones by the Ministry of Education to supply furniture to government schools. Though the government stipulated to him the quality of materials it preferred for the furniture, Bayoh went ahead and provided furniture made from very inferior materials.

Bayoh was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Commission ( ACC)  but nothing came out of the case, which died a natural death.

Last night , the Editor of this newspaper tried to get former Interior Minister , Charles Margai, to give his comment on the allegations against him, but Margai was so angry with the issue, he slammed the phone down on the Editor, brawling :  “My friend, I have no time for this kind of nonsense “.

Edmond Cowan snubbed SLAJ over Yansaneh case

By Chernor Ojuku Sesay 

Wednesday March 1, 2006

“There is evidence to prove that SLAJ Secretary General, Ibrahim Karim-Sei wrote a letter of complaint to Mr. Francis Gabbidon, the Ombudsman. There is also proof that the Ombudsman actually forwarded a letter of concern to the Speaker of Parliament about the role played by Hon. Fatmata Hassan on the day the late Harry Yansaneh was physically assaulted.

“Well before the death of Harry Yansaneh, the executive of SLAJ had hoped that the Speaker of Parliament, (Edmond Cowan) would invite the executive of SLAJ and Hon.Fatmata Hassan in an attempt to get at the truth.

“However, no such meeting was convened even though the Ombudsman, Mr Francis Gabbidon categorically said that he had forwarded SLAJ’s complaint to the Speaker of Parliament, Edmond Cowan.”

The above is excerpted from a seven-page press release issued by SLAJ over the weekend. The release apart from accusing the Speaker of Parliament, Edmond Cowan of not taking serious the issue of Harry Yansaneh, went on to sate that nevertheless, “it is therefore surprising that the Speaker of Parliament could state on television that the President of SLAJ and the Chief Justice held several meetings after the Harry Yansaneh inquest,” when in actual fact, he (Speaker of Parliament) was not well informed on the matter due to his  ?I don’t care’ attitude.

The release goes on to state that the Attorney-General, Frederick Carew had been given the opportunity to address members of the media but that each time there was a press briefing, such a press briefing ended in a state a disarray as the Attorney General had not learnt the art of dealing with journalists and that in other words, “the Attorney-General is a very temperamental man.”

Press Release: Sierra Leone Association Of Journalists

After a week long of diatribe by the Speaker of Parliament on the stance of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists as regards the death of former acting Editor of For Di People newspaper. Harry Yansaneh and as a result of statements made on the government owned SLBS Television and Radio to suggest that the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists and indeed, the print media deliberately tilted the truth about the outcome of the inquest set up by the government, SLAJ makes the following clarifications:

Firstly, immediately after the physical confrontation and the violence meted out on Harry Yanseneh at No.1 Short Street on 10th May 2005, several members of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists, including the President of SLAJ, Mr. I.B. Kargbo pleaded with all the parties concerned to avoid any confrontational approach to the issue of evacuating journalists at No. 1 Short Street, especially since the journalists who occupied the premises of No. 1 Short Street had been given a formal notice by Hon. Fatmata Hassan to vacate the building.

When the late Harry Yansaneh later made a formal complaint to the Secretary General of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists, after the journalist alleged that he was physically assaulted by the children of Hon. Fatmata Hassan and other people, the President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists instructed the Secretary-General to raise the matter with the Ombudsman.

There is evidence to prove the SLAJ Secretary General Ibrahim Karim- Sei wrote a letter of complaint to Mr. Francis Gabiddon, the Ombudsman and that there is also proof that the Ombudsman actually forwarded a letter of concern to the Speaker of Parliament about the role played by Hon. Fatmata Hassan on the day the late Harry Yansaneh was physically assaulted. Well before the death of Harry Yansaneh, the executive of SLAJ had hoped that the Speaker would invite the executive of SLAJ and Hon. Fatmata Hassan in an attempt to get at the truth.

No such meeting was convened even though the Ombudsman, Mr. Francis Gabiddon categorically said that he had forwarded SLAJ’s complaint to the Speaker of Parliament. When Harry Yansaneh fell ill, and when newspapers started to publish the bloated photographs of Harry Yansaneh, the President of SLAJ made a formal request to the President, Dr. Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, pleading for the President’s intervention

The President did give instructions that Mr. Harry Yansaneh be flown to the United Kingdom for thorough medical treatment, but when the President of SLAJ made a follow-up at the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, the Minister of Health, Ms. Abator Thomas informed the President of SLAJ that the medical doctor, Dr. Willoughby who was supposed to complete the forms and to do the other necessary paper work, to make it possible for Harry Yansaneh to be flown to the United Kingdom, was busy marking examination papers.

President Kabbah’s further intervention on the matter was his fatherly decision that all journalists at No 1 Short Street should be transferred to the former Sierra Leone Daily Mail to avoid any further confrontation between the landlady and the journalists.

Ata a reception at the Bintumani Hotel, the President of SLAJ, I.B. Kargbo further reminded Ms. Abator Thomas that the condition of Harry Yansaneh was deteriorating at an alarming rate and could the Ministry of Health speed up the arrangements that would make it possible of Harry Yansaneh to be flown to the United Kingdom for medical treatment.

When Harry Yansaneh passed away, members of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists were compelled to put their meagre resources together to bury their colleague as it was very clear that Yansaneh’s family was a family of very meagre financial means. The circumstances that led to the death of Harry Yanseneh had to be made public and therefore, the executive of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists pleaded with the government to put in motion mechanisms to find out the causative factors for the death of the late journalist.

The government responded satisfactorily by setting up an inquest to investigate the circumstances that led to the death of the journalist. It should also be noted that the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists had nothing to do with the decisions that led to the setting up of the inquest and therefore had no say in the decision that led to the recruitment of Magistrate Adrian Ficher to serve as Coroner Officer. SLAJ was informed by the Law Office that Magistrate Adrian Fischer was a credible man and that the Chief Justice had great faith in him. Furthermore, the Director of Public Prosecutions assured the President of SLAJ that investigations into the death of Harry Yansaneh would be as transparent as possible to give credibility to the legal arm of government.

The members of SLAJ up to this time had developed a lot of confidence in the judicial system and a lot of faith in the Law Office, which explains why SLAJ did not complain about any irregularity during the formative days of putting in place the modalities for the inquest. In fact, SLAJ largely went by the dictates of the Law Office and the Office of the Chief Justice. SLAJ itself had no direct dealings with the Coroner or other officers appointed by the government to serve on the inquest as SLAJ always expressed its concerns through its lawyer, Blyden Jenkins-Johnson, who also at the time provided vital legal advice to SLAJ. The recruitment of members of the jury was again done through the normal government procedure, as the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists had nothing to do with the choice of the jurors. The appointment of Mrs. Tarawallie to help in the administration of the inquest was again a decision taken by the judiciary and like in all the other cases; SLAJ had nothing to do with the appointment of the Assistant Registrar who helped Magistrate Adrian Fischer to conduct the inquest.

During the inquest itself, the Law Officers Deparment made it very, very clear that the inquest was a government appointed inquest and therefore, the Law Office should be allowed to investigate the death of a citizen without interference and again, SLAJ conceded to this sensible arrangement. When the President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists, I.B. Kargbo suggested to the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Fredrick Carew that there was need for SLAJ to seek the services of a lawyer to represent the interests of the Harry Yansaneh family and SLAJ, the Law Office accepted this suggestion made by SLAJ.

At the inquest itself, the state represented by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr. O. V. Robin-Mason, Mr. Akie-Berbar and Mr. Monfred Sesay, very eminent lawyers attached to the Law Office. Throughout the period of the inquest, the President of SLAJ and other members of the Association were present at the proceedings and indeed, some members of SLAJ testified at the inquest, but at no time did any member of SLAJ attempt to influence the proceedings of the inquest. In fact, the Coroner, on the occasion, firmly warned journalists that any attempt to run stories that would seem to influence the deliberations at the inquest would be dealt with very severely.

The President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists admonished journalists to steer away from editorialization and to concentrate on reporting on the day-to-day developments at the inquest. During the inquest, more than eighteen witnesses testified, including the government Pathologist, Dr. Owizz Koroma, Dr. Victor Willoughby and Dr. Rashida Kamara. Other witnesses included those people that were actually present at the scene when Harry Yansaneh was being manhandled by the children of Hon. Fatmata Hassan.

SLAJ finds it very strange that out of close to twenty witnesses, the authorities are now merely isolating the testimony of two people, Dr. Owizz Koroma and Dr. Willoughby as the authentic witnesses as if the evidence proffered by the other witnesses did not matter at all. When the inquest was concluded and when the Coroner Officer gave instructions for the suspects who had been found allegedly responsible for the death of Harry Yansaneh to be arrested, the Director of Public Prosecutions was present, so were Mr. Akie Berbar and Monfred Sesay from the Law Office and none of them protested when the Coroner announced the names of the people to be arrested by the police and to be charged to court for Involuntatry Manslaughter.

The Coroner, Magistrate Adrian Fischer in his final statement said that apart from those listed down by the jurors; all other people whose activities could have caused the death of Harry Yansaneh would equally be held culpable. The point must be made that the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists never developed any notion to unfairly target any individual nor did the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists insist that the name of Fatmata Hassan be included among the suspects, this was a decision made by the Coroner possibly utilizing authentic information available to him. SLAJ relied on the expert knowledge of the Coroner and the fact that the Director of Public Prosecutions and the other government lawyer, Mr. Akie-Berbar and SLAJ lawyer, Blyden Jenkins-Johnson, paid glowing tribute to the Coroner for a job well done and this was what gave assurances of SLAJ that at last, the rule of law was prevailing in Sierra Leone.

The President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists, contrary to the statements made by the Speaker of Parliament when he was interveiwed by SLBS Television, did visit the Chambers of the Chief Justice only once and that visit was deliberately made by the SLAJ President to find out from the Chief Justice what was supposed to be the next development now that the inquest was over. Chief Justice, Dr. Ade Renner Thomas, informed the President of SLAJ that the Coroner made certain errors but assured that the errors could be corrected as he referred to certain provisions in the Coroner’s Act that gave the Chief Justice the authority to regularize any irregularity that arises as a result of a mistake in proceedings at an inquest. This was the first time and the last time the President of SLAJ visited the Chambers of the Chief Justice. The Chief Justice never delivered any document to the President of SLAJ before or after the Harry Yansaneh inquest.

It is therefore surprising that the Speaker of Parliament could state on television that the President of SLAJ and the Chief Justice held several meetings after the Harry Yansaneh inquest. The President of SLAJ held only one meeting with the Chief justice and it was a friendly meeting at which the Chief Justice gave assurances of fair play in the entire process even though he expressed concern about some aspects of the behaviour of Mr. Adrian Fischer. The complaint about Mr. Fishcher’s behaviour made by the Chief Justice was clearly out of the mandate and authority of SLAJ.

Secondly, after the inquest, it was the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr. Fredrick Carew who granted an interview to Radio UNAMSIL in an attempt to give the impression that the inquest that was set up by the government to investigate the death of Harry Yansaneh was null and void, even though senior officers from his Ministry took part in the deliberations at the inquest and did not protest when the Coroner made his orders.

The President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists had to respond to that interview to straighten the facts. After these developments, the President of SLAJ visited the office of the Attorney General two times and on those two occasions, it was for the Attorney General to inform the President of SLAJ that the Coroner Officer, Adrian Fischer had made such fundamental mistakes to the extent that the suspects could not be charged to court for Involuntary Manslaughter and he also used these occasions to ask the President of SLAJ to convene press briefings as he needed to talk to journalists on this matter.

The President of SLAJ had given the Attorney General the opportunity to address members of the media but each time there was a press briefing, such a press briefing ended in a state of disarray as the Attorney General had not learnt the art of dealing with journalists, in other words, the Attorney General is a very temperamental man. The point about an error made by the Coroner when it was alleged that the suspects should be detained for committing murder was later corrected by the Coroner himself who said that the insertion of the word murder on the detention document was an administrative mistake, which he himself was prepared to correct without further delay. It is not true that SLAJ intends to dictate the manner in which  the judiciary functions in Sierra Leone, nor is it true that SLAJ intends to undermine the respectability and integrity of the Chief Justice.

The position of SLAJ is very clear, the Law Office had the statutory authority to charge or not to charge citizens to court. SLAJ is also fully aware of the fact that the Chief Justice can only set up a court to try citizens after the police or the Law Office had charged such a citizen for breaking the law. SLAJ’s position is that the inquest, and the Coroner Officer was clearly part of the inquest that handed down a verdict of Involuntary Manslaughter, was an inquest properly constituted by the state. The history books at SLAJ will not be tilted and until this matter is dealt with in a Court of  Law, SLAJ will continue to accept the verdict of the inquest.

SLAJ has no intention to break the laws of this country by changing a verdict that had been handed down by a recognized Coroner Officer, but it must also be stated that the Law Office has a right to do whatever it thinks is right to promote human rights in this country. If the Law Office decides not to charge the suspects, so be it, and equally true if the Law Office decides to water down the charges, so be it, but SLAJ will not be party to such a decision. SLAJ will continue to cooperate with government in all other areas and SLAJ will not stand in the way of government to pursue the Harry Yansaneh matter in whatever fashion the Law Office deems fit. But for purposes of history and for the records, the truth will always stand out and we must make it very clear that SLAJ had no influence over the manner in which the Harry Yansaneh matter was conducted at the inquest and we should also make it very clear that the President of SLAJ had no access to any document given to him by the Law Office or by the Office of the Chief Justice.

The only document that was made available to SLAJ was a document handed over to the Secretary General of SLAJ and that was the document related to the decision of the jurors. Apart from that document, there is no other document that is in the possession of SLAJ as even the death certificate that was issued by the government Pathologist was handed over to the family of Harry Yansaneh. The President of SLAJ no longer needed to educate members of SLAJ about deliberations at the inquest as the journalists had already followed the matter from the beginning to the end. In any case, SLAJ has no legal authority to change any rules of procedure either in an inquest or in an ordinary court of law, which explains why SLAJ will take great exception to any attempt by anybody to discredit SLAJ and what it stands for or any attempt to discredit the President of SLAJ. Any further attempt to discredit SLAJ or to slander the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists will be taken seriously and SLAJ would have no alternative but to proceed to the courts of law to seek redress.

The fact is that Harry Yansaneh died, an inquest was set up to investigate his death and a verdict was handed down and SLAJ stands by that verdict. This does not suggest that the Law Office cannot pursue the matter as it deems fit, for SLAJ is neither part of the executive, the legislature nor the judiciary. But the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Service should be warned that any further attempt to use that medium to allow citizens to make libellous utterances against other citizens would be resisted very stoutly, possibly leading to court action.

6 months to build CELTEL Le.300m house

By Chernor Ojuku Sesay

Friday February 24 , 2006

The leading mobile network telecommunications company in Sierra Leone, CELTEL at Cole Drive off Wilkinson Road this week, turned the sod on the land for the construction of the Le.300,000,000 ( three hundred million leones) house that was won by a twenty six year old medical student Claudette Y. Amuzu.

According CELTEL PRO Dr. Spencer, the house is going to be built by Nimo Construction Company in  Sierra Leone.  He added that CELTEL may have many critics but that the company would  not give them any room for rumou mongering.

In his statement, Mr. Bernard Sisay the Marketing Director for CELTEL said that Miss Amuzu is a humble and a lucky winner. He went on to say that it is not easy nowadays for one to acquire land in Sierra Leone. “We will name the drive to the house Claudette/CELTEL Drive.  We want the whole world to know that CELTEL fulfills its promises while ensuring that our customers’ needs are satisfied.  The land is basically a two town lot and the work is going to start as soon as possible”, Mr. Sisay said.

J.Y. the Managing Director of CELTEL who presented the conveyance to Claudette Amuzu said,  “I am so happy because the dream has come to reality”.

Hardi Taylor the contractor revealed that to build a house is not an easy task moreso as there are a lot of granite stumps on the land.  However, he said that the house would be built in six months.

Claudette Amuzu in her vote of thanks, praised CELTEL for making her dream come to reality.  “In my college, my friends praise me for being the person who won CELTEL’s Le.300m house.  I have total confidence in CELTEL”, she said

AFRICELL hits Kono, Makeni and Magburaka shortly

By Chernor Ojuku Sesay

Thursday February 16, 2006

One of Sierra Leone’s  mobile network telecommunications companies, AFRICELL will be all over the country shortly, according to the company’s Chief Finance Officer, Joe Abass Bangura.

At a press briefing held at their conference room in their office at Bathurst Street in Freetown Mr Bangura said that they are pleased to inform the general public about their developments taking place within their organisation. He said, that ” the sponsorship deal with the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Service(SLBS) during the just concluded African Nations Cup tournament is very sucessful and serves as a stepping stone for further collaboration with the SLBS and other similar institutions. During the period of the tournament, our predict and win sessions were vibrant and attracted millions of leones worth of prizes being won. The manner in which the draws were made was fair and transparent as they were done live on television” he said.

He further added that, AFRICELL has launched its massive expansive program that will culminate in their pressence in every district in the country by the end of the year. “We now have presence in the Western Area, Moyamba, Bo, Kenema and Segbwema, Kono, Magburaka and Makein would be joining the quality AFRICELL family within two weeks. One of the issues that came out during the interactive sessions (phone-ins) was an eagerness for AFRICELL to expand to new areas. Calls were received from far afield as Port Loko and Kambia, all asking when our network would cover those areas. Our message to those people is simple and clear, ?we dae na road’ additionally, to cur new and potential subscribers. The opportunity to test the quality of our network, since 26th January 2006, subscribers have been able to call to other AFRICELL subscribers free without any charge. We still maintain the discount offered in December which gives free units up to 33% of the value of nay recharge card bought and loaded”, he said.

According to Mr. Casho Wellington, Director-General of Sierra Leone Broadcasting Service (SLBS) television, “since the commencement of television broadcasts of the broad AFRICELL-sponsored African Cup of Nations, this is the first time pre and most match analysis have been sponsored. Over the years,  the SLBS broadcast these analyses without any benefit to the station. Pre and post match analyses did not only benefit AFRICELL but also the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Service television as it boosted the station’s image and credibility”.

 Cold Storage Company is 50 years this year

By Chernor Ojuku Sesay

Tuesday February 7, 2006

The Freetown Cold Storage Company last week met with its distributors to chart the way forward for this year. In his opening address, the General Manager Mr. Rudi Bruns said last year’s sales were not good enough as they never reached their target. He noted that they were able to sell one million, nine hundred and three thousand crates of soft drinks. The budgeted figure, he said, was two million two hundred and fifteen thousand crates.

The General Manager went on to report that the company would be 50 years this year and that it was the second Coca Cola Company in Africa after Egypt. “We have the best products in the Western region and we will maintain our quality” he said. Mr. Bruns stated that the reason why the sales dropped was due to certain constraints the distributors and the company were facing. He said they would try at all cost to put them right this year.

The Marketing and Sales Manager, Mr. Tolu Ojmpolu thanked distributors for their usual cooperation and said they were ready to help them meet this year’s company target. He said that in 2003, Cold Storage sold more than last year and praised Mr. Abu Bakarr Akin who was the highest selling distributors in Freetown last year with one hundred and fifty two thousand crates compared to the one hundred and six thousand crates he sold in 2004. In the provinces, Mr. P. George was the highest selling distributor with forty thousand crates sold in 2005 compared to the thirty nine thousand crates he sold in 2004.

Mr. Tolu went on to state that, “there are many constraints responsible for the drop of sales. The first problem is the regular break down of vehicles (but) the company would bring in 15 trucks that will be distributed to distributors on a soft loan basis. Then there are areas in the provinces that do not get our products, so we have decided to put containers that would be manned by distributors to improve sales”, he said adding that “because of electricity problem, Cold storage would be distributing to distributors ice bars throughout the city and beyond to enhance their sales”.

Mr. Tolu said another constraint was the route configuration in Freetown as distributors were not keeping their beats and that they were not servicing the hotels and beach bars properly. “Also, we would be organising training programmes for Sales Agents and also to equip them with decent outfit to be able to communicate with customers better”.

Questions put forward by the distributors to the management as to how they could improve sales, were answered satisfactorily. The distributors were advised to get one or two representatives that would be constantly meeting with the management to chart the way forward for the growth of the company.

Mr. Allan Lewis who gave the vote of thanks commended the distributors for always working in collaboration with management so as how they could improve the company and their own profit. He also thanked customers and the press “who are always with us for the growth of Cold Storage”.

APC Sacks Makeni Town Council Chairman

By Chernor Ojuku Sesay

Thursday February 2, 2006

The APC executive and elders in Makeni over the weekend took a drastic decision by asking the Chairman of the Makeni Town Council, Musa Mansaray to resign both as Chairman of the Council and as a Councilor and member of the APC.

His deputy, Augustine Yamba Koroma was also asked to resign as Deputy Chairman of the Council but will remain as a Councilor and a member of the party. The two have been authorised to refund to the Makeni Town Council the total of Le88m (eighty-eight million leones).

The APC leader, Hon. Ernest Bai Koroma told this press yesterday that the party’s decision is final. “This is to send a message to whosoever is interested that, the present APC leadership does not and will not condone any corrupt practice from anybody. Our decision is final”.

It would be recalled that the Makeni Town Council received a total sum of Le 165m (one hundred and sixty five million leones) from the government for the implementation of the Rapid Result Initiative (RRI) programmes. The Council was to embark on the construction of culverts in the township. However, the work undertaken by the Council did not impress the people of Makeni who immediately raised an alarm which prompted the institution of an investigation committee to look into the allegation of misappropriation.

Reports monitored from Makeni yesterday confirmed that the Deputy Chairman tendered his letter of resignation but that the Chairman of the Council, Musa Mansaray is insisting not to resign.

The APC leader, Hon. Ernest Bai Koroma when questioned on the refusal of the Chairman to tender his letter of resignation said, “we took the decision over the weekend. It is too early to speculate. The assurance I want to give is that the present APC has no sacred cow when it comes to fighting corruption”.

THE SLPP’S RELENTLESS MAGIC

Wednesday January 25, 2006

First_Name: Ibrahim Last_Name: Sheriff Email_Address: [email protected] City: Darby State: PA Zip_Code: 19023, USA Comments: I am writing as a concerned Sierra Leonean currently resident in the USA who has become bordered by the rhetoric of the SLPP regime – that Sierra Leoneans will go to bed not hungry in 2007. I am an SLPP member myself who belong to the Young Generation wing of the party in Kenema. The advantage of Democracy is the freedom that it gives everyone to opine on issues that affect not only the individual, but the country at large. This is what I have intended to do fairly with that rhetoric. I couldn’t imagine a well educated man like our President (Pa Kabbah) will rant to the world by assuring the people of Sierra Leone with this non-feasible rhetoric. It has become a real issue for discussion among Sierra Leoneans in the Diaspora, especially in the United States. People ponder over what magic Pa Kabbah and his cohorts will play to get the people fed by 2007. This is 2006. Where are the preparations for that saying? What foundation has he and his cohorts laid to prove them right in 2007? Or was it another political manipulation of the people’s desire. Or was he teasing our hungry nation now that his second term is nearing end? If Pa Kabbah did this to our people, what do we expect Berewa to say when he shall been entrusted with the power of the presidency? Of course, he will promise finishing Bumbuna hydro, electrify the nation, construct bridge between Freetown and Lungi. This is sick and shameful for people that we had so much confidence in to deceive us. Are we not ashame of “little” Gambia which was once governed from our country? Are we not ashame of Senegal that generates gas heat from the rubbish they collect from household use? Are we not ashame of Ghana whose people once stood in queues for a single press of a toothpaste? Do we think about what Sierra Leone will be like in the next generation? What a shame. Anyway, if Pa Kabbah and his cohorts could not think of any feasible plan that will put their vows to practice in 2007, let me help them out. In the first place, we should be learning from our neighboring countries such as Nigeria and Ghana. In Nigeria, the extent of a man’s wealth is rated on how large his farm is. This cuts across academicians, politicians and other prominent people. Nigerians place high value on farm ownership. The result is that there is enough “Eba” and other food stuff. They don’t have to depend on China like we do for rice that we once exported. Sierra Leone must adopt the culture of only designating a ministerial or parliamentarian position to anyone who has a very large farm somewhere in Sierra Leone. If we mean good for our country, let our leaders lead us in food cultivation in that country. Let every Minister own a farm of some sort that produces food crops which must be sold within the country – it can be a rice farm, a cassava farm, a corn farm, a vegetable farm, poultry, and you name it. Let us teach our people to cultivate the fertile lands that we have. We can get cheap agricultural tools from China, or we can improvise for ourselves. Sierra Leoneans have concentrated more on politics than the development of the country. Drop all that Charles Margai/Berewa stuff and take up your matchets, hoes, shovels, pick axe and go to do some farming every weekend. We say Freetown is dirty and dark. For goodness sake, we can gather all the rubbish that makes Freetown dirty and turn them into power generating resources that will electrify that city of ours. It’s not expensive as that is always the excuse. Ask Chemists like Dr. Lansana Nyalley in Washington, D.C. Sierra Leone needs to wake up. What are our leaders up to? Do they visit other countries? Please help our poor nation.

HISTORY IS MADE IN LIBERIA AS FIRST AFRICAN WOMAN PRESIDENT IS INAUGURATED

Monday January 16, 2005

Liberia, Africa’s oldest republic, made another history today when she showcased to the world Africa’s first ever woman President, Mrs. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, who was inaugurated as Head of State of the war-battered nation , following her dramatic victory in the Presidential Elections in November.

Mrs. Laura Bush, wife of U.S President George W. Bush jr, US. Secretary of state , Dr. Condoleeza Rice , Nigeria’s President , Olusegun Obasanjo and South African leader Mr. Thabo M’Beki ,  Abdoulaye Wade of Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe , Senegal, John Kufuor of Ghana, Laurent Gbagbo of Ivory Coast  and Sierra Leone’s Ahmad Tejan Kabbah   , among some world leaders and representatives of some other governments all over the world, listened with excitement as Mrs. Johnson-Sirleaf declared  : “I pledge to  faithfully, conscientiously and impartially discharge the duties and functions of the office of president of the Republic of Liberia to the best of my abilities, so help me God. ”  and later in her inaugural speech : “We recognize this change is not a change for change’s sake, but a fundamental break with the past, therefore requiring that we take a bold and decisive steps to address the problems that have for decades stunted our progress”.

Mrs. Ellen Johson-Sirleaf passionately appealed to fellow Liberians : ”It is time for us, regardless of our political affiliations or persuasions, to come together to heal and rebuild our nation …Let us begin anew, moving forward into a future that is filled with hope and promise,” .

PAUL KAMARA WINS FREE SPEECH AWARD

Monday January 3, 2005

The very first Paul Kamara Free Speech Award designed  by the North American Center For African Writers ( NACAW ) to be awarded every year  to the “selfless Sierra Leone Journalist /Writer who continues to risk his/her life to write the word that contains the truth”  has been won by the very man after whom the award is named.

NACAW announced on  Saturday December 31 , 2005  that “through a nomination process by Sierra Leoneans in Sierra Leone and abroad”, Kamara had been declared winner of the award which also carries with it a prize of $ 1, 000 ( Le. 1 m ) , a release from member and writer Karamoh Kabbah said.

READ FULL RELEASE UNDERNEATH

naCAW
North America Center for African Writers
9900-E Greenbelt Road, Suite 181
Lanham, MD 20706
Tel: 240-205-3245/301-794-6079/301-335-7062
Fax: 301-765-3685

PRESS RELEASE
Today as free speech triumphs in Sierra Leone, the North America Center
for African Writers (NACAW) announces the winner of the first Paul Kamara Free
Speech Award in honor of a selfless Sierra Leonean journalist/writer who
continues to risk his life to WRITE the WORD that contains the TRUTH.
December 31, 2005, about a month since Paul Kamara was freed from prison,
NACAW announces the Paul Kamara Free Speech Award!
Among many other great journalists/writers who WRITE the WORD that contains
the TRUTH in Sierra Leone, a country that is on record for the incarceration,
banishment, and mysterious death of those who speak the TRUTH, Paul Kamara
emerges as the first winner of the Paul Kamara Free Speech Award through a
popular nomination process by Sierra Leoneans in Sierra Leone and abroad.
NACAW, proudly announces Paul Kamara, a recently incarcerated journalist in
Sierra Leone, as the journalist/writer who WRITES the WORD that contains the
TRUTH the winner of a Le1, 000, 000 (One Million Leones) cash prize of the
first Paul Kamara Free Speech Award.
NACAW takes this opportunity to announce that the Paul Kamara Free Speech
Award will subsequently be given to a fearless Sierra Leonean journalist/writer
who WRITES the WORD that contains the TRUTH. As part of the process to
institutionalize this award, NACAW invites all interested Sierra Leoneans/friends
of Sierra Leone to join this noble process to encourage and promote
journalists/writers who have dedicated their lives to WRITE the WORD that contains the
TRUTH.
In future, NACAW expects a ten million pay out to the Sierra Leonean
journalist/writer who WRITES the WORD that contains the TRUTH.
NACAW thanks all nominees and nominators and wishes them all a happy New
Year.
LET US SHOW THE WOLRD THAT WE CAN STAND BEHIND OUR HEROES!
Gbanabom Hallowell Karamoh
Kabba
Director
Award Coordinator

Karamoh Kabba

************************************************
With our hurricane lamps, who says we c

We’ll appeal to President Kabbah”

Saturday December 24, 2005

By Chernor Ojuku Sesay

Relatives, including wives of some of the soldiers that were served letters of termination from the army this week have indicated that they will have to mobilise and register a strong appeal to the president to exercise some restraints in the current retirement excerise.

“He is the Commander -in-Chief. We will ask for his intervention. Where else can our husbands get jobs? Where will they go from here? What will happen to the future of our children if the breadwinner is jobless?”, asked Mabinty Kamara, wife of one of the retired officers.

Meanwhile, Defence sources have confirmed that the affected officers include two Brigadiers, namely M.K. Dumbuya (Asst. Chief of Defence Staff responsible for Personnel and Training) and K.E.S. Boyah (Asst. Chief of Defence staff, Support and Logistics). Colonel Komba Mondeh takes over as the new head of Personnel and Training while Colonel Kassim Kamara becomes the new head of Support and Logistics.

The Six Colonels that have been retired are Memuna Koroma, J.S.T Mani, A.C. Kenny, Kamara-Will, A.G.Y. Manasary and A.C.R. Benjamin.

Also retired are nine Lieutenant Colonels; M.S Bangura, A.B Koroma, B.K Marah, A.L. Sesay, J.A.N

Abu, Alfanday Marah, F.S Gottor, Commandant Y.E. Sesay and Commandant M.P.F Martin.

The nine retired Majors include Lt. Commandant M.A Turay, Lt. Commandant A.M Jalloh, D.U.E Sesay, A.O Kamara, A.F Thoronka, S.S. Kengenyeh and P.K Koroma.

The retires also include 30 Captains, seven Lieutenants and four 2^nd Lieutenants

Obasanjo donates vehicles to Sierra Leone Judiciary

The government of President Obasango of Nigeria through the Nigeria High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, His Excellency Adamu Abass

Guaranty Trust Bank Assembles 32 journalists in Accra for training

By Chernor Ojuku Sesay

Cocorioko Correspondent in Freetown

Wednesday November 30, 2005

Thirty-two journalists from Nigeria (27), the Gambia (3) and Sierra Leone (2) have completed the 2005 course for journalists in Accra, Ghana sponsored by the Guaranty Trust Bank Plc.

Lecturing journalists on the history and operations of the bank, Nigerian-born Managing Director of GTB in Sierra Leone, Dolapo Ogundinu disclosed that the bank was co-founded by two individuals with the main aim of making the new bank different.

The bank, according to Ogundiun who is also the new Managing Director designate to Ghana (GTB will open its new branch in Accra in January 2006), GTB gained commercial banking license in August 1990 and started operations in Nigeria in 1991.

He said during the first six months of operations, the bank experienced an initial loss. “But with commitment to excellence, honesty, professionalism and our desire to continue learning, we started making profit the following six months. And that has continued since”, he said

The MD said GTB operations are unique in the sense that it is the only bank that declares dividends every six months since it started operations 15 years ago. “GTB is the first bank to go on line in Nigeria” the MD told journalists. He added, “GTB has the best website in sub-Saharan Africa and GTB provides bank statement to customers on the first day of every month”.

For the past 15 years, GTB has expanded locally in Nigeria to sub-regional branches in Sierra Leone, The Gambia and Ghana (January 2006).

Delivering a lecture on the relationship between Commercial Banks and the West African Monetary Union at the National Banking College in Accra, the Director of Studies at the college, Philip K. Buabeng intimated that the success of the proposed single currency by 2009, largely depends on the cooperation of the commercial banks in the various countries and expressed optimism that with the determination of Nigeria, the country he refered to as “big brother” and Ghana, the dream of a single currency might be a reality.

“SLPP is becoming unpopular”

Says APC Secretary General

By Chernor Ojuku Sesay

Cocorioko Correspondent in Freetown

Tuesday November 8, 2005

The Secretary General of All Peoples Congress (APC), Victor Bockarie Foh has said in Freetown that the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) is “fastly becoming unpopular among voters” in the country and have “resorted to intimidating and harassing supporters of the Opposition parties instead of canvassing them to win their support”.

Mr. Foh who was reacting to last weekend’s incident in Kailahun district, in which some supporters of the SLPP disrupted a peaceful APC meeting, said he was completely saddened by such an ugly development coming from the stronghold of the ruling party in the eastern region. He said the unpopularity of the SLPP at present, should not see them practising politics of hooliganism in the country which he said, apart from derailing the peace process brokered by the UNAMSIL peace keepers, it would only make the SLPP more unpopular. “They should set brighter examples on all they are doing as a ruling party. This no longer politics of gbos, gbos. You have to canvass the people to win their support and not embarrass or victimise them”, Mr. Foh said.

Hon. Foh went on to say that the incident in Kailahun is sinister, particularly at a time like this when UNAMSIL peace keepers are about to leave the country after consolidating peace. He said such attitude on the part of the ruling party does not augur well for the practice of democracy.

“I am sad because unlike the North which is open to all political activities, in our own Mende areas of the South and East of the country, the Oppositon and all other political parties outside the realm of the SLPP, are harrassed and prevented from practising politics” he said.

                          SLAJ issues 7 days ultimatum to gov’t

By Chernor Ojuku Sesay

Cocorioko Correspondent in Freetown

         Thursday November 3, 2005        

The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists has issued a Seven days ultimatum to the ruling SLPP government to either charge Hon. Dr. Fatmata Hassan and her five accomplices including her three children to court or face boycott from the press. The press release from SLAJ reads:

On the 26^th August 2005, a verdict of involuntary manslaughter was pronounced on six people including Hon. Dr Fatmata Hassan and her three children following an inquest presided over by Magistrate Adrian Fisher acting as Coroner.

The inquest was granted by the government on the instance of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) following the death of the late journalist, Hassan Harry Yansaneh of For Di People newspaper on the 28^th July 2005.

It is more than two months since the verdict was charged down by a six-man jury appointed by the government, yet nothing has been done to charge the six people to court. SLAJ has done everything in its power to get the matter to court. The Association through its solicitor has written to the president of the Republic Alhaji Dr. Ahmed Tejan Kabbah reminding him about the delay and the very need to prosecute the six suspects.

The Association has even made Representation to the Chief Justice Dr.Ade Renner Thomas and the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, F.M Carew on the same, but it seems the Government wants to protect certain individuals rather than allow the law to take its course.

SLAJ views the delay as a breach of the law on the part of the government and the Association takes great exception to such violation. In view of the above, members of the Association, at an extra ordinary meeting held on Sunday 26 October 2005 made the following damands;

1. That the six suspects be charged to court without further delay
2. That uconditional bail be granted to the editor For Di People Newspaper, Paul Kamara while his appeal before the Court of Appeal is given attention.

The members further resolved that if by November 7, 2005 the above-mentioned demands are not adhered to, SLAJ would institute the following actions;

1. Journalists will cease to participate in all government activities including press conferences, etc.
2. SLAJ will revisit the news blackout earlier declared on the police and other state institutions.
3. SLAJ will withdraw its participation in discussions on the public order Act of 1965.

It is our hope that the Government will not allow us to reach to this point, that is, if the governemnt consider journalists as parters in the development of this nation.

Berewa set out his stall in London

Hurricane Berewa storms London

Berewa wins hearts and minds in London.

SLPP flag flies high in London.

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 26, 2005

His Excellency the Vice- President and Leader of the ruling SLPP, Solomon Ekuma Berewa has reiterated that he is the only one with the necessary experience to consolidate the gains which will take Sierra Leone to its pristine position. Speaking to a cross-section of the Sierra Leonean community in the UK at the prestigious Royal National Hotel, the Vice President stated that Sierra Leone is at a cross road and the decision which Sierra Leoneans will  make come 2007 will have a very reaching consequences for generation yet unborn.  The Vice President emphasised that as someone who is tried and tested, he is fully aware of the complex set of problems that is why he has identified poverty alleviation, justice for all and stamping out corruption among his leading priorities.

He thanked the organisers most immensely for the wonderful reception and assured that in him they had a friend and a brother.

Amidst thunderous applause “One Solo B one State House” from the jam packed hall, the Vice- President disclosed that by the end of December 2005, residents in the Western Area will enjoy continuous electricity supply.  Emphasising on familiar themes, the Vice-President made a clarion call   by appealing to all Sierra Leoneans to return home and contribute meaningfully to nation building.

Earlier on, in his welcome address, Mr Samuel B Jonjo recalled that the “Friends of Berewa UK & Ireland” was formed after a prescriptive analysis and a rational decision that at this crucial time, Sierra Leone deserves nothing less than responsible leadership underpinned by democratic values as the only way forward to sustainable development and better opportunity for all Sierra Leoneans. Mr Jonjo reiterated that “Friends of Berewa UK” is only committed to one agenda and that is to ensure that Vice President Berewa becomes the next president of Sierra Leone.

In his contributions, Mr Eric Lansana observed that the elections for the leadership of the party were hotly contested but the delegates decided to democratically elect Hon. Solomon Berewa as the new leader. He therefore called on all members of the party to close ranks, now that the delegates’ conference has ended, and solidly support the new leader and presidential candidate. Mr. Lansana stated that it was the noble desire of the Vice President to create hope and minimise the social tensions which will lead to sustainable development and better opportunity for all.

Mr Lansana maintained that this occasion has been graced by every nook and cranny to reflect Vice-Presidents’ vision of an inclusive participatory approach where all stakeholders can participate in the decision making process.

Mr Abdul B Kargbo noted in his contributing remarks that Vice President Berewa has acquired an enviable recognition both at home and abroad as an architect of peace which signifies unity, cohesion and peaceful co-existence among all Sierra Leoneans. He therefore stressed that it is for this very qualities that Sierra Leoneans should support the Vice- President in his noble aspiration to become President of Sierra Leone come 2007.

The highlight of the occasion was the presentation of a plaque of art (symbolising good leadership and harmony, and engraved on it the words ?Our Leader, Solo B) on behalf of the “Friends of Solo B UK & Ireland” by Mr Mohamed Alie Bah to Vice President Berewa in recognition of his landslide victory and significant contributions towards peace, democracy and development in Sierra Leone. The ceremony was introduced by Mr Ansu Bapoto Momoh, the Master of Ceremony was Mr Michael Wundah. Vote of thanks was delivered by Miss Pauline Panda.

The occasion was climaxed by the Vice President’s walk-around engulfed by warm embrace, handshakes and smiles punctuated by the Berewa vision Music.

The occasion was witnessed by the Sierra Leonean High Commissioner, Alhaji Sulaiman Tejan-Jalloh, Minister of Finance; John O Benjamin, and Honourable Members of Parliament Augustine B Torto, and Mrs Janet Sam King. Also in attendance were some foreign dignitaries and friends of Sierra Leone. Also leading media outlets were represented including OBE, Africa Week Magazine, Mano-Vision and Palm Tree Magazine.

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­

Friends of Solo B UK & Ireland

London.

GUINEA : NEXT COUNTRY TARGETTED FOR DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS

Saturday October 22, 2005

By Leeroy Wilfred Kabs-Kanu , COCORIOKO’S EDITOR

After Liberia, the next failed African state that the international community would be looking up to see if they are ready to democratize is Guinea , where Municipal Elections are scheduled for December 18.

The  United Nations Development Program ( UNDP)  has pledged $U.S.  500, 000   while the European Unioun ( EU ) will spend $U.S 2.4m   on the forthcoming elections as an encouragement  to the Guinean authorities but they expect  the Guinean government  to reciprocate the gestures by promoting freedom of the press and  freedom of associations and to appoint an independent Electoral Commission .

The Municipal Elections will be a yardstick to determine whether Guinea plans to democratize.  According to IRIN,  one of Guinea’s opposition leaders, Jean -Marie Dore  stated :”We’ll make a decision at the end of the week as to whether or not we’ll take part in December’s municipal elections. ”  Dore is  one of the leaders of the opposition coalition Republican Front for Democratic Change (FRAD).

The opposition in Guinea is very restive and impatient with President Lansana Conte. They epitomize the emotions of the ordinary man in the street in Conakry who fear that unless a drive to democratise Guinea is immediately set into motion, the nation will explode into chaos when Conte dies . There will be too many forces contending for power and some may try to seize control by unconstitutional means. They do not trust the President to stage democratic elections that will lead to a peace transition .

Indeed, last month, the opposition boldly called on President Conte to resign. “You have become a brake, an obstacle to Guinea’s development,” they told him emphatically  “You are not what the country needs. You are sick. You must make the wise decision to leave now before others make it for you.”

It is not possible for sustainable peace  to take hold in Sierra Leone and Liberia if Guinea continues its present sleepwalking into eventual  poltical and economic chaos  under the inept and dictatorial rule of President Lansana Conte. It is a secret no more  that any conflict in any one West African country would spill over to neighbouring states as it happened in Sierra Leone when the timebomb that had been ticking in Liberia for ages exploded in 1989.

The international community, after pouring so much money into Sierra Leone and Liberia  to end the wars there and help them democratise,  understand the situation so well and this explains why focus is now beamed on Guinea as the next target for democratic elections and a government of national concensus and goodwill that will help to promote peace in the sub-region.

RETIRED LT. COL. IDRISSA KAMARA ,  OUTRAGED  BY KIJANGBE’S ALLEGED DISTORTIONS,  SETS THE RECORDS STRAIGHT

Former Secretary of State of the Southern Province  and also one-time member of the Supreme Council of State of the National Provisional Ruling Council ( NPRC), Retired Lt. Col. Idrissa Kamara , yesterday protested  to COCORIOKO  that columnist Martin Kijangbe distorted the truth about his role in the Sierra Leone rebel war in his articles on Chief Hinga Norman .

Kamara, also former Secretary of State at the Ministry of Energy and Power during the NPRC  rule, said  that he was disturbed by Kijangbe’s “deliberate concoctions of the truth” but he maintained a calm, professional and respectful demeanor throughout his rebuttal , while  declaring   that certain individuals  in our midst  were trying to undermine the spirit of reconciliation and unity in Sierra Leone with their deliberate twisting of the truth about past events in the country.

Lt. Col. Kamara, who called the Editor-in-Chief of COCORIOKO  to complain , emphasised that he never at any time undermined the authority and operations of former Civil Defence Force ( CDF) , Chief Hinga Norman , or take part in the rebel attack on Telu Bongor as claimed by Kijangbe. Kamara, who throughout the interview refused to say anything derogatory about Chief Norman, explained that everything Kijangbe said was the opposite of the truth .

The former army officer said infact he helped to save Chief Hinga Norman’s life during that attack and after  he entered Telu Bongor with tough reinforcement of Guinean , Nigeria and SLA troops as well as  a detachment of SSD troops   led by their boss Dumbuya , backed by armoured cars  to  successfully repel the rebels , Chief Norman came out of the house where he was seeking refuge and hugged him and thanked and blessed him for saving his life. Kamara said he did not only carry reinforcements but food and supplies later  for the survivors and the Kamajors.

Kamara explained that he had everything on video tape and promised faithfully to send a copy to the Editor . He explained  dramatically that Chief Hinga Norman was so pleased with his heroic acts that Norman  led him through the town to show him all the houses destroyed by the RUF  rebels during the ambush and the bodies of his relatives and other people, including the NA Police who were slaughtered by the rebels. “If I had undermined him, do you think Chief Norman would have taken me through the town to show me all the places destroyed and all those killed,  on video tape ?”, Kamara asked.

Lt. Col. Kamara disclosed that even the army also lost many of their men in the attack on Telu Bongor. “The rebels killed our men too”, he emphasised.

Kamara said , on realising the seriousness of the attack,  he also called Koribondo to send more reinforcements to Telu Bongor .He said he then adddressed the survivors and the troops, including the Kamajors, on behalf of Chief Norman and the government of Sierra Leone , all of which were recorded on the video tape he promised to send the Editor. This video was then brought to Bo where it was shown to the people of Bo in the cinema hall. He stated that Hinga Norman even took a shower and had his dinner  at his house.

The former Secretary of State accused journalists of not making any attempts to seek the truth and relying on making up stories. He condemned this attitudeand said it was responsible for some of Sierra Leone’s problems.

STILL BEING WRITTEN. CHECK AGAIN.

 Fatmata Hassan released at last

Thursday September 1, 2005

TAMBA BORBOR REPORTS FROM FREETOWN

Parliamentarian Fatmata Hassan has finally sort her much-needed release from the confines of the prison wall, as she finally met her bail condition yesterday afternoon. She was seen sitting around the corridors of the Law Court after the SLPP case ended at the Supreme Court, waiting for the necessary paper works to be completed.

 Immaculately dressed in yellow flowing gown, she was seen holding Bottle of spring water in her hand as she freely conversed with relatives and some SLPP party members. According to sources within the Law Court, when she was granted bail late on Tuesday evening, she could not meet the stated criteria and had to spend the night at the maximum prison for the fifth day. With her at the Law Court yesterday afternoon were two female Prison officers; one seated closely by her side, while relatives run around to ensure that the documents are all in place for approval by Master and Registrar of the High Court.

MANSLAUGHTER  VERDICT BY INQUEST ! ! ! ! ….Fatmata Hassan  , Olu Campbell arrested

Saturday August 27, 2005

The Coroner’s Inquest into the death of FOR DI PEOPLE’S Acting Editor, Harry Yansaneh, ended in Freetown yesterday with the jury returning a verdict of Manslaughter. According to the Managing Editor of THE POOL  newspaper, Chernor Ojukwu Sesay , who spoke with COCORIOKO  last evening, SLPP Member of Parliament, Dr. Fatmata Hassan and the Valuator of her Short Street property, Mr. Olu Campbell, had been arrested by yesterday.

The inquest was set up to determine the cause of death of Mr. Harry Yansaneh, who was beaten up by individuals acting on behalf of the parliamentarian, who had gone with her to evict journalists from her Short Street property , which was home to many Sierra Leone newspapers. During the inquest, various witnesses testified seeing the victim being beaten up by the individuals .

Consequently, the Coroner’s Officer, Adrian Fisher , yesterday issued warrants of arrest for Mrs. Hassan and her children -Daughter Fatmata Komeh, sons Bai Bureh and Ahmed Komeh. Arrest warrants were also issued for the Valuator of the Short Street building, Mr. Olu Campbell and Reginald Bull.

The children of Mrs. Hassan are however presently in the United Kingdom but the President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists, Alhaji I.B. Kargbo had told COCORIOKO  before the inquest  started sitting that SLAJ will ask the British Embassy in Freetown for their extradition if found culpable in the beating death of the late journalist.

JOHN LEIGH COMFORTS KANU FAMILY

Wednesday August 17, 2005

Former Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the U.S. and Presidential aspirant, Mr. John Leigh, has sent a letter of condolence to the Editor of this newspaper, comforting him and family for the recent death of the Editor’s mother, Mrs. Yabu Kanu.

READ THE LETTER

Dear Rev. Kabs Kanu:

I heard the sad news today of the recent passing away of your mother and I write to extend my personal sympathy to you and your family for this heavy personal loss.  I am sure your mother died feeling proud of her son’s achievements and the great work he is doing for the Sierra Leone communities worlwide.  While this is not enough comfort to you and your family, I know you all will cope quite well with the loss.   May her soul rest in perfect peace.

Sincerely,

John Leigh

SIERRA LEONE WOMAN BEATEN TO DEATH WITH HAMMER

 Culled from the STAR-TELEGRAM newspaper of Texas

Tuesday August 16, 2005

A domestic dispute ended with a woman beaten to death with a hammer Wednesday evening while her 7-year-old daughter was in theapartment,  police said Thursday morning. Investigators believe the woman’s husband a suspect in the attack drove his daughter to baby-sitter after the woman was killed, then returned to the couple’s Euless apartment and stabbed
himself with a knife.

The man, Johnny Omorogieva (Nigerian), 45, remained at Harris Methodist Fort Worth hospital Thursday morning under police guard. He suffered a knife wound to the abdomen, but his injury was not considered life-threatening.

The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the victim as
Isatu Omorogieva (formerly Bah), 35, of Euless. She suffered numerous blows to the
head, police said, but the Medical Examiner’s office had not ruled on her death. The couple’s daughter was not injured and was with relatives Thursday.

“We don’t know why he drove her to a baby-sitter and then came back,”
said
Harland Westmoreland, Euless assistant police chief.

Relatives called police shortly before 7 p.m. Wednesday after a sister
of
Isatu Omorogieva called police to report that no one had answered the
door
at the family’s apartment. The baby-sitter had called the sister,
telling
her that Johnny Omorogieva had dropped off his daughter and that
something
might have happened between the couple, police reports state.

Officers responded to the couple’s two-story apartment in the 1600
block of
El Camino Real.

“Officers had to force their way in because the door was locked,”
Westmoreland said.

Once inside, officers found Isatu Omorogieva dead on a living room
floor,
police said. Johnny Omorogieva was found nearby with a knife stuck in
his
abdomen, police reports state.

Police had not determined if the couple’s daughter saw the attack.

Patrol officers had not previously been called to the couple’s
apartment,
records show. And based on interviews with relatives, police believe
the
couple had no history of domestic problems, Westmoreland said.

“They are all still in shock that it happened,” Westmoreland said.

By Domingo Ramirez Jr.

Star-Telegram Staff Writer

Rain disaster leaves seven dead at Kissy

Tamba Borbor reports from the disaster scene

Tuesday July 12, 2005

Seven people have lost their lives during the heavy downpour of rain in the early hours of Sunday July10th. The incident took place in a slum area, which is divided into two- one forming part of an area called Quarry while the other is just back of the Government Independence School at Kissy, Shell.

In the Quarry area of the slum, which Cocorioko visited, four women and a young boy were killed in their mud house while asleep at around 2:30am on Sunday morning, when a large concentration of water swept down the slope, uprooting a mango tree and dragging along very big stones. The five were identified as: Mrs. Sallay Gbla, the mother of the four who used to sell ?fry-fry’ around Shell Lorry Park; Osman, Zainab, Mabinty and Maseray Gbla.

However, two other members of the family- a girl identified as Kadiatu and her younger brother, Abu Bakarr Gbla were rescued from under the rubble and quickly taken to the Rokupr Satellite Clinic were they are receiving urgent medical attention.  About five gallant men in the neighbourhood were spotted digging to pull from the rubble, the last of the five, Osman Gbla who was squeezed to death by a very big stone and the rolling mango tree.

Crowds comprising weeping relatives of the deceased, neighbours and onlookers were seen expectantly waiting to witness while the young boy was being dug out. The 62-year old father of the deceased is said to have travelled to Masimera village in the Port Loko district when the incident occurred and was expected back Sunday night. In the other part of the slum area just back of Independence School at Kissy Shell, two brothers met their deaths in the same manner as the five in the Quarry area, while asleep on that same Sunday.

The slum area generally is a place that lacks proper drainage systems; experiencing perennial landslides as a result of water finding its way- mostly passing through mud houses built on the sloppy end of the slum. Police are reported to have advised the remaining residents to move from the area, inorder to forestall a recurrence of the sad incident. The corpses have been taken to the Connaught hospital, where they will be handed over to relatives for burial. Meanwhile, an area back of Race Course called- ?Callbut’ is reported to have flooded due to the rains of early Monday morning.  Report indicates that if there is another heavy downpour, all the houses in the area would be carried away with its attendant consequences.

SIERRA LEONE MISSES OUT ON DEBT RELIEF THIS TIME OUT :    corruption and poor democratic governance the cause ?   Saturday June 11, 2005 War-destroyed and poverty-stricken Sierra Leone and Liberia have not been named among the first 18  nations to be initial beneficiaries of the debt cancellation plan piloted by British Prime Minister Tony Blair and  supported by U.S. President George W. Bush Jr. This news will come as a big disappointment to millions of citizens of both countries dispersed all over the globe. This is because many of the 18 countries given immediate relief are in a far better economic state than the two countries left out. But Sierra Leone is among the 20 other countries whom the British Chancellor of the Exchequer( Finance Minister) Gordon Brown was quoted by the BBC  as saying “could be eligible if they meet targets for good governance and tackling corruption “. The decision was taken today at the Finance Ministers’ meeting of the Eight richest nation of the world ( G8 ) in London and the Heads of State of these countries meet next month to finalize the deal. The  lucky 18 nations whose debts are to be cancelled are Benin, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guyana, Honduras, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Niger,  Rwanda,  Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. All their debts totally $ 40 Billion , owed to the World Bank and the IMF  and in the case of African countries also to the African Development Bank ( ADB)  will be erased , making the way for their governments to concentrate on socio-economic projects. The inclusion of a country like Burkina Faso in the list will surely raise eyebrows in Sierra Leone and Liberia where that West African country is known for being among the nations that helped fuel the calamitious rebel wars that destroyed the two Mano River Union states. Their President Blaise Campaore, who  is a supplanter and racketeer and  an accomplice of war crimes indictee Charles Taylor, is  not really any remarkable reformer or democrat than President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah  and is blamed for killing the more  radical and progressive President Thomas Sankara. Also, corruption is rife in countries like Uganda and Zambia. The difference , though, is that these countries may have been making honest efforts to end corruption, which has been the achilles heel of our President.   CHARLES MARGAI GETS BAD RAP FOR ‘SON-OF-FOUNDING FATHER’ OBSESSION Monday May 30, 2005 Many Sierra Leonean activists in discussion forums and the diaspora have advised Mr. Charles Margai to discuss what he will do for Sierra Leone if he becomes President , instead of being obsessed with talks about being the son of the founding father of the ruling SLPP.  Margai, son of former Prime Minister , Sir Albert Margai, is one of the leading contenders for the position of Standard Bearer of the ruling SLPP  and the Presidency , following the retirement of President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah in 2007.  Recently, when he announced his intentions to be President, his speech was distributed all over the country and the internet. Though many Sierra Leoneans believed that he stood a good chance to accomplish his aims, they however had problems with some portions of his speech. Margai said in his speech that “No man born of a woman” will stop him from becoming President this time. Sierra Leoneans took exception to the fact that Margai  quoted Macbeth inappropriately. Macbeth was on the road to becoming a bloody dictator when he made that boast. Sierra Leoneans also want Mr. Margai to stop harping on the point that he deserved to lead because his father was a founding father of the SLPP. According to them, Margai was making it appear as if he had kingship rights within the SLPP. Some SLPP demanded to know how many sons and daughters of the founding fathers of the party had been given chance to participate in the party let alone hold top positions. Margai, people advised, must stick to the issues and what he planned to do for Sierra Leone. MOMOH PUJEH IN THE HOT SOUP AGAIN : ANTI-CORRUPTION INDICTS HIM AND 5 OTHERS Thursday May 12, 2005 Former Minister of Transport and Communication, Momoh Pujeh was among six people indicted in Freetown today by the Anti-Corruption Commission ( ACC).They were indicted for purchasing a substandard fork -lift  at the Sierra Leone Ports Authority. Those indicted today included the former General Manager of the Ports, one-time soccer idol, Patrick Kemokai ;the erstwhile  Chairman of the institution, Mr. Mohamed Dabo and Ports’ Spokesman , Emmanuel Senessie. According to reports received from Freetown, the 6 men will make their first appearance in court on Monday when the charges against them will be read to them. This is the second time that Pujeh has been arrested for alleged corrupt acts. Three years ago, he and his wife were arrested after being found in illegal possession of diamonds . Pujeh and his wife beat the rap and he even went on to become a Parliamentarian. Kemokai is the most popular man among those indicted in this case. In the 1970s, he was one of Sierra Leone’s greatest soccer stars, starring for local side, Old Edwardians and the national team, Leone Stars. Pujeh is also popular because he also served under the APC  government in the 1980s. KABBAH’S  CUBAN TRIP STARTS BEARING FRUITS AS 20 DOCTORS ARRIVE Wednesday May 4, 2005 By Tamba Borbor from Freetown One month after President Kabbah’s visit to Cuba, a group of 20 Cuban medical doctors have arrived to help beef up Sierra Leone’s ailing health delivery system. The 20 doctors include 9 general practitioners, a surgeon, gynaecologist, orthopaedist, psychiatrist, paediatrician, epidemiologist, anaesthetist, histologist, bio-chemist, human anatomist/orthopaedist and the head of the medical brigade. Between them, the doctors have an average of 15 years experience. Already 6 have been taken to Bo where they will be stationed and another 4 have been taken to Makeni and the remaining ten will be stationed in Freetown.  According to Dr Manuel Enrique, Perez Gonzalez their purpose in Sierra Leone is to provide medical care. He explained that the general practitioners are called family doctors because they work with the community to understand the problems of the people, and administer preventive medicine. Dr Gonzalez said preventive medicine is very important because it will reduce the amount of people who are going to the hospital. He explained that when they were training to be medical doctors the idea was to work in the hospital where one will earn more money and a higher status in society.  In 1984 he said President Fidel Castro developed the idea in which from the first year in college the medical student will start going to the community and watching the doctor work. Today he said he comes from the province in Cuba, which has the lowest infant mortality rate of about 3.3 deaths per thousand new born babies. Sierra Leone he said is among countries with the highest infant mortality rates in the world, but Cuba has one of the lowest which are about 7.7 per thousand newborn babies. The second part of their mission in the country is to teach different subjects on public health using audiotapes, television and a trained facilitator.  Dr Gonzalez envisions that this will work well because in the morning the doctor will be a lecturer while in the afternoon he or she will be doing their work as doctors in the hospital. According to the Cuban ambassador H.E. Lucas Domingo Hernandez it is possible to increase the number of doctors. He explained that they (Cuba) have about 4,000 doctors in Africa with about 23,000 is other different countries in the world. So far he said about 70,000 doctors have graduated from Cuban Universities.  These doctors he said would be in the country for two years after which they will be rotated. Part of the package of assistance from Cuba also includes the setting up and equipping of three diagnostic centres in Freetown, Bo and Makeni. 9 professors are presently undergoing a crash course in English to come and help in the teaching of Physical Education. The Physical Education specialists will be teaching basketball, athletics and boxing. Three will be in Freetown while another three will be Bo and Makeni respectively. The assistance will also stretch to the Literacy campaign for which Cuba has agreed to provide 100 solar panels, 100 Televisions, 100 Videos and 100 computers. Cuban Ambassador Lucas Domingo who is resident in Accra, Ghana says this shows Cuba’s determination to cooperate with Sierra Leone. Receiving the medical doctors at his Hill Station lodge, President Kabbah and Vice President Berewa welcomed them and encouraged them to feel at home, because Sierra Leoneans are warm and peaceful people. The group was accompanied by Sierra Leone’s High Commissioner to Ghana H.E. Alie Bangura Cost of living to soar further, as price of fuel spins out of control Sunday April 3, 2005 Petrol filling stations had a break from the long lines of the past weeks as fuel flowed freely once more in Sierra Leone . However, the socio-economic woes of the people may deepen with the wide-ranging increases in the price of fuel announced later by the SLPP government. Traffic in the capital, Freetown was flowing smoothly once again at the weekend , but the increase in the price of fuel is the talk of the town presently. Petrol was increased from Le. 8, 000 to Le. 9, 500.Deisel went up from Le. 8, 650 to Le, 9, 500 while Kerosine price increased from Le. 7, 200 to Le. 8, 500.And fuel oil was upped from Le.3, 515 to Le. 4, 600. According to reports, the increases were necessitated by the fact that the oil companies lost Le.6 billion lasy year. Sierra Leoneans are bracing up for further escalation of the cost of living as the price of Petrol often control the prices of other basic commodities. Soon, poda-podas, taxis and other public transportation will increase their fares , followed by  traders and other business people , who will push the costs of basic commodities further up, with the excuse that the cost of transporting their wares had become prohibitive. During the petrol crunch, tricksters had a field day as they duped many unsuspecting people who were anxious to refuel their vehicles or lay hands on other fuel products for domestic use. Many citizens are calling on the Ministry of Trade and Industry to impose price control to stop unscrupulous business people from cashing in on the situation to fleece  and ripoff the hapless public.     PHOTO ; Dr. Kadi Sesay, Minister of Trade and Industry. Taylor during his heydays as a rebel leader Liberian human rights activist questions U.S. war on terror while “Chief Terrorist ” lives freely in Nigeria Sunday April 3, 2004 Liberian human rights activist, Sheikh Sackor, has written U.S. President George W. Bush asking him  to step in and have his country’s former rebel leader and dictator Charles Taylor  bundled to Freetown to face war crimes charges in the Special Court of Sierra Leone. Mr. Sackor questioned how America could be waging a war against terror all over the world while Taylor, whom he described as a Chief terrorist sponsor in West Africa and the worst form of dictator , is being allowed to live freely in Nigeria  with “impunity “. Mr. Sackor appealed to President Bush to bring pressure to bear on Nigerian leader Olusegun Obasanjo to surrender Taylor to David Crane and the Special Court in Freetown. Mr. Sackor, in his letter, outlined not only the atrocities committed in Liberia by Taylor and  his rebel soldiers but also how he transported the war to Sierra Leone . Over 250, 000 people died in Liberia at the hands of Taylor’s forces and other combatants while more than 50,000 perished in Sierra Leone. MEANWHILE,  another Liberian intellectual  and former Education Minister in the Samuel Doe military junta , Dr. Boima Fahnbulleh, who recently returned home to engage in farming, as he said , has also called for the arrest of fugitive Charles Taylor, whom he wants to be taken to Sierra Leone to stand trial for war crimes.

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