The Chairman of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), John Oponjo Benjamin, has unequivocally expressed his intention to run for the flag-bearer of the party when the time comes. “My service to the SLPP over the years has been so unflinching to the extent that I may even choose to contest for the flag-bearer of[...]

In an exclusive interview with Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Kuang Weilin at the Chinese Embassy in Freetown on Tuesday, 13th August instant, he emphatically stated that the people of Sierra Leone “are desperate for development for which they can’t wait any longer.” The Ambassador said if the government had been working with them (Chinese)[...]

The Chairman of the Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC) Justice M.E. Tolla Thompson yesterday dismissed a complaint filed by Dr. Abass Bundu of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) on the conduct of Constituency Elections in Port Loko District. Reading his conclusion,  Justice Thompson said, “The Commission listened to the various statements and submissions by[...]

In its bid to address the over 60% of unemployed youths across the country, the National Youth Commission, with funds provided by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has kicked- off a three-day empowerment training programme of six hundred unemployed graduates, through its Graduate Internship Programme (GIP). Training of the 600 pre-selected candidates for the GIP across the country is geared towards sharpening the employability of graduates from different institutions in the country, and to get them ready for the job markets, which normally require practical experience and relevant skills. In a short remark following the commencement of the training yesterday at the Atlantic Hall, National Stadium Hostel, the Deputy Commissioner of the National Youth Commission, [...]

The on-going preliminary investigation on the alleged murder of Alie Fayandie Koroma, an OSD officer and former bodyguard to Alhaji Ibrahim Ben-Kargbo, by Christopher Sheriff Kamara an OSD officer was yesterday committed to the High Court. Sheriff was attached to the Leone Casino. The matter yesterday came to an end, as Magistrate Komba Kamanda of Court No.2 committed the case to the High Court for trial. According to the Magistrate, the prosecution in trying to establish their case against the accused, called nine witnesses labelled PW1 to PW9 as PW 1 stated that the accused threatened to kill anyone who provoked him. After making a lengthy summary of the matter based on the evidence provided by both Prosecution and defence witnesses, magistrate  Kamanda ruled that the [...]

Mr. Jenkins-Johnston Esq. Barrister and Solicitor 54 Wellington Street Freetown Dear Mr. Jenkins-Johnston, Re: Keynote Speech at Bar Association Conference on 4th July 2013 I am in receipt of your letter dated 22nd July 2013 re the above.  I have decided on sending you a reply with the sole aim of not only setting the records straight, but to correct the untruths half truths, exaggerations and the legal inconsistencies contained therein. In your letter of invitation to me to be your keynote speaker, you asked me to talk on “Enforcing the Rule of Law in a Modern Democratic State Challenges and opportunities covering inter alia the Bench, the Bar, the Police and the ACC” My observation is that you have painted a glorious picture of you and Mr. Adrian Fisher as being [...]

The recently released Human Rights report for 2012 of the Human Rights Commission has said in their recommendations, that the Government should repeal the Seditious Libel provisions in the 1965 Public Order Act and also enact the Access to Information bill which was introduced in Parliament two years ago. In the report, it was stated that freedom of expression is guaranteed by article 19 of the International Convention on Civil and Political rights and the universal declaration of human rights, article 9 of the African Charter on Human and People's rights and section 25 of the 1991 constitution of Sierra Leone. However, the government is yet to implement the truth and reconciliation commissions and the human rights commission's recommendations for the repeal of the seditious [...]

One of Sierra Leone leading female athlete in her days, Jestina Viola Jones (Nee Ashwoode) will be laid to rest today Thursday August 15, at the Kingtom Cemetery after a funeral mass at the Cathedral of St George. The late woman passed away some days ago after a long illness. She was an ardent sports woman who studied Physical Education in England after achieving many medals in athletics for the country especially in 100, 200, and 4x100m quartet. In those days it was Yards and not Meters. She was a coach for the women's team both locally and internationally in athletics, and Lawn Tennis. She also represented the country in Commonwealth and Olympic games which made her an Olympian in the NOC as an Executive member. Apart from being an executive member in the NOC she also [...]

All roads will lead to the Approved School field today at Portie in the East End of Freetown, where Devoted United and Future Stars will lock horns in the quarter-finals stage of the Give Where You Live Foundation U-14 junior competition. Give Where You Live Foundation's coordinator Mohamed Sow who also doubles as the league manager for the Craig Bellamy Foundation (CBF) said all mechanisms has been put in place to ensure the league ends successfully as this is the first edition. “We will be organizing the competition annually so that we can promote and develop the game from grass root level in our community,” he said. Sow further stated that cash prize, trophies, medals, certificates and other football equipment will be awarded to teams and individual players who deserve [...]

Would Mali now come to terms with itself, enquired a national of the French-speaking country few days after  it became clear that 68 year old former prime minister Ibrahim Boubacar Keita is now at the helm of the shaky republic It's a question also on the lips of some 80 percent of the population. All agree however that it has been a lonely road, sometimes seemingly a bottomless pit but saved by the intervention of ECOWAS and French troops as well as UN peace-keeping forces. That the election itself took place was a huge victory itself and even pessimists had to readjust their sets. The format was less admired for a country that was at torment with itself and in a bubble. The build up to the elections saw rivalry between political parties as they jab each other for power, [...]