NEW JOURNALISTS’ NETWORK LAUNCHED

Around 150 journalists in Sierra Leone are taking part in a new initiative to strengthen coverage of health issues in the local and national media, with the official launch of the Health Accountability Network of Journalists (HANoJ).

The journalists, from all districts of the country, have already taken part in two-day training workshops organized in Freetown, Makeni, Bo and Kenema during the month of December by UNICEF implementing partner, Initiatives for Media Development (IMdev). The network has the aim of promoting accountability in the health sector and will work closely with the existing bodies including the Media Reformed Coordinating Group (MRCG), Women in the Media – Sierra Leone (WIMSAL), the Independent Radio Network (IRN), and the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), amongst others.

"As media practitioners, we will ensure that the media play their monitorial, facilitative, collaborative and radical roles, and collaborate with strategic partners for better health outcomes in Sierra Leone," said HANoJ President, James Tamba Lebbie asserts.

Many of the journalists in the network will be participating in a new series of radio programmes on health matters, which will be broadcast on 30 radio stations across the country from next week. These shows will include interviews with leading health officials, discussion forums and broadcasts from communities.

Executive Director of IMdev, Yeama Thompson, said, “As a media development organization, we are excited to be part of this journey in enhancing the capacity of the media to promote societal dialogue and accountability for sustainable change in the health sector.”

The overall aim is to strengthen information flows and accountability around the health sector.

“Providing quality basic health services is a life and death matter, and is vital for the well-being and productivity of a nation,” said UNICEF Representative, Dr Hamid El-Bashir. “The media play a crucial role in sharing information both about the health services available, and about what issues people encounter when accessing them.”

The initiative is being supported by UNICEF with funding from USAID as part of a broader $3.8 million ‘Health Governance’ project aimed at strengthening the health sector through better data management, stronger community accountability on health matters, and media engagement.

CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES' STAFF CONVICTED

The High Court of Sierra Leone Holden at Makeni, presided over by the Honorable Justice Bosco Allieu, on 19th January 2018 convicted Saidu Bobson Kamara on one count of conspiracy to commit a corruption offence contrary to Section 128 (1) of the Anti-Corruption Act, No. 12 of 2008. 

Bobson Kamara was a field agent of the Catholic Relief Services (CRS), attached to the Makeni sub-office.

It could be recalled that the convict on diverse dates between 9th February and 11th February 2015, conspired to misappropriate 147 (50kg) bags of bulgur, 147 (23kg) bags of soya beans and 65 cartons of vegetable oil all CRS/USAID food aid meant for distribution at the homes of school children supported under CRS school feeding programme at Neimi Chiefdom, Koinadugu District.

The Court fined Saidu Bobson Kamara the sum of Fifteen million Leones (Le 15,000,000) or serves three years imprisonment.

Meanwhile, the second accused in the matter, Bundu Conteh, a driver of CRS Makeni sub-office, was acquitted and discharged by the Court on one count of conspiracy to commit a corruption offence.

The Commission was represented by Mohamed M. Sow Esq. whilst the defendant was represented by A. Fornah Esq.

The ACC wishes to reassure the general public of its continued commitment to the fight against corruption in Sierra Leone.

MERCURY LOTTERY GOES 30 DRAWS PER WEEK

 By Mercury PR Department

In fulfillment and commitment towards its valuable customers, the unmatched Sports Betting and Lottery Company in Sierra Leone, Mercury International has increased its daily draws from 24 to 30 draws weekly. 

The 4/50 jackpot draw, which has made several millionaires will move from three (3) draws a week to six (6) draws weekly; which implies the 4/50 jackpot draws will be held daily from Monday to Saturday at 6:05pm instead of the previous time 5:05pm.However, the minimum amount to stake still remain the same which is Two thousand Leones only (Le2, 000). 

For the 5/90 draws, the unchallenged Betting Company has also made few changes with the inclusion of three (3) new draws; BAI BUREH, HOLLYWOOD DREAMS and ACE draws which increases to four draws a-day instead of the three (3) draws previously. 

The 5/90 Lottery draws will now run six days a week; Monday to Saturday and will now be held daily at 11:05 am, 2:05pm, 4:05pm, 8:05pm respectively. Meanwhile, the minimum stake of these draws will now be Le1, 000 instead of the previous amount of Le500.00 and the new changes are expected to take effect on the 22th January, 2018.

Throwing more light on the new changes, the Managing Director, Mercury International, Martin Edmond Michael said this is a fulfillment of the company’s promise to get new machines and also increase the number of daily draws in response to the high demands of customers.

“Our customers have been asking through text messages, phone calls on the different radio mercury programs to increase our game draws. This is in response to their concerns”. The MD Stated.

“We’ll always listen to the concerns of our valued customers, they are the reason why we are operating as a Company and we’ll always cherish them. As a Company, we have designed line of activities for 2018 which will fit the expectation of our customers,” Martin Michael concluded. 

SLPP NAMES DR. JULDEH JALLOH AS RUNNING MATE

 Read the press release below...

SIERRA LEONE PEOPLE’S PARTY

PRESS RELEASE

FREETOWN, 10TH January 2017:

Pursuant to the provisions in Section 54(2) of the Constitution of Sierra Leone 1991 (Act No. 6 of 1991) and Clause 6(d) of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) 1995 (as amended) and in consonance with the Resolution of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the SLPP passed on the 2nd January 2018 in which the NEC unanimously resolved to devolve its powers of consultation on me as the Flag Bearer and Presidential Candidate of the SLPP to appoint my Running Mate and consequently my Vice-Presidential Candidate, I hereby designate Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh as the Candidate of the SLPP for the office of Vice-President of the Republic of Sierra Leone for the purposes of the Presidential Election scheduled to be held on the 7th March 2018.

Dr. Jalloh is a citizen of the State of Sierra Leone. He is 47 years of age and registered with the Party in 2002 and is currently a Distinguished Grand Chief Patron.

Until this appointment, Dr. Jalloh was an International Civil Servant having worked variously for the United Nations as a Senior Advisor in the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in the Republic of Mali (MINUSMA) and before that as the Sahel Advisor to the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General for West Africa and the Sahel. He also worked as the West African Analyst for the International Crisis Group (ICG) and with the Campaign for Good Governance in Sierra Leone to support Civil Society groups in reinforcing democracy in the country from 2004 to 2006. 

Thus, Dr. Jalloh brings with him a wealth of experience and proven track record spanning over 15 years in both national and international service. He is a graduate of Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone, where he obtained a B.A degree; an M.Sc in Political Science from the University of Ibadan and a Ph.D. from the University of Bordeaux in France.

Dr. Jalloh is a devout Muslim born in the Kono district of parents who hailed from Port Loko district: a Temne mother from Kalangba, Lokomasama Chiefdom, and a Fula father from Kafu Bullom Chiefdom. Dr. Jalloh is married to Fatou Banel Jalloh.

Signed:
Brig. (Rtd.) Julius Maada Bio
Presidential Candidate of the SLPP for the 2018 Elections

Cartoon on mis-information during the 2018 national elections

Cartoon on mis-information during the 2018 national elections...

SLAJ LAUNCH MEDIA MONITORING AND REVIEW COMMITTEE

OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF THE SLAJ MEDIA MONITORING AND REVIEW COMMITTEE

Statement by Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, Secretary General SLAJ

10th JANUARY 2018, Harry Yansaneh Memorial Hall, SLAJ Headquarters, 56 Campbell Street, Freetown.

All protocols observed.

Let me start by thanking the small team of committee members who have been working behind the scenes since early December 2017 for us to arrive at this stage of a formal launch of the SLAJ Media Monitoring and Review Committee.

Sierra Leone is heading into another crucial elections in March 2018. This is the 4th democratic elections since 1996. This elections is crucial in the sense that there’s no incumbency; we are going to witness a transition of power from one elected President, who has served two consecutive terms, to a newly-elected President. In addition, more parties have joined the political race bringing in more enthusiasm and tension to the entire process.

Moreover, we have more media now than the previous elections. According to the Independent Media Commission (IMC) latest records, there are 223 registered newspapers and magazines, 55 of which were registered between 2015 and 2017. There are 165 registered radio stations, 39 of which were registered between 2015 and 2017. Of the 29 registered TV and DTH services, 7 were registered between 2015 and 2017.

So you see that the media landscape is growing and SLAJ is keeping up with the increasing responsibility of safeguarding press freedom on the one hand and promoting ethical and responsible practice on the other hand.

In times like this, our work as journalists becomes equally crucial. During national elections the media is put on the spotlight. The public rely on us to provide relevant, accurate, fair, balanced and comprehensive information on the elections to enable them contribute to healthy elections debate and make informed choices.

The public want information on the political candidates- their profiles, track records, their platforms and their visions for the country. They want information on the elections processes and the electoral laws. Our traditional role to inform and educate becomes even more important during this period.

It is on this basis that we established the Media Monitoring and Review Committee to collect data, analyse and report on media activities during the electoral cycle- before, during and after.

Most often this monitoring has been done by outside bodies, notably elections observer groups and several CSOs. But this time we have taken the onus to monitor ourselves honestly because our ultimate aim is self-regulation.

When we monitor ourselves we put peer pressure on our colleagues so that they conform to ethical and responsible practice. And when we do so, we justify our long-running fight against Criminal Libel Law; that it should not be in our law books.

Finally, in all of these, the bottom line is ensuring our members adhere to the IMC Code of Practice and the SLAJ Code of Ethics.

We look forward to peaceful, free, transparent and credible elections with the media on top of the situation.

Thank you all.

TERROR DEE WINNER’S SONG IS A PLUS IN THE MUSIC SCENE

By Mohamed Tarawallie 

Popular SLE- Australia base rapper, Daniel Kamara otherwise known as Terror Dee has recently released another song titled, “WINNER” so as to start the 2018 with a great difference in the music landscape. WINNER lyrics have left many of his music fans, pundits and music lovers with astonishment. The song WINNER is produced by PBANKS and now making rounds on all major radio stations and entertainment spots across the world as a breaking hit. 

According to the singer, Winner is an inspiration that will uplift the Sierra Leonean music to another level in the international music market, adding that more bangers are in store of this year’s compilation. He revealed also that he will be featuring another Nigerian hot singer, Ice Prince in his upcoming song which is due to come out soonest.

Terror Dee has been one of the hottest SLE musicians in 2017 and to date defending that position. He is one of those record breaking artists who have been spotted graciously in the international music scene. He is known remarkably not only in Sierra Leone but the world at large. He has released several music audios and videos with high quality HD format for years now and has won several awards in the music arena for his continuous eminent work both locally and internationally. He was recently awarded Best Music Video of 2017 in the SLeDU-NMA held December 2017 in Bo, Southern Sierra Leone.