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Former Commissioner General of NRA Appears in Court

Reports have it that the Former Commission General of the National Revenue Authority (NRA) Alieu Sesay, his wife, Ojubara Sesay and three others on Tuesday  2nd November 2010 appeared before  Justice Samuel Ademusu of Freetown High Court. According to reports the jurisdictional point highlighted by defence lawyer Nassiru Deen Tejan- Cole brought to the attention of the presiding judge which stalled the corruption trial of the accused. The accused were charged on 57 count charges and matter was adjourned on Monday 8th November 2010.

Murder on the Increase

Local tabloids have it that the spate of murder in Sierra Leone is getting  alarming. According to reports, three brutal murders had taken place recently in the northern and eastern parts of Sierra Leone. A two year old baby Tamba Forna was reportedly kidnapped and brutally murdered at Peri Village in the Jawie Chiefdom Kailahun  District  and Brima Conteh and Abu Koroma of Yoni Bana Town and Makteh Village Port Loko in the north  were also beating and stabbed to death. Thirteen people have been arrested in respect of the murder of Tamba Forna.

12 Pregnant Women Die in 1 Month

It has been alleged that, the death toll of pregnant women recently increased in Makeni as 12 pregnant women gave up in one month alone at the Makeni Government Hospital. According to reports, since the inception of the free health care programme in April this year, September and  October marked the highest record of maternal mortality in that district.  The Coordinator of the Civil Society Health for All Coalition in the Bombali District, Jatu Massaquoi is said to have attributed the increase to the absence of a gynecologist as well as the lack of midwives and committed nurses to deliver patients. The medical superintendent of the Makeni Government Hospital is reported to have debunked the allegation as untrue and unfounded.

PPRC Launches Strategic Plans

Political Party Registration Commission (PPRC) on Tuesday 2nd November 2010 launched its three years strategic work plan at the Atlantic Hall of the National Stadium in Freetown. According to reports, the launching of the plan was geared towards the continual work ahead of 2012 presidential and parliament election activities. The plan is reported to have entailed all the goals for the running of the country’s democratic process.  PPRC is said to have requested for the sum of Thirty One Billion Four Hundred and Four Million Leone to carry out its duties.

Three Chiefdoms Benefits from NACSA Projects

The people of Liebesangahun, Makarie Gbanti and Bombali Shebora Chiefdoms in Bombali District, Northern Sierra Leone have benefited from a- six- classroom building and two health centers. The projects which are funded by the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), the African Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of Sierra Leone are provided with hand- pump water wells, furniture, staff quarters for the school and an incinerator for the health centres. The Deputy Commissioner NACSA, Charles Rogers is reported as saying that the facilities would greatly improve the wellbeing of the local population and contribute to quality education.

ACC Condemns Selling of Pamphlets in Schools

The Acting Regional Manager of the Anti –Corruption Commission (ACC) north Mr. Musa Jawara had  expressed concern over certain practices  taking place at the northern polytechnic in Makeni  that are loop holes for corruption. He is reported as saying that the issue of forcing students to buy pamphlets and payment of extra charges bear huge financial burden on the students. According to reports, he had brought to the notice of the administration and heads of department some of these practices as they fall under the offences in the Anti- Corruption Act 2008 adding that the punishment for such offence is a fine of not less than thirty (30) million leones or imprisonment for not less than three (3) years or suffer both fine and prison term.

APC MP Champions Farming

Hon. Alimany G Kargbo of the APC has seriously embarked on four hundred (400) acres of boliland rice farming at Rogboro, Rofenge Benkia and Rotifunk in the Koya Chiefdom Port Loko District. According to reports, Hon Alimany Kargbo had decided to go into farming in order to support President Koroma’s initiative. He is said to have called on all Sierra Leoneans to embark on agriculture in order to be able to achieve food self sufficiency in the coming years.

SLRA Settles Road Dispute

The Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA) had settled the Goderich  Peninsular Road dispute between the youths at Goderich, Baw Baw Community and that of the CSE road construction company . According to reports there was a serious dispute between the youths and the CSE over employment and reparation payment. The youths are said to have claimed that CSE authorities were importing people from outside to work with them while they were facing unemployment. An agreement is said to have been reached at on Friday 28th October 2010 between the Goderich youths and other stakeholders led by SLRA at the Court Barry in the Baw Baw Community.