The University of Sierra Leone (USL) has denied allegations published in the August 2024 edition of Africa Confidential, which accused the institution of secretly losing $4.5 million in a deal with Nigerian firm FEMAB Properties. The deal was related to the construction of a residential campus for IPAM at Bureh Town. Acting Registrar Munda Lebbie…
During ongoing hearings on the 2021 and 2022 Auditor General’s Reports, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), chaired by Deputy Speaker Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh, ordered Union Trust Bank’s Kenema Branch on September 4th, 2024, to pay Le 460 million to the SLRSA. The order follows a Le 471 million discrepancy identified in the 2022 audit…
On Sunday night, hundreds of protesters blocked Tel Aviv’s main highway after six more Israeli hostages were found dead in Gaza. The demonstration followed a massive outpouring of grief and anger from tens of thousands of Israelis demanding that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secure a cease-fire with Hamas to bring the remaining captives home. This…
Mpox cases in Nigeria have risen to 48, with the virus now detected in Abuja and 20 other states, according to the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). No deaths have been reported despite the increase. On August 27, Nigeria received 10,000 vaccine doses from the United States to help control the outbreak. A health…
African heads of state are arriving in Beijing for the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit, starting Wednesday. This ninth summit aims to reshape China’s strategic partnership with Africa in the post-Covid era amid rising geopolitical tensions. Key topics for discussion include climate, energy, and digital technology, with an emphasis on addressing Africa’s digital…
The Judiciary of Sierra Leone, in partnership with the Judicial and Legal Training Institute (JLTI) and supported by UNICEF, has launched a three-day intensive training program for Magistrates, focused on improving their capacity to handle juvenile cases. Held at Lia Hotel in Lungi, Port Loko District, this initiative reflects the Judiciary’s commitment to ensuring that…
The newly appointed European Union Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Jacek Jankowski, has arrived in Freetown, marking the beginning of his mission to strengthen the partnership between the EU and Sierra Leone. Ambassador Jankowski landed at Freetown International Airport, expressing his enthusiasm for his new role and his commitment to fostering deeper ties between the two…
A recent UNICEF report reveals that 66% of Sierra Leonean children face social and material deprivation, classifying them as multidimensionally poor. The report, based on a 2017 survey by Statistics Sierra Leone, highlights severe regional disparities, with over 80% of children in districts like Koinadugu, Pujehun, Moyamba, Bonthe, and Tonkolili living in poverty, compared to…
By: Hafsatu Z. Bangura If domestic violence cases are not adequately addressed, the consequences could deepen the gender divide, with long-lasting repercussions for both men and women. Failure to effectively tackle domestic violence not only undermines justice but also risks exacerbating societal tensions that could affect future generations. For women, unchecked domestic violence is likely…
By: Hafsatu Z Bangura On Wednesday, August 28, 2024, Abdul Kpaka appeared in court over allegations of murdering his girlfriend, Sia Fatu Kamara. The alleged incident took place on August 13, 2024, at Peninsula Road, Freetown, as stated in the charge sheet. Kpaka is charged with murder, in violation of Section 1 of the Offences…