AWE Media Sierra Leone

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson Regardless of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) imperative recommendations for the abolition of the death penalty and the immediate repeal of all laws authorizing the use of capital punishment and amendment of section 16(1) of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone without delay, death penalty remains a daunting challenge for the respect of human life and dignity in Sierra Leone. Over the years, there have been robust debates in many circles on the issue of capital punishment which some refer to as ‘an eye for an eye’ whilst others refer to it as ‘the ultimate punishment for taking another person’s life’. Human right activists firmly hold the view that the law is draconian and on the other hand law enforcement authorities strongly believe that the death penalty is both a corrective measure and a deterrent. Recurring crimes emanating from land disputes, political rivalry, aggravated jealousy of husbands and wives and many more have sent people to thei...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson For any right an individual enjoys there is a corresponding responsibility and limitation. Since Sierra Leone attained independence on 27th April in 1961, there seem to have been great absence of awareness regarding the rights and responsibilities of citizens.  This has impacted the attitude of people towards their country and fellow citizens and thereby putting patriotism in question. It has been viewed that the only panacea to this deeply entrenched bane is civic education. Introducing Civic Education as a core subject in the school curriculum will give a facelift to patriotism and informed citizenry for peace and development in the Sierra Leone. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) recommendation 94 states that: “…human rights and peace studies should be introduced into the curriculum at schools. The teaching of Tolerance and understanding should start as early as possible in the education of children’’.  In response to the fulfillment of the TRC re...

By: Umaru Fofana I’m not ashamed to say this - and if you’re struggling right now as many young Sierra Leoneans are, please don’t give up: The first time I came to Freetown was to apply to enter university. The first time I travelled out of Kono District was to rewrite my school-leaving GCE O level exams in Makeni - after skipping a year because my parents couldn’t afford it. The first time I switched on a TV set or made a telephone call was after university. I didn’t even have a cassette player let alone a CD player which I’d marvel at but wouldn’t touch in my friend’s room. My mother had taught and always reminded me to be content with what I had. My parents never went to school. Nor did their parents or their parents’ parents. And on and on. And to say they struggled to bring me and my siblings up will be an understatement. As a child I had to do what only adults should be doing. But I never had self-pity. When I fortuitously entered FBC, after mining for diamonds in Tongo and getti...