AWE Media Sierra Leone

By: Umaro Saidu Turay Sierra Leone’s renowned FIFA and CAF referee, Mamoud Alie Conteh, popularly known as Edwardo, has demonstrated his continued commitment to grassroots football development by donating five sets of referee kits to the Bombali District Football Referees Association. The donation ceremony took place on Saturday at the Wusum Field in Makeni, shortly after the referees concluded their routine weekend training session. Addressing the gathering, Referee Conteh encouraged young referees to remain disciplined, prayerful, and respectful towards their leadership—qualities he described as the foundation of his success. “This is just one of the many things I will continue to do in support of this Association,” Conteh assured. “More is on the way.” Receiving the donation on behalf of the Association, Chairman Ibrahim George Conteh expressed profound gratitude to the young international referee, describing the gesture as timely and motivational, especially as the new football sea...

The President of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA), Babadi Kamara, alongside the Mayor of Bo City, Kobba Musa, and the Resident Minister South Chief John Abu, led the 5km Marathon organized by Street Child Sierra Leone as part of its maiden edition in the Bo Chapter. The event, held on October 25, 2025 attracted hundreds of participants including school pupils, youth groups, and stakeholders, all united in support of child education and empowerment. The leaders' presence added high-level solidarity to the cause, inspiring young runners and boosting the visibility of Street Child’s mission in the Southern region. Street Child representatives expressed gratitude for the support and emphasized the importance of collective action in transforming children's lives through education and sports. Following the successful 5km maraton, Mayor of Bo City Koba Musa and Resident Minister South Chief John Abu have jointly called for the event to become an annual fixture. Speaking af...

By: Alhaji A. Barrie   Guinea’s military-led transitional government has sparked widespread outrage after announcing a presidential election entry fee of 875 million Guinean francs, approximately $100,000. The fee applies to candidates contesting the December 2025 vote, the first national election since Colonel Mamady Doumbouya seized power in a 2021 coup.  The announcement, made by the electoral commission under the junta’s oversight, has been met with disbelief and criticism across the country. Many citizens and political analysts argue the fee is not only exorbitant but exclusionary.  “This fee is a wall, not a gate to democracy,” said one analyst speaking on local radio stations in Conakry. “It sends a message that only the wealthy or well-connected can aspire to lead.” The government has stated that the deposit will be refunded to candidates who secure more than 5% of the vote.  However, critics warn that the financial barrier could discourage independent voices...

By: Joseph M. Conteh Education remains the cornerstone of national progress and a key ingredient for sustainable development. No nation can rise above the quality of its education system, and achieving high standards requires the joint effort of everyone involved  teachers, students, parents, school administrators, government, non-governmental organizations, and the wider community. Teachers as the Foundation of Quality Education Teachers are often described as the backbone of education and rightly so. Their dedication, knowledge, and teaching methods directly shape the future of students. By embracing modern teaching strategies, using technology effectively, and continually developing their professional skills, teachers can inspire creativity, critical thinking, and discipline among learners. A good teacher is not only an instructor but also a mentor and a role model. Students as Active Participants Education works best when students take ownership of their learning. Beyond attend...

The Bondo Society in Pate Bana, Bombali Shebore Chiefdom, Bombali District, has declared Madam Isatu Sesay wanted for allegedly failing to fulfill her traditional and societal obligations as required by custom. Madam Isatu Sesay is a widow; she lost her husband during the Ebola outbreak in Pate Bana. According to the head of the ceremony, Madam Sampa Fatmata Koroma, Madam Sesay was expected to undergo initiation to assume the traditional role of her late mother, Madam Emma Sesay, who served as the head of the Bondo Secret Society and presided over all ceremonial activities in the area. Madam Koroma explained that following the death of Madam Emma Sesay on 16th June 2022, funeral rites were organized in line with traditional practices.  As dictated by custom, her daughter, Isatu Sesay, was to perform her mother’s final ritual rites and subsequently take over her position. “That decision is not subject to compromise,” Madam Koroma emphasized. She further stated that the family of the...

By: Alhaji A. Barrie  Morocco’s U20 national team has etched its name into football history by winning the FIFA U-20 World Cup for the first time.  The Atlas Cubs stunned record champions Argentina with a 2-0 victory in the final, held in Chile, marking a monumental moment for African football. This triumph makes Morocco only the second African nation to lift the coveted trophy, following Ghana’s landmark win in 2009.  The victory is being hailed as a watershed moment for youth football across the continent. Morocco’s path to the final was nothing short of sensational. The Atlas Cubs dismantled some of the world’s most formidable footballing nations—  such as Spain, Brazil, South Korea, the United States, and France, en route to the championship match. Against Argentina, Morocco delivered a clinical performance, scoring twice and maintaining a disciplined defense to shut out the tournament’s most decorated side. Football federations across Africa are now looking to M...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson  Statistics Sierra Leone (SSL) has intensified its community sensitisation campaign on the ongoing cartographic mapping exercise, a crucial first step toward the country's upcoming 2026 Population and Housing Census. On Sunday, October 19, 2025, the Northern Regional Publicity Officer for Statistics Sierra Leone, Alusine Rehme Wilson, led a mobile awareness campaign across key areas of Makeni using a loud-hailer vehicle provided by management in line with the Communication and Public Relations Directorate publicity frame work. The campaign which is scheduled to run for 16 days, two days each within eight weeks, aimed to educate residents on the purpose and importance of the mapping process currently underway in the northern districts of Bombali, Falaba, Koinadugu, and Tonkolili. The loud-hailer vehicle moved strategically through high-traffic locations such as the MCA Area, Station Road, Kamal Street, Mena Junction, Old Mabanta Road, Gada Lane, NP Lorry Par...

By Alex Paul Bangah – Health and Social Affairs Correspondent Sierra Leone stands at a critical crossroads as drug abuse continues to ravage communities, leaving behind broken families, lost youth, and a shaken national image. What began as a silent health problem has now evolved into a national emergency, one that exposes deep-rooted issues of power, corruption, and press intimidation. In recent years, the streets of Freetown, Makeni, Kono, Bo, and other parts of the country have witnessed a worrying surge in the use of kush, a deadly synthetic substance mixed with cannabis, chemicals, and in some cases, human remains. Health officials are overwhelmed by the growing number of young people collapsing, hallucinating, or dying from overdoses. But while the public bears the brunt of this health crisis, insiders say the real battle lies behind closed doors. Sources within law enforcement allege that some high-profile individuals are directly involved in the importation and distribution of ...

Stats SL Temporary Headquarters, 1B King Street, Kona Lodge, Freetown 14th October 2025 Statistics Sierra Leone (Stats SL), is pleased to announce the official commencement of a nationwide cartographic mapping exercise in preparation for the 2026 Population and Housing Census (PHC ’26). This marks a major milestone in the lead-up to the country’s most significant national data collection effort. The announcement was made by the Statistician-General & Chief Census Officer , Mr. Andrew Bob Johnny, who underscored the importance of this foundational phase in delivering a credible, inclusive, and comprehensive census. The cartographic mapping exercise—carried out with technical support from GIS and Cartographic Mapping Consultant Dr. Foluke Adebayo—involves the identification and delineation of enumeration areas, as well as the systematic numbering of all localities and physical structures across the country. This process ensures that every individual and household is counted once—and ...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson  Ernest Bai Koroma University of Science and Technology (EBKUST), Sierra Leone’s third public university and led by Professor Edwin J.J. Momoh, has significantly strengthened its international engagement through a renewed collaboration with China’s Suzhou University of Science and Technology (SUST).  The partnership, first initiated in September 2024, marks a new chapter in EBKUST’s efforts to foster academic exchange, joint research initiatives, and faculty development. The initial agreement between both universities were sealed in motion during EBKUST’s 2024 visit to China, where a delegation consisting of Dr. Joseph Davies, Dr. Maurice B. Kargbo, and Dr. Robert Kargbo laid the foundation for collaboration.  The EBKUST delegation did sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SUST, outlining shared objectives such as supporting EBKUST’s Open Distance Learning (ODL) program, facilitating staff and student exchanges, and launching joint researc...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson  Statistics Sierra Leone has extended its Geographic Information Systems (GIS) training by five days, reaffirming its commitment to a well-prepared and high-quality national cartographic mapping exercise scheduled for 2025. The extension was confirmed on Wednesday, October 1, 2025 by the Statistician General and Chief Census Officer, Mr. Andrew Bob Johnny, on Wednesday, October 1, during his virtual closing remarks at the end of the initial 10-day nationwide GIS training program. In his address, Mr. Johnny commended the collaborative efforts of the Statistics Sierra Leone Council Chairman, Mr. Moses Williams, the Deputy Statistician General, Mr. Lansana K. Kanneh, the training facilitators, and the broader management team.  The Statistician General who doubles as Sierra Leone's Chief Census Officer in his address described the just concluded 10-day cartographic mapping training for potential field staff as “one of the most effective field staff trainin...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson  ( Ambassador Kao Denero) In a surprising and heartfelt message, Sierra Leonean music producer and sound engineer Joseph S. Koroma, popularly known as Nashito Kulala, has publicly expressed admiration for Sierra Leone's first ever Entertainment Ambassador, who doubles as Africa's reigning hip-hop icon, Amara Turay alias Kao Denero. Kulala's recent publication outrightly silenced the perceived long-standing speculation of rivalry between Nashito and his perceived boss Kao Denero whom many believed payed the way for the rising producer when he walked with him almost a decade ago. Widely seen as a critic or opposing voice to Kao Denero and his Black Leo movement, Kulala took to his official Facebook page, followed by over 99,000 fans, to share a candid confession: he holds deep respect for Kao Denero’s artistic legacy and contribution to Sierra Leone’s music industry. “Kao Denero’s courage to carry on and remain consistent for decades is no child’s pla...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson  Twelve Sierra Leoneans, including ten members of the Sports Writers Association of Sierra Leone (SWASAL), have been officially certified by the Department of Human Kinetics and Sports at Fourah Bay College (FBC), University of Sierra Leone, following the successful completion of a two-week intensive course in Sports Ethics, Administration, and Management. The training, which ran from September 11 to 25, 2025, was designed to equip sports journalists, ranging from writers and young reporters to editors and students, with essential skills in ethical sports reporting, communication, and sports management.  The 14-day course also aimed to deepen participants’ understanding of human kinetics and modern sports science. The certification ceremony was held at the FBC campus in Freetown on Saturday and attended by prominent figures, including the President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), Mr. Alhaji Manika Kamara, and the Deputy Executive...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson  The Statistician General of Statistics Sierra Leone, who doubles as the Chief Census Officer, Mr. Andrew Bob Jonny, delivered inspiring messages to trainees participating in the ongoing 10-day cartographic mapping and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) training during his supervisory visit in Makeni on Saturday, September 27, 2026. The training, currently taking place at the Garden State, and Buyas Hotel training centers in Bombali District, Northern, Sierra Leone is part of the preparatory phase for the 2026 National Population and Housing Census. Addressing dozens of aspiring field mappers and other filed staff, Mr. Jonny commended the participants for their enthusiasm, commitment, and discipline demonstrated in the early days of the 10-day cartographic mapping training for trainees from Bombali, Falaba, Koinadugu and Tonkolili districts in the northern region. “I’ve observed that you are gradually adjusting to the training process, which is truly enco...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson  The Chairman of Statistics Sierra Leone Council, Mr. Moses Williams, has emphasized the agency’s independence from political influence, urging staff and trainees to uphold neutrality,  professionalism be patriotic in the lead-up to the country’s 2026 national census. As part of his ongoing nationwide monitoring visits to cartographic mapping and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) training centers, Chairman Williams on Thursday, September 25, addressed census trainees from Bombali, Falaba, Koinadugu, and Tonkolili districts at the Garden State training hall in Makeni noting that there is no room for politics in the work of Statistics Sierra Leone. "Our work is entirely apolitical,” he said. “Statistics Sierra Leone is committed to credible, unbiased data collection, and we cannot allow politics to interfere with the integrity of our mission to deliver for national good.” Joined by two of the Statistics Sierra Leone Council Members Mr. Sahr James Bang...

Statement by the Secretary General of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), Edward Marrah, at the Commemoration of the International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI) at the Family Kingdom Resort, Aberdeen on 25th September 2025 Courtesies…..   On behalf of the President and the entire membership of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), I bring you warm greetings, and I am honoured to make this statement as we commemorate the International Day for Universal Access to Information.   This year’s theme, ‘Ensuring Access to Environmental Information in the Digital Age’ is particularly important because access to information is not only a fundamental human right, but also a vital tool for accountability, transparency, and sustainable development.   Sierra Leone continues to grapple with serious environmental challenges: frequent flooding in Freetown that claims lives and destroys property; deforestation and land degradation in the prov...

Statement by the President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), Alhaji Manika Kamara, at the Opening of the Audit Service Sierra Leone Workshop for Journalists at the Empowerment Hall, FCC Building, Thursday 25th September 2025👇 Courtesies: On behalf of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), let me express our gratitude to the Audit Service SL for organizing this very important workshop for journalists. It demonstrates your recognition of the media as a key partner in promoting transparency, accountability, and good governance in Sierra Leone. The work of the Audit Service is central to how we build trust in public institutions. By reviewing the use of state resources, auditing government ministries, departments, agencies, and even local councils, ASSL provides the nation with a fair reflection of how public funds are managed. But the true impact of this work depends on how well the public understands and engages with audit findings. That is where we com...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson  Joy filled the air in Bombali District as 33 aspiring and practicing tailors received a major boost to their livelihoods on September 24, 2025, thanks to a generous donation from the global Islamic charity, Direct Aid. At a well-attended ceremony held Wednesday evening at the organization’s center along the Magburaka Highway in Makeni, Direct Aid handed over fully equipped sewing kits, each including a sewing machine and a wide array of tailoring accessories, to the beneficiaries, most of whom are from underprivileged backgrounds. AWE Media Sierra Leone understands that each recipient received a comprehensive package valued at €492 equivalent to over 16,000 Euros in total for all beneficiaries. The kits included essential tools such as 60 hand needles, scissors, elastic, machine oil, measuring tapes, poplin and wax fabrics, zippers, threads, spare parts, a charcoal iron, and even tables for cutting and sewing. Local leaders, including the Makeni City Counc...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson  On Wednesday, September 24, 2025, trainees from four districts in the Northern of Sierra Leone begun hands-on satellite imagery interpretation, marking a key milestone in the ongoing 10-day cartographic mapping training organized by Statistics Sierra Leone with support from the Government of Sierra Leone and UNFPA, ahead of the country's 2026 National Population and Housing Census. The training held at the Garden State Hall in Makeni, brings together Sierra Leoneans from Bombali, Falaba, Koinadugu, and Tonkolili, all preparing for their role in demarcating and delineating enumeration areas using modern digital tools. On Day 3 of the training, participants were introduced to satellite imagery interpretation which is an essential component of digital cartographic mapping.  Today's training marks the first time many of the trainees have engaged in practical application of the theoretical concepts they have been learning. The day began with registration, ...