AWE Media Sierra Leone

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, ...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson  Stakeholders from Sierra Leone’s northern region have endorsed key recommendations to reform the country’s 75-year-old Matrimonial Causes Act, a move hailed as a significant step toward ensuring gender equality and strengthening family law. The consultation, held at the Wusum Hotel in Makeni, brought together representatives from Bombali, Falaba, Koinadugu, and Tonkolili districts. Participants included journalists, religious leaders, youth and women's rights advocates, as well as legal and security professionals.  The session was facilitated by the Law Reform Commission (LRC) of Sierra Leone, with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Government of Sierra Leone. The focus was on reviewing Chapters 95 and 97 of the Matrimonial Causes Act, enacted in 1950 under CAP 102, which governs both civil and Christian marriages and divorces in Sierra Leone. Officials from the LRC presented the historical background of the Act, high...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson  Day 2 of the ongoing 10-day Cartographic Mapping training in the Northern Region saw a strong display of teamwork and collaboration among participants from Bombali, Falaba, Koinadugu, and Tonkolili districts. Held at the Garden State Halls, the training aims to build district-level capacity in digital mapping techniques. Test scores from today's session reflect significant progress, particularly in Room Two, where two female trainees achieved perfect scores of 100%. Their performance exceeded even the already impressive scores of over 80% recorded by participants in Room One on day one of the training. These results of the first two days of the Northern Region Districts Catographic Mapping training are a testament to the dedication of both trainees and facilitators, led by Mr. Mohamed Keita Samura, the Northern Region lead. Although some participants still show areas needing improvement, the overall pass rate suggests a promising trajectory as they continu...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson  Sierra Leone's reigning Premier League champions, East End Lions FC, are set to begin their 2025 CAF Champions League campaign today in Tunisia, facing off against US Monastir at the Hammadi Agrebi Stadium.  Today clash which will get underway at 13:00hrs, marks the start of the Sierra Leone soccer powerhouse club's continental journey, with a strong squad bolstered by foreign talents. Leading the squad is Ghanaian defender Abdul Nyameke, who has been handed the captain’s armband for the campaign.  The Ghanian born defender was instrumental in East End Lions' domestic triumph in the 2024/25 season and now becomes part of a new wave of foreign players making their mark on the club. Joining Nyameke are five other international recruits, namely Guineans Mohamed Cissé Koua (goalkeeper), Aliya Bangoura (defender), and Alhassane Doumbouya (midfielder), alongside Ivorians Sam Diallo (winger) and Ibrahim Sorie Dumbuya (midfielder). Together, these player...

‼️PRESS RELEASE In preparation for the upcoming 2026 Population and Housing Census, Statistics Sierra Leone (Stats SL) will commence a ten-day nationwide training program for field officers in support of its national cartographic mapping exercise. This critical training initiative marks a foundational step toward delivering a credible, inclusive, and technologically driven 2026 Census. The training exercise will run from Monday, 22nd September to Wednesday, 1st October 2025, and will take place simultaneously across all regional centers: Bo, Kenema, Makeni, Port Loko, and the Western Area (Rural and Urban). Purpose of the Training The training is designed to equip selected field personnel with both the technical and practical skills needed for accurate and standardized cartographic mapping across the country. Participants will be trained in the use of modern digital tools, including GPS-enabled devices and Geographic Information System (GIS) software (EADPad), to effectively: •Deline...

By: Alhaji A. Barrie The Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) Interim Transition Committee, formed after the Elective Congress of August 2nd, 2025, has released a damning report that reveals deep-rooted dysfunction across the organization’s governance and financial systems.  The seven man committee headed by renowned journalist and lecturer, Mr. Issac Massaquoi was tasked with assessing SLFA’s operational health and ensuring a structured handover, the committee’s findings have sent shockwaves through the football community. As part of their interim mandate handed to them by the new SLFA president Babadi Kamara to assess SLFA’s operational health and ensuring a structured handover, the Transition Committee conducted a comprehensive review of governance, finance, competitions, staffing, and coordination with oversight bodies.  However, thier findings are troubling. They found a pattern of neglect, opacity, and mismanagement that has left the Association vulnerable and adrift...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson  As Bhantal Football Club prepares to make its debut in continental football, newly appointed head coach Ibrahim Sillah says he is determined to guide the team to a historic campaign in the 2025/26 CAF Confederation Cup. The Sierra Leonean Premier League runners-up will host Guinea’s Hafia FC this Saturday, September 20, at the Southern Arena in Bo, in the first leg of the preliminary round. Speaking to AWE Media Sierra Leone, Coach Sillah described the upcoming match as a defining moment for both the club and the country.  “Bhantal FC may be a young club, but what they’ve achieved in just two years is remarkable,” Sillah said. "Now, we have an opportunity to represent Sierra Leone on the continental stage, and I’m here to make sure we do so with pride and purpose," he noted. Established only two years ago, Bhantal FC has rapidly climbed the ranks of Sierra Leonean football. The club has finished as runners-up in the national Premier League in consecu...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson  A new partnership between the Dorwontony Organization for the Aged (DOFA) and Air Sierra Leone is set to bring renewed attention to elderly care in Sierra Leone, with a focus on dignity, recognition, and support for senior citizens, particularly elderly women affected by the country’s civil war. The collaboration was officially launched with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, positioning Air Sierra Leone as the official sponsor of DOFA’s upcoming  Miss Old is Gold  pageant, an annual event celebrating older women during the national Month of the Aged. Beyond event sponsorship, Air Sierra Leone will also feature DOFA’s  Old People Magazine  on its flights and participate in future community outreach projects that seek to improve the lives of older people nationwide. Speaking at the signing, Air Sierra Leone’s Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Sukhjinder Mann, said the airline sees the partnership as a moral and social responsibilit...

By: Kemo Cham The Africa Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) on Monday September 15th convened a high level stakeholders’ meeting in Freetown, with the objective of rallying support for the enactment of a modern mental health legislation in Sierra Leone. A draft bill in the making for over 15 years, led by the Ministry of Health (MoH), is already before lawmakers. If passed, it will repeal a colonial era law campaigners say is not only overly outdated, but also serves as barrier to access to mental services in the country. This initiative by Africa CDC is part of implementation of the African Union’s strategy on mental health, which seeks to strengthen mental health systems, improve service access, reduce stigma and develop leadership and policy capacity in member countries. And it is a crucial part of the African Union's Agenda 2063 development blueprint. The Freetown engagement held at the Atlantic Lumley Hotel in Aberdeen is one of several activities being u...