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...