AWE Media Sierra Leone

The Chairperson of the Parliamentary Over Sight Committee on Sports Hon. Mariatu Rachael Pessima has described their roles in sports development as strategic and supportive.  "Our role is to serve as a bridge between Parliament and the NSA. We are not merely performing supervisory role, we are strategic, supportive and forward-looking. Oversight, when properly exercised, strengthens institutions, promotes accountability and enhances performance," she said.  The Hon. Member of Parliament said that her committee provides policy guidance and legislative support, and  where gaps exist in the legal and regulatory framework governing sports, they initiate amendments or propose new legislation that will empower the NSA to operate efficiently and independently, whilst maintaining high standards of governance. As a committee, we promotes institutional strengthening through engagements with the relevant stakeholders.  "Sport is not merely recreation; it is a tool for national ...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson  Mikel Arteta says Arsenal FC have earned their place at the top of the table as they return to Premier League action away to Wolverhampton Wanderers FC. Speaking during the press conference ahead of the match, Arteta confirmed Arsenal lead the league by four points and stressed that his confidence in a potential title push is based on the daily standards he sees from his squad. “My belief comes from what I see every day. The preparation, the attitude, and how much the players want it,” Arteta said. On team injury update, Arteta provided positive fitness news, confirming Riccardo Calafiori trained fully and is expected to be available.  Ben White’s substitution in the previous match was described as fatigue-related, with no serious injury concerns. Captain Martin Odegaard will miss the Wolves game but could return for the weekend, while Kai Havertz remains a possibility depending on late assessments. Arteta said squad availability will be key as Arsena...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson, Sierra Leone  Sierra Leone’s senior sports administrator and respected journalist, Unisa Deen Kargbo (UDK), has added another major milestone to his growing list of achievements with his latest appointment to the Finance Committee of the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA). The famous sports enthusiasts from Sierra Leone historically joined the IBSA as the only African selected to serve on the four-man committee. As a long-time member of the Sports Writers Association of Sierra Leone (SWASAL), Kargbo’s journey has been defined by years of dedicated service to sports development, para-sports advocacy, and professional excellence both on and off the field.  His steady rise from sports journalism to national sports administration and now on the continental para-sports engagement has earned him widespread respect across Africa and beyond. Reacting to the appointment, in interview with Awoko Newspaper on Wednesday afternoon, Kargbo described the m...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson  Defending champions of the Leone Rock Premier League, East End Lions Football Club have completed the signing of experienced international forward Kwame Quee, as the club looks to reignite its 2025/26 league campaign. The 29-year-old arrives from Icelandic outfit Víkingur Ólafsvík, with vast experience that spans stints in Iceland, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Sierra Leone. East End Lions say Quee’s signing is aimed at strengthening their attacking options during a challenging second half of the season. Describing Kwame Quee, East End Lions officials say, "Quee is a proven professional whose international exposure and composure in big moments could be decisive as the champions attempt to climb the table. Quee who's international journey began early, and has since represented Sierra Leone across several youth levels before earning his senior national team debut just 14 years ago, is no stranger to the Sierra Leone Premier League, having previously fe...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson  The President of SLAJ, Alhaji Manika Kamara, has announced the donation of 500 bags of rice to support fully paid-up members of the association as part of efforts to ease their burden during the Ramadan and Lent seasons. The announcement was made on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, during the association’s maiden general meeting held at the Harry Yansaneh Multipurpose Hall at the SLAJ Secretariat in Freetown. The meeting was the first general gathering of members since the elective congress held six months ago. President Kamara disclosed that the association’s verified register shows about 499 fully paid members as of 2025, all of whom are eligible to benefit from the donation. He explained that the rice was provided by a Goodwill Ambassador and emphasized that the gesture is purely humanitarian, distancing it from any political motives. “This gift has nothing to do with politics,” he stated, noting that the initiative is meant to demonstrate solidarity with jo...

As the world marks World Radio Day 2026, the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) has issued a clear message to the global media community: Artificial Intelligence may enhance broadcasting, but it must never replace the human voice at the heart of journalism. In a statement signed by SLAJ National Secretary General Edward Marrah, the association joined international partners in observing this year’s theme, “Radio and Artificial Intelligence: AI is a Tool, Not a Voice.” The message underscores both the promise of emerging technologies and the enduring power of radio as a trusted public service medium. For decades, radio has remained the most accessible and resilient form of communication in Sierra Leone, connecting city centers to the most remote villages. It has informed citizens, amplified marginalized voices, preserved local languages and cultures, and supported national development through public health campaigns, disaster response, civic education, and peacebuilding effo...

By: Azrat Umar Saidu Turay Sierra Leone has recorded another milestone on the continental stage as two of its match officials have been appointed by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to officiate in the CAF Confederation Cup. Centre Referee Sulaiman Santio Kamara and Assistant Referee Mamoud Alie Conteh have been named for Match No. 125 between USM Alger of Algeria and OCS Olympique Club Safi of Morocco.  The encounter is scheduled to take place on Saturday, 14th February 2026. The appointment highlights CAF’s growing trust in the competence and professionalism of Sierra Leonean referees and reflects the steady progress of match officiating standards in the country. Football stakeholders in Bombali District and across Sierra Leone have welcomed the news, describing it as a proud moment for the nation’s football fraternity.  The Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA), under the leadership of President Thomas Daddy Brima (Babadi) Kamara, continues to receive recogni...

By: Alhaji A. Barrie Sheikh Alhaji Mohamed “Omodu” Kamara, popularly known as Jagaban and a flagbearer aspirant of the All People’s Congress (APC) Party, has extended support to Regent Road Baptist Primary and Secondary School in the central part of Freetown.   Jagaban donated NLe 500,000, ten computers for teachers, and provided free lunch for all pupils from Nursery 1 to JSS 3.   The pupils welcomed him with songs of appreciation, while the JSS Principal, Mrs. Naure Fewiy, commended him for honoring his promise. She described the gesture as a sincere commitment to the welfare of the children and the school community.   One JSS 3 pupil expressed her excitement: “I never believed he would come back after promising us. Today, he has shown us that leaders can care about children too.”   In his remarks, Jagaban thanked the school administration and pupils for their warm reception, noting that uplifting lives is central to his values.   Deli...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson  The International Sports Press Association (AIPS) has demanded an immediate end to the harassment of athletes and sports journalists in Iran, calling for the release of detained sports figures and full disclosure of protest-related deaths. Amid nationwide demonstrations against the Iranian government, AIPS says multiple sources confirm that athletes are among those killed or imprisoned during the crackdown.  The global sports journalists body, on Tuesday condemned all violence against civilians and urged authorities to publish verified casualty lists. The condensation referenced that, Iran recently released an official registry naming 2,986 victims, but none of the athletes documented by human rights monitors appeared on the list. Other reports indicate that several sports personalities, including bodybuilders, boxers, footballers, and taekwondo champions, have been killed, while others face detention or possible execution.  Similarly, high-profi...

By: Alhaji A. Barrie  Sierra Leone’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Timothy Musa Kabba, met with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau in Washington, D.C., to strengthen bilateral ties at a critical moment in relations between the two nations.   The meeting took place against the backdrop of the recent U.S. travel restrictions imposed on Sierra Leonean citizens, adding urgency to discussions on migration and economic cooperation.  Both sides acknowledged the challenges posed by the ban and emphasized the importance of creating viable economic opportunities in Sierra Leone to reduce irregular migration, while also exploring ways to enhance border management.   Minister Kabba reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving ties with the United States, stressing Sierra Leone’s readiness to attract U.S. investment in key sectors such as agriculture and infrastructure.  He emphasized that stronger economic cooperation would not only drive prosper...