AWE Media Sierra Leone

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: Alusine Rehme Wilson  Renowned Sierra Leonean musician, entrepreneur, and cultural leader Augustine Turay , better known by his stage name Augustine JayTee , has officially announced Pray Day as the date for a major entertainment festival marking his 15-year journey in the music industry . JayTee, who serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Jada Xul Entertainment and President of the Makeni Artists Union (MAU),  confirmed the development during an interview with Awoko Newspaper  ending weeks of speculation surrounding a possible Pray Day event. “I want to celebrate my 15 years in entertainment in a special way,” JayTee said. “When people support this celebration, they are giving back to the journey and motivating me to contribute even more to the industry.” According to the award-winning rapper, the event will go beyond a personal milestone. He revealed plans to premiere 10 brand-new songs live , while also spotlighting artists he has mentored through Jada Xul ...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson The 2025 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) hosted in Morocco from December 21, 2025 to January 18, 2026 in Morocco  has rewritten the digital record books, emerging as the most viewed continental football tournament in history. According to accumulated records by the continent's football governing body, the competition generated an unprecedented 6 billion digital views, including 5.2 billion video views across social media platforms, marking a milestone that highlights the surging global appeal of African football and the deep passion of its fans. A key force behind this growth was the African diaspora, with millions of new viewers engaging with AFCON content from every corner of the world. Notably, match highlights, spectacular goals, dramatic turning points, behind-the-scenes footage and fan reactions spread rapidly across borders, languages and cultures, transforming the tournament into a truly global event. Fans were not just watching but ...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson  Sierra Leone's Inspector General of Police (IGP), William Faiya Sellu, has described the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) Brass Band as a lasting source of national pride, as the force unveiled its newly acquired regimental brass band instruments in Freetown. Speaking on Monday, January 19, 2026, at the Police Kingdom Mess, while delivering the keynote address at a brief but symbolic unveiling ceremony, IGP Sellu described the moment as "a historic milestone in the development of the Sierra Leone Police." He said it was a personal honour to unveil the new instruments, noting that the Sierra Leone Police Brass Band had for many years operated with outdated and inadequate equipment.  The police boss went on to describe the investment in the brass band as a bold and strategic decision, particularly at a time when the police force faces competing demands and multiple development priorities. “Despite the many pressing needs confronting the institution, the d...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson   President Julius Maada Bio will on Sunday morning, January 18, 2026, deliver a nationwide presidential address to commemorate Sierra Leone’s National Remembrance Day, a solemn occasion dedicated to honoring victims and survivors of the country’s decade-long civil war. The address, scheduled for 7:00 AM in the morning marks the formal observance of the day historically proclaimed recently by President Bio in line with key recommendations of Sierra Leone’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Report.  The TRC, established after the war ended in 2002, called for an annual National Remembrance Day as a way to acknowledge the suffering endured by thousands of civilians, promote national healing, and ensure that the horrors of the conflict are never forgotten. According to the TRC report, remembrance is central to reconciliation, the report recommend for state-led commemoration of war victims, public education on the causes and consequences of the con...

By: Ishmael Bayoh I welcome you again to the second episode of the year. The highlight focuses on the first cabinet meeting held by His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio on Wednesday 14th.  The President’s message to his Ministers is unequivocal: this must be a year of decisive action, one in which to not only accelerate the country’s progress but also implement meaningful steps that will significantly impact the lives of Sierra Leoneans. This Week with President Bio’s Development Agenda brings some developmental highlights from Friday 9th to Friday 16th January 2026.  ▪️Following President Bio’s New Year’s Day address, on Tuesday 13th, he held a strategic meeting with his Ministers and stakeholders to prioritize programs and activities for this year of action as his administration is committed to making progress that positively impacts all Sierra Leoneans. ▪️On Tuesday 13th at the Freetown International Conference Center, Sierra Leone signed a landmark Memorandum of Under...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson  Renowned lawyer, academic and businessman, Emanuel Saffa Abdulai (PhD) has confirmed the start of high-level political discussions with Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alhaji Timothy Kabba, over their future leadership ambitions within the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP). Lawyer Abdulai, who also serves as Executive Director of the National Sports Authority (NSA), disclosed that he personally visited the Foreign Affairs Minister at his tower hill office in Freetown, where they held talks centered on the eventual succession of President Julius Maada Bio, the strengthening of an Eastern Region political alliance, and the promotion of partnership built on diversity within the party. According to him, the discussions reflected a shared belief that the growing call from the Eastern Region for leadership within the SLPP represents a demand for justice, inclusion and fairness in the party’s future direction. Meanwhile, the emerging dialogue ...

Sunbird, a major bioenergy company operating in Mara Chiefdom, Bombali District, has officially agreed to allow census officers access to its administrative premises as part of the ongoing pilot census exercise. The approval came after a successful engagement on Monday, December 8, 2025 involving Statistics Sierra Leone’s Principal Statistician for the Northern Region and Regional Census Officer, Mr. Amadu Sheriff, alongside the Director of National Accounts and Economic Statistics, Mr. Mwaluma Andrew Bryma Gegbe.  The timely meeting was also witnessed by the Regent Chief of Bombali Sebora, Mr. Foday Conteh. During the discussion, Statistics Sierra Leone officials underscored the importance of counting everyone living or working in Mara Chiefdom, including institutions and industrial facilities, as part of the pilot census, which began on December 2, 2025. Following the agreement, the census team assigned to the Rokel Estate area, where Sunbird is located, is scheduled to begin enu...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson  On behalf of His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio, Chief Minister Dr. David Moinina Sengeh on Monday, December 1, 2025, officially launched the 2026 National Population and Housing Census alongside two landmark initiatives designed to strengthen development planning, modernize national data systems, and deepen accountability in governance. The event hosted by Statistics Sierra Leone at the Bintumani Conference Center in Aberdeen, Freetown, introduced three national development tools namely: the 2026 Population and Housing Census, the Sierra Leone National Development Tracker (SL-NDT), and the Power of Data Initiative.  Delivering the welcome address at the launch which attracted strong government backing and robust support from development partners, the Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Madam Kenyeh Barlay, emphasized the need to modernize Sierra Leone’s data ecosystem to improve service delivery and reinforce citizen-centred governa...

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 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  ( 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: Alhaji A. Barrie  In a move that has reverberated through diplomatic circles with quiet gravity, U.S. Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Bryan Hunt, has officially resigned from his post, citing urgent family responsibilities.  The decision, confirmed by multiple sources, was prompted by a serious medical emergency involving his father, who is being discharged today following a major heart operation. Ambassador Hunt’s resignation was submitted directly to President Donald J. Trump and is effective immediately. He is not expected to return to Freetown. Leadership at the U.S. Embassy in Sierra Leone has now transitioned to Chargé d’Affaires Yancey, who will oversee mission operations in the interim. Sources close to Hunt describe the resignation as “immediate and deeply personal,” made within hours of receiving news of his father’s condition. With his mother now facing the emotional and logistical demands of caregiving, Hunt chose to step away from his diplomatic role to be present...

By: Alhaji A. Barrie   A tragic helicopter crash in Ghana’s Ashanti region has claimed the lives of eight people, including two senior government officials. Defence Minister Edward Omane Boamah and Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed were among those killed, according to Julius Debrah, Chief of Staff to President John Mahama. The aircraft, a Z9 helicopter operated by the Ghana Air Force, departed from Accra on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, en route to Obuasi. Shortly after takeoff, it lost contact with radar and was later confirmed to have crashed. Authorities have yet to determine the cause of the accident, and investigations are currently underway.