AWE Media Sierra Leone

By: Amadu Wurie Timbo The Girls Connect Mentorship Program in Sierra Leone (GCSL) recently achieved a significant milestone with its 2nd annual mentorship conference held at the Bombali District Council Hall in Makeni, on October 28, 2023. GCSL’s Mentorship Program in Sierra Leone appears to be making a positive impact on the lives of young girls by providing them with mentorship, guidance, and inspiration to achieve their dreams and become future leaders. The year’s event theme is "Empowering Girls in this Digital Generation to Lead Tomorrow’s World," brought together 80 young girls from schools in the Northern Region of Sierra Leone who had the opportunity to be mentored by accomplished women in Makeni and beyond. A panel discussion was conducted featuring many highly placed women of society including Dr. Manseray C. Kamara, a Medical Officer from Makeni Referral Hospital and Lecturer at the School of Clinical Sciences. In her session she emphasized the significant...

By: Amadu Wurie Timbo Newsfeed Sierra Leone, an online media institution in collaboration with Barrie Help Foundation and Ivorian Sillah has embarked on an innovative campaign to combat drug abuse among young people. This featured a day’s spirited basketball competition held on Tuesday, October 17, 2023, at the Makeni Basketball Court, located within the perimeter of the Makeni Wusum Stadium. The theme of the event "Say no to Drugs," resonates with its purpose, spectators who witnessed the contest between Wusum Leakers and Rim Shot basketball teams all of Makeni said. Before the match unfolded in an atmosphere of tranquillity with loud cheering from dishearten spectators of both teams, messages advocating against drug abuse and misuse were disseminated, creating a powerful interaction between sports and social awareness were passed by Abu H. Kargbo, a co-founder and editor at Newsfeed Sierra Leone. Following his address to players, officials and spectators of the entic...

By: Ibrahim Benjamin Brima Kanu The Valley Contractors Football Club has today the 4th May 2023 defeated the Korombo FC from Binkolo by 1:0 in ongoing SLFA FA Cup Tournament in 2023 in the 2nd round fixture of the Bombali district preliminaries. The match started at 4:15 local time at the prestigious Wusum stadium saw both teams in their ambition of winning the match, the valley Contractors fc were in their blue Jersey and the Korombo fc in their green Jersey. After several chances between both teams in the start of the match, Salifu Mansaray of the Valley Contractors stunned a lovely goal in the 10th minute of the match which put Valley Contractors ahead of Korombo fc in the first half of the match. The match resumed later after the break and the strike continued so hard especially from the side of Korombo fc just for an equaliser and in the 78th minute the goalkeeper of Valley Contractors was sent off the pitch. The pressure mounted on the valley Contractors but after many attempt...

By: Ibrahim Kanu Sierra Leone's leading banking institution Ecobank has on Monday 3 April 2023 officially opened their newly constructed ultra-modern bank at Lunsar road Makeni. The branch bank was earlier located at the wusum hotel in 2008 but later relocated to flower corner, Makeni city for better accessibility. Due to numerous concerns by their loving customers about the constraints to access the bank as a result of the various trading activities around the premises of the bank, the management thought it fit to finally relocate the bank to a more accessible and conducive location. Speaking at the official opening ceremony of the bank, the managing director told the attendees that the bank is a pan-African bank which was established in Freetown in November 2006 and now boasts 15 branches nation-wide including Microfinance services. She proudly said their bank is the leading bank in terms of digitalization as the first to have a mobile app which makes banking so easy and com...

By: President of SLAJ, Ahmed Sahid Nasralla Date: Tuesday 13th July 2021 Venue: Country Lodge Time: 10am Opening courtesies. Good morning everyone, and let me also on behalf of the management and staff of Dubawa warmly welcome every one of you and thank you so much for honouring their invitation. And I am very honoured to serve as Chairman for the official launch of Dubawa in Sierra Leone. I am sure Dubawa were deliberate in choosing me as the Chairperson for this occasion. This is a media thing, and as President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) it is assumed that I take responsibility for the conduct of the media and ultimately its practitioners, whether good or bad. That is not to so say, however, that Dubawa has levied a charge against the Sierra Leone media. And as Chairman, I assure you I will steer this launching program with a KISS (Keep It Simple and Straight-forward), lest I run the risk of being fact-checked by Dubawa. So, let me ask an obvious que...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson The Assistant Coach-1 of Sierra Leone Amidu Karim says his side’s aspiration to defeat their Benin counterparts on Tuesday, June 15 at the General Lansana Conte Stadium in Conakry remained unhindered despite the change of date for the match. “It’s clear Football is a demanding sport which requires the body, mind and soul to succeed,'' Karim, who represented Sierra Leone in the 1994 and 1996 editions of the African Cup of Nations in Tunisia and South Africa told this writer. "And I can authoritatively confirm that our camp is unhindered and super ready to face the Squirrels of Benin on Tuesday despite the 24hrs postponement of the match. "As a technical team we've put behind us the controversies on Coronavirus test results which led to our match against Benin being postponed to another date.  "We’re a nation determined to make history by returning to this year's AFCON since 1996 and tomorrow’s match-day will earn us our ticket to C...

APPRECIATION Good morning colleagues. I believe we have all returned to our various destinations after what we (the Executive) believe was a wonderful Golden Jubilee AGM in Bo City. We would not have had a successful annual conference if we, the members, did not attend and effectively participate. For those of us who did not attend for one reasonable reason or the other, I hope you do attend next AGM. So on behalf of the National and Regional Executives, especially our host SLAJ South, let me express our affectionate appreciation to all of you for making this AGM a memorable one. Yet, as with all our AGMs, there were challenges here and there. We apologise for any discomfort or inconvenience experienced by any member. So as the Executive meet this week for a postmortem of the AGM, we want to solicit your honest feedback or views on the entire program- from the preparations to the travel to Bo city, the lodgings, the food & drinks service, the opening ceremony, the football match, t...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson The President of the Sierra Leone Football Association has announced her withdrawal from the local federation's upcoming elections. Her parting means Thomas Daddy Brima, Saddick Deen-Nyarkoh and Rodney Michael who has been cleared by Court of Arbitration for Sports will contest for the SLFA top seat in the Elections scheduled to take place in the Northeastern city of Makeni on Saturday, June 5, 2021. Isha Johansen revealed that her decision to step down from the SLFA Presidential race is to allow her focus on her FIFA Council Member job where she will be required to play active role as a Global Ambassador for football and its world governing body. The Confederation of Africa Football Executive Committee Member released the following statement on Tuesday, June 1. "As recently elected FIFA Council Member, I will he required to play higher level and more active role as a Global Ambassador for Football and FIFA, she said in a statement. "Building on...

Good evening all, let me express my sincere thanks to God Almighty, my family, campaign team and all for your support and belief in me.  Throughout this period we’ve shown the sporting family that we are not only a family but an example to follow.  Colleagues, the elections are over, let us rise or fall together as a body and as one people.  I believe we can build on the progress we have made and continue to explore new grounds with new opportunities and breaking barriers.  Again I say again, the elections are over, it does not matter whether you are Team Mohamed Konneh or Team Sahr Morris Jr, or you are from the South, East and North. We Can make it as a United force. Let me also call on my brother and relay mate, Mohamed Konneh to get our spikes on and ensure we cross the finish line as a team.  Thank you once again!

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson One of Sports Writers Association (SWASAL) Candidate Mohamed Konneh during a meeting today in Makeni while sharing his vision if voted as the next President of the elite Sports Association in the country said he is priming decency as he trinkets the Association going into the pools this Saturday. During his meeting with a handful of the membership in the Northern pinned his message emphasizing that he is entering into the pools on May 29 in a brotherly contest with top contender Sahr Morris Junior, whom he said had both established a long standing relation that cannot be broken even by the heats of this election. In their response the united Northern region delegates expressed deep dissatisfaction with the way and manner eight (8) of their colleagues nominations were rejected by SLAJEC. "We remained a united force optimistic of a rebranded SWASAL in the coming days with our man Sheku Saccoh Turay eyeing the second highest seat in the association. "Th...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson Earlier today (Saturday, 22nd May, 2021) at the maiden clinic for University Students in Makeni organized by Advocacy for Human Rights and Justice-Sierra Leone, one of the partners of the Media Reform Coordinating Group-Sierra Leone (MRCG-SL), Project Manager Osman Bah has entreated attendees of the day’s event to stay focus to the course in their work as Transitional Justice and Human Right defenders. Mr. Bah while delivering his address gave a brief background of MRCG-SL, revealed some of the gains made over the years working with various partners in the Media, Human Rights Organizations within and outside Sierra Leone amongst other in the promotion of responsible journalism, building the capacities of Journalists in Sierra Leone, supporting advocacies for free speech and Transitional Justice Issues using the Truth and Reconciliation Commission document. At MRCG-SL we are working on a number of projects with support from a number of local and international do...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson One of the top contenders for the Presidential race of the Sierra Leone Football Association Christian Dauda has won his appeal to be included in the race.  Dauda appealed the SLFA Electoral Committee May 17 decision to disqualify him on the grounds that he has not been resident in the country for five years, according to the regulations governing the elections.  But after looking into his appeal, the Appeals Committee headed by Lansana Kotor Kamara has ruled that Dauda is eligible to contest.  In it findings found that Dauda has resided in the country for five years thereby automatically qualify to run for the position of Vice President -1 in thee upcoming SLFA Elective congress.  It stated in a release. Adding that the Electoral Committee's decision to disqualify him be overturned. Dauda had served as team manager of the men's senior national team Leone Stars. He's a stylish personality in clean coat suits, charismatic and a supporter of fema...

By: Ibrahim Jalloh - (Jallomy) All Peoples' Congress (APC) party has a political history replete with internal shambles and rigid leadership almost to the point of mass exclusion in major and critical decision making processes.  Fashioned along communist tradition, APC over concentrate Power and authority in a small class of political elites with the towering figure of the overall leader and chairman.  In his days, Siaka Stevens was founder, chairman, leader and secretary general of the party. So the breathing space for popular participation in the process of party governance and by extension state governance narrowed and conspicuously restrained.  After the heavy military blow of the NPRC takeover of the reins of power and in the wake of multi party democracy that ushered an era of political pluralism, APC plunged into protracted fragmentation. At a defining moment in its political history, APC had three national offices in Freetown superintended by supposed political giants of th...

By: Ibrahim Jalloh - (Jallomy) Tuesday April 27, 2021 marks 60 years of self rule for the republic and people of Sierra Leone. Today, 60 years ago, on April 27, 1961, Sierra Leone attained independence from Great Britain, the Conial and colonizing power. The moment was hectic with unclassified exuberance. It was the birth of a country and the collective aspirations of Sierra Leoneans were all heaped in a cluster of rejuvenation, fecundity and hope. It was the beginning of an era of self rule, self determination and the symbolic carriage of the destiny of the young nation. The British overlords were less in regret as they knew they were handing over a country with a crisis character ahead of her. Our brothers and sisters occupied all spheres of influence. We became the master and servant of all sectors of state. The real journey started! Successive political leadership structures were implanted and in place. Sir Milton Margai opened the corridors of self rule, stayed on and succumbed to...

By: Ibrahim Jalloh - (Jallomy) Census is deliberate, intentional and purposeful. The institution of state charged with the responsibility to plan, conduct and report on Census is Statistics Sierra Leone. This responsibility is provided for by the Constitution of Sierra Leone. Census is periodic and the Constitution of the land say census should be conducted every ten years but, for the expediences of the processes of state governance, the same Constitution makes provision for the conduct of a Mid Term Census, the application of which today is throwing our small West African state into legislative chaos and anarchy. The previous census was conducted in 2015 under the watch of retired president Ernest Bai Koroma. It was massively funded and monitored by many of our international development partners. The outcomes of that census were contestable and rancourous, to be moderate and to say the least. SLPP was in opposition and they raised the red flag, raised the political dust and their cri...

By: Ibrahim Jalloh - (Jallomy) Civic Educator, Political Analyst and Development Consultant The political debates have lost the essence and relevance. The unbridled and mostly disjointed and fragmented discourse have lost bearing with the democratic spirit of freedom of speech. By our acts of commission and omission, we have constrained, if not defiled the governance space. It is all and all about acquisition of power and to govern. The urge to serve and service is compromised and diminished. We want elections and now! The sole objective is to implant another generation of leadership predators. Few talk about governance and civic engagement with governance. Most talk about political occupation of state House and enjoy the "Our Turn" political gimmick. A vital ingredient of democratic governance is in disarray and decay: the opposition! We loathe the callous disengagement from state governance, the vicious resistance to democratic change and the unsavory search for political c...

By: Ibrahim Jalloh - (Jallomy) Civic Educator, Political Analyst and Development Consultant For a considerable number of years to come, the exchange of the batton of national leadership will be an exchange between the ruling SLPP and the roaring opposition APC. To flavour the soup of democracy, generational emergence of a Third Political Force will happen from time to time but the enduring spirit of political sustainability has always been thin and waned. Demonstratively, PDP Sorbeh sprouted and dramatically fragmented; PMDC formed, stormed the political waves but in the end, all is a mute phenomenon; finally, NGC emerged, unsettled presumptive leaders but ended a stillbirth! Historic political errors have always been in the centre of the demise of the giant political parties.  SLPP and APC share few things in common but differ a lot on many many things. One poignant variance is that SLPP ingrained her leadership in the corridors of intellectualism; on the flip side, APC celebrates an...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson Group L match day 6 crunch tie between Sierra Leone(4points) and Benin(7points) has been delayed over controversies after Benin received their Corona Virus test results after 48 hours of testing upon arrival at the Sierra Leone International airport in Lungi.  The results were handed over to the visitors at the stadium before the match and five of their players including a goal keeper test results showed positive of COVID-19. Upon noting that the said players that tested positive of the virus are key to the squad to face Leone Stars, the 80-man Benin delegation including players and some officials refused to step down from their bus at the Siaka Steven's Stadium to warm up before the kick off time of 4:00pm local time. After one hour of waiting, a decision has been reached after a close door meeting with officials of both teams for the match to be played five hours off the scheduled time.  The match venue remain unchanged  but the game is expected to be pla...

By: Sahr James Bangah As part of its mandate to promote sustainable development interventions in Sierra Leone by engaging and empowering community people to interact, interface and hold accountable duty bearers, Centre for Community Education Network and Development (CCEND) on the 26 February 2021 engaged Karena district stakeholders on a project titled " Assessing the Impact of the resources allocated to the free quality education and it's effective utilization of service delivery provided for pupils and schools in Karene District" with funds from world Bank through the Ministry of finance under the Public Financial Management Improvement and Consolidation to Non State Actors. Explaining about the project, Alhaji Musa Okeyan Conteh disclosed that the project aim at enhancing strong collaboration, involvement and participation of stakeholders in the implementation within Karene district in order to improve accountability and transparency practices by school authorities ...

By: Abdulai Fornah The National HIV/AIDS Secretariat Northern Region in collaboration with Aids Healthcare Foundation and others on Friday March 8, 2021 honored distinct Women Champions in Sierra Leone at the Makeni City Council hall in Bombali district as part of this year’s celebration of the International Women’s Day. In line with this year’s theme of the International Women’s Day: “Women in Leadership, Achieving an Equal Future in a COVID-19 World,” recipients of the maiden Women champions awards from NAS, AHF and others consist of the Makeni City Council Mayor Sunkarie Kamara, Women of Hope and seating Councilor at the Makeni City Council Adama Conteh, WoFRAD’s Mrs. Emelia Jengo and more were certified for their marvelous strides in promoting issues of women as well as their exemplary stands in society. The well planned celebration brought together over one hundred invitees from various sector of society ranging from Key population representatives, education, local and health admi...