AWE Media Sierra Leone

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson Regardless of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) imperative recommendations for the abolition of the death penalty and the immediate repeal of all laws authorizing the use of capital punishment and amendment of section 16(1) of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone without delay, death penalty remains a daunting challenge for the respect of human life and dignity in Sierra Leone. Over the years, there have been robust debates in many circles on the issue of capital punishment which some refer to as ‘an eye for an eye’ whilst others refer to it as ‘the ultimate punishment for taking another person’s life’. Human right activists firmly hold the view that the law is draconian and on the other hand law enforcement authorities strongly believe that the death penalty is both a corrective measure and a deterrent. Recurring crimes emanating from land disputes, political rivalry, aggravated jealousy of husbands and wives and many more have sent people to thei...

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson For any right an individual enjoys there is a corresponding responsibility and limitation. Since Sierra Leone attained independence on 27th April in 1961, there seem to have been great absence of awareness regarding the rights and responsibilities of citizens.  This has impacted the attitude of people towards their country and fellow citizens and thereby putting patriotism in question. It has been viewed that the only panacea to this deeply entrenched bane is civic education. Introducing Civic Education as a core subject in the school curriculum will give a facelift to patriotism and informed citizenry for peace and development in the Sierra Leone. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) recommendation 94 states that: “…human rights and peace studies should be introduced into the curriculum at schools. The teaching of Tolerance and understanding should start as early as possible in the education of children’’.  In response to the fulfillment of the TRC re...

By: Umaru Fofana I’m not ashamed to say this - and if you’re struggling right now as many young Sierra Leoneans are, please don’t give up: The first time I came to Freetown was to apply to enter university. The first time I travelled out of Kono District was to rewrite my school-leaving GCE O level exams in Makeni - after skipping a year because my parents couldn’t afford it. The first time I switched on a TV set or made a telephone call was after university. I didn’t even have a cassette player let alone a CD player which I’d marvel at but wouldn’t touch in my friend’s room. My mother had taught and always reminded me to be content with what I had. My parents never went to school. Nor did their parents or their parents’ parents. And on and on. And to say they struggled to bring me and my siblings up will be an understatement. As a child I had to do what only adults should be doing. But I never had self-pity. When I fortuitously entered FBC, after mining for diamonds in Tongo and getti...

By: Ethel Sillah Sierra Leone is a beautiful country along the West Coast of Africa with lovely beaches and mountainous landscapes. The country is proud to have a very rich biodiversity with amazing wildlife and touristic sites. Loma Mountains located in the North of Sierra Leone are the highest mountain range in the country. The peak, also known as the Mount Bintumani, is the highest in West Africa with 1945 meters.  Loma Mountains National Park (LMNP) in Koinadugu District is one of the touristic sites for hikers in the country. Sierra Leoneans, as well as foreigners, take trips up the mountain during the dry season to not just enjoy the view, but nature in its originality. The country is recognized as a critical biodiversity hotspot in the western African region and can boast of having a population of forest elephants and western chimpanzees. The mountains on the other hand are said to have the highest density of wild chimpanzees in West Africa. The Park is home to approximately 100...

By: Abdulai Mansaray The great American country has always prided itself as the High Priest of democracy and even prescribed it as its major export commodity to the world. We all know how very many dictators and other leaders have risen and fallen; thanks to coups, uprisings and political interregna that have been fuelled in distant lands by this great nation- all in the name of democracy.  But is America democratic? Has America ever been democratic? If democracy is government by the people, for the people and of the people, then America in the strictest sense of the word has never been democratic. American democracy is the biggest fallacy open to mankind.  Donald Trump took tenancy of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in 2016. Among many other firsts, it will be remembered as one of the elections where the candidate with the majority vote, Hillary Clinton was the loser; thanks to the Electoral College. It will also be remembered as the election during which the right of Americans to choose the...

Commentary   By: Abdulai Mansaray Last Sunday’s polling day in the Republic of Guinea has passed with relative calm, but it is the coming 72 hours that is causing jitters in this high-stakes presidential elections.  There is no question that the stakes are high, and this has been marinated by ethnic tensions between the two dominant Malinke and Fulani tribes; with both Alpha Conde and Cellou Diallo accused of gas-lighting the tribal fissures for their political advantages. Both have been accused of using hate speech to cement their appeals in their respective camps. With almost 5.5 million eligible voters for roughly 15,000 polling stations, the results are not expected for several days. But as if that was not incendiary enough, Cellou has reportedly declared himself a winner even before the ballots have been counted.  It is nice to be self confident, but it could be an entirely different case to dance your lame, when the main dance is yet to come. This is especially so, when you consi...