News & Announcements

President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone has suspended officials including public servants indicted by the Commission of Inquiry into financial abuse by the previous governments, particularly the last administration of former President Koroma.

Particularly affected by the directive from the president is the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Dennis Vandy, and the Vice President’s secretary, Baba Fortune.

Their suspension, as well as those of others, was announced by Hon. Mohamed Rahman Swaray, the Sierra Leone Minister of Information.

Recall that the Commission of Inquiry report had read: “The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology was the most recklessly managed Ministry within the period under review and was run as a cartel and criminal enterprise by Dr. Minkailu Bah and his collaborators, the Permanent Secretaries, except Prince Emmanuel Oldman Cole, resulting into massive misappropriation and or loss of humongous sums of monies, both in Leones and in United States Dollars…..”

“Dr. Minkailu Bah, the former Minister from 2008 to 2018 together with Mr. Mani Koroma, Dennis Vandy, and Umaru Conteh, former Permanent Secretaries in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology were involved in gross abuse of their offices in the reckless manner in which they dealt with the finances of the Government under their care and failure to provide leadership and supervision of the Ministry or Department or Agency put under their charge.”

In its recommendations, the commission’s report stipulates that Dr. Minkailu Bah, Dennis Vandy, and their alleged co-conspirators must pay back tens of millions of dollars – jointly and severally into the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Government of Sierra Leone.

But since the publication of the commission of inquiry report and the government’s White Paper, Dennis Vandy has protested his innocence. Speaking to the Global Times last Monday, he said he was never given the opportunity to hear the allegations made against him.

“I was in this country throughout the sittings of the Commissions…I was never invited…I was never notified of being a Person of Interest…Above all, I was never interviewed by anyone working for the Commissions”, Mr. Vandi protested.

“I have studied the report carefully and found out with dismay that I was wrongfully indicted for every bit of malfeasance which took place at the Ministry of Education from 2007 to 2018…I served as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education from 29^th March to 31^st August 2016…I was never invited to the Commissions, and I was never declared as a Person of Interest to the Commissions”.

Many other former public officials are also claiming they were never invited for questioning by the COI but today president Bio has decided to suspend all civil servants and public officials accused by the COI “of acting improperly with respect to the use of public funds”.

They have all been given up to three months to appeal the decision of the commission of inquiry, with effect from the date of publication of the COI report.

The World Bank and other development partners have entered into an agreement to support the education sector of Sierra Leone.

This is even as President Julius Maada Bio, on Monday, launched the Free Education Project, intended to support the government’s flagship human capital initiative – the Free Quality School Education Program.

The World Bank, the European Union (EU), the United Kingdom Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), and Irish Aid signed the agreements committing to support the country’s education sector development through a Multi-Donor Trust Fund administered by the World Bank.

The project, according to Sierraleonetelegraph, will be financed by a $50 million World Bank grant and grant funds from development partners with the EU contributing €13 million, Ireland contributing €5 million, and UKAID contributing £2 million to the Fund.

According to David Moinina Sengeh, the Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, education, and human capital development more generally, is one of the government’s national priorities as articulated in the Medium-Term National Development Plan (2019-2023). In 2018, the government launched the Free Quality School Education Program to ensure free quality education for all basic and senior secondary students in the country.

Sengeh said: His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio has led a vision of national transformation through broad investments in human capital. As a Government, our priorities as stated in the National Development Plan titled ‘Education for Development’ are clear and focused on our people, in particular our school children. The only way to achieve these goals is through collaboration and accelerated delivery of quality learning to all children. 

“We are aware of our constraints and we will continue to be impatient as we systematically address these perennial challenges informed by evidence and robust policies.”

Sierra Leone, according to records, has made significant gains in school enrolment, but education outcomes and skills acquisition are among the lowest in Africa. The education sector also faces issues of deep inequities in access between urban and rural communities, weak sector governance, and inefficient public spending and management. Such education challenges are further complicated by the COVID-19 crisis.

The project will help address these challenges, as well as support the Government in their efforts to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on the education sector while strengthening the education workforce.

Specifically, the project will finance the construction of approximately 510 furnished classrooms to meet the immediate infrastructure needs in basic education and provide community-managed and performance-based grants to primary schools for improved school performance and accountability.

Speaking on the project, Gayle Martin, the World Bank Country Manager for Sierra Leone, said: “This project will support the government’s commitment toward achieving a more inclusive approach to quality education, increasing the retention of girls, especially in secondary school, and improving the learning environment for children with disabilities. 

“Therefore, the World Bank is happy to collaborate with other development partners to improve the management of the education system in the country.”

The Fund will use a pooled funding mechanism and is expected to increase the coordination and harmonization of policy development and investment in the education sector and emphasize the government leadership in strengthening country systems to deliver education services.

Access to quality education, according to the European Union, is a key driver for sustainable development. The European Union has been and will remain at the forefront of supporting education worldwide,” said Tom Vens, Head of Delegation of the European Union to Sierra Leone. “We cannot afford that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic jeopardizes progress made so far in access to education. Being able to enjoy quality education is a basic right for every girl and boy in Sierra Leone. By joining hands, we can do more and better.”

The Trust Fund will assist in addressing key challenges facing the education sector and will contribute to achieving the Government’s larger strategic objectives in the sector, while also supporting analytical and advisory services associated with monitoring and evaluation, technical assistance, and research and studies.

“This project will increase the participation of girls in quality education, which is a key priority for Ireland in Sierra Leone. It will also enhance the education policy framework,” said Lesley Ní Bhriain, Ambassador of Ireland to Sierra Leone. “Ireland is delighted to contribute to this transformative initiative and, with other development partners, to support the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education in its rollout of the landmark Free Quality Education Programme.”

Sandra Baldwin, Acting Development Director, FCDO, British High Commission to Sierra Leone, said: “The UK sees the Free Education Project Multi-Donor Trust Fund as catalytic. In its development, strong partnerships have been built. In its delivery, the project will bring the communication, coordination and implementing drive to ensure this partnership delivers to maximum impact – changing the lives and opportunities of girls and boys around the country.

“The project’s objectives are Government of Sierra Leone’s objectives – and they fully align with the UK Government’s position of supporting every girl to 12 years of quality education and reducing maternal and child mortality. As such, this project will be a focal point around which the UK’s continuing bi-lateral support to both health and education will be developed – complementing and amplifying efforts to ensure the collective sum is greater than all the parts.”

Meanwhile, while launching the project, President Bio said: “Good afternoon. Today is the first day of the new school term. When asked in July this year, 99% of parents reported that they expect their children to return to school when schools reopen. 

“It is, furthermore, encouraging that despite experiencing decreases in income and increased food insecurity in recent months, 87% of parents felt that they can afford their children returning to school.

“These are preliminary results from the COVID-19 Impact Monitoring Survey led by Stats SL, with the support of the World Bank and UNICEF. These results are particularly reassuring, as, in 2018, the lack of money was the main reason for children dropping out of school (from the 2018 Sierra Leone Integrated Household Survey).

“It is therefore a great pleasure to be here with you today celebrating the start of the new school term, launching the Sierra Leone Free Education Project, as well as signing the Education Multi-Donor Trust Fund with development partners. We wish Minister Sengeh and the Ministry of Education all the success in re-opening schools within this challenging COVID context. 

“In support of the Government’s flagship Free Quality School Education Program, this project is a five-year project supporting primary and secondary education, nation-wide. In particular, it aims to deliver is 3 key areas: improve the management of the education system, teaching practices, and learning conditions.

“Education is the single-most-important determinant of economic mobility, and the importance of investing in education cannot be over-emphasized. The World Bank congratulates the efforts of the Government of Sierra Leone—under the leadership of President Bio—in placing education, and human capital development, more generally, at the center of the national development agenda, as articulated in the National Development Plan, and also as reflected in budget allocations since 2018, under challenging macro-fiscal conditions.

“The country has made substantial gains in school enrolment, but significant gaps in education outcomes and skills persist. The 2020 Human Capital Index score for Sierra Leone is 0.36; this means a child born today will only be 36% as productive as he or she could be. This points to a serious human capital deficit that the country can ill afford. This challenge is further complicated by the COVID-19 crisis. The World Bank has estimated that the pandemic has the potential to set human capital development back by as much as a decade in developing countries. We all need to play our respective roles to avoid this statistic becoming a reality in Sierra Leone.

“Under the Free Education Project, the World Bank’s funds have already started supporting the government’s COVID response in the education sector, including the preparations to help children return to school today so as safely as possible. The Free Education Project tackles the education challenge on multiple fronts:

• Strengthening the education system in areas of policy, governance, and accountability.
• Addressing critical teaching quality and education workforce management issues facing the sector.
• Improving education delivery through the provision of performance-based financing grants, and improving the teaching and learning environment through the provision of adequate infrastructure.
• Another area of support is the investment in data for management, and for tracking performance and delivery, as well as accountability.
• And lastly, supporting readiness for a rapid response to future crises or emergencies.

“The Project is expected to benefit 2.4 million students, 75,000 teachers and members of School Management Committees and Boards of Governors in 9,300 primary and secondary schools. Over the medium term, it will support communities in promoting ownership and accountability.

“The World Bank together with development partners, the European Union, Government of Ireland, and the Government of the United Kingdom have established a Multi-donor Trust Fund to support the country’s education sector, which will be signed today. The Trust Fund, which will be administered by the World Bank, provides a pooled funding mechanism and is expected to improve the coordination of policy development and investment in the sector, and together with other development partners in the sector such as UNICEF support the government’s Free Quality School Education Program.

“Let me conclude with a quote from someone who was very passionate about education, President Nelson Mandela. He said: ‘Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”. “The power of education extends beyond the development of skills we need for economic success. It can contribute to nation-building and reconciliation.’ I thank you all.”

The Egyptian Ministry of Social Solidarity and the Ministry of Transport have agreed to provide free public transport for those over 70 years of age, including tickets for the Egyptian railway, buses, and the metro reports Egypt Independent.

According to the report, Minister of Social Solidarity Nevine al-Kabbaj added that passengers over the age of 60 will receive a 50% discount on all transport fees.

In August, authorities increased the price of metro tickets in the capital Cairo.

According to the English-language news website Egyptian Streets, the price increase was justified by the fact that the revenue of the metro, used widely daily, is 4 billion Egyptian pounds (about US$254 million), while its operating costs are 8 billion Egyptian pounds.

However, last year the state also raised the fares, sparking outrage, and protests that led to arrests.

The ministry further announced that it will also increase the monthly pensions in its Dignity Programme by 100 Egyptian pounds for October in celebration of the International Day of Older Persons, reports Egypt Independent.

The ministry said it was exploring ways in which it can better serve Egypt’s most vulnerable populations.

Egypt’s metro system is one of the oldest in the Middle East and Africa and it stands as one of Egypt’s most-used and affordable means of public transport writes Egyptian Streets.

According to a report, Cairo’s metro transports around three million people every day.

Hours after U.S. President Donald Trump revealed that he had tested positive for the novel coronavirus, White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said he anticipated more cases to come.

“I fully expect that, as this virus continues to go on, other people in the White House will certainly have a positive test result,” he told reporters on Friday.

Yet multiple cases, according to globalnews.ca, have already been confirmed among those who have had close contact with Trump and his close advisor, Hope Hicks, whose diagnosis prompted the test that confirmed Trump had the virus.

Many of those people attended a September 26 event in the White House Rose Garden where Trump officially nominated Amy Coney Barrett for the U.S. Supreme Court. Nearly a dozen more were involved in setting up the president’s first debate with Joe Biden on Sept. 29.

Here’s who has tested positive so far.

Melania Trump

First lady Melania Trump’s diagnosis was announced along with Donald Trump’s by the president early Friday morning.

Melania tweeted later in the day that she is experiencing “mild symptoms but overall feeling good.” She did not travel with her husband to Walter Reed Medical Center, instead of quarantining inside the White House residency

She attended Barrett’s nomination ceremony in the Rose Garden on Saturday and has been traveling with the president since then.

Kellyanne Conway

Trump’s former campaign manager and counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway confirmed she tested positive late Friday.

In a tweet, Conway said she is experiencing mild symptoms including a light cough, and she is “feeling fine.”

“I have begun a quarantine process in consultation with physicians,” she wrote. “As always, my heart is with everyone affected by this global pandemic.”

Conway attended the Rose Garden event Saturday and was seen speaking without a mask to others in the crowd, including Attorney General William Barr.

She left the White House in August to spend more time with her family.

Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien

Bill Stepien, who has been managing Trump’s re-election campaign since July, has tested positive, a campaign spokesperson confirmed to the Associated Press and Politico.

Campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh has confirmed the news, which was first reported by Politico.

Politico said Stepien received his diagnosis Friday and is experiencing “mild flu-like symptoms.”

Stepien, who joined Trump at Tuesday’s first presidential debate, plans to quarantine until he recovers.

Sen. Mike Lee

Republican Sen. Mike Lee of Utah said in a statement Friday that he tested positive the day before, after experiencing symptoms “consistent with longtime allergies.”

Lee also attended Barrett’s nomination ceremony and was seen on camera hugging other attendees without wearing a mask.

In addition, Lee sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee, which has been tasked with holding the hearings to confirm Barrett to the Supreme Court.

Lee assured in his statement that he will be back to work in time for those hearings, which are scheduled to begin on Oct. 12.

Sen. Thom Tillis

North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis, a Republican, said his COVID-19 test came back positive Friday night.

“Thankfully, I have no symptoms and feel well,” he said, while urging his constituents to follow public health guidelines to limit the virus’ spread.

Like Lee, Tillis attended the Rose Garden ceremony for Barrett and sits on the Judiciary Committee. Unlike Lee, Tillis wore a mask on Saturday.

Yet Tillis also participated in a televised debate with the Democratic challenger for his Senate seat, Cal Cunningham, on Thursday night.

White House journalists

So far, three members of the White House press pool have tested positive, according to a statement from White House Correspondents Association president and Associated Press reporter Zeke Miller. The names of the journalists have not been released.

At least one of those journalists attended the Rose Garden event on Saturday, while another had traveled with the president through the weekend. The third attended Trump’s press conference on Sunday.

Several other members of the press corps are self-isolating as they await testing. White House medical staff are conducting contact tracing for the three positive cases, Miller said.

“We ask that if you were on the White House grounds or in the pools those days, that you pay extra attention to any changes in your health,” he told members in a statement.

Notre Dame University president John Jenkins

An email from Notre Dame University staff Friday confirmed its president, Rev. John Jenkins, tested positive after a colleague of his was diagnosed.

Jenkins was already in quarantine when he was tested this week after attending the Rose Garden ceremony for Barrett, who earned her law degree from Notre Dame University and was a faculty member there.

In a statement posted on the university’s website shortly after the event, Jenkins said he made an “error of judgment” by not wearing a mask during the ceremony, and by shaking hands with a number of people in the Rose Garden.

“I failed to lead by example, at a time when I’ve asked everyone else in the Notre Dame community to do so,” he wrote. “I especially regret my mistake in light of the sacrifices made on a daily basis by many, particularly our students, in adjusting their lives to observe our health protocols.”

Hope Hicks

Hope Hicks, one of the president’s most trusted and longest-serving confidantes, began feeling mild symptoms during the plane ride home from a Trump re-election campaign rally in Duluth, Minn., Wednesday evening, an administration official told the Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

She was isolated from other passengers aboard the plane and her diagnosis was confirmed Thursday, the person said.

Hicks, who serves as counselor to the president, also accompanied him and other senior aides to the first presidential debate in Cleveland on Tuesday.

She was frequently seen not wearing a mask at several of these debates, while those around her — including members of the president’s family — also did not have their faces covered.

Debate prep staff

According to a statement from the City of Cleveland Friday, 11 people involved with the planning and set-up of Tuesday’s presidential debate between Trump and Joe Biden have tested positive.

The debate was held at in an open-air pavilion shared by the Cleveland Clinic and Case Western Reserve University. While those who attended the debate on behalf of Biden wore masks in the audience, most of those with Trump did not.

Some of those cases are people from outside Ohio who may be continuing to travel, the city said.

Republican Party chairwoman Ronna McDaniel

An official with the Republican National Convention confirmed Friday to multiple media outlets, including the Associated Press, that party chairwoman Ronna McDaniel tested positive Wednesday.

The official said McDaniel has been at her home in Michigan since last Saturday and did not attend the debate.

Inspite of the numerous challenges facing Africa’s Giant, Nigeria, which is peculiar with other countries in Africa, the nation has managed to stay together as one indivisible nation, since gaining independence on October 1, 1960, 

Although, there are divergent views of several citizens across the globe, as they take stock of their gains and losses so far. Anslem Maduka expressed his view saying “I honestly don’t think there is anything to celebrate with the increasing pain we face daily”, and another school of thought applauds the steadfastness of the country to remain in unity irrespective of the challenges the country has faced in recent years.   

In the capital city of Freetown, Sierra Leone, the High Commission marked the independence celebration with unique services held at the Hill Station Mosque and Winners chapel International Church respectively, Prayers were offered for the continued unity of Nigeria, with a unique message of Hope, Belief, Unity, and Peaceful co-existence as one entity.

Nigeria is arguably the world’s largest Black population nation boasting of massive wealth from oil production, with unique multi-ethnic groups comprising of about 250 different ethnic groups.

The country has remained knitted as one indivisible nation, the country may not be where they would love to be, at the moment but credit must be given to the nation for the unity that has kept them together. 

The Dignity Investment Sierra Leone recently held a staff retreat for its members of Staff at the Occasions Resort Lakka Freetown, Sierra Leone. The CEO/Managing Director of the company, Mr. William Tucker admonished invited guests, the media and the entire Staff about the motive behind the retreat.

Similarly, Maraya Mushka Conteh, the CEO, La Fete Communications reiterated the need for the staff of Dignity Investment to see the company as a collective effort to make a dream come true.

Aaliyah Saxo-Decker, Head of Marketing highlighted the various services they offer, which include catering for sustainable tourism and hospitality for their clients, innovative business development and consultancy, strategic real estate management, special event planning, and management, special managerial training, logistics and general supplies etc.

The staff retreat was spiced with a training session  conducted by Kennedy Okezie of La Fete communications who spoke on Your Mindset, Your Power” alongside other trainers such as Mr. Sam King, Mr. Davidson Nicole and Mr. Gboyega John Moses 

In a nutshell, members, of staff, were encouraged to see themselves as part of the organization success and failure, noting that perseverance is required to support the organization in times of crisis.

The United States said on Saturday that it welcomed the establishment of a transitional government in Mali as “an initial step towards a return to constitutional order.”

In late September, President Bah Ndaw, a retired colonel appointed president of the transition, Reuters reports, named veteran diplomat Moctar Ouane as interim prime minister.

The men will be tasked with overseeing an 18-month transition back to civilian rule after the August 18 overthrow of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.

“We urge the transitional government to honor its commitments to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), including holding democratic elections within 18 months,” said State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus.

The statement also urged the transitional government to fight corruption and reform electoral processes.

“We call on the government to respect human rights and take concrete steps to prevent violations of those rights by state security forces and to investigate and hold to account those responsible when violations do occur,” Ortagus added.

The Nigerian Government, through the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), has introduced new visa regimes to citizens of the United Kingdom, United States, United Arab Emirates (UAE), France, and 147 other countries.
NIS said the new regime, which consists of transit, business (single), business (multiple), tourism, visiting (single), visiting (multiple), journalist, cleric, medical tourism, religious, study tour, academic exchange, cultural exchange, humanitarian, emergency, Staff of NGO visas, Temporary Work Permit (TWP) and others, attract different visa fees and it is based on the principle of reciprocity.
The new regime, which commenced on Thursday, October 1, 2020, Mr. Sunday James, the Service Public Relations Officer (PRO) said was approved by the country’s Minister of Interior, Ra’uf Aregbesola.
According to the new regime, citizens from the United Kingdom on transit visa would pay the sum of $84, multiple visas attracts $801, visiting (single); $125, study tour, $250, academic exchange; $250.
For United States citizens, a transit visa attracts $160, business (single); $160, medical tourism; $250, while a TWP visa now goes for $460.

For citizens of UAE, transit visa is now $15 and $25, tourism visa; $87, visiting 9single); $166, vising (multiple), $425.
For French citizens from France, business visa (single); $71, business (multiple); $177, tourism; $71, visiting (single; $71, visiting (multiple); $117, journalist; $71, cleric; $71, medical tourism; $71, religious; $71, sports; $71, emergency; $71, study tour; $71, academic exchange; $71, cultural exchange; $71, humanitarian exchange, $71, staff of INGO; $71, staff of NGO, $71, while TWP visa attracts $117.

Other countries that attracted different visa regimes included Dominica Republic, DR. Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, and Belgium.
Others are Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Iraq, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Libya, Mexico, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Seychelles, Slovenia, South Africa, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, and many others.

While citizens from West African countries like Gabon, Ghana, Liberia, Benin, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Ghana, Gambia, Togo, Liberia, Mali, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and others are exempted from paying visa fees, Mauritius, Sri Lanka citizens are also visa-free.
James, in the statement, said the new visa regime is based on the principle of reciprocity and urged stakeholders, concerned authorities, and individuals to visit the official website of the service for more information on the new policy.
The statement said: “The Comptroller General is inviting stakeholders, concerned authorities, and individuals to visit the official website of the Service via www.nigeriaimmigration.gov.ng for full details of the new visa fees for all countries and category of applicants.

“Equally, the service will commence the implementation of the Nigeria Visa Policy 2020 (NVP 2020), launched on the 4th February 2020, by President Muhammadu Buhari. The implementation of the new visa fees and Nigeria Visa Policy 2020 (NVP 2020) commences on 1st October 2020.”

Popular singer, Davido, has taken delivery of a brand new Lamborghini worth $425,000 (N194 million) on Thursday, October 1 in what observers said was his own way of celebrating Nigeria’s 60 years anniversary.
In a video the singer posted on his Instagram handle, he was seen among friends hailers receiving the consignment.
With this, the DMW boss just added another car to his already beautiful fleet of cars. The Lamborghini is the latest addition to his car collection.

Davido celebrated the arrival of his new Lamborghini in the midst of the 30BG crew as a truck made the delivery to his Banana Island home. 
The Lamborghini is said to be worth about $425,000 which rounds up to N194 million.

Davido now has a Lamborghini, Bentley Bentega, A Mercedes, and more.

Even when many Zimbabweans are lamenting the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in their lives, the country’s energy regulator has allowed the state power company to increase tariffs by 50% from Thursday while another hike by the same margin would come into effect next month.

The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) had already raised tariffs by 50% on September 23 to bring its rates in line with inflation running above 700%.

The increase would hit residents whose salaries have lagged inflation, while businesses could pass on the cost to consumers.

Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) said in a letter to ZETDC that the government had Okayed the “outstanding tariff adjustments.”

Last year in October, the power company hiked the average electricity tariff by 320% in a bid to ramp up production and improve supplies.

Zimbabwe has managed to keep the lights on since March after businesses were either shut or cut production after a government-imposed lockdown to curb the Covid-19 pandemic.