The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Sierra-Leone

  • West African entrepreneurs collaborate to enhance trade, create jobs

    Young entrepreneurs from Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone have come together to form a new network aimed at addressing challenges to sub-regional trade and youth unemployment in West Africa.

    The group, the Commonwealth Alliance of Young Entrepreneurs – West Africa (CAYE-WA) was inaugurated on Wednesday in Accra, Ghana, according to a statement from Mr Will Henley, the media contact at the Commonwealth Secretariat.

    The network aims to support youth business leaders to expand cross-border trading opportunities.It would also provide a platform for recommendations to policy-makers to improve access to capital and markets, overcome barriers for business and enhance entrepreneurship education.

    The event, which launched the group, was hosted by the Ghanaian Governmen

    Mr Isaac Asiamah, Ghana’s Minister for Youth and Sports noted that its launch was “most welcome at this time when most African governments are seeking innovative ways of solving the youth unemployment crisis’’.

    Asiamah said that the group would develop the skills, creativity, innovation, knowledge and confidence of young entrepreneurs.

    According to him, it will also enhance the social, political and economic integration of youth in the sub-region through peer to peer learning and networking.

    “The Commonwealth Alliance of Young Entrepreneurs, West Africa has come at an opportune time to help the youth develop their capacities and support them to contribute to the sustainable development of their respective countries,” he said.

    The Director of Youth at the Commonwealth Secretariat, Katherine Ellis commended the establishment of CAYE-WA, recognising that it would help drive trade and give young entrepreneurs a stronger voice with policy-makers.

    “This initiative will help position entrepreneurship as a credible career choice, and ensure that young entrepreneurs have the access and tools to be successful, create jobs, and contribute to development and economic growth,” Ellis said.

    She further said the initiative was directly aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    “This includes SDG Goal 8, aimed at achieving sustained and inclusive employment and economic growth.

    “It will also contribute toward SDG 16 which is focused on promoting peaceful societies for sustainable development.

    “Going forward, we plan to connect the young entrepreneurs with their colleagues around the Commonwealth.

    “This is so that we can foster and increase trade between all our countries,” she added.

    Mr Bernard Takyi from Entrepreneurs Club in Ghana, who was elected as the inaugural Regional Coordinator of CAYE-WA, noted that entrepreneurship was a sustainable way to eradicate poverty.

    Takyi added that part of the aims of CAYE-WA was to partner with government and other strategic partners to advance youth entrepreneurship in West Africa.

    “I hope that one day, I will be able to travel to Nigeria, Cameroon and Sierra Leone, or any other country in the Commonwealth of Nations, and meet young entrepreneurs who are members of CAYE.”

    Emmanuel Sin-nyet Asigri, Chief Executive of Ghana National Youth Authority noted that youth development was key to nation building.

    “Without young people’s ideas and skills, we would be missing the best hope for our current development and the future.”

    He also urged the young entrepreneurs to use the SDGs as a platform to “generate more innovation and creativity”.

    Representatives from government, the private sector and Civil Society Organisations were on hand to endorse the creation of CAYE-WA.

    CAYE-WA was modeled on existing Commonwealth networks in Asia, the Caribbean, and East and Southern Africa, which were all founded with support from the Commonwealth Secretariat.

    As early actions, CAYE-WA plans to launch a speaker series across all member nations and provide role models and mentoring to young entrepreneurs.

    It would also facilitate bilateral and multilateral trade missions by young entrepreneurs to open markets and develop a joint policy statement and recommendations for engagement with governments regarding entrepreneurship policy.

    It will further build the number of organisations and networks of young entrepreneurs which are members of CAYE-WA as well as create a Pan-African Young Entrepreneurs Summit.

  • Kidnapping: FG meets with delegation from Sierra Leone 

    Kidnapping: FG meets with delegation from Sierra Leone 

    Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, has met with a high-powered delegation from Sierra Leone led by Dr. Samura Mathew Wilson Kamara, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Sierra Leone.

    The meeting was not unconnected with the recent abduction and rescue of the senior Sierra Leonian diplomat who was kidnapped on the Abuja – Kaduna highway on 30 June 2016.
    The meeting also afforded both countries to discuss other issues, including matters of bilateral interest.

    The Ministers expressed their commitment to revive the Nigeria/Sierra Leone Joint Commission with a view to strengthening bilateral relations between their two countries.

    The Ministers exchanged views on global affairs including, notably, the reform of the United Nations Security Council which will be on the agenda of the 27th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union taking place in Kigali, Rwanda from 10 – 18 July 2016.

    The Ministers took note of the current state of affairs in the Security Council reform effort and the multi-dimensional challenges in the process. They underscored the need for greater solidarity among African countries in the reform effort.

    The meeting took place in a cordial atmosphere which reflects the excellent longstanding relations between Nigeria and Sierra Leone.

  • Kidnapped Sierra Leonean envoy regains freedom

    The Deputy High Commissioner of Sierra Leone to Nigeria, Major Gen. Alfred William, who was kidnapped along the Abuja- Kaduna road on July 1, has regained his freedom.

    The envoy was on his way to Kaduna for a military passing out parade, when he was abducted.

    The police said his release was made possible following credible intelligence and technical support which included intense police activities on both land and air patrol within the area.

    A statement in Abuja on Tuesday by Police Spokesman, Don Awunah, said the envoy was released about 4pm and has been reunited with the High Commission and his family.

    The statement reads: “He was released at about 1600 of 5th July along Abuja – Kaduna road.

    The General is also in good condition.

    Acting Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris has assured members of the diplomatic Corps and foreign nationals in Nigeria of their safety and security.

  • Ebola: Sierra Lone cleared to host matches

    Ebola: Sierra Lone cleared to host matches

    Sierra Leone can again host international matches now that the country is free of Ebola.

    The Confederation of African Football had banned Sierra Leone from hosting matches following the recommendations of the World Health Organisation.

    But the ban, which took effect in August 2014, has now been lifted following the end of the Ebola epidemic in the West African country, the BBC reports.

    CAF told the Sierra Leone Football Association in a letter dated December 6.

    Guinea and Liberia were also banned from hosting matches because of the threat of Ebola in their countries.

    While Liberia has been given the go-ahead to resume internationals, Guinea had not yet been cleared Ebola-free by the WHO and so the CAF suspension remains in place.

    Guinea currently host games in Mali and Morocco, while Sierra Leone fulfilled home 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixtures against Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo and Ivory Coast at the grounds of their opponents and collected only one point.

    Ebola in Sierra Leone killed almost 4,000 people before the nation was declared free of transmission last month.

  • IMF approves $46.14m for Sierra Leone

    IMF approves $46.14m for Sierra Leone

    Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF),  has approved $64.59 million (equivalent of SDR 46.665 million of the local country’s currency) to be distributed in three tranches to Sierra Leone.

    The augmentation of access was approved after the Executive Board completed the third and fourth review of Sierra Leone’s performance under a three-year arrangement by the Extended Credit Facility (ECF).

    IMF said: “The completion of the third and fourth review enables the immediate disbursement of US$46.I4 million (SDR 33.335 million). This amount includes the first tranche of the augmentation in an amount of about US$2 l .53 million (SDR 15.555 million).”

    The Executive Board also approved the authorities’ request for the re-phasing of the fifth and sixth disbursements under the arrangement.

    In completing the review, the Executive Board additionally approved the authorities’ request for waivers of non-observance of the end December 2014 performance criteria on the ceiling on Net Domestic Bank Credit to Government.

    “The ECF arrangement for SDR 62.22 million (about US$95.9 miIIion) was approved in October and was augmented twice,” the Fund said.

    Following the Executive Board’s discussion on Sierra Leone, Min Zhu, Deputy Managing Director and Acting Chair, said: “With the World Health Organization declaring Sierra Leone Ebola free on November 7, the country now faces the difficult challenge of economic recovery.

  • S/Leone: IMF approves USS46.14m disbursement

    S/Leone: IMF approves USS46.14m disbursement

    Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)  has approved US$64.59 million (equivalent of SDR 46.665 million of the local country’s currency) to be distributed in three tranches to Sierra Leone.

    The augmentation of access was approved after the Executive Board completed the third and fourth review of Sierra Leone’s performance under a three-year arrangement by the Extended Credit Facility (ECF).

    IMF said: “The completion of the third and fourth review enables the immediate disbursement of US$46.I4 million (SDR 33.335 million). This amount includes the first tranche of the augmentation in an amount of about US$2 l .53 million (SDR 15.555 million).”

    The Executive Board also approved the authorities’ request for the re-phasing of the fifth and sixth disbursements under the arrangement.

    In completing the review, the Executive Board additionally approved the authorities’ request for waivers of non-observance of the end December 2014 performance criteria on the ceiling on Net Domestic Bank Credit to Government.

    “The ECF arrangement for SDR 62.22 million (about US$95.9 miIIion) was approved in October and was augmented twice,” the Fund said.

    Following the Executive Board’s discussion on Sierra Leone, Min Zhu, Deputy Managing Director and Acting Chair, said: “With the World Health Organization declaring Sierra Leone Ebola free on November 7, the country now faces the difficult challenge of economic recovery.

    “Complicating that task, the decline in iron ore prices has led to the shutdown of the main iron ore mines, with consequent sharp declines in GDP and exports, and reduced fiscal revenues.”

    He said; “As a result, the fiscal challenges in 2016 will be substantial. It will be critical for the authorities to ensure sufficient revenues and financing to priority spending, especially for the post Ebola Economic Recovery Strategy (ERS).

    “This will require strong moves on tax policies and continued efforts on tax administration.

    “The Bank of Sierra Leone should continue targeting price stability in support of economic recovery.

    “With depreciation pressures stemming the lost iron ore exports, BSL should enhance monetary policy instruments and liquidity forecasting to increase its ability to respond to any second round inflationary pressures.

    “BSL should also enhance supervision of the financial sector, understand and resolve any underlying stress through a timely diagnostic of key troubled bank.

    “The updated debt sustainability analysis shows that while Sierra Leone’s risk of debt distress is moderate, the economy is increasingly vulnerable to further shocks. Thus, borrowing policies should remain prudent in view of the narrow export base and fragile fiscal position.

    “Financing needs, particularly for investment projects should continue to be covered mostly with grant and concessional loans.”

  • No new Ebola cases – WHO

    No new Ebola cases – WHO

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Thursday said no new Ebola infections were reported in West Africa in the past week, bringing Sierra Leone closer to its goal of becoming Ebola-free in early November.

    It was the first week without any new cases since the epidemic started in March 2014.

    “Sierra Leone has seen no new cases in three weeks.

    “The government would declare the end of the epidemic on Nov. 8 if the situation continued,’’ WHO press officer, Margaret Harris, told newsmen.

    While Guinea also recorded a week free of infections, 500 people who had been in contact with Ebola patients are still being monitored.

    In addition, health workers have been unable to locate several people who pose a high risk because they had been in close contact with sick people.

    “These things make us very wary,’’ Harris said.

    Liberia was the third country affected by the outbreak, as it was declared Ebola-free in early September.

    Report says since the first infections in West Africa in late 2013, over 28,400 people have fallen ill and nearly 11,300 have died from the viral hemorrhagic fever in the region.

  • AFCON 2017: Sierra Leone Coach satisfied with outcome of match

    AFCON 2017: Sierra Leone Coach satisfied with outcome of match

    Sierra Leone national team coach, Sellas Tetteh, said on Sunday that he was satisfied with the outcome of the AFCON qualifying match against Cote D’ Ivoire.

    Sierra Leone held African champions, Cote D’ Ivoire, to a goalless draw in an AFCON 2017 qualifying match at the Adokiye Amiesimaka stadium, Port Harcourt.

    Tetteh told sportswriters after the match that playing against African champions was not an easy task.

    “The game was two halves. The first half was quite balanced, which was equally interesting.

    “The second half, though one sided, but also in our few counter attacks, we were too dangerous,’’ he said.

    Tetteh said his team played a tactical game.

    “This is a game, tactically, it worked perfectly for us. We did less mistakes, we did more of the covering ups, we did more of the tackling and i think we did it very well,’’ he said.

    Tetteh, who said he took over the team three weeks ago, expressed satisfaction with the draw.

    “Certainly, we deserved this draw. I am satisfied with the draw. I give credit to my players, playing against reigning African champions, away from home,’’ he said.

    Sierre Leone captain, Umaru Bangura, said the team was careful playing against the African champions.

    “Playing against a big team like Cote D` Ivoire, you have to be careful, with this result, we are happy,’’ he said.

    On his part, Cote D` Ivoire coach, Michel Dussuyen, said though his team did not play well in the first half, they did their best.

    “In the second half, we tried to score, created chances, but were unlucky.

    “Sierra Leone is a good team. They fought hard to get this result. So, it was not easy.

    “It was a difficult game for us, but we will work for the future,’’ he said.

    Dussuyen said he missed former captain, Yaya Toure, and Wilfred Boni, stressing that they were still part of the team.

    Team captain, Yao Kouassi Gervaiz, alias Gervino, said they were not lucky in the match.

    “Sierra Leone had a good team. Yaya Toure and Boni are good players and key to the success of our team.’’

    He said the team would fight hard to win remaining matches.

    “But our coach knows who to use for matches and we have other players,’’ he said.

  • Ebola: Sierra Leone to vaccinate 200

    Ebola: Sierra Leone to vaccinate 200

    Sierra Leone is to vaccinate around 200 people who came into direct or indirect contact with a woman who died of Ebola on Saturday, a spokeswoman for the World Health Organisation said on Wednesday.

    The death of the woman, a trader from Kambia District near the border with Guinea, sets back efforts to end an 18-month epidemic that has infected more than 28,000 people in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia and killed more than a third of them, Reuters reported.

    The 67-year-old woman died five days after Sierra Leone started a 42-day countdown to being declared free of Ebola. The previous new case of the disease was reported on August 8.

    “We will vaccinate those in the (Tonko Limba) chiefdom who came into direct contact with the deceased and those contacts they also came into close contact with,” said WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris.

    “We have to ensure that everybody is fully informed and consents,” she said, adding that voluntary vaccinations with a drug that arrived from Guinea and has proved effective there would start on Thursday or Friday.

    The fresh case is discouraging and a reminder of the difficulty of battling Ebola, said Pallo Conteh, head of the National Ebola Response Centre in Sierra Leone, adding that more cases may be recorded as a result of this victim.

    He appealed to a woman he named as the niece of the victim to come forward, saying she was at high risk.

    The outbreak has ebbed only to flare back up since it was first declared in March 2014. Liberia was declared Ebola-free in May, but a fresh cluster of cases appeared nearly two months later. Liberia’s last case was discharged on July 23.

  • CIV, Sierra Leone tango in Nigeria

    Nigeria will host the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations  (AFCON) qualifying match between the reigning African champions, Cote d’Ivoire and the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone, the NFF announced on Wednesday.

    The game, a Matchday 2 clash in Group I of the Africa Cup of Nations qualification series, will hold at either the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos or the Adokiye Amiesiamaka Stadium, Port Harcourt on  September 6.

    NFF President Amaju Pinnick said on Wednesday that on receiving the request from the Sierra Leone Football Association, which is the host association for the match, the NFF approached the Federal Ministry of Health for a go-ahead.

    “We are delighted to announce that we have received the go-ahead from the Federal Ministry of Health to host the match. The Sierra Leoneans will come with a delegation of 32, made up of mostly overseas –based professionals, technical crew and officials of the SLFA, to be led by its president, Isha Johansen.

    “We are happy about the go-ahead because, once more, our country has an opportunity to underscore its leadership role on the African continent, nay global sphere. The NFF has initiated discussions with the Lagos State government and Rivers State government on preventive measures, such as keeping Sierra Leone’s small delegation in a special hotel where they can be monitored at all times.”

    Stressing that the hosting of the match is without any financial commitment to Nigeria, Pinnick stated that Nigeria has everything to gain and nothing to lose by hosting the match, recalling that recently, the U-20 Women National Team played a 2016 World Cup qualifier in Liberia and the Liberian team also came to Nigeria for the return leg, without any health issues.

    It will be recalled that since the Ebola virus pandemic that ravaged some West African countries last year, the Confederation of African Football  (CAF) had compelled Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone to find alternative venues for home matches. These countries have played their ‘home’ matches in countries such as  Ghana, Morocco, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire and Mali without any health issues.

    “We are talking of hosting the African champion team, with the likes of African Player of the Year, Yaya Toure and others, and this will certainly earn us commendation from CAF and FIFA.”