The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Sierra-Leone

  • ‘Ebola: God is our only hope in Liberia’

    For Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, these are not the best of times, considering the impact of the Ebola disease on the countries which are the hardest hit.

    I got an idea of how an average citizen of one of the countries feels about the situation when my colleague, George Sarwah Stewart Jr Coordinator, Media Development Group, Path and Chair of the Liberia Christian Journalists Network, sent me a facebook message saying “we are living in fear and worry in Monrovia.

    “God is our only hope right now. Government can’t stand anyone,” he stated.

    To get the full picture of the situation back in Liberia and his views on the issue, I sent him some questions which he promptly responded to.

    Excerpts from the interview are as follows:

    How will you describe the situation in Liberia and other parts of the country since the outbreak of Ebola disease, especially the death of Mr Patrick Sawyer from Liberia in Nigeria?

    The situation of Ebola in Liberia and three other countries including Nigeria is troubling and threatening to the whole of West Africa.  Specifically for Liberia, the virus has killed farmers, rural community dwellers and health workers.  It has shot down villages and instilled fear in ordinary and impoverished Liberians.

    The virus has disintegrated the Mano River Union Basin and West Africa. There are restrictions and blockage on cross-board travels.  Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea share common borders such as river, parcels of land that allows cross-borderline farming. Along the Mano River, there are same tribal groups, intermarriages and similar cultural practices. These cross-border values and way-of-life are being hampered and cut off to some extent because of the Ebola outbreak.

    West African citizens enjoy free movement with minimum immigration control within the region. Unfortunately, the Ebola virus has extended its wicked hands against the smooth movement of West Africans within their own region.

    What has been the reaction of the people to the declaration of state of emergency in your country and how is it affecting life generally?

    There are mixed reactions.  Some think it’s appropriate, others think it’s belated, while another set wants to wait to see the impact of the State of Emergency on curbing Ebola.  Already, the State of Emergency has taken hold of the country for fact that movement of people from Western Liberia connecting Sierra Leone are prevented from coming to Monrovia by Liberian soldiers. The army has set roadblocks and checkpoints preventing free movement.   Business women are spending their second day at one of the checkpoints 3 miles from Monrovia.

    What are your personal concerns about this issue and what do you think should be done to prevent spread of the disease?

    I am concerned about the late response of our governments against Ebola when the virus could have been contained earlier.  When the virus showed signs in Guinea-Liberia border sometimes in February, it was the most appropriate time for containment, but little was done until the virus killed medical doctors and other health workers as well as poor community dwellers.

    I’m also concerned about the closure of health facilities in Liberia.  This is leading to the death of others outside of Ebola.  There are curable sicknesses taking the lives of Liberians simply because no health facilities.

    Are you hopeful that the problem will be solved soon?

    This is where my faith as a Christian comes in.  Our government is quite confused and has shown no real strength. Only God is able to cleanse our nation and the rest of West Africa of this disease.

    Full text of interview online www.staging.thenationonlineng.net

  • Ebola: SLFA donates $50,000 to UNICEF

    Ebola: SLFA donates $50,000 to UNICEF

    The Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) has donated $50,000 to UNICEF as part of its contribution in the fight against the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone.
    The President of Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma handed over the cheque to UNICEF Representative, Roeland Monasch at State House on Wednesday in the presence of Miatta Kargbo, Minister of Health & Sanitation, and Isha Johansen, president of SLFA.
    The first case of Ebola was reported in Sierra Leone in May this year in Kailahun District. Since then the disease has been spreading in the country with almost every district now affected. As at last Tuesday, 214 people have been confirmed dead out of a total of 591. 161 have survived the disease and were discharged from treatment facilities.

    “SLFA is happy to be part of the fight against the Ebola disease and with our collective collaboration with UNICEF, we will kick out Ebola!” said Isha Johansen, SLFA President.

    Misconceptions, myths and mistrusts have been fuelling the spread of the disease in several communities especially in Kenema and Kailahun Districts. Widespread denials are posing significant challenges in educating communities, especially those affected by the disease.

    “The contribution of SLFA will contribute to fighting the spread of the disease and changing attitudes and behavior”, said Roeland Monasch, UNICEF Representative in Sierra Leone. “UNICEF is spearheading Social Mobilization campaigns in communities across the country so that they are reached with the right information and education on Ebola and with support like this, we are hopeful that positive attitude and behavior will be enhanced”.

    The donation will be used for strengthening UNICEF work on Social Mobilization. In order to enhance positive behavior and attitude changes towards the disease and address stigma and discrimination, UNICEF is intensifying Social Mobilization campaigns in all thirteen districts through community engagement and mobilization via street-to-street announcements, house-to-house mobilization, and awareness-raising using vehicles and motorcycles equipped with public address systems.

    UNICEF is member and supports activities in five of the Pillars Groups that have been set up under the Ebola Operations Center & National Ebola Taskforce: Coordination; Social Mobilization, Surveillance and Laboratory, Logistics, and Child Protection/Social Protection pillar.

  • Glasgow 2014: Sierra Leone athletes want longer UK stay

    Glasgow 2014: Sierra Leone athletes want longer UK stay

    Up to 30 Commonwealth Games athletes from Sierra Leone are considering extending their stay in Glasgow amid fears over the Ebola virus.

    The BBC reported yesterday that  a second Sierra Leone competitor, Samuel Morris, was  tested for Ebola and cleared by doctors in Glasgow.

    Cyclist Moses Sesay has also tested negative for the virus.

    It has also emerged that another Sierra Leone cyclist, Mohamed Tholley, has vanished from the athletes’ village.

    Ebola has caused more than 700 deaths since February in an outbreak affecting four west African countries.

    Sesay, 32, was admitted to a Glasgow hospital last week after feeling unwell and doctors tested him for various conditions, including Ebola.

    The cyclist was given the all-clear and released from hospital in time to compete in the men’s individual time trial at the Games on Thursday.

    It later emerged that table tennis player Morris, 34, was also tested in Glasgow and given the all-clear.

    Meanwhile, Sierra Leone’s Commonwealth Games chief de mission, Unisa Deen Kargbo, confirmed Police Scotland had joined the search for missing cyclist Mohamed Tholley.

    He was due to compete in the men’s time trial on Thursday but failed to show up for the start of the event.

    Mr Kargbo said: “He did not talk to anyone in the camp. No one knows where he is.

    “Legally, Mohamed Tholley is supposed to be in the country up until September. But if he had discussed that with any member of the delegation, we would not have been much worried.

    “Whether he has gone missing or whether he has moved to his family members, we haven’t got a communication. Now we are trying to get in touch with some family members.”

    He added: “We just want to be sure first of all that he is safe, wherever he is, and we don’t know if he is safe or unsafe.

    “We have reported this to the Commonwealth Games organisers. The police are also trying to see if he is safe.”

    The cyclist’s coach, Winston Crowther, believes Tholley may have vanished due to fears over the Ebola outbreak.

    However, Mr Crowther did not rule out other reasons for his disappearance, including economic factors.

    Sierra Leone has declared a public health emergency after more than 200 people died from the disease.

    The outbreak – the world’s deadliest to date – was first reported in Guinea in February.

  • Ebola toll hits 729 as Sierra Leone declares emergency

    Ebola toll hits 729 as Sierra Leone declares emergency

    Among the deaths this week from Ebola is that of the chief doctor treating the disease in Sierra Leone.

    The government said Dr Sheik Humarr Khan’s death was “an irreparable loss of this son of the soil”. The 39-year-old was a leading doctor on hemorrhagic fevers in a nation with very few medical resources. His remains were buried yesterday.

    Ebola cases first emerged in Guinea back in March, and later spread across the borders to Liberia and Sierra Leone.

    Sierra Leone’s President Ernest Bai Koroma  has declared a public health emergency to curb the deadly Ebola outbreak.

    He said the epicentres of the outbreak in the east would be quarantined and asked the security forces to enforce the measures.

    As part of the new measures to contain the viral haemorrhagic fever, travellers at airports will have to wash their hands with disinfectant and have their temperatures checked, President Koroma said in a statement.

    All deaths must also be reported to the authorities before burial, he said.

    His measures – to remain in place for between 60 and 90 days – follow tough anti-Ebola policies introduced this week in neighbouring Liberia, where schools have been closed and some communities are to be quarantined.

    Both President Koroma and his Liberian counterpart Ellen Johnson Sirleaf have cancelled visits to Washington for the US-Africa summit next week because of the crisis.

    Meanwhile, Ethiopia is to begin screening all passengers arriving from West Africa and Kenya has stepped up surveillance at all ports of entry.

    In a statement, Ethiopian Airlines said ground and on-board staff would have also been sensitised on how to handle suspected cases of the virus.

    Also, the head of the World Health Organization and leaders of West African nations affected by the Ebola outbreak are offering a joint $100m (£59m; 75m euro) response plan.

  • Mining spurs Sierra Leone’s economic growth

    Mining spurs Sierra Leone’s economic growth

    The rapid expansion of Sierra Leone’s nascent iron ore mining industry fuelled economic growth of 20 per cent last year, according to IMF data, but prices also surged in the impoverished West African nation.

    Interest in its largely untapped mineral resources has sparked a flood of investment in Sierra Leone a decade after the end of a devastating 1991-2002 civil war. Its economic growth rate is ranked among the highest in the world.

    British miners African Minerals, which operates the Tonkolili project, and London Mining, owner of the Marampa mine, both began shipping iron ore in 2011.

    “Economic activity continues to expand robustly, mainly on account of a sharp increase in mining activity,” MalanguKabedi-Mbuyi, who headed a recent International Monetary Fund mission to the country, said in a statement.

    Sierra Leone remains one of the world’s poorest and least developed countries, and there is widespread frustration that despite the mining boom, more than half of the population of six million lives on less than $1.25 (U.S.) per day.

    Economic growth excluding iron ore mining activity was 5.5 per cent last year, while inflation eased from 12.5 per cent in 2012 to 8.5 per cent at the end of 2013, the statement said.

    Gross international reserves reached 3-1/2 months of import cover, supported by increased export receipts from iron ore, while the fiscal deficit narrowed to 1.9 per cent of non-iron ore GDP, from 5.6 per cent in 2012.

    The dominance of its mining sector has also raised concerns that natural resource exploitation will stifle other exports and fail to encourage broad-based economic development.

    “We are aware of it and the government is also aware of it,” Francis Kumah, the IMF’s resident representative in Sierra Leone, told Reuters on Thursday, adding that the country needed more policies to diversify its economy.

    “There is the awareness to do so now and that is a good thing,” he said, citing efforts by the agriculture and marine ministries to expand the revenue base.

  • Ebola outbreak: Sierra Leone confirms first deaths

    Ebola outbreak: Sierra Leone confirms first deaths

    Four people have died of Ebola in Sierra Leone, the first confirmed cases in the country following an outbreak in Guinea, the health ministry has said.

    They died in the eastern Kailahun district, which borders southern Guinea where the outbreak started in March and has killed more than 145 people.

    There is no cure or vaccine for Ebola – one of the world’s deadliest viruses. But people have a better chance of surviving if it is identified early and they get supportive medical care.

    Ebola can kill up to 90% of those infected and is passed on through contact with the fluids of infected people or animals, such as urine, sweat and blood.

    Dr Amara Jambai, the director of disease prevention and control at Sierra Leone’s health ministry, said a health worker was among the four people who had died of Ebola.

    The deaths had occurred over the last three to four days, he said.

  • ECOWAS mourns former Sierra Leonean President

    The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Mr Kadré Ouédraogo has commiserated with the government and people of Sierra Leone on the passing away of their former President, Mr Ahmad Kabbah.

    “On behalf of the community, I wish convey our sincere condolences to the family, the government and people of Sierra Leone as they mourn a great son of West Africa,’’ Ouédraogo said.

    A statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja by the ECOWAS spokesman, Mr Sunny Ugoh, said that Kabbah died at the age of 82.

    Ouédraogo said that the former President would be fondly remembered for successfully leading the country at a very delicate period in its history.

    “He deployed his vast experiences in the UN system in managing the country’s economic challenges and political upheaval,’’ it said.

    The statement quoted him as also saying that the region recalled how he guided the nation through the process of national reconciliation and recovery after a devastating civil war.

    Ouédraogo urged the people of Sierra Leone to build on the legacy of the late President.

  • Jonathan bags sub-regional insurance award

    Jonathan bags sub-regional insurance award

    The President of Sierra-Leone, Dr. Bai Koroma, on Wednesday in Abuja, conferred the honour of the Grand Patron of the West Africa Insurance Institute (WAII), on President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Koroma said the honour was in recognition of the leading role Nigeria had played in the affairs of West Africa, particularly the support for the establishment and functioning of the WAII.

    “Today is a special moment for me, being given the responsibility to give honour to Nigeria and my brother President Goodluck Jonathan.

    “I want to say thank you to Nigeria and to my colleague, friends and brother for making me what I am today.

    “The fact that I am succeeding in providing leadership in Sierra-Leone is as a result of the training I acquired from the institute and the experience that I have also acquired from what has been happening in Nigeria.

    “The West Africa Insurance Institute was established some years back. We must also thank the founding fathers of the institute and incidentally a good number of them are Nigerians.

    “At the establishment of the institute, support was provided by Nigeria, most of the funding and expertise that were required were provided by Nigeria.

    “Today, we are here to say thank you to Nigeria and to the President for the leadership he has continued to show,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the Sierra Leonean president as saying at the forum.

    Koroma specially thanked Jonathan for the leadership he provided for ECOWAS and Africa at large.

  • Experience from other lands

    Experience from other lands

    Sierra Leone

    For the 2012 general elections, Sierra Leone’s national electoral body commenced a new process when it made use of a biometric system of registration. This BVR exercise in Sierra Leone was carried out over a 15-day period per ward per phase and 4-phases.

    During that period, registrants’ pictures and thumbprints were taken.

    This information was used to ensure against duplicate voting and to safeguard the integrity of the Voter’s Register.

    The country’s electoral body reported later that the “BVR exercise produced a current, comprehensive, and accurate Voter’s Register,” adding that “only those people on the Voter’s Register and in possession of a Voter’s Card were able to vote in the 17th November, 2012 Elections.”

    Reports of election monitors have since confirmed that as a result of the new system, the country captured enough information about voters to enable the register to remain current and accurate.

    Reports also said “multiple-registration was reduced to 0.01%.”

    “Ghost registration was largely eliminated as registrants had to be physically present to participate in the registration process.”

    As a result of the new system, new electors, according to reports, could be easily added to the register as necessary: “Voters are now able to change their residential details and effect transfer to other electoral areas.

    “The register can be easily updated; Also, lost ID Cards can be easily replaced through reference to biometric details in the captured data; and subsequent registration cost will be reduced as some of the equipment will still be available,” said the official reports.

    Kenya

    Implementation of Biometric Voter Registration in Kenya can be traced to as far back as November 2012, when Kenyan President, Mwai Kibaki, officially launched the country’s voter registration exercise, by being among the first Kenyans to enlist as a voter ahead of the March 4, 2013 General Election.

    Then, it was reported by Kenyan electoral authorities that “the voter registration drive will run for 30 days, closing on December 18, 2012, adding that the register will then be open to public inspection for 15 days.”

    The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) also announced then that it was targeting the enrolment of 18 million Kenyans. IEBC has hired and trained over 30,000 clerks to man 25,000 registration centres across the country.

    15,000 Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) kits were also reportedly earmarked to be used to collect biometrics.

    Since then, the country has not looked back on the use of the new technology.

    Early this week, the Kenyan High Commissioner to Nigeria, Thomas Amolo, highlighted the success of the system in his country during the last election.

    Based on the experience of his country, he said, amongst others, that the use of the Biometric system would improve Nigeria’s electoral system.

    Amolo, represented by the Kenyan Second Chancellor, Michael Mwiti, made the comments at the inaugural conversation series of CODER.

    He faulted Nigeria’s INEC for describing the system as slow and cumbersome, pointing out that it worked in Kenya. “The Biometric system was used in the registration of voters, casting of votes as well as in the compilation of results. The voters register was widely accepted.

    “Kenyans have absolute belief in the system; they believe their leaders must emerge through the ballot box, although there were few hitches and lapses. However, the system worked very well.

    “Once people have confidence in the electoral process, they will always accept the result of the election. The system reposes great confidence in the Kenyan electoral body.”

    Amolo said the election recorded 86 per cent voter turnout.

    He added: “There were many independent bodies that were formed for people to have confidence in the governance process. After the political crisis, which took place five years ago, we decided to plant a new tree to usher a new democratic process. The election was significant in two ways. First, our governance system has changed.

    “The women representatives represent each of the groups in the country. There are many women activists in Kenya; that informed the participation of women in the election. It was the first time we were using Biometrics in our electoral system. That was the highest turnout of voters in the political history of Kenya.”

    The High Commissioner explained that the biometric system of conducting election should be introduced in countries which are yet to adopt them because it improves the credibility of the elections and the electoral process.

    “There is nothing wrong in Nigeria and other countries imbibing this system,” Amolo advised.

    Malawi

    In Malawi, use of biometric voter registration system, which was reportedly suspended recently, is still a source of controversy.

    On March 24, 2013, for example, the ruling Peoples Party of Malawi, expressed displeasure over the handling of the project so far, when it said the Malawi Electoral Commission was confused over the BVR system

    The party was quoted as describing Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC)) as a “confused lot” for abandoning the proposed BVR system after claiming it could be implemented in the 2014 tripartite elections.

    Spokesperson for the party, Hophmally Makande, reportedly said: “You see… they [MEC) are a confused lot. The way they presented their issues and the way they came up with the statement [on adopting Biometric Voter Registration System made us think] they knew what they were doing,” Makande said.

    The opposition party, Malawi Congress Party (MCP), however, did not regret the suspension of use of biometric voter registration system in the country. The party’s spokesperson, Jolly Kalelo, said, “People could have been punching in a black cock there (voting for MCP) not knowing they were voting for an open lock [PP].

    While suspending the implementation of the system, the electoral body explained that it took the decision following advice from various experts and stakeholders.

    A statement signed by Chief Elections Officer, Willy Kalonga, read in part: “The Commission has taken into consideration the various concerns, risks and logistical challenges that are inherent in the implementation of the system and has resolved that the implementation of the Biometric Voter Registration System be used in the 2019 elections.

    “Consequently, the Commission will, for the purposes of the 2014 Tripartite Elections, use the current paper-based solution of capturing voters in the field.”

    In Philippines BVR is law

    In Philippines, implementation of BVR process officially commenced early March 2013 as President Benigno Aquino III finally signed a law mandating its application.

    Asides signing the law, identified as “Republic Ac No. 10367,” it has been said that the electoral commission in the country is already putting its house in order for the exercise and is poised to commence validation exercise by July this year.

    Some reports quoted a commission official as saying voters “who do not submit to biometric data validation will not be able to vote in the May 2016 elections, although they may reapply after those elections take place.”

    Local estimates say about nine million of 52 million registered voters are yet to comply with this new law.

  • Jonathan hails Koroma’s re-election as Sierra Leone’s president

    President Goodluck  Jonathan has congratulated President Ernest Bai Koroma of Sierra Leone on his re-election and swearing-in  for another five-year term.

    In a congratulatory message signed by presidential spokesman, Dr Reuben Abati, President Jonathan welcomed President Koroma’s victory with close to 60 per cent of the votes cast in the November 17 presidential elections which was keenly contested by eight other candidates as an affirmation of the trust and confidence the people of Sierra Leone have in his capable leadership.

    He urged  Sierra Leoneans to join hands with President Koroma in moving their country forward to an era of democratic consolidation, peace, political stability and rapid socio-economic development.

    President Jonathan assured President Koroma and the brotherly people of Sierra Leone that they can continue to count on the support, assistance and solidarity of Nigeria as they go on with the urgent task of rebuilding their nation after years of avoidable conflict.

    He wished President Koroma a very successful second term in office and prays that God Almighty will grant him continued good health and divine guidance to lead his nation forward to a brighter future for all of its people.