UNAIDS Country Director misbehaves …discriminates against HIV Positives

By Abu Bakarr Kargbo

A complete show of disrespect and discrimination against People Living with HIV and AIDS was demonstrated by the UNAIDS Country Director, Dr. Michael Gboun on Tuesday 24^th May 2016 at the Shangri La Conference hall in Freetown.

What could have been a consultative meeting to discuss the end of AIDS in Sierra Leone was marred by unnecessary outburst remarks targeting journalists and the Network of HIV Positives (NETHIPS) from a seeming learned Diplomat, Dr. Michael Gboun. The event was supposed to be a consultative meeting of national partners to discuss strategies to end AIDS in Sierra Leone, and develop the country’s position paper to be delivered by the Minister of Health in the fourth coming United Nations High Level Meeting in New York in June.

The UNAIDS Country Director, Dr. Michael Gboun seized the opportunity to jump on the Network of HIV Positives (NETHIPS) posing a lot of questions in the minds of the participants at the meeting on NETHIPS credibility and transparency in managing their livelihood programmes. This was deemed as uncalled for and was again another deviation from the objectives of the one day consultative meeting.

The Government and partners in the HIV and AIDS Response sector are aware that UNAIDS’ key partners in the response to HIV and AIDS is the NETHIPS, in building their capacities and advocating for diverse support for them, and not undoing the network especially in public forum. NETHIPS have been key partners over the years in the national AIDS response that is held on high esteemed in their programme delivery and they represent the true heroes and heroines in the fight to defeat HIV in the country.

Dr. Gboun arrived in Sierra Leone in July 2015 after a challenging but successful spell of his predecessor, Dr. Jobe Sagbohan. Like his other predecessors, Dr. Gboun’s profile was raised high in different media outlets with the hope that he will make a great difference.

Unlike his predecessors like Dr. Zekeng, Madam Mulunesh Tennagashaw and Dr. Sagbohan who succeeded in bringing partners on board for a collective national response, Dr. Gboun displayed a clear show of destroying the existing partnership with key players in the fight against HIV and AIDS. Dr. Gboun who was supposed to respond to a question posed by a member of the audience, which has to do with reaching out to young people through the ‘game changer’ initiative; the UNAIDS Country Directly in convincing his audience that he is not happy with activities of people living with HIV and AIDS, who are currently looking for ways and means to turn their current sorrowful state to a joyful one.

Sierra Leone has joined the United Nations in working towards a zero new infection, zero stigmas and discrimination, and zero AIDS related deaths. As to why the UNAIDS Country Director is trying to sway the minds of journalists and those suffering from the disease is a question that remain unanswered.

It can be recalled that the Government of Sierra Leone with key partners decided to put together a livelihood project that has been managed well over the years as stated by majority of the funders. Through their cassava cultivation, poultry, piggery and other related livelihood projects, people living with HIV and AIDS have engaged themselves not only in catering for their own survival but also contributing to national development.

The latest unfortunate statement made by a head of a United Nations Agency in Sierra Leone has angered people living with HIV and AIDS in so much that they are planning to write a letter to the Government of Sierra Leone and the United Nations demanding an apology and a retraction from Dr. Gboun.

Sources at the Ministry of Health told this press that Dr. Gboun’s relationship with key figures in the Ministry and national AIDS secretariat is growing souring on a daily basis, which is a sad note that has warranted a call for his withdrawal from a third world country that has maintained a prevalence HIV infection rate of 1.5%.

Another sad not that did not go down with those present at the Consultative Forum was Dr. Gboun piking bones with journalists, who have been key partners in the HIV and AIDS response over the years. It is no longer a secret that like participants in national development events, journalists are given modest amounts to cover transportation and coverage of any event organized by its myriad partners across the country. The event of Tuesday 24^th May 2016 at Shangri La is no exclusion of the usual administrative arrangement between the NAS and journalists. After the opening session and mid into a panel discussions, journalists were called upon by the NAS to receive their transportation return. Suddenly, the UNAIDS boss then seized the moment to directly target journalists blasting them for what he conclude that they are not committed to the AIDS response because of receiving modest transport refund.

What the UNAIDS Country Director did not know, and perhaps needs some lectures from his predecessors is that Journalists have since played a central role in the AIDS response covering activities and they have been empowered to meaningfully engage in the AIDS response in the country. To this vein, the Ministry of Information, NAS and other partners formed the HIV/AIDS Reporters Association to specifically support the NAS and partners in raising awareness on HIV and AIDS and sharing important HIV events and information to the public. Most of the services journalists provided for AIDS are free or at reduced costs.

Those present at the meeting became very much concerned about the undue outburst of the UNAIDS Country Director at NETHIPS and journalists and views this as improbable of UNAIDS.

$ 40 Million Agricultural Sector Agreement …Parliament approves

By Abu Bakarr Kargbo

The Parliament of Sierra Leone has on Tuesday 24th May 2016, after a protracted debate, unanimously approved two agreements for the expansion and strengthening of the agricultural sector through commercialization.

The following agreements were ratified by Parliament: Financing agreement (smallholder commercialization and agri-business development project) between the Republic of Sierra Leone and the International Development Association, dated 14th March, 2016, credit number 5767-SL and Project agreement (smallholder commercialization and agri-business development project) between the International Development Association and Apex Bank Limited, dated 14th March, 2016, credit number 5767-SL

In presenting the two agreements for ratification, the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Momodu Kargbo said among other things that “both are related agreements that should be regarded as phase II of the smallholders commercialization programme which aims at value chain addition”, noting that phase I successfully “created and fostered linkages between and among agri-businesses by bringing the producers and the processors together”. He also said that both agreements “amount to $ 40 Million with the view of re-capitalizing the Apex Banks, providing soft loans to eligible farmers, training facilities for staff in the respective MDAs that are to implement the project, a rural project to benefit 50,000 farmers, 40% of whom are women, 37 years loan period with six years grace period”. He called on the implementing MDAs to collaborate with MPs to take the information to their constituents, who are the beneficiaries.

MPs on both sides of the aisle who spoke to the motion were satisfied that both agreements are farmer-friendly, with the following attributes such as access to loan with 10% interest rate, that MPs are to be involved as they are integral to the successful implementation of the project, to move farmers from subsistence to commercialized farming methods, the re-capitalization of the Apex Banks, to take agriculture from the tables in offices to the farming fields, rehabilitation of feeder roads, the expansion of clone gardens, tree planting and improved varieties, integrated agriculture, sufficient energy to enhance processing, to avoid slash and burn and utilize in-valley swamps, “to eat what we grow, and grow what we eat”, to expand on cattle rearing, the failure of mechanized farming to illiterate farmers, and the need to provide opportunities to graduates in Agriculture amongst others.

GTBank records Le46.8billion profit in 2015

By Abu Bakarr Kargbo

Guaranty Trust Bank Sierra Leone Limited continues to show its willingness in providing quality and reliable banking products and services to its numerous customers. The bank has increased its branch network to 14 with the opening of two branches at Lunsar and Kissy, as a means of taking door-step banking to customers.

GTBank’s Chairman of the Board of Directors, Dr. Emerson George Taylor-Lewis informed the Bank’s fifth Annual General Meeting on Wednesday that they recorded profit before tax at Le46.8billion up from Le34.5billion in 2014, representing approximately 35% growth in profit in 2015. He made this disclosure at the fifth Annual General Meeting held at the Bintumani Hotel Conference Hall, Aberdeen in Freetown on Wednesday 25^th May 2016. The purpose of the meeting was to transact the following business: read the notice convening the meeting, to receive the Audited Financial Statements of the Company for the year ending 31^st December 2015 together with the reports of the Directors and Audited thereon, to declare dividend for the year ended 31^st December 2015, to re-elect Directors and fix their remuneration, to appoint Auditors and to fix their remuneration, and to transact any other business proper.  Mr. Taylor-Lewis further revealed that the bank’s profit after tax grew to Le32.73billion up from Le23.83billion representing a 37% growth in 2015. GTBank’s total assets increased to Le662billion up from Le583billion achieving a 13% growth (21% growth recorded in 2014).

GTBank, he said is clearly the investors’ delight in the year under review with over one hundred percent growth in dividend pay-out, from Le160/share to Le350/share. “Pay a dividend of Le588.81 per share from the balance of the retained earnings. This will result in dividend pay-out of Le18billion compared to Le10.7billion (Le350/share) paid as dividend in 2014. This represents 55% of distributable earnings and 45% of earnings in 2015,” Mr. Taylor-Lewis said, noting further that the bank had its technical management fee of Le5.5billion. The Bank has staff strength of 314 in 2015, which exceeds 286 in 2014.

Treasury Bills rate was stable during 2015 but started to rise in the fourth quarter of the year. By December 2015 91-day Treasury bill was about 9% as compared to 2.6% in December 2014. Treasury bill rate in the country was still lowest in the sub-region but the trend shows that the government has started borrowing.

On its corporate social responsibility, the bank donated school learning materials to students at the Maranatha School, Tree Planting Leicester, after it realized that the school had appalling conditions with the pupils holding classes in corrugated sheet classroom seating on the floor. The bank constructed a five classroom block that worth Le150million in August 2015.

Guaranty Trust Bank (Sierra Leone) Limited is a subsidiary of Guaranty Trust Bank, PLC, Nigeria, which is a wholly owned and managed Nigerian banking institution with a branch network that covers over 200 locations in Nigeria.

Guaranty Trust Bank’s growing reputation as an international brand was reaffirmed years ago by a successful US$750 million Global Depository Receipt (GDR) Offering. The listing of the GDRs on the London Stock Exchange in July 2007 made the Bank the first African Bank and Nigerian Company to be listed on the London Stock Exchange. The Bank had entered history books earlier in the year as the first Nigerian institution since the early 1990s to venture into the international capital markets and raise funds via a US$350 million Regulation S Eurobond issue. The bank was recently recognized as the Best Bank during the Euro Money Awards.

Guaranty Trust Bank plc presently has banking subsidiaries in Ghana, Sierra Leone, Gambia, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Rwanda and the United Kingdom. The Bank has a BB- risk asset rating from Standard & Poors’ and a AA- rating from Fitch in recognition of its strong domestic franchise, good quality assets and sound earnings record.

Guaranty Trust Bank commenced operations in Sierra Leone in January 2002 through the successful acquisition of the 90% shareholding of the former First Merchant Bank of Sierra Leone. Today, Guaranty Trust Bank (SL) Limited is the third largest bank in Sierra Leone after thirteen years of its operations. The bank continues to be the fastest growing bank on account of its outstanding growth as indicated by all performance indices.

Over the years, the bank has evolved into an industry leader. This is mainly attributed to the exceptional financial performance, excellent service standards, value adding products and services, innovation, professionalism and excellent ethics, which have led to high customer loyalty and commendations from many organizations.

GTBank has a huge appetite for big ticket transactions which has availed the bank a competitive edge in the Sierra Leone banking industry. The bank supports both private and government initiatives. GTBank is a major banker to all the Telecommunications companies, major petroleum companies, Governmental parastatals, major importers and mining companies and several other institutions including SMEs. Guaranty Trust Bank remains the epitome of success with an unrivalled team of professionals dedicated to delivering the utmost in customer service. Guaranty Trust Bank strives to be the best at all times with absolute commitment to its valued stakeholders. For this unquestionable dedication to its customers GTBank has been recognized by KPMG as the “Most Customer Focused Bank in Sierra Leone” in 2012. The All Walks of Life (AWOL) organization which recognizes excellence in service provision had awarded Guaranty Trust Bank (SL) Ltd the best Financial Institution of the Year in 2006, 2010, 2011 and 2013. Additionally, awards from the Northern and Southern regions of the country have cemented Guaranty Trust Bank (SL) Ltd reputation as a leader in Commercial Banking.

Secret account at Commercial Bank …Chief Agriculture Officer investigated

By Abu Bakarr Kargbo

 

Francis Abdulrahman Sankoh

The good intention of President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma through the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security to transform the sector in order enable it increase production and productivity is currently receiving setbacks because of some Judases that have succeeded over the years to form a cabal with the aim of siphoning public funds. Even though Professor Monty Jones is fighting tooth and nail to bring sanity to the Ministry, the likes of the Chief Agriculture Officer are bent on waging war on each other thereby sabotaging the good effort of those serving as foot soldiers of the President in the Ministry.

Report reaching this press states that Auditors from Statistics Sierra Leone are currently finding it difficult to get the cooperation of the Chief Agriculture Officer, Francis Abdulrahman Sankoh, who is not unconnected to allegations of operating a secret account at the Sierra Leone Commercial Bank called World Food Plan Account.

Sources say the habit of dodging the Public Account Committee in Parliament for reasons best known to the Chief Agriculture Officer is been extended to Auditors who are yet to get the required information on the operations of the World Food Day Plan Account.

Following several requests from the Minister and the Auditors that were turned down by the Chief Agriculture Officer, report states that the Ministry’s Chief Accountant Edward B. Kamara decided to save his neck from the hook by exposing the alleged dubious acts of the Chief Agriculture Officer in a letter addressed to the Permanent Secretary and dated 31^st March 2016.

The letter state amongst other things that “the Chief Agriculturist has been secretly operating another Ministry’s Account called World Food Day with account number 001-105810-10-00-01 at the Sierra Leone Commercial bank Siaka Steven Street, since 2011 to date making withdrawals at will without accounting for monies and sources of credits are not known.”

“Even though the Hon. Minister requested for the balances of all accounts of the Ministry, the Chief Agriculture Officer did not disclose this World Food Day Account until I stumble into the account number, name and bank. The cheque book for this account is still under his custody,” the letter state.

The Anti-Corruption Commission has however shown great interest in investigating the issue. Sources close to the Commission intimate this press that the intelligence unit of the Commission is currently looking into document made available to it and would recommend accordingly as and when they finish their work.

 

Misappropriation of funds …Auditors query Chief Agriculturist

By Abu Bakarr Kargbo

Francis Abdulrahman Sankoh…Sierra Leone’s Chief Agriculture Officer

Things are no longer at ease in Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security, where the Chief Agriculture Officer is under immense pressure from Auditors from Audit Service Sierra Leone. The Office of the Chief Agriculture Officer and those of the Divisional Heads have in recent times received audit queries for alleged misappropriation of public funds, which is a case that warrants an in-depth investigation by the Anti-Corruption Commission. Since Mr. Francis Abdulrahman Sankoh was elevated to the position of Chief Agriculture Officer (Director General) by the former Minister, Dr. Joseph Sam Sesay, the Ministry has been requested to respond to 186 queries by Audit Service Sierra Leone; all of which relates to poor management of public funds.

The recent query came as a result of the Chief Agriculture Officer failing to provide document on the operations of the World Food Day Plan Account at the Sierra Leone Commercial Bank, which is been used as a ‘gold mine’ by the various signatories. This ugly development has angered the Minister Professor Monty Jones, who is currently busy in finding solution to the food security challenges in the country.

The preparation of Action Plans in line with the Presidential Recovery Programmes is been hampered by a great battle between the Chief Agriculture Officer, Francis Abdulrahman Sankoh with the Chief Accountant, Edward B. Kamara.

What has come out clean is the fact that the whole exercise failed woefully because of lack of professional guidance and direction by the Chief Agriculture Officer, who is the head of all Technical Directors in the Ministry. The Executive Management of the Ministry had to call for a redo of the Action Plan after the first exercise was totally condemned.

“This I consider as a demonstration of inefficiency by the Chief Agriculture Officer because he is preoccupied with trying to be a quack accountant rather than being a professional head of all Technical Division of the Ministry,” the Chief Accountant states in a letter addressed to the Permanent Secretary and dated 31^st March 2016.

The Chief Agriculture Officer in a letter dated 18^th March 2016 states “If the Ministry is today being found wanting on various areas on financial prudence it is as a result of the of lack of cooperation, knowledge, fitness and understanding on the part of the Chief Accountant of the processes involved in managing a large Ministry such as MAFFS.” He stated that several attempts made to get the Chief Accountant in the preparation of the Action Plan proved futile.

Responding to the World Food Day Plan issue, the Chief Agriculturist stated that since August 2014 to late 2015 the country was under State of Emergency, hence World Food Day was never celebrated at field level and no funds requested or released to him or his Technical Officers.

What he did not however tell this press was to why he did not present documents on the said World Food Day Account to the Minister after several requests made.

As the battle line has been drawn between the Chief Accountant and Chief Agriculture Officer, several Seniors Officers are of the view that this will derail the good plans of the Minister who is fighting tooth and nail to work in line with President Koroma’s Agenda for Prosperity. Several quarters have suggested that the two senior officers be axed immediately so as to prevent a foreseen administrative crucifixion that will soon plague the ministry. Investigations continue, see more next edition.

$2M Cocoa Contract from Switzerland … SLPMC to benefit

After the successful conclusion of the 2015/16 Cocoa Buying Season, SLPMC was visited by the Chief Executive Officer of MINKA SCS AG a  Switzerland based Soft Commodity buying Company to thank the Management of the Sierra Leone Produce Marketing Company (SLPMC) for meeting its target by supplying over 53m/tons of high quality grade 1 cocoa. Paul Schonel Berger said that he was very much impressed with the performance of the Company more so with the quality of cocoa supplied than the quantity, bearing in mind the time the contract was signed between MINKA and SLPMC.

In a joint statement between Paul and Isha Mansaray of Sierra Cao, a Sierra Leone based subsidiary of MINKA SCS, it was stated that they would award SLPMC a bigger contract this year’s cocoa crop season for the supply of $2M (1000 m/tons) worth of cocoa beans and also provide some logistical assistance such as jute bags, moisture meters, scales and cutting bean boards.  Negotiations are underway to finalize the contract.

It could be recalled that the Government of Sierra Leone in its attempt to ensure better control over quality of agricultural goods for local and export market, discourage exploitation of farmers by middle men who pay unfair prices to farmers and creating guarantee channels through which farmers can sell their produce; Cabinet, in its Conclusion No. cp (2009) approved the formation of the Sierra Leone Produce Marketing Company.

The Company has taken over functions previously performed by the SLPMB with the aim of becoming a pace setter in the marketing of agricultural commodity for export and local markets and in an effort to enhance the role and operational significance of the agricultural sector in pursuit of the objectives of the Agenda for Prosperity.

SLPMC recognizes that its continued  existence and its growth depends on how well it secures and make available for sale quality agricultural produce in the export market and local processing industry at an economic price, whilst guaranteeing fair prices to local farmers. Its ultimate responsibility is to earn optimum return on invested capital and will provide satisfying and rewarding careers as well as succession opportunities to the employees.

MINKA SCS is an International cocoa buying company with subsidiaries in Uganda, Ecuador, Pueto Rico, Nigeria, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The subsidiary company in Sierra Leone, known as SIERRA Cao is headed by Isha Mansaray who was very instrumental in bringing together MINKA and SLPMC to work together.

SLPMC has come a long way and through hard work can now boast of having a competent company which it is partnering with in the International Cocoa Market.

As SLPMC’s export of produce increases, Sierra Leone would be able to realize the benefits of the export trade activities through the complete repatriation of foreign exchange earned from these transactions. This would go a long way in improving the country’s balance of payment.

 

PAC squeezes Local Councils on Audit Report …public funds unaccounted for

By Fadda Bakish

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC), chaired by the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Chernor R.M Bah has returned from a week-long oversight engagement in partnership with Audit Service Sierra Leone (ASSL) with the Councils in the North, East, and Southern parts of the country in respect of the Auditor General’s report of 2014.

The Deputy Chairman of PAC, Hon. Komba Ertic Koedoyoma in his opening remarks informed auditees about the purpose of the public hearings, noting probity and judicious use of funds allocated for development. He furthered saying that they “needed staff that are capacitated enough to run the affairs of Councils in line with the expectations of our development partners”. He also reminded them of the rights, privileges, and immunities of Parliament that are “equivalent to the High Court of Judicature”. He also said that “PAC neither negotiates, nor compromises on any issue that relates to withholding taxes, a major source of revenue for the Government of Sierra Leone, through the National Revenue Authority”. Whilst encouraging the Councils to improve on efficient service delivery, he however opined that “they are not capable to carry out the duties that had been assigned to them”. He concluded by saying that “we are trying to ensure that Councils do not fail”.

The Makeni City Council (MCC) has finally submitted documentation to ASSL for an outstanding Le 9.1 Million, subject to the verification of the audit team. The PAC has also given MCC six months to regularize and obtain documentations for all its landed property.

The PAC has ordered the Kailahun District Council to produce the necessary documents relating to the disposal of three vehicles that amount to Le 37 Million, which according to ASSL were disposed but the proceeds were not banked.

The PAC was unable to squeeze the Koidu New Sembehun City Council because all their documents are currently in the hands of the ACC, and most of their officials are on suspension, pending an investigation. However, the PAC has also noted with concern that frequent transfer of core staff in councils is gravely inhibiting the work of Councils and ASSL.

The Deputy Auditor General, Mr. Tamba Momoh informed PAC that “Kenema City Council is not featured in the 2014 Auditor General’s report, because they had not received their Financial Statement for 2013”. He promised that they would be included in the next audit as ASSL has already received their financial statements for 2013, 2014 and 2015.

The PAC has also ordered Bonthe District Council to convey to Freetown, items such as motor bikes, photocopier, lister generators etc. that were not made available to ASSL for inspection.

Out of Le 74.4 Million withholding taxes, the PAC has recovered Le 57 Million, leaving a balance of 17.4 Million that would be paid at the end of May. The PAC again recovered Le 6.3 Million NASSIT deductions for staff working at the Council.

On the charge of payment without supporting documents by Moyamba District Council, the PAC has also recovered Le 13.4 Million, and given them two weeks to regularize withholding taxes to the tune of Le 3.3 Million.

The Bo City Council has paid outstanding Le 23.3 Million withholding taxes, and the PAC has given them up to the 6th of May, 2016 to regularize the issue of school fees subsidy amounting to Le 245.5 Million.

All the funds recovered by the PAC in respect of the receipts and payment schedules submitted are subject to the authentication and verification of Audit Service Sierra Leone.

 

AFCOM’s child protection contract …New Minister asked to display documents

By Fadda Bakish 

The Civil Rights Coalition Sierra Leone (SLCRC) has asked the new Minister of Social Welfare Gender and Children’s Affairs, Dr Sylvia Blyden to display document which must revealed the fact that, UNICEF have expended hundreds of thousands of dollars to develop nationwide internet services at the Ministry of Social Welfare Gender and Children’s Affairs. This was made public when the Civil Rights Coalition National Coordinator, Alphonso Manley was briefing Journalists at the Ayodale Manley Memorial Hall, Wilberforce in Freetown on Tuesday 20th April, 2016. “The Civil Rights Coalition urges the Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs to give clarity on such vital issues.”

Mr. Manley who was reading a Press Release explained to Journalists that SLCRC attention has been drawn to Social media publications by the current Minister of the designated Ministry and the Platinum Media to justify not only the statement that fake internet service from AFCOM cripples child protection in Sierra Leone but also that Platinum Media Group has also learnt that a whooping some of two hundred thousand dollars was paid to AFCOM for the provision of Broadband Service to all the said Ministry ‘s offices around the country.

But Mr Manley argued that independent findings conducted by his organization revealed that the internet providing company did not only entered in to a contract to deliver on a communications solution for the 116 child protection help line of the MSWGCA with support from UNICEF or set up, and configure all call centre at the Ministry’s New England Campus but also for the establishment of VPN network connecting the call centre and the Ministry ‘s office in 13 districts.

He further informed Journalists that the contract also involved the provision of internet through the VPN to enable dispatchers in the protection alert cases to the district officers and for officers in the districts to utilise the child protection software.

He continued that the supply, installation and configuration of the core network including switches, routers servers and software applications and mentioned that the solution offered to the 116 child protection line is similar to that offered by AFCOM to the NERC for the 117 Ebola alert lines which was one of the contributing factors in the fight against the epidemic.

He lamented that AFCOM proposed a similar where the one hundred and sixteen call centre will be hosted at AFCOM premises as a service. He highlighted that since the signing of the contract in September last year and receipt from the initial payment in October 2015 while AFCOM has taken some steps to deliver on this mandate. The competition of this task has been delayed due to number of factors, key among them was the delay in completing the designated building project was completed on 9th April this year when AFCOM engineers granted access to the premise.

He told his audience that the decision to provide internet to the district office was a temporal action that was based on a request made by the Ministry and the donor partners to enable the district staff commence use of the child protection software while the internet providing entity waited for the construction of the trumpeted building to be completed and the proper solution design implemented.

Contrary to the claims made by the Minister and the Platinum Media Group that AFCOM had received billions of Leones, SLRC has learnt that the company has only  been paid a total four hundred and sixty million on the contract and the amount outstanding for exceed the scope of work that has been done.

Mr Manley came to his conclusion by advancing that his organization was also reliably informed that AFCOM has to bear extra cost to ensure that MSWGCA had network and internet connectivity in remote districts of the country.

Illegal timbers exportation deal backfires …Banico Holdings in trouble

By Abu Bakarr Kargbo

A joint investigation conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Sierra Leone Port Authority, Sierra Leone Police and State House will soon be completed and the outcomes revealed to the public as to why Banico Holdings almost succeeded in deceiving and defrauding the state on illegal timber deal. It was Wednesday 20^th April 2016 Agriculture Ministry officials received an intelligence that two containers loaded with fresh timber are about to illegally left the shores of Sierra Leone. Without wasting time, Ministry Officials teamed up with other stakeholders from the SLPA, Sierra Leone Police, Port Security and State House to inspect the two containers in which them found hundreds of fresh stocks that are half burnt in order to present them as old stocks for export.

It can be recalled that an agreement was signed between the Sierra Leone Government and three companies, namely: CSF Construction and General Supplies Limited, Banico Holdings and CCFG Consultancy, which are only allowed to export old timber stocks that were before and during the Ebola outbreak. Since a ban was placed on the exports of timbers, government decided to issued out an authorization for just the above three companies with strict conditions. The Timber exporters agreed that no new logs should be exported.

The reasons why Banico Holdings tried to dodge the agreement by placing two containers loaded with new stocks on a vehicle with registration number AKZ 780, is something the investigating team would have to ascertain.

The General Manager at the Sierra Leone Ports Authority, Abu Bangura, explained to journalists how he resisted the shipments of two 20 feet containers allegedly suspected of containing freshly harvested logs on grounds of loyalty.

Though a memo was issued followed with an undertakings, it seems one of the three companies turned a blind eye to the said agreement as it is deeply involved in some cynical activities allegedly in the shipment of freshly harvested logs.

Officials from the Ministry of Agriculture in the persons of Williem Bangura and Abubakarr Sidique Daramy alongside Azziz Turay from the Office of Chief of Staff at State House joined the team of investigators to uncover the said act at quay.

Though allegation seems to be pointed at Banico Holdings , government has put up a team of investigators to dig deep into this issue and bring to book those behind this evil plans.

The Public Relations Officer in the Ministry of Agriculture, Abu Bakarr Daramy and William Bangura the Acting Director of Forestry, confirmed that arrests were made recently at Mile 38 were they found new logs harvested. They made it clear that any company found wanting would have its performance bond and other facilities withdrawn.

The Head of Security at the Port, Lansana Mansaray assured that those found wanting will face the full force of the law.