Feature

By Abdul Tejan-Cole

2020! What a year it has been! For most on the continent, it was another annus horribilis. Although the same may be true for all other continents due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the year was particularly challenging in Africa because of significant governance challenges. Many countries on the continent took not just one but several steps backwards in terms of democratic governance. Instead of consolidating and building on the progress made in recent years, things took a reverse trajectory.

By Mabinty M. Kamara

The symbiosis between electricity supply and modern society is like the human body and the blood vessels. It is a relationship in which one could hardly survive without the other. However, in Sierra Leone either this relationship has over the years not been recognized by the relevant authorities or it is being perceived as a right for the privileged few who can afford it. But my prayers are that by 2021, they will wake up to the realization of this relationship and make things better for the good of Sierra Leone.

By Francis H. Murray & Mohamed F. Conteh

Sometime in May this year, the death of 5-year-old Kadija Saccoh was headline news in Sierra Leone and around the world. It was alleged that the lovely, promising little girl had been raped by a male relative. Her death sparked off demonstrations by hundreds of mostly women and children on the major streets across Freetown demanding justice for the poor girl.

By Kemo Cham and Kadijatu K. Hayles

A green scenery across part of Masoila, a community in the Kaffubollom chiefdom of Port Loko, makes a remarkable geographical beauty.

Underlying this beauty are plush gardens across the settlement, the lifelines of many families in this part of the northern Sierra Leonean district, who grow vegetables like tomatoes and pepper.

By Kemo Cham

“We did not leave anything out of this book” (Quran 6:38).

Islamic scholar and Imam, Dr Ramadan Jalloh, repeatedly read the above verse throughout his decades of scholarly adventure, both in and out of Sierra Leone, but hardly did he fully appreciate its meaning, until he began researching scientific connections to the Muslim holy book.

By Abu Bakarr Jalloh

Post-conflict Sierra Leone still has the opportunity to establish connections between reform and citizens’ ability to enjoy realistic and lasting justice.

The recommendations of the 2004 Report published by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) that investigated the causes of the arm conflict suggest that the country has to deliver justice to citizens to avoid a repeat of the catastrophic war that lasted from 1991-2002, killing over 70,000 people and displacing about half of the population.

Sierra Leone recorded 0.16%, 1.35% and 0.16% increase in COVID-19 total cases, total deaths and total recoveries respectively in 48 hours, from Thursday (10:00 am) to Saturday (10:00 am).