The New People Newspaper Online Sierra Leone News and Alternative Perspectives on News, Events, and Policies in Sierra Leone .
TWO-FACED? TWO-TONGUED? CAN YOU TRUST THIS MAN? What President Ernest Bai Koroma Said to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2003.
4.17.2008
REPRINT OF ARTICLE IN AWARENESS TIMES
The Statement by All People’s Congress (APC) to the Truth & Reconciliation Commission, delivered by H.E. President Ernest Bai Koroma five years ago when he was then in the Opposition, has many lessons for today’s Ruling All People’s Congress, their Leader who is the President and his Government.
APC PRESENTATION, TUESDAY 5TH AUGUST 2003
By Hon. Ernest Bai Koroma READ MORE
ANALYSIS: What Ernest Told the TRC and What President Ernest Koroma and the APC Are Doing.
4.17.2008
FREETOWN: DR. SAMA BANYA - PUAWUI: On Thursday, it was no coincidence that when the Awareness Times newspaper reproduced Mr. Ernest Bai Koroma's statement to the Truth and Reconciliation Committee, that APC mouthpiece (We Yone) and the pro-government Standard Times newspaper attempted to take attention from the substance of President Koroma's contradictions. Both We Yone and Standard Times, instead, carried front page headlines impugning the character and reputation of one of the finest and most dilligent youngmen in the civil service, Soulay Daramy. Soulay was the State Chief of Protocol at State house under former President Tejan Kabbah; he succeeded Rupert Davies, who had followed Abdul Rahman Wurie. READ MORE
James Sampha Koroma's Thieving Scheme Revealed: Is This President Ernest Koroma's Zero Tolerance Doctrine?
4.17.2008
FREETOWN: NEW PEOPLE INVESTIGATIVE CORRESPONDENT: Investigative reporters tracking down money and paper trails in order to prove President Ernest Bai Koroma's commitment to "zero tolerance" and "transparency" have unveiled a grand thieving scheme devised by no less a person than the Secretary to the President in the President's own Office, Mr. James Sanpha Koroma. Investigations by The New People indicate that the Secretary to the President is requesting for "self accounting". In other words, "nobody checks how Sanpha Koroma spends money allocated to his office, nobody audits his books, and nobody supervises that spending."READ MORE
What is the Defence Minister Up To? Multiple Girlfriends, 200 Gallons of Fuel Each Week, and What Else?
4.17.2008
FREETOWN: NEW PEOPLE INVESTIGATIVE CORRESPONDENT: As Guinean soldiers extend their reach within the Yenga area and as other problems fester within the military, Major (Rtd) Pallor Conteh has again drawn stark attention to his own personal indiscretions that have compromised his integrity. At a time when the International Military Assistance and Training Team (IMATT), has invested money and men in re-organising, re-training, equipping, and financing the Sierra Leone military, Maj (Rtd) Pallor Conteh's unprofessionalism is threatening to undo all that good will and good work.
Recent antics by the Defence Minister hearken back to the tin-pot days of crude and untrained soldiering during the early war years. In case the Defence Minister did not know this, the role of the Minister for Defence is not to act as a dorm prefect or as the junior military police officer he was nearly 20 years ago. When he whipped up a media storm by wearing combat fatigues complete with epaulettes and insignia and red beret, one would have forgiven his fashion choice or sheer megalomania associated with middle-age. READ MORE
LETTER: Response # 2 to Alpha Saidu Bangura's "Is the President Serious about Battling Corruption?".
4.17.2008
USA: ABDUL B. KAMARA AKA "CHIEF":
Dear editor. Can you please publish part 2 of my article which is in response to ALPHA SAIDU BANGURA’s article captioned “ Is this president serious about battling corruption”
For those of us who could recalled, before the election that brought Ernest Koroma and the APC back to power, all the articles, commentaries, or discussions of ALPHA SAIDU BANGURA is about the APC and the top leaders. If at one point he is not bashing the party, he is personally attacking and saying negative things about the leaders. READ MORE
OPINION: Fourah Bay College: A Long Lost Glory.
4.17.2008
FREETOWN: THOMAS KARGBO: To make the conspiracy a bit more brazen, the current Government had the tribalistic myopia to appoint a grammar-butcher and academic midget as education minister whose mere presence smacks of tribalism and ignorance. This is an insult to the already drowning academic community in the country. If the university is the face and hope of this country, then Sierra Leone is doomed. A university is a place where young adults are socialised and moulded to make positive contributions to the development and progress of society. The better this task is performed by institutions of higher learning the more likely a nation will continue to establish itself on the international development agenda. READ MORE
"Some APC Diaspora Job Seekers are Too Aggressive and Not Employable," Top APC Official says as State House Bans APC JCs and Deputy Ministers?
4.15.2008
FREETOWN: NEW PEOPLE CORRESPONDENT: The recent passionate appeal by the APC's Acting North America leader, Mr. Osman Conteh, may have fallen on deaf ears. At a Town Hall Meeting to grace the visit of Vice President Sam Sumana, Mr. Conteh warned the APC leadership against creating a "Monkey Woke, Babu Eat" society, and that APC Diaspora members who had sacrificed their time, career, and hard-earned dollars and even forsaken family and jobs in the USA and other places to consolidate APC rule, must be recognised with fair job placements that fit their qualifications. Reports reaching this press however indicate that far from being acknowledged as the financial and moral backbone of the party, APC diaspora members are being ridiculed and laughed at, and even scorned in some cases by local APC leaders. READ MORE
Is the International Community Indifferent to Violent APC Attacks on the Political Opposition?
4.15.2008
FREETOWN: NEW PEOPLE EDITOR WITH EXCERPT FROM AWARENESS TIMES CORRESPONDENTS: The commitment of Britain and the United States to their stated principles of good governance and political pluralism as the basis of a thriving democracy in Sierra Leone is being compromised by the seeming indifference and silence of these representatives of two of the world's most powerful democracies to sundry, frequent, and egregious acts of violence against the political opposition.READ MORE
US$773,339.00 for Riyadh Embassy Project: What Say You, Zainab Bangura?
4.15.2008
FREETOWN: NEW PEOPLE CORRESPONDENT: Still reeling from multiple gaffes about the repression of pro-Tibet demonstrators, the once "committed" chair of the Campaign for Good Governance is about to give a new meaning to accountability and transparency, very much like Haja Afsatu Kabbah. Far from minimising the scope for corruption, the transitional report seemingly gave some APC government ministers new ideas for looting the country. Among other things mentioned in the transition report are "the repairs of the Chancery building and Ambassador’s residence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, cost estimated at US$773,339.00 for 2008." Desperate to pursue this particular project because of the possible perks and obvious financial fall offs, inside Foreign Ministry sources have noted that Zainab Bangura and the APC leadership is about to rekindle this "project." READ MORE
MIGHT/FORCE Makes Right: Musa Tarawally's Guiding Principle.
4.15.2008
UK: DR. JOSEPHUS J. BRIMAH: Some years ago I was taken aback when after a devastating hurricane in the Caribbean, someone with a sense of humour wrote on the walls of a wrecked building, ‘ I hate Ivan The Terrible. ’ Hurricanes are named and the said hurricane was called Ivan and its acts were indeed terrible. In Bo, a human hurricane has raised its ugly head since Musa Tarawally was appointed resident minister of the South. For this human hurricane, his party ’ s guiding principle of might/ force makes right must be literally followed: you either support us willingly or you will be compelled to so.READ MORE
PMDC Concludes its Second Annual Convention in Washington, DC.
4.15.2008
WASHINGTON DC., MOHAMED VARFIE SHERIFF: Friday April 11, 2008 marked the second anniversary of the establishment of Peoples Movement for Democratic Change (PMDC) in Sierra Leone. In celebration of this important milestone, PMDC USA held their second National Convention at Takoma Park, Maryland over the weekend. Members, supporters and well wishers from Arizona, Texas, Georgia, California, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Wisconsin and the United Kingdom converged at the conference hall while others participated in the proceedings through the PMDC Website (www.pmdcsl.net) chat room and live phone-in from across the globE. READ MORE
APC Secretariat Snubs SLPP Defector District Chairman for Symbol.
4.14.2008
FREETOWN: JUNIOR: The Kono district council chairman whose bold-faced public announcement that he had defected from the Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) for the ruling All Peoples Congress (APC) has been humiliated. During his official declaration to the council of his intention to declare himself a candidate for the forthcoming local council election, Sahr Tamba (formerly of the Sierra Leone Peoples Party) had called on residents of the district to give him a second term in office. This time though, he wanted to be elected as an All Peoples Congress (APC) councillor rather than as an SLPP councillor. READ MORE
PORTS Coach ("Diamond Toes") & Club Win Africell Premiership & Mohamed Kallon Scores in 4-0 AEK Athens Win.
4.14.2008
FREETOWN: JUNIOR: Former FC Kallon striker, Morlai Sesay shot Ports Authority FC to their first championship victory in six years as they defeated Old Edwardians 1-0 on Sunday. Sesay’s all-important goal came in the second half of the match through a right footed finisher from a rasping low cross from right-full back, Sam Johnson.READ MORE
A Question of Content of Character and Track Record: The Case of Bockarie Stevens.
4.13.2008
FREETOWN: THE NEW PEOPLE CORRESPONDENT: On Wednesday, Mr. Bockarie Stevens' letters of credence were formally accepted by the United States government officially beginning his tenure as Sierra Leone's ambassador to the most powerful democracy on earth. This imposes on us the responsibility to closely examine our representative's history and commitment to the principles of freedom, democratic governance, probity, and personal conduct. Born in Moyamba, he was raised as the ward of Sierra Leone's Siaka Probyn Stevens, an autocratic and repressive ruler whose name is printed in infamy for his kleptocratic and predatory leadership which left the country's economy in shambles, banned political plurality by declaring a one-party state, and oversaw several mass executions and brutal killings of officials, political opponents, students, while forcing thousands more to flee the country. This is the legacy that the new Sierra Leone ambassador grew up with and knows very much READ MORE
APC Government White Paper on the Jenkins Johnston Report on Koidu Holdings: A Banal Mix of Obvious Populist Comments.
4.13.2008
FREETOWN: NEW PEOPLE: It is not that the citizens of this country were expecting anything spectacular from the much-awaited APC government white paper. The commission of enquiry (the first major one under this government) had a familiar ring to it. The vie president, Sam Sumana, is alleged to have bragged that the government white paper was going to hold people (especially former SLPP officials) criminally liable. But when has he not said that? Iit was always going to be another familiar APC political ploy - to frighten companies like Koidu Holdings into compliance by stating that a new sheriff is in town and that Jan Joubert and his group needed to re-assess their political alliances. This White Paper had been anticipated since the Commission submitted its report in mid March. READ MORE
The APC Again! Is this What the People Voted For?
4.13.2008
FREETOWN: DR. SAMA BANYA - PUAWUI: When will these people rely on their popularity or at least allow the people to confirm their alleged total rejection of the SLPP? When our Party met in Bo last January the APC thugs, at the instigation of Musa Tarawali, attacked our members simply because they wore green and by that demonstrated their continued support and loyalty their Party. I have not taken notice of any of those who are quick to describe the rest of us as political prostitutes make a single reference to this man who wants to appear to "be more holy than the Pope." Our critics had joined supporters of the APC to write the SLPP off as not anything to write home about. But they have been rudely surprised at our stand at the resilience of our people. We've received enthusiastic support whenever and wherever we have assembled. READ MORE
Manchester United Star Taunted Beacuse His Grandfather Was Black and Sierra Leonean - Ryan Giggs Reveals.
4.13.2008
SYNDICATED FROM TIM LEWIS, WALES ON SUNDAY: NEW PEOPLE EDITORIAL TEAM: WELSH football legend Ryan Giggs has revealed his anguish at years of torment at the hands of racist school bullies.
The Manchester United superstar has revealed how vicious youngsters taunted him with sick racist jibes because his father is black and his grandfather comes from Sierra Leone.
Ex-Wales skipper Giggs started as a pupil at Moorside High School in Salford, Greater Manchester, after being personally recruited to United by Sir Alex Ferguson.
READ MOREMuch Ado About Nothing: Sam Sumana Tries Deflecting Attention from US$1million Dollar Home Purchase
4.12.2008
WASHINGTON D.C., USA: NEW PEOPLE CORRESPONDENT: Thoroughly embarrassed after failing to answer questions about the purchase of real property in Bridgewater, Somerset County, NJ, Vice President Sam Sumana tried lending some credence to his US visit by waxing lyrical about a transition report which, according to him, is evidence that the SLPP left the economy in "shambles." He had earlier on tried a series of excuses including the excuse that he had visited the USA to attend a "Miracles Corner of the World" Dinner, a nonprofit organisation housed in a suite (room en pala" office) in New York. When this did not explain his New Jersey visit, he travelled to Washington DC to say the usual partisan inflammatory statements. READ MORE
"SLPP Had Already Financed the Kenema-Koindu Road, Kabala Water-Supply Project Etc" - So Why is President Ernest Koroma Deceiving People in Kenema and Kabala?
4.12.2008
FREETOWN: NEW PEOPLE CORRESPONDENT: The visit of the Director of the Arab Bank for Development in Africa (BADEA), Mr. Abdelaziz Khelef, has drawn sharp focus on recent posturing and claims by the APC government that it is singularly responsible for programs currently sponsored by BADEA. On the contrary, it has emerged that President Koroma's pronouncements have been deceptive. The former SLPP government acquired all the BADEA funds for the Kenema-Koindu road, the Kabala Water Supply project, the rehabilitation of Njala University College, the Hillside Bye-pass Road, and several other projects. In addition, as a result of approaches from the former SLPP government, BADEA also made significant financial commitments to finance funding gaps for the Peninsular road. All of these revelations lend credence to claims by the former SLPP Finance Minister, Mr. John Benjamin, that the former government left more than US$500 million dollars of funded projects from water-supply projects, road development, and also infrastructural development such as the Kenema-Koindu road. READ MORE
Evidence Shows that APC is Doing Exactly What Caused the Ten Year Civil War.
4.12.2008
FREETOWN: NEW PEOPLE CORRESPONDENT: Experts on conflict resolution and causes of war have said many times that privation, marginalization and maldistribution of power and natural resources are among the most potent factors that lead to civil wars. It seems as if Ernest Koroma’s APC government has willfully ignored those warnings from experts and has done exactly the opposite. Ernest Koroma promised to unite the country but he has only succeeded in dividing the country more than ever before. He has systematically marginalized 53% of the country in favor of the minority. He gave 95% of cabinet positions to people who make up 47% of the population and contribute a paltry 15% to export earnings. Areas of the country responsible for 85% of the country’s GDP export earnings are represented by a miserable 5% in the government. It is imperative that this blatant anomaly of redistribution of governance be addressed immediately as it does not auger well for the country. Please look at the graphical representation of the way Ernest Koroma has marginalized 53% of the population, a population that contributes the most to the country’s economic well being.READ MORE
President Koroma’s Campaign for Attitudinal Change
4.12.2008
GREELEY, COLORADO, USA - PROF. KELFALA M. KALLON: President Ernest Bai Koroma’s call for attitudinal change in Sierra Leone (presumably as a precursor to meaningful socioeconomic development) presupposes that our attitude is a major cause of our economic misfortunes, on the one hand, and that there is a desired set of attitudes that Sierra Leoneans need to inculcate in order to ameliorate our economic and social conditions, on the other hand. Before fully interrogating these presidential premises, I must point out that in spite of our allegedly “unpatriotic” attitudes, President Koroma inherited a buoyant economy that had the fastest rate of growth (in terms of real gross domestic product) in the West African sub-region.
PMDC Publicity Secretary May Resign If Charles Margai Does not Retract Tribalism Accusation.
4.12.2008
FREETOWN: NEW PEOPLE CORRESPONDENT: A war of words is racheting up among PMDC leadership ranks again as the National publicity secretary of the Peoples Movement for Democratic Change (PMDC), Mr. Mohamed Bangura, has threatened to resign if the party’s leader, Charles Francis Margai, refuses to withdraw claims of tribalism he recently made against the All Peoples Congress (APC) in Kenema.
Mohamed Bangura’s threat to resign was apparently prompted by Margai’s statement that the PMDC fought against the Sierra Leone Peoples Party government because of the suppression meted out to Sierra Leoneans but regretted to say APC was tribalistic. READ MORE
Abdul Kamara AKA "Chief" Responds to Alpha Saidu Bangura's "Is the President Serious About Battling Corruption." The New People Editorial Team does not edit opinion pieces from readers.
4.12.2008
USA: MARYLAND - ABDUL KAMARA "CHIEF": Eight months ago, the electorate of Sierra Leone gave Ernest Koroma the leader of the APC the mandate to rule Sierra Leone. The reasons were because the then ruling SLPP government under the auspices of President Tejan Kabbah-Tiger was ineptitude, corrupt and could not provide the basic necessities for which he was elected in 2002. READ MORE
2: 04 P.M. FREETOWN TIME - BREAKING NEWS: The New People correspondent has provided an update. The fracas is an internal APC affair. Even the award of symbols for the upcoming local elections has been tainted by vintage APC "transparency and decency." Victor Foh of Vouchergate fame who is the secretary general of the party, has been giving symbols to the highest bidder in a local ward. This has drawn criticism from within the APC where hardworking APC foot soldiers have been overlooked for those who can afford to pay Victor Foh and Co Le250,000 for the symbol, Le 75,000 for an interview, and Le60,000 in sundry fees.
The latest fight started when APC thugs jumped on the streets to protest the giving of an APC symbol to one Mama Zainab in the Aberdeen area. She used to be an SLPP councillor but she later defected to the PMDC in 2007. She has now declared for the APC in 2008 and she wants to be the candidate for the Aberdeen area. Angry at the award of the symbol to Mama Zainab rather than a more popular youth candidate, the APC thugs decided to express their disagreement by setting up barricades and fighting running battles with Aberdeen Police. The running battles have continued all night with the APC thugs vowing to take the symbol back from Mama Zainab. Armed OSD and Sierra Leone Police personnel in riot gear are patrolling the area as we write. More Police reinforcements arrived earlier this morning when we ran the first report.
NEWS STORIES LATER - CATCH THE EXCLUSIVE - more revelations about Sam Sumana's $1million dollar home purchase and why Foday Mansaray (APC North America PRO and realtor) is quiet; the real reason for the President's sudden Gambia visit; African Youth Championships this weekend will feature Sierra Leone; more cellphone companies for Salone - will tariffs drop?; the state of the economy with inflation in high gear; why Dr. Soccoh Kabia is quiet about the EMZOR drug deal - what do we need to know..
12: 03 FREETOWN TIME - BREAKING NEWS: The New People correspondent on his way to the disturbance has just reported that he has just seen two trucks of Sierra Leone Police and armed OSD have driven by him at Congo Cross toward the disturbance at Aberdeen Rd/Wilkinson Rd. junction. Reports from people coming from that end of town is that these are just reinforcements going to consolidate the security situation although things are still very much vulnerable. Rumours are that this is simply a small spontaneous riot by stone-throwing civilians.
Our reporter will get to the bottom of this and we will bring you an authoritative update soon.
11 A.M. FREETOWN TIME - BREAKING NEWS: DISTURBANCE AT ABERDEEN ROAD: The New People is receiving reports of a security problem at the Aberdeen Road/Wilkinson Road intersection. There are reports of a road block and civilians are said to be attacking vehicles. It is unclear what the disturbance is about but it looks like spontaneous rioting of sorts. Our New People correspondent is on his way there now as we speak.
BREAKING NEWS: The New People can authoritatively reveal that just under one hour ago, President Ernest Bai Koroma left Sierra Leone on board a private jet provided by a group of Nigerian businessmen who have been winning all government contracts and on whose behalf "Hon." Alpha Kanu has been firing public servants and serving up overblown contracts that have not passed the World Bank's tests for transparency. The President left with a delegation of thirty (yes, 30) who will be receiving per diems of US$300 to US$600.
This information comes to The New People courtesy a foreign consulate in this country that is increasingly exasperated with the APC government's failure to keep up its promise of transparency in governance and zero tolerance for corruption. The source also revealed that George Soros has granted more than $10 million to the APC government to support both the Anti-Corruption Commission and to create jobs for youth. It is unlikely that youth will get jobs as the APC has been shutting down all youth job schemes in the country and replacing them with so-called independent contractors.
Soccoh Kabia, Alpha Kanu, and APC Corruption Alarms International Community: World Bank Project withdrawn from Ministry of Health.
4.10.2008
FREETOWN: NEW PEOPLE CORRESPONDENT: Hon. Alpha Kanu's determination (aided by the suspicious acquiescence of Dr. Soccoh Kabia, who has failed to condemn Alpha Kanu) to squeeze out a World Bank contract by hook or crook from the Ministry of Health for EMZOR is seemingly unstoppable. His actions at instigating the sacking of consultants and other Ministry of Health officials for refusing to honour his corrupt bidding of forcing the Ministry of Health to grant the contract to EMZOR are unethical and negate President Koroma's pledge to Sierra Leoneans and the International community of zero tolerance for corruption and the fact that there would be no "sacred cows" in his administration. The New People is equally perturbed that the Anti-Corruption Commission that should be proactively pursuing these obvious leads has failed in its obligation to Sierra Leoneans to root out corruption and fiduciary waste. Fresh investigations into the matter have yielded a trove of dirty acts. READ MORE
Continued Silence on VP's Alleged US$1 Million Dollar Home?: Is There a Murky Past to Foday Mansaray, APC's PRO and Mortgage Broker for Properties in the Somerset Area?
4.10.2008
FREETOWN: NEW PEOPLE CORRESPONDENT: Having failed to live up to his promise of legal action against The New People for asking questions pertinent to the alleged purchase of real property in the Bridgewater area of Somerset County, New Jersey by Vice President Sam Sumana, The New People will now focus some attention on the public relations officer of the All Peoples Congress in North America, Mr. Foday Mansaray. There are still additional and unanswered questions about his possible role alleged role in the Vice President's purchase of the US$1 million dollar home. It is in the spirit of transparency and zero tolerance for corruption as announced by President Ernest Bai Koroma that The New People continues asking revealing questions about the purchase of the US$1million dollar home by the Vice President, Samuel Sam-Sumana and the possible role of the Public Relations Officer of the All Peoples Congress in North America and mortgage broker. Attempts to reach him on his telephone number, 732 619 0297 and his e-mail address fmansaray@aol.com have proved yielded no answers. If there is nothing murky, why can't the APC's Public Relations Officer not just answer our simple questions? Well, The New People has indeed uncovered that Mr. Foday Mansaray has been a third party defendant in the Superior Court of New Jersey for some of his murky dealings.READ MORE
As US House of Representatives Calls for China to Halt Tibet Repressions, Zainab Bangura Praises China for Crackdown.
4.10.2008
FREETOWN: NEW PEOPLE CORRESPONDENT: It is now very clear that Zainab Hawa Bangura's position on the Tibet crisis represents the official APC government position. She has refused to retract her statement expressing tacit support for the Chinese crackdown on Tibetans advocating for greater autonomy and freedoms. She has refused to be interviewed on the matter and she has even banned the circulation of newspapers that may have carried reports critical of her statement on the Dalai Lama. Zainab Bangura, as Sierra Leone's Foreign Minister, expressed impatience with what he called the "Dalai Lama clique" for fostering unrest in the Lhasa area. READ MORE
APC Government Fails to Follow Up on SLPP Development Agenda for Port Loko District: Port Loko Teachers College Students Are Nearly Destitute.
4.10.2008
FREETOWN: NEW PEOPLE CORRESPONDENT: Reports from Port Loko Teachers College speak of festering grievances about the failure of the ruling All Peoples Congress (APC government) to honor its commitment to supporting quality tertiary education, and continuing to provide rudimentary facilities for the students enrolled in that institution and in the town. Reflecting on the laudable steps that the former SLPP government undertook in restoring healthcare and potable water supplies in the town after the brutal destruction of facilities by AFRC-RUF rebels (some of whom are now bodyguard to President Ernest Bai Koroma), residents of the town and the students in particular are now expressing discontent. READ MORE
Justice Abel Stronge and Strong-Arm Tactics to Stifle Democracy and the Opposition?.
4.10.2008
FREETOWN: REGINA PRATT:
Minority Leader of the opposition Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) in Parliament, Hon. Momoh Pujeh has told journalists that "Speaker of the House, Hon. Justice Abel Stronge has gagged MPs by stopping the debate on the boundary delimitation document." Hon. Pujeh said the speaker's act on Tuesday was bad for the country's fledgling democracy.
He said the private member notice of motion proposed by Hon. Dr. Kamanda and seconded by him should have informed the populace about what is happening in the National Electoral Commission on the boundary Delimitation but was overruled by the Speaker on the basis of technicalities. READ MORE
Erratum: Regrets and Apologies
4.08.2008
THE NEW PEOPLE EDITORIAL TEAM apologises profusely for an error in an op-ed presented by one of our commentators, Saidu Bangura of Maryland, titled "Is the President Serious about Battling Corruption." The op-ed claims that "Recently, president Koroma also appointed his good friend, Alie Forna as head of the commission in-charge of reconstruction ( Alie was fired from "CARE" for an act of dishonesty."
In ongoing investigations, we have since discovered facts about Alie Forna that completely negate the part of the story we carried. While Alie Forna is friends with President Ernest Bai Koroma, he was never fired from or even worked for CARE. After completing an Honours degree in Economics at Fourah Bay College, he worked briefly as Project Officer at CRS. After a couple of years with CRS, they were advised by one consulant that way of the future was local NGOs, so Kanja Sesay and himself set up the Association for Rural Development (ARD). They briefly carried on working for CRS, while building up ARD, but they soon realized life could be much better on their own, so they resigned their positions at CRS.
Investigations by The New People editorial team reveal that Alie Forna is a well-respected professional, and although he is a member of the APC and friends with President Koroma, he turned down appointment as a member of the Transition Team and the offer of a cabinet position. He is, indeed, a consummate professional.
OUR REGRETS AND APOLOGIES FOR THIS GRAVE ERROR.
THE NEW PEOPLE EDITORIAL TEAM .
Half-Truths and Threats but No Answers as Questions about $1 Million Home in New Jersey Remain Unanswered?
4.08.2008
BRIDGEWATER, NEW JERSEY: FROM NEW PEOPLE CORRESPONDENT: Earlier today, The New People asked a series of simple questions which the newspaper expected the Vice-President to answer openly and in public in the spirit of transparency and zero tolerance for corruption. The response has been a disappointing flurry of half-truths and threats of legal action in New Jersey. At least, reports and responses have started getting at the truth.READ MORE
BOMBSHELL: Did the Vice President, Sam Sumana, Buy a $1 Million Home in New Jersey?
4.08.2008
BRIDGEWATER, NEW JERSEY: FROM NEW PEOPLE CORRESPONDENT: This article is an open question to the Vice-President. In the spirit of transparency and zero tolerance for corruption, The New People would like the Vice President to respond to this question in public. Following a tip-off from two Sierra Leoneans in the real estate business in New Jersey, The New People investigative team was led to the site of a brand new $1 million dollar home in Bridgewater, Somerset County, New Jersey. READ MORE
Is the President Serious About Battling Corruption?
4.08.2008
USA - Alpha Saidu Bangura: Immediately after taking the oath of office as president of our country, Mr. Ernest Koroma promised Sierra Leoneans and the whole world that his administration will militate against corruption. A few of us who know the history of the APC knew that he was not being up front with his people, but a huge number of people believed his words.
After making that promise, the president appointed a team of ministers and among them are people who have public records to clearly show that they have been properly involved in corrupt practices. READ MORE
Sierra Leone's Regulator Denies GSM Bias Claims - Olusegun Abolaji Ogundeji , IDG News Service
4.08.2008
FREETOWN: Sierra Leone's telecommunications regulator, the National Telecommunications Commission (NATCOM), has denied allegations that it has created an uneven playing field for ISPs in the country. READ MORE
Possible Corruption Hits State House as President Koroma's Clips are Sold for US$150 Each
4.08.2008
FREETOWN - JUNIOR:Corruption has hit State house as video clips of the President of Sierra Leone are being sold for US$ 150. According to sources inside state house, video clips of visiting delegations and other foreign dignitaries paying courtesy calls on the President are allegedly sold by Claudius Beckley, the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Service cameraman attached to the Office of the President, to members of the general public READ MORE
The President's 10-Point "Two-Tongue" Mantra.
4.07.2008
FREETOWN: FROM NEW PEOPLE CORRESPONDENT: The two-faced postures of President Ernest Bai Koroma are the stuff of much laughter and ridicule. Little wonder then that an Awareness Times article depicting the President with his head turned upside down. Following is a balance sheet of Ernest Koroma's reversals and vacillations. So early, Ernest Koroma gives "two tongue" a bad name.
DOWNLOAD THE COMPLETE BALANCE SHEET
As APC Politicises Garbage Collection in Freetown, Klin Salone Programme Cancelled.
4.07.2008
FREETOWN: FROM JUNIOR: The government of Sierra Leone has taken garbage collection out of the hands of the Freetown City Council and has privatized the operation, the Chief Administrator of Freetown City Council said.
Freetown will continue to be filthy until huge capital investment is spent in solving the current structural problems in waste management. The solution that the government has chosen is a new privatization arrangement which will be run by Freetown Waste Management, a business backed by a 3 million dollar World Bank loan. Evidently, the operation is slated to be granted to APC loyalists. READ MORE
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