News

By KABS KANU :

Indeed, indeed good things certainly do come out of  Sierra Leone. Yesterday was another day of pride for the nation as two of the country’s top police brass on secondment to the United Nations were given medals of honour for meritorious service  to world peacekeeping. The two proud men who brought more respect to their nation were  former Deputy Inspector General of the Sierra Leone Police Force , Mr. Oliver Somasa and the former Assistant Inspector General, Mr. Chris Charley. Both officers were among many UN Police and military  personnel honoured by the UN during the observance of the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers yesterday.

The two men were highly commended for their outstanding job performance. Mr. Somasa is Liaision Officer of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations ( DPKO ) Police Division while Mr. Charley is responsible for recruitment and selection in the same unit. The medals were awarded for the successful completion of one year service by the two men. The DPKO was set up to assist member states and the Secretary General in their efforts in their efforts to maintain international peace and security.

That Sierra Leone is now playing such a laudable role in the maintenance of international peace and security is one of the reasons that the country is perceived and treated with profound respect by the UN.  Until 10 years ago, Sierra Leone was embroiled in one of the bloodiest civil wars ever in the world. The war, which started in 1991 led to massive loss of lives with over 50, 000 people killed and another thousands  more  maimed by injuries and forced amputations by the rebels. The 11-year war also significantly levelled the country’s infrastructure and set the clock back on socio-economic and political progress. Yet only 10 years after the war was officially declared over, Sierra Leone is now a troop-contributing country to UN Peackeeping operations. According to the UN, “Sierra Leone currently contributes 401 uniformed personnel to UN Peacekeeping operations, most of whom serve in Darfur, Sudan, Haiti, Lebanon, South Sudan and Timor-Leste. ” The country has also deployed police in Somalia .

The Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Hervé Ladsous, in a statement , said that the medals were well-deserved and he lauded the recipients for helping the UN  make the world a safer place.

The Minister Plenipotentiary conveyed to  Messrs Somasa and Charley a message of congratulations from  Permanent Representative to the Sierra Leone Mission Ambassador Shekou M. Touray’ . The two men expressed their thanks and appreciation to the Sierra Leone Mission for sending representatives to their honoring program. Mr. Kabs-Kanu told both men that they had made the nation very proud and through their achievement  which is based on meritious service they had helped to rebrand Sierra Leone.

HERE IS A PICTORIAL DISPLAY OF THE CEREMONY  :

PHOTO SHOWS MR. SOMASA ‘S MEDAL BEING PINNED ON HIM WHILE MR. CHARLEY AWAITS HIS TURN

THE TWO OFFICERS POSE WITH OTHER HONOURED  UN PEACEKEEPING PERSONNEL AFTER THE PINNING CEREMONY : SECOND FROM LEFT IN THE FRONT ROW IS CHRIS CHARLEY WHILE OLIVER SOMASA  IS STANDING FIRST FROM LEFT

THE TWO HONORED SIERRA LEONEAN POLICE OFFICERS , SOMASA ( FIRST FROM LEFT ) AND CHARLEY ( FIRST FROM RIGHT ) POSE WITH MR. ATA YOVUNI, ONE OF THE DIRECTORS OF THE DPKO POLICE DIVISION

AT THE UN HEADQUARTERS TO SEE MR.SOMASA RECEIVE HIS MEDAL WERE HIS WIFE AND TWO DAUGHTERS SEEN HERE WITH THE TWO OFFICERS. MRS. SOMASA SAID SHE WAS VERY PROUD OF HER HUSBAND.

MILITARY ADVISER COL. RON HARLESTON ( SECOND FROM RIGHT ) SHARES THE JUBILANT MOMENT WITH THE TWO OFFICERS AND MRS. SOMASA

MR. SOMASA AND HIS WIFE

CHRIS CHARLAY, ONE OF THE CRACK POLICE OFFICERS OF HIS TIME

MINISTER KABS KANU POSES WITH THE TWO JUBILANT OFFICERS AND MRS. SOMASA

© 2012, COCORIOKO. All rights reserved. – Discuss this and other related articles on the Salone Forum

By the Department of Information and Public Affairs -Sierra Leone Mission to the UN :

One hundred and twelve fallen United Nations Peacekeepers, including four Sierra Leoneans, were honoured posthumously yesterday  in two moving but auspicious ceremonies held at the UN Headquarters in New York as part of the observance of  the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers .

Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon honoring the 112 peacekeepers at the wreath-laying ceremony

In the first ceremony attended by families, diplomats  and top brass of the UN Peacekeeping Force  at the precints of the General Assembly ,  a wreath was laid on behalf of the 112 fallen heroes by the UN Secretary General, H.E. Ban Ki- Moon. This was followed two hours later by another program at the Dag Hammerskjeold  Amphitheatre where Secretary General Ki-Moon awarded  the Dag Hammarskjeold medals of honour posthumously to the victims .

According to a public release by the UN Peacekeeping Integrated Office  in Sierra Leone ( UNIPSIL ),  ”The 4 Sierra Leoneans are among some 112 peacekeepers (military, police and civilian) who died last year “as a result of hostile acts, accidents and disease.”. They included two soldiers and two police  who died while serving the UN-AU Mission in Darfur, Sudan. Their names are : Gibril Sheku Mansaray, who died on 5 August 2011; and Lance Corporal Ahmed THOMAS, who died on 6 November 2011; Police Inspector Isatu Agnes BANGURA, who died on 5 April 2011; and Police Officer Patrick JABBAH, who died on 21 February 2011.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, at the  wreath -laying program ,  solemnly observed : “Today we honour the 112 fallen heroes who died while serving under the United Nations flag in 2011…They may be soldiers, police or national staff. But there are no differences among them in terms of the risks they faced, the contributions they made, and the pride they took in their service to the United Nations..The difference between an ordinary person and a hero is that the hero voluntarily braves danger to save others.”

SEC. GEN. BAN KI-MOON  GIVES HIS ADDRESS BEFORE AWARDING THE MEDALS

THE MEDAL AWARDS PROGRAM IS ON : THE MEDALS ARE IN BLUE BOXES

MILITARY ADVISER RON HARLESTON AND MINISTER PLENIPOTENTIARY KABS-KANU  SHAKING HANDS WITH THE  UN SECRETARY GENERAL  AFTER THE PRESENTATION OF THE MEDALS FOR THE 4 SIERRA LEONE PEACEKEEPERS

SIERRA LEONE’S MILITARY ADVISER  COL. RON HARLESTON WITH THE SPANISH CONTIGENT

THE SIERRA LEONE MILITARY ADVISER AND MINISTER PLEN. POSE WITH NIGERIA’S  MILITARY ADVISER

The Secretary General noted further : “Today we also thank the 120,000 United Nations peacekeepers who are out there — right now — getting aid to people in crisis, reuniting families torn by war and helping develop sustainable rule of law and security sector institutions. I have seen the dedication of peacekeepers in missions and in training centres. I am always impressed by the women and men who do their best to serve the cause of peace. ” Continuing , he said :  “Our goal in peacekeeping is to bring lasting stability to troubled areas so that “Blue Helmets” are no longer needed. We would like to put ourselves out of business. But until that day comes, we stand ready to help, carrying on the work of those we remember today.”

The medal awards ceremony was jampacked by  military and police officers from the affected countries , dressed  in full ceremonial  attire. Many  of them were peacekeepers assigned at the UN Headquarters  while others were military advisers attached to their respective Permanent Missions in New York.

Before he handed out the medals to Ambassadors or miliray advisers representing their respective Missions, Mr. Ki-Moon stated : “Sadly, this marks the fourth year in a row that more than 100 peacekeepers lost their lives in the line of duty.  I offer my heartfelt condolences to their families, friends and countries.  You in this room represent the Governments that contribute these forces — and bear the losses.  I am deeply grateful to you for engaging in this global partnership.  I share your sorrow for these colleagues and friends — and your determination to carry on their work for peace. Today we remember 112 lives cut short.  They remind us of the risks of peacekeeping.  But today I also want to remember the rewards ” .

Sierra Leone was represented at the two ceremonies by the Minister Plenipotentiary , Leeroy Wilfred Kabs-Kanu and the military adviser , Col. Ronnie Harleston. The Minister represented Permanent representative Ambassador Shekou Touray, who was slated to receive  the medals on behalf of Sierra Leone but   was away on official duties.

© 2012, COCORIOKO. All rights reserved. – Discuss this and other related articles on the Salone Forum

By Sanpha Sesay, Texas Chief :

In their determination to reach a tangible objective, the All People’s Congress of North American (APC/NA) branch in collaboration with the Texas Houston Chapter, has on Saturday May 26, concluded an incredible fundraising drive to support the 2012 general election of President Ernest Bai Koroma. The event attracted diplomats, politicians and non-politicians, business people, some members of the opposition parties and a few other nationalities including Americans.

2. A combination of APC/NA and Texas chapter members 

Most fascinatingly in that fundraising drive was the presence of a long time serving U.S Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Ambassador Cynthia Perry and the newly appointed Honorary Consul, Honorable Reginald W. Spiller who is based in Houston, Texas. The sudden appearance of Mrs. Florence Turay, a sister of the president Ernest Bai Koroma was an added booster to the occasion.

Sierra Leoneans were overwhelmed by the presence of Cynthia Perry. They danced around the Ambassador, sang and chanted with songs depicting Sierra Leone’s cultural style to honor the former ambassador.

 Honorable Al Aziz Turay and Mr. Alex Bangs of Houston

The branch Chairman, Mr. Al-Aziz Turay said in his remarks that the time is now to discuss the challenges facing the country and demonstrated to the audience about how Sierra Leone is recovering under President Ernest Bai Koroma. The chairman paid homage to the president, Ernest Bai Koroma, for devoting to the United Nations principle that enshrines the fundamental rights and freedoms of the people in Sierra Leone in the aftermath of the war. He noted that Ernest Bai Koroma is the only president that has never imprisoned any journalist. Sierra Leoneans are now enjoying free healthcare for women lactate children, a venture that he noted would be a remarkable legacy for the president.

Chairman Al Aziz ascertained to the audience that the November elections would be the most peaceful and transparent one wherein the oppositions would be free to move about everywhere campaigning for victory as well. He urged organizations and individuals to witness the elections of November as observers. In pour commitment raise funds the elections, we as APC/NA will continue to do so in state by state till November 17 when ballot boxes are set to make our choice. He assured donors that their money will be utilized for the reasons it was intended.

In his remarks, the Houston chapter president, Mr. Alex Bangs advised Sierra Leoneans to acknowledge the fact that we are in the Diaspora as Sierra Leoneans and not as our tribal tags. Whether you are a Mende, Termne, Limba, Loko, Krio, Mandingo to name but a few, you have to realize that you entered this country with one passport – Passport of Sierra Leone, he added. Mr. Alex Bangs is the first president of the Houston chapter since it was inaugurated by the APC/NA last year.

Cynthia Perry enthusiaticlly macthing to the high table

The executive of the APC/NA including the president of the Washington chapter, Mrs. Yabome Thaslim Sesay came in full force to accelerate the intended objective of the branch. The Dallas chapter, which is proud to be the parent body of the Houston chapter, also came in a large contingent.

The honorary consul speech and details of the event will be published in a special edition within the week.

Stay tune

© 2012, COCORIOKO. All rights reserved. – Discuss this and other related articles on the Salone Forum

By Jacob Sax Conteh, Cororioko Editor-in-Chief :

Alusine Kamara is one of the prominent leaders in Sierra Leonean Muslim circles here in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.  The tall stately looking man has presided over several funerals, weddings and other occasions.  He is a well respected man by many and his simple charm and charisma has earned him that respect.  It was therefore with much shock that many found out last week that Kamara has been arrested by Fairfax, Virginia police.  What is more shocking is the indictment that followed the arrest.

According to reports, Mr. Kamara was arrested in Alexandria, Virginia after a scuffle with two women who accused him of taking thousands of dollars from them with a promise to help them with immigration papers.  A search in his car reportedly found enough evidence to back up the women’s claims.  He was charged with six felony counts of obtaining money by false pretenses, two counts of forgery, and identity theft. He was transported to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center.

Unlike other parts of the world where an arrest means a conviction, in the United States, a person is presumed innocent until a court of law proves them guilty.  That is why Fairfax County police is reaching out to the Sierra Leonean community to find out if there are other women who have been approached by Mr. Kamara.  According to a phone conversation with Lucy Caldwell of Fairfax Police, right now Fairfax Police are concentrating on getting the facts of this case not on the immigration status of Sierra Leoneans. Anyone with additional information to provide, or who feels that they may have been victimized, is asked to contact Crime Solvers by phone at 1-866-411-TIPS/8477, e-mail at www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org or text “TIP187” plus your message to CRIMES/274637 or call Fairfax County Police at 703-691-2131.

What makes this arrest disturbing is that Alusine Kamara has been a public figure for the past few years.  He is one of the prayer leaders at the Ebileh Mosque in Hyattsville, Maryland, a very popular mosque for many Sierra Leoneans in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.  He has led prayers in many funerals and weddings.  A few months ago, a group of women put out a flier with Mr. Kamara’s picture, warning the public of alleged criminal activities Mr. Kamara had committed.  However, according to several reports, his friends and supporters removed those posters and accused one of the women leading the campaign of leading the campaign because Mr. Kamara failed to marry her.

Once again, I want to reiterate to the Sierra Leonean community in the Diaspora that just because someone is from Sierra Leone, it does not mean they will treat us fairly and honestly.  There are numerous reports of Sierra Leonean scammers who have taken thousands of dollars from fellow Sierra Leoneans. I got an email from one woman a few days ago who alleged that Mr. Kamara took $18,000 from him – $10,000 in cash and $8,000 in a check.  This is a staggering amount of money to pay for anything in this world!  In this information age, it is incumbent on us to do background checks on individuals before we transact any business with them.

As for Mr. Alusine Kamara, we have to allow the law to take its course.  If his accusers fail to come up with enough evidence, he might walk out of jail as a free man and resume his public prayers.  However, as Sierra Leoneans, we should remember that American law is not as lax as some of us presume it to be.  Here, it may take years for police to make an arrest in a case as they need enough evidence.  We have to be weary of people who want to give us quick fixes to our problems, be they pastors, imams, realtors or insurance agents. 

.AOLWebSuite .AOLPicturesFullSizeLink { height: 1px; width: 1px; overflow: hidden; } .AOLWebSuite a {color:blue; text-decoration: underline; cursor: pointer} .AOLWebSuite a.hsSig {cursor: default}

© 2012, COCORIOKO. All rights reserved. – Discuss this and other related articles on the Salone Forum

By Sorie Sudan Sesay :

Monday 4th June has been declared a national holiday in Britain as part of the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations – but a charity organisation is using that period to send a positive signal about Sierra Leone to the rest of the world.

Melqosh_Founder_&_CEO_Faith.

Melqosh, a charity school for disabled and post-war affected girls and women in Sierra Leone is assembling some of the country’s most acclaimed international artists including musicians to what has been tagged as ‘a celebration of peace concert,’ in honour of the country’s 10th anniversary of peace scheduled to take place at the prestigious De Place venue on Crimscott Street, South East London.

Among the stars expected to grace the occasion are: Alim Kamara, John Gbla, Collins Pratt, to name but a few and will be hosted by TV Presenter Praise Sam Jolly Asemota.

Momentum is gradually building on a fast speed and an advertisement put on Britain’s renowned television channel 329 on Sky declares: “there is a season and a time for every purpose under the Heavens – a time of peace and a time of war; the Gems of Sierra Leone and friends of Sierra Leone under one roof, one stage, one mind and a family day out for all.”

The peace concert is expected to be one of the biggest and most successful Sierra Leonean social gatherings in the United Kingdom.

Melqosh’s founder and Chief Executive Officer Faith Okrafo-Smart, also shares this optimism and called on Sierra Leoneans as well as Africans to give a boost to the peace concert.

“We want to improve the lives of our sisters and daughters in Sierra Leone and we can only do that with your support when you come and support us in this patriotic landmark peace concert,” Faith said adding that proceeds from the event will go towards establishing an academy for amputees, physically challenged females and their dependants in Sierra Leone.

Among the high profiled dignitaries expected to grace the event are Sierra Leone’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom His Excellency, Mr. Edward Turay and his deputy Tamba Mansa Ngegba and other dignitaries.
Melqosh was founded by Faith Okrafo-Smart whose vision remains to help women with emotional and physical ailments.

The beneficiaries of this project are girls and women who had their limbs forcibly and wickedly amputated by the rebels during the war in Sierra Leone. The others are those who became disabled due to birth defects, illnesses or accidents. These girls and women are rejects of society; no future, no dreams or opportunities; just barely living under the hospices of family or relatives.
In Sierra Leone, the able-bodied women find it difficult to earn a living hence the high rate of prostitution. If life for the able-bodied women is so bleak, imagine what it is for physically challenged women.
According to Faith, Melqosh Mission’s first school will be established in Magburaka, Northern Province of Sierra Leone.

The aim is to de-centralise opportunities and access to services (as most of the facilities are in the capital Freetown) – thereby reducing the social exclusion that the provincials experience because of their locality.

© 2012, COCORIOKO. All rights reserved. – Discuss this and other related articles on the Salone Forum

By Pasco Temple :

More than fifty African Ambassadors including Sierra Leone’s His Excellency Bockari Kortu Stevens and other senior diplomats accredited to the United States of America converged at the prestigious “JW Marriott’s luxury hotel, near Washington DC -down town on Pennsylvania Avenue, to celebrate “Africa Day” ( 49th year of the founding of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) ).

Ambassador_Bockari_Stevens_in_African_dress,__very_close_to_his_Country_(Sierra_Leone)_Green-White_-Blue_flag.

The annual event which was witnessed by Deputy United Nations Secretary General Asha Rose Migiro, representatives of United States Foreign Office, local and international dignitaries, was formally opened by a special guest, Kenya’s Vice President His Excellency Kalonzo Stephen Musyoka who described May 25 as a Special day.

_Rgt_Financial_Attache_Paul.M._Kamara,

Deputy_Chief_of_Mission_Ambassador_I.S._Conteh,Betty_Foray__Head_of_Chancery_Sheku_Mesali_and_other_members_

_@_one_of_Sierra_Leone’s_

The fifty four African Countries have their different National flags mounted by their citizens(color Guards), strictly working close to their respective accredited ambassadors(Honor Guard), as they march- passed one hundred feet to the ballroom, before being ushered to a reserved table.

The Special guest, Kenya’s Vice President Kalonzo Stephen Musyoka described himself as a special African” because he is an east African wearing the traditional dress of a West African- amidst the largest number of African Ambassadors including that of the newest member (South-Sudan) and other senior diplomats from within and outside the African continent, that are accredited to the United States of America.

“It shows the oneness and agreement that Africa represents, and the frontier that Africa has become.” Said, Vice President Kalonzo Stephen Musyoka. Adding, Africa is destined to address the needs of the world. “Collectively, Africa produces about one third of the world’s Mineral Resources including oil, Diamonds, Gold, Iron ore, Cobalt, Copper, Natural gas etc.,”

According to him, Ghana, Nigeria, Egypt, Sudan, South Sudan, produces oil and Natural Gas. In Uganda, Sierra Leone and my own country Kenya, there are recent discovery of oil.

He therefore chided the continent to begin planning to prevent the transformation of God’s blessings into a curse.

According to Chief Guest, Deputy United Nations Secretary General Asha Rose Migiro “African economies have shown remarkable growth since the beginning of this millennium”. She said the era of stagnation is over, because recent economic growth in Africa has outpaced performance in much of the rest of the world.

“Even during the global financial crisis, Africa’s economies have still managed positive growth — 2 per cent in 2009, even as the world economy shrank by the same amount or more. “In 2010, African economies grew by more than 4 per cent.” Quoting the latest United Nations forecast, the deputy United Nations secretary General said the pace of African growth is at similar rate for this year, and she expressed optimism for it to rise again in 2013.”

On the tasting menu were a host of mouthwatering delicacies generally unavailable. The atmosphere was charming; with mix royalties that made guests feel at home, because the wait staff were very informative of the food selections and were eager to assist with answers to any question.

On arrival, Ambassadors were specially treated by the dean of the diplomatic corps Djibouti’s Ambassador His Excellency Robie Olhaye before descending to the lobby on the first floor.

Live performances by two groups of artists from Botswana and Republic of Guinea formed the highlight of the Program.

© 2012, COCORIOKO. All rights reserved. – Discuss this and other related articles on the Salone Forum