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New bank notes soon.

24 Mar 2010

In an effort to protect the national currency from being counterfeited by criminals, Members of Parliament were yesterday schooled on the new resized currency notes with more security marks that cannot be easily counterfeited by criminals.

Governor of the Bank of Sierra Leone, Sheku Sambadeen Sesay informed Members of Parliament that the resizing of the new notes is to avoid counterfeiting by criminals disclosing that the new notes of Le1,000, Le2,000, Le5,000 and Le10,000 denominations would contain very strong features that would make it very difficult to forge.

Presenting the specimens of the new notes with strong features, Director of Banking in the Bank of Sierra Leone, Madam Kadie Saccoh, intimated MPs that the new notes contain features that cannot be identified and distinguished by the blind and disclosed sensitization programs outlined to educate the public about the new notes starting with major stakeholders that include commercial banks and civil society organizations before the new notes are launched and circulated. She also revealed that after series of public sensitization campaigns, the president would officially launch the new notes on a proposed date in June this year.

Majority Leader of Parliament, Hon. Sheku B.B. Dumbuya, on behalf of his colleagues, thanked the Governor, management and staff of the Central Bank of Sierra Leone for their hard work assuring that parliament would do all within its power to ensure that the people take good care of the new notes.
Members of Parliament however expressed concern over the would be use or destruction of the old notes to which Madam Kadie Saccoh assured that when the new resized notes are launched and circulated to the public, all old notes, that would be withdrawn from circulation, would be destroyed by the Central Bank.


Posted by John Mansaray
Main News Headlines
1. Parliament credits 3
23 Aug 2010
Members of Parliament on Thursday 19th August 2010 unanimously approved John Sahr Francis Yambasu as the new Ambassador to Russia replacing Dr. Salieu Turay while Oumar Farouk Sesay was approved as Chairman of the National Youth Commission (NYC) and Rev. Michael Samura, member of the Board of Trustees of the same Commission representing the Western Region.
2. Agriculture & Fisheries Ministries excelling.
23 Aug 2010
The Ministers of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security, Dr. Joseph Sam Sesay and Fisheries and Marine Resources, Joseph Koroma, have disclosed the thriving status of their Ministries in terms of foreign donor support in recent times.
3. Frank Talk: The beauty in NATCOM’S sim card registration.
23 Aug 2010
Mobile subscribers in Sierra Leone were given up to July 30 this year to register their SIM cards with their respective mobile service providers. The directive also applied to those taking up mobile phone services for the very first time as well as those buying more SIM cards.
4. Reporting on HIV/AIDS in Africa.
23 Aug 2010
UNAIDS and the World Health Organization estimate that by the end of the year 2001 nearly 40 million adults and children were living with HIV/AIDS Worldwide and that 28.1 million of those people were living in Africa.
5. SRFC frowns at shark killers.
23 Aug 2010
As the indiscriminate hunting and killing of endangered Aquatic mammals continue unabated, a consultant from the Sub Regional Fisheries Commission (SRFC) in Dakar, Senegal, Dr. Mika Diop has expressed concern over what he referred to as the irrational and unsustainable exploitation of Sharks by defaulters in most parts of the world, especially Asia.
6. New Forestry &Wildlife Conservation Policies
23 Aug 2010
Creating an Enabling Policy Environment in Sierra Leone (CEPESL) and PAGE both USAID supported projects in Sierra Leone has handed over Forestry Policy and Wildlife Conservation Policy to the Government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Food Security MAFFS.
7. As newsletter launched…SLIEPA ends regional market & supply chain workshop.
23 Aug 2010
The Sierra Leone Investment and Export Promotion Agency (SLIEPA) on Friday 20th August 2010 ended a two-day Regional Market and Supply Chain Survey Validation Workshop at the Njala Venue, Lumley Beach, Freetown.
8. Commentary: Marine Ministry nets billions of Leones.
23 Aug 2010
At past weekend regular weekly press briefing held at the Ministry of Information and Communication, the Honourable Joe Koroma, Minister of Marine Resources said that his Ministry has made good strides in the area of raising revenue for Sierra Leoneans out of their God given natural resources.
9. Last word: Excessive selfishness is why god never created any invincible man.
23 Aug 2010
A short notice that appeared on the bulletin board of the Madina District Council succeeded in setting in motion old passions and emotions regarding the desire to prove supremacy on the battle field of boxing dominated by two men who were always at odds in methods and mettle.
10. Acha out, Munu in… and moigbeh replaces Somasa as dig.
23 Aug 2010
After seven to eight glorious years as Inspector General of the Sierra Leone Police Force, Brima Acha Kamara will finally take his exit when Parliament would have approved Assistant Inspector General (AIG) In Charge of Crime Services, Francis Alieu Munu as the new Inspector General of the Sierra Leone Police.
11. ENCISS donates 6 motorbikes to MEYS
17 Aug 2010
Enhancing the Interaction and Interface between Civil Society and the State to Improve Poor People’s Lives (ENCISS), with support from the British Department for International Development (DFID) on Friday 13th August 2010 donated six (6) Yamaha motorbikes worth sixty-three million Leones (63 million Leones) to the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MYES) to support the strengthening of youth programs in the Ministry.
12. Navy seizes vessel
17 Aug 2010
A joint operation mounted by the Africa Maritime Law Enforcement Programme (AMLEP), in partnership with the Joint Maritime Committee (JMC), Maritime Wing, Sierra Leone Police, Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR) and Transnational Crime Centre located at NJOC Murray Town, has resulted to the seizure of a boat named ‘Big Mama’ alleged to be involved in smuggling while on its way from Gbangbatoke to Conakry.
13. 950 ‘Okadas’ arrested
17 Aug 2010
Head of Western Area Traffic Management (WATM), Inspector Flavius Saidu Sesay, disclosed at a press conference held at police headquarters past Tuesday that his personnel have impounded over 950 motorbikes and also made several arrests within the Central Business District of Freetown.
14. You can discover the hidden treasure.
17 Aug 2010
To observe the Holy Month of Ramadan celebrated by Muslims worldwide, Africell over the weekend held the third, fourth and fifth editions of its Ramadan promotion live at the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) television and radio and also aired over all the major radio stations in the country.
15. Crab Town, Beach Road communities call for support.
17 Aug 2010
Crab Town and Beach Road communities, Lumley, with a population of about 3000 inhabitants past Friday launched a project for the construction of the Mashid Rahmann Mosque at which ceremony the people appealed for more developmental projects in the two communities like the provision of a school, health and community centers.
16. HIV/ AIDS: Voluntary confidential counseling and testing.
17 Aug 2010
Aids are a disease condition caused by a germ called HIV. It is the partial or complete breakdown of the human body defence system against diseases. AIDS is the last state HIV infection.
17. Frank talk: Meet the Golden Jubilee Logo winner
17 Aug 2010
The marketing and communications outfit, SL-Mcaan was recently declared winner of Sierra Leone’s 50 th Anniversary Logo Competition. In this exclusive interview with the New Citizen, the company’s Managing Director, Igrom Arekong throws more light on the new logo – a symbol that is set to represent the new face of a nation with fifty years of self rule. Please read on.
18. Commentary: Politics of empowerment
17 Aug 2010
From the beginning of time, every good leader knows that he who empowers others empowers himself because ultimately every time a leader empowers his people, he gets twice empowered.
The same is true of every good parent, teacher or elder.
19. The last word: The trappings Of Power Should Not Divert Your Attention From Your Humble Beginnings
17 Aug 2010
The crowd sat down in a very solemn manner, awaiting the arrival of Provincial Commissioner Ian Cook. The British Union Jack was fluttering lazily as if the white and crimson piece of cloth was aware of the inevitable fact that very soon it would be lowered for good, marking a new political dawn of Independence for Sierra Leone.
20. Ambassador Kargbo spreads Agenda for Change message to Sierra Leoneans in France
5 Aug 2010
Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium and the EU who is also accredited to France, Holland, Luxembourg and the Vatican in Italy, Dr. Christian Sheka Kargbo has admonished Sierra Leoneans in France not to be carried away by the niceties they are presently enjoying in the West and forget their roots.
21. 50th Independence Anniversary Celebrations
28 Jul 2010
In 2011, Sierra Leone will be celebrating its 50th Independence Anniversary. At the national level, His Excellency the President, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma has appointed a national committee to organize year-long celebrations in 2011 to mark our Golden Jubilee with the theme “ Sierra Leone 50 years forward - celebrating a new Sierra Leone”.
22. Ghanaian envoy eulogizes Salone.
28 Jul 2010
The President of the Economic Community of West Africans States (ECOWAS), Commissioner James Victor Gbeho has acknowledged Sierra Leone’s steady growth saying it contributes meaningfully towards the successful realization of the objectives of regional integration.
23. 30 Benefit from human rights workshop
28 Jul 2010
Thirty participants drawn from seven communities in the Western Mountain Rural District have benefited from a two-day interactive training workshop organized by 50/50 Group and sponsored by ENCISS.
24. Tourist board capacitates 40.
28 Jul 2010
To improve the quality of service in hotels and guest houses, the National Tourist Board, under the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, in collaboration with the Office of National Security, yesterday commenced a four-week training programme for front office staff at the Milton Margai College of Education and Technology, Brookfields campus.
25. Zain ‘Fambul tariff’ a timely boost for the Sierra Leonean economy.
28 Jul 2010
Telecommunications has been described as the infrastructure of infrastructures and the life wire of an emerging economy. It is for this reason that continued efforts are being made by the Zain management to increase the reach of telecommunications services (both voice &data) to Sierra Leoneans throughout the national territory.
26. Is John Karefa-Smart very ill?
28 Jul 2010
According to reports reaching the New Citizen Newspaper, veteran Sierra Leonean politician, Dr. John Karefa Smart, is reported seriously ill and bedridden in a Kent hospital in Connecticut, United States of America. Dr. John Karefa-Smart was seen reclining in his hospital bed when his Excellency Ambassador Shekou Momodu Turay of United Nations, visited him past Wednesday.
27. At last SNA workers to be paid.
28 Jul 2010
After much neglect by the former administration, employees of the defunct Sierra National Airlines (SNA) will at last breath a sigh of relief as the government of President Ernest Bai Koroma, through the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, has approved the payment of salaries and other arrears to ex-workers of the company.
28. Agric. Ministry bags $8M
28 Jul 2010
Addressing a news conference at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security (MAFFS) yesterday, Deputy Minister 1 (MAFFS) Hon. Alie Badara Mansaray disclosed that his Ministry has bagged the sum of $ 8 million from the World Bank for the construction of feeder and trunk roads in Kailahun and Kono Districts.
29. Statement By The Acting Minister Of Foreign Affairs And International Cooperation, Hon. Alhaji Ibrahim Ben Kargbo On The Occasion Of The 163rd Independence Anniversary Of The Republic Of Liberia
28 Jul 2010
"It is with great pleasure that I represent the Government and People of Sierra Leone in this friendly gathering this evening on this auspicious occasion marking yet another Independence anniversary of the Sister Republic of Liberia. The Government and People of Sierra Leone are indeed proud to salute the Liberian people and friends of Liberia the world over in celebrating this momentous event."
30. Commentary: Thanks for paying sna workers, but how about the press?
28 Jul 2010
The government of President Ernest Bai Koroma has once more set a high standard accountability and transparency in what is known in accounting as the concept of prudence. The concept of prudence means to quickly collect all money owed you as well as paying all monies you owe others, to promote economic activities, stability and liquidity.


News in brief.
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Drivers & Bike Riders form union

A one-day consultative and planning meeting between the Sierra Leone Drivers Union and Bike Riders/Owners Association in Lungi has ended at the Masoila Community Centre, Lungi. The objective of the meeting was to resolve differences between the two factions as the latter creates employment for youths in the community. Sierra Leone Drivers Union Chairman, Foday Rashid Kamara, enlightened that the Bike Riders Association is an arm of the Drivers Union and that after consultations between the two parties, it was unanimously agreed that a management committee be setup to administer the affairs of both unions until elections are held and expressed appreciation to the Drivers Union executive for bringing the two Unions together. Secretary of the Drivers Association, Lungi Branch, Osman S. Kamara cautioned his colleagues to be very careful when electing officials to key positions as only members with integrity should be voted into office.