Taylor Never Gave His Rebels Orders to Kill, Said Witness3/10/2010 7:00:36 AM +00:00
A witness defending Charles Taylor today said he never heard of the former Liberian president giving orders to his own rebel forces to kill, rape, loot or burn people's houses, as alleged by prosecutors.

Forum Condemns Violence Against Young Girls3/9/2010 11:17:58 AM +00:00
Following an alarming spate of rapes in Sierra Leone in the first 3 months of 2010, a Civil Society Organizations (CSO)-UNDP forum has called for a vigorous response to stop human rights violations and criminal acts against young girls.

Mayor Outlines Plans for Kenema City3/8/2010 3:21:53 PM +00:00
Mayor of the Kenema City Council Friday disclosed to Concord Times in Kenema some of the major developmental plans that council is poised to undertake in a bid to give the township a new facelift.

SCHDO Donates Items to Orphans and Polio3/8/2010 3:21:52 PM +00:00
The Sierra Canadian Humanitarian Development Organization (SCHDO) at Wellington has donated assorted gifts and items to some orphanages and polio homes in the western area of Freetown.

Coopi Deplores Violence Against Women3/8/2010 3:21:51 PM +00:00
Country representative of Cooperazione Internazionale (COOPI) has said that violations against women and children in Kono and the Western Area need urgent attention by the relevant stakeholders to help combat the menace.

Swasal Elects New Executive3/8/2010 3:09:38 PM +00:00
The Sports Writers Association of Sierra Leone, SWASAL Saturday elected a new executive that will run the affairs of the association in the next two years.

Coaches Complete 'C License' Course3/8/2010 3:09:37 PM +00:00
The week-long introductory 'C License' coaching course which commenced last Monday successfully ended over the weekend at the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) secretariat, Kingtom.

Imams Pray for National Unity3/8/2010 3:09:36 PM +00:00
Muslim religious leaders from all over Sierra Leone converged in the eastern district town of Kono Thursday to offer special national prayers for President Ernest Bai Koroma and his cabinet ministers and for the prevalence of unity, peace and tranquility among Sierra Leoneans.

Kono Women Denounce Rape3/8/2010 3:09:34 PM +00:00
Over seven hundred women and school girls in the eastern district town of Kono Thursday took to the streets to denounce what they considered as an increase in sexual and gender based violence in the district.

'Barrel' Wins Suspension Appeal3/8/2010 10:42:42 AM +00:00
Sierra Leone and FC Groningen defender, Gibril Sankoh aka 'Barrel' has seen his three-match ban reduced to two matches by the disciplinary committee of the Royal Netherlands Football Association.

SLP Takes On Dallarosa, Soccer Angels Faces Amazons3/8/2010 10:42:41 AM +00:00
The Western Area Football Association (WAFA's) First Division and Female League championships kick-off today at the National Stadium in Freetown with defending champions, Sierra Leone Police (SLP) taking on newcomers, Dallarosa FC.

What More Evidence Does the President Want?3/8/2010 10:42:40 AM +00:00
Peckham, south-east of London is a densely populated immigrant black community where you'll find the cream-de-la-cream of the Sierra Leonean society. Issues relating to Sierra Leone and Africa in general are often debated in most quarters around this south-eastern community to the extent that one begins to wonder whether you are still living in Sierra Leone.

New EU Boss Assesses Development in Serabu3/8/2010 10:42:38 AM +00:00
The new Ambassador and head of the European Union Delegation in Sierra Leone on Tuesday visited the Serabu Catholic hospital in Bumpeh, Bo district, where he familiarised himself with current developments in the area.

Every Child Has Right to Birth Registration3/8/2010 10:42:37 AM +00:00
Christian Brothers, a non-governmental organisation in collaboration with Cord-Aid Sierra Leone are embarking on a nation-wide birth registration sensitization.

Koina Salone Ex-Refugees' Houses Looted in Monrovia3/8/2010 10:42:36 AM +00:00
Efforts by the governments of Sierra Leone and Liberia, the UNHCR and LRRRC towards the integration of former Sierra Leonean refugees who opted for a second home in Liberia have been dealt a serious blow by enemies of development.

ACC Engages Transparency Committee in Parliament3/8/2010 10:42:33 AM +00:00
In a bid to help in the fight against corruption in the country, the Anti-Corruption Commission, ACC yesterday discussed a draft memorandum of understanding which is to be signed between the commission and the Transparency and Accountability Committee in parliament.

Civil Society to Monitor Free Medical Service3/8/2010 10:25:49 AM +00:00
Civil society organizations in the country are set to heighten their monitoring work on the free medical service delivery which was pronounced by president Ernest Bai Koroma.

Polio Immunization Starts This Weekend3/8/2010 10:25:48 AM +00:00
A representative from the ministry of health and sanitation has disclosed that the 2010 polio immunization exercise would commence from March 6 to 9 this year.

'NPA Has No Contract With Ethiopians' - Bumbuna Project Director3/8/2010 10:25:47 AM +00:00
Tuesday's front page publication by this medium about a reported agreement between the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (EEPCo) and the National Power Authority (NPA) for the former to manage the Bumbuna hydroelectric project in the north, has drawn sharp criticisms from both the director of the Bumbuna project and the minister of energy and water resources, both describing the development as fictitious.

Ministries Bow to NPPA Order3/8/2010 10:25:44 AM +00:00
A total of 59 ministries, departments and agencies have so far presented their procurement plans for 2010 to the national public procurement authority, NPPA for proper scrutiny.

Journalists Begin Needs Assessment Training3/8/2010 10:25:42 AM +00:00
For the first time in the 38-year history of SLAJ, the association this week started a comprehensive training needs assessment of journalists in the country. The first phase of the programme kicked-off yesterday at the conference hall of SLAJ headquarters in Freetown and continues today March 3.

Over 300 Cataract Operations Done in 20093/8/2010 10:25:35 AM +00:00
Medical director at the Kissy UMC eye hospital in Freetown has disclosed to Concord Times that a total number of 300 people successfully underwent cataract operations at their centre in 2009.

Fambul Tok Goes Online3/8/2010 9:56:14 AM +00:00
Fambul Tok, a community-owned organisation, yesterday launched its website 'fambultok.org', where the group's executive director John Caulker told journalists that the organisation was a gift from Sierra Leone to the rest of the world as it has assumed international status.

MP Boosts Vulnerable Communities3/8/2010 9:56:13 AM +00:00
Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) Member of Parliament representing constituency 9 in the Kenema district has donated items worth millions of Leones to the people of Bambawo, Kordebotihun and Heigbema communities.

22 Police Officers Dismissed3/8/2010 9:56:12 AM +00:00
Head of presentation and prosecution at the Complainants, Discipline and Internal Investigation Department of the Sierra Leone Police (CDIID) has disclosed that a total of 22 personnel of the force were dismissed in 2009.

FBC Probes Admission Irregularities3/8/2010 9:56:11 AM +00:00
With the recent discovery of irregularities in the 2009 admission of students into Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone, an independent committee has been set up to investigate the indiscretions.

Diasporans Petition President's Office3/8/2010 9:56:11 AM +00:00
In what has been described as an unprecedented move, Sierra Leoneans in the diaspora have sent a petition to the office of the President calling for the appointment of US-based head of DENI-SL, Amadu Massally as the new director of the Office of Diaspora Affairs.

Job's Taunts Anger Presidential Hopeful3/8/2010 9:56:10 AM +00:00
Comments by SLPP chairman, John Oponjo Benjamin chiding the membership of some contenders for the party's flag-bearer position as illegitimate during Saturday's national delegates' conference in Bo were said to have angered a good number of party 'faithfuls', especially a retired Major in the US army now gunning for the hot seat.

Our Media Should Be People-Centred3/8/2010 9:56:09 AM +00:00
Madam Chairman and Commissioners of the Independent Media Commission, Minister of Information and Communication representing His Excellency the President, other Ministers of Government, Chief Executive Officer and other staff of Zain, which I should add is the oldest surviving mobile phone company in Sierra Leone, Members of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps, fellow journalists especially entrants for this year's awards, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, good evening.

Zain Launches World Cup Promo3/8/2010 9:56:07 AM +00:00
Sierra Leone's leading mobile phone company, Zain Saturday launched the World Cup promotion, which is geared towards taking four subscribers to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa this year.

Global gangs exploit blind spots for trafficking-UN2/24/2010 7:31:04 PM +00:00
* Nations urged to share information, improve surveillance

Soccer-Holders Egypt drawn with South Africa in Nations Cup2/20/2010 3:53:33 PM +00:00
LUBUMBASHI, Feb 20 (Reuters) - African Nations Cup holders Egypt were drawn with 2010 World Cup hosts South Africa in the same qualifying group for the next Nations Cup, to be co-hosted by Equatorial Guinea and Gabon in 2012.

UPDATE 2-Tullow says Uganda output could be double target2/19/2010 3:02:59 PM +00:00
DAKAR, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Explorer Tullow Oil said it could end up producing more than twice as much oil as expected in Uganda in the coming years if the right development plan is adopted.

INTERVIEW-Tullow says W. Africa oil prospects "world class"2/19/2010 11:58:58 AM +00:00
DAKAR, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Tullow Oil will drill seven exploration wells in a string of West African offshore oil prospects this year, the company said, describing the structures as "world class".

More U.S. charges filed against "Merchant of Death"2/17/2010 8:54:15 PM +00:00
NEW YORK, Feb 17 (Reuters) - U.S. prosecutors filed new charges against accused international arms dealer Viktor Bout and his U.S. associate on Wednesday, including money-laundering conspiracy and wire fraud.

Sierra Leone farmers turning to cannabis growing -VP2/17/2010 5:20:01 PM +00:00
FREETOWN, Feb 17 (Reuters) - Sierra Leoneans are increasingly growing cannabis instead of staple foods such as cassava and rice, a shift that is threatening food production capacity, Vice President Samuel Sumana said on Wednesday.

UPDATE 1-London Mining gets final approval for Marampa2/11/2010 7:47:43 AM +00:00
* Gets final parliamentary approval for the iron ore project

INTERVIEW-Taylor's S.Leone verdict by year's end-prosecutor2/8/2010 9:11:59 PM +00:00
* Defense cutting back on witness list, prosecutor says

Kenya, Anadarko sign oil exploration deal-paper2/6/2010 7:11:52 AM +00:00
NAIROBI, Feb 6 (Reuters) - Kenya and Anadarko Petroleum Corp have signed an oil and gas exploration agreement for five offshore blocks in the east African nation's Lamu Basin, a newspaper said on Saturday.

Sierra Leone youth need jobs for peace-World Bank1/27/2010 6:09:20 PM +00:00
FREETOWN, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Sierra Leone needs donors' help to create jobs for disarmed but unemployed youth if the west African nation is to maintain the peace achieved since the end of a decade-long war, the World Bank said on Wednesday. World Bank President Robert Zoellick praised steps towards promoting democracy and fighting corruption. But his visit coincided with the country's president accusing some officials of corruption, chasing away investors and undermining his rule.