The News Review:

- Nigeria: Access Bank Commences Operations in Sierra Leone
- Sierra Leone: Greater Public Awareness of Rights Report Aim of UN…
- Petrol Price Might Shoot Up in Sierra Leone
- Kallon signs for Saudi’s Al Hilal

Nigeria: Access Bank Commences Operations in Sierra Leone
AllAfrica.com – Nov 19, 2007
This fact is given credence by the International Finance Corporation's award and recognition of Access Bank for innovation in Trade Structures, ahead of over 170 member participating banks under its Global Trade Finance Programme (GTFP). The bank ranks amongst Africa's fastest growing banks; consistently achieving a triple digit growth rate in the past five years. Following its just concluded successful public offer in Nigeria, Access Bank is poised to have a shareholders fund in excess of USD 1 billion placing it amongst the five most capitalised banks in Nigeria. 2), the presence of Access Bank in Sierra Leone will no doubt redefine the way banking is done in that country. Access Bank is the 8th largest bank in Nigeria by asset and was recently voted the "Most Innovative Bank in Africa" at the African Banker Awards in Washington DC, United States of America on October 18, 2007 by the African Banker Magazine. Relevant Links West AfricaBanking and InsuranceEconomy, Business and FinanceNigeriaSierra Leone Similarly, its website was recently rated the overall winner of the 2007 edition of the annual Web Jurist website rating conducted by Philips Consulting, a reputable Pan African consulting firm.

Sierra Leone: Greater Public Awareness of Rights Report Aim of UN…
AllAfrica.com – Nov 19, 2007
In 2004, the seven-member Commission made a number of recommendations to deal with past abuses and violations and foster reconciliation as the West African nation seeks to consolidate its hard-won peace. GA_googleFillSlot(“AllAfrica_Story_Inset”); They included the payment of reparations by the Government to amputees and other wounded victims, those who were sexually violated, and the widows and children who suffered deprivation, displacement, or worse between 1991 and 2002. In determining payment, the panel recommended meeting victims' needs in "health, housing, pensions, education, skills training and micro-credit, community reparations and symbolic reparations. "The meeting that began today in the capital aims to review the status of the recommendations, increase greater public awareness about them and facilitate their implementation, according to the UN Integrated Office in Sierra Leone (UNIOSIL), which organized the event together with the national Human Rights Commission and a number of civil society groups.

Petrol Price Might Shoot Up in Sierra Leone
Awareness Times – Nov 19, 2007
Additionally, bad weather hitting North Sea oil rigs have also caused a reduction in production leading to further increase in prices. Oil prices have now risen by a staggering 60% in just this year alone and the BBC reports that analysts are saying that pricing of and eventual $100-a-barrel oil is inevitable. “We’re going to get $100 before too long,” a Barclays Capital analyst told the BBC whilst another analyst stated that although the $98. 62 per barrel record figure had come down a little, the price of crude oil will shoot up again globally because, “The factors that have been driving the recent trend are still in place.

Kallon signs for Saudi’s Al Hilal
BBC News – Nov 19, 2007
A one-and-a-half-year deal worth US$10m will be completed with the club once the 28-year-old striker has passed a medical examination. It had been thought the former Monaco striker favoured a move to the English Premier League after he bought out the remaining seven months of his contract with the French club. But Kallon, who had a previous spell in Saudi Arabia with Al Ittihad, says this move to the 12th club of his career is the best for his future. “I have signed for Al Hilal and I hope to do well during my time there,” Kallon said…
One such project is the Sierra Leone national side and the payment of their players, a bill that Kallon has revealed he has picked up for the last two matches. “This is my country and whatever I achieve in my career I owe to my homeland. “I paid around US$60,000 to my team mates as it is important for them to be focussed in their play. A move that seemingly paid dividends, with the Leone Stars sealing qualification for the 2010 World Cup draw with a goalless away draw 0-0 with Guinea Bissau. Kallon had previously spoken about his dream of playing in the English Premier League but it seems the Leone Star has new goals in mind.