The News Review:

- AfDB and Sierra Leone Sign US$ 15 Million Grant Agreement for …
- Sierra Leone: Koindu; Helping to Revamp Economy
- Sierra Leone: Ajina Compares Squad to Chelsea
- Sierra Leone: Nassit Defends Purchase of ‘ld’ Ferries
- Sierra Leone: City Council Admits Mistakes
- Sierra Leone: Mark of the Devil – Kono in Ruins
- Sierra Leone: FC Johansen to Face Congo Contractors

AfDB and Sierra Leone Sign US$ 15 Million Grant Agreement for …
AllAfrica.com
The goal of the EGRP is to improve economic governance through greater efficiency transparency and accountability in the use of public resources as spelt out in the country’s Second Poverty Reduction Strategy. The grant from the Fragile States Facility is designed to finance the general budget and the government’s Integrated Public Financial Management Reform Programme. It will be disbursed in two tranches in 2009 and 2010. The programme is aligned with the country’s second Poverty Reduction Strategy the Results-Based Country Strategy Paper for 2005-2009 and the forthcoming Joint Assistance Strategy with the World Bank.
Related from Fildak: Senegal calls for “New Deal” for Africa

Sierra Leone: Koindu; Helping to Revamp Economy
AllAfrica.com
The war largely accounted for the predicament that befell us in terms of being unable to economically stand on our own thus forcing us to go West to ‘beg’ donors for them to support our economy which is today largely donor-driven. GA_googleFillSlot( “AllAfrica_Story_InsetA” );ur borders our economyur official border crossing points (Customs Posts) have over the years largely helped in shaping our economic viability. Along the Guinea-Sierra Leone axis we have the Gbalamuya border post that is today contributing largely to maintaining our economy and institutions responsible for revenue generation are indeed doing their job effectively. Generally a large percent of what say an institution like NRA is generating comes from the Customs and Excise department and our border posts are rightly placed under the Customs and Excise department.

Sierra Leone: Ajina Compares Squad to Chelsea
AllAfrica.com
He said “What would they say about Diamond Stars Mighty Blackpool and Central Parade? Some teams only managed to get a point against them while we took all the points. “We did not play well against Republicans because we have lots of injuries but in the end we won and we deserve the victory” he added. The former Leone Stars midfielder stated that being the league leaders every team would want to beat them but that they are ready to take on any opponent. n the other end Republicans’ coach Hassan Turay said they lost the match due to some sloppy display. He said “Winning was in our hands but our strikers failed to convert their chances. “We out-played Lions and made the game very difficult for them but in the end we conceded a goal due to poor defending.

Sierra Leone: Nassit Defends Purchase of ‘ld’ Ferries
AllAfrica.com
GA_googleFillSlot( “AllAfrica_Story_InsetB” );Asked whether the used ferries would not be transport risk for citizens and other nationals that will be using the facilities Idriss said a delegation of experts and policy makers did an assessment mission to explore the options in the acquisition of a suitable fleet for the purpose. He said based on best practice in the purchase of machinery and equipment NASSIT decided to utilize the services of an experienced and reputable corporation in shipbuilding and trading of sea vessels to provide brokerage services in the bid to secure the vessels. “DEMEN Shipyards based in the Netherlands which is one of the largest medium-sized sea vessel building and trading corporations in Europe was selected to assist NASSIT in identifying assessing and facilitating the purchase of the vessels based on their previous experiences in Sierra Leone” he said. According to him the two vessels were purchased in this process; one passenger-only boat with a capacity of 75 passengers to be named Masimera and one car-passenger ferry with a capacity of 50 cars and 300 passengers to be referred to as Bai Bureh. Relevant LinksWest AfricaSierra LeoneTransportInfrastructureSustainable DevelopmentUrban IssuesBusinessn the state of the vessels Idriss said the Masimera which was purchased in Norway was originally built in 1988 while the Bai Bureh was purchased in Greece and originally built in 1973 but rebuilt in 1989. He said based on the examination carried out on the vessels it was determined that they could suit the country’s purpose pending specific works on the machinery. The head of Investment said the Masimera ferry arrived in Freetown in the expected condition while the Bai Bureh on arrival was discovered not to be in the state expected by NASSIT.

Sierra Leone: City Council Admits Mistakes
AllAfrica.com
Speaking during a one-day local tax sensitization workshop at the council’s basement hall Wednesday Chief Administrator Bowenson Philips said the aim of the session was to address some of the problems that tax officers encountered in collecting last year’s local tax especially as the 2009 tax season draws closer. Relevant LinksWest AfricaSierra LeoneBusinessUrban IssuesSustainable Development GA_googleFillSlot( “AllAfrica_Story_InsetA” );”The workshop is all about learning how to ensure our people buy the tax receipt without any difficulties. We are aware that many people didn’t pay their tax last year and this is why we have called on all chiefs ward committees the police and councilors to sensitize them earlier” he said adding that if all the aforementioned people are aware about the tax collection programme then it will be easy for council and its staff to get the cooperation of members of the public. Philips said the FCC intends to do more work this time around but can only succeed if the necessary funds are raised to facilitate the actualization of projects being initiated by council.

Sierra Leone: Mark of the Devil – Kono in Ruins
AllAfrica.com
With all its endowment it now stands in ruins with no hope of rising again. This is true being that history has revealed that once prominent cities like Koidu Tombodu Jagbweima and Njaiama are now dead cities and centers like Sefadu Small Lebanon Hill Station Holly Wood and many more now lay in total ruins. The carnage the nation experienced in the hands of the devil has left us with no choice but to crumble only to hope that divine intervention would salvage the situation. Political leaders have no iota of love and sincerity for the country.

Sierra Leone: FC Johansen to Face Congo Contractors
AllAfrica.com
This would mark their second friendly match in two weeks after losing 1-0 to first division side Kissy All Stars at the same venue last week. GA_googleFillSlot( “AllAfrica_Story_InsetA” );According to Johansen’s head coach Jonathan Rhodes they would be engaging in a series of friendly matches both in Freetown and the provinces to keep the squad fit. Already a total of 27 players are undergoing rigorous training and coach Rhodes revealed that only 20 of them would be making the trip. Below are the names of players: Aruna Kamara Mahdi Khalil Vandi Cheik Turay Kaprie Dumbuya (Cheeseman) Samba Koroma (Zambrotta) Ibrahim Kamara (Soja) Patteh Bah Charles Kamara (Skeltel) Mohamed Sesay (Pele) Ahmed Hassan (Tiago) Issa Koroma (Madam) Abu Bakarr Sesay (Antonito) Alie Kamara (Kendeleh) Victor Sesay (Vicky) Sadiu Sankoh Joseph Kanu Larry Sawyer Galleh Bah Alusine Janneh Sorie Marrah Bako Bockarie Kelly Marah Emmanuel Koroma Yusiuf Kamara Thaimu Turay Ibrahim Koroma and Samson Shallop.