Julius Maada Bio secured 43.3% of the vote, short of the 55% he needed to avoid a second round run-off.

He will now face the ruling party candidate, Samura Kamara, who was behind by just 0.6%, in two weeks.

Should Brig Bio win that contest, it will be the second time he has led Sierra Leone, having briefly headed a military junta in 1996.

Brig Bio came to power after ousting Valentine Strasser – the soldier he had helped become Africa’s youngest leader in another coup just four years earlier.

Three months later, he stood down in favour of the democratically elected Ahmad Tejan Kabbah.

But he is not the only one with a strong a link to his short-lived military junta: Brig Bio chose his now rival Mr Kamara as his finance minister in 1996.

More than two decades later, the two men have stood against each other, offering the country different visions of their future, fought on the platforms of corruption, the economy and the state of the country’s education and health.

Supporters of the ruling party gathered outside their headquarters

According to our reporter in Freetown, Mr Kamara is offering the country the option of “continuation” – arguing the current administration is making strides forward which need to be built on.

Brig Bio, on the other hand, is the change candidate.

There has been no reaction yet from the two men, but our reporter says he would not be surprised if the campaign buses were spotted making their way around the country today.

Both candidates will also need to approach the men who came third and fourth, as their support will be crucial.

However, that is likely to be tricky as they were both, at one time, members of the leading candidates’ parties. One was expelled from the ruling party, while the other resigned from the main opposition.

–

Source: BBC

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In the capital, Freetown, long queues could be seen at polling stations even before dawn.

President Ernest Bai Koroma is stepping down after serving two five-year terms.

His chosen successor, Samura Kamara, is being challenged by 15 other candidates – many of them promising to tackle endemic corruption and poverty.

Mr Kamara of the All Peoples Congress (APC) is one of three frontrunners – the others are Julius Maada Bio of the main opposition Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) and former UN diplomat Kandeh Yumkella of the newly-formed National Grand Coalition (NGC).

One of the greatest challenges for the new leader will be to reconstruct a healthcare system following the huge Ebola outbreak in 2014 that killed nearly 4,000 people.

Only 200 doctors serve a country of seven million people.

The Commonwealth’s chief election observer, former Ghanaian President John Mahama, told the BBC there were signs it would be peaceful.

“People are going about their business. They don’t have that anxiety or fear that there’s going to be any explosion taking place,” he said.

He added that if “everybody plays their part” they will be one step closer to “consolidating democracy in Sierra Leone”.

Mr Mahama said that candidates had signed a peace pledge in the run-up to the election.

–

Source: BBC

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The meeting was prior to their deployment to the various polling centres in the country.

Mr. Mahama, who is leading the Commonwealth Observer Group, urged his team members to observe the voting guidelines set by the National Electoral Commission, emphasising that the Group’s focus just like all others, is for a successful, free and fair election.

Mr. Mahama and the Group also continued with their consultative meetings with stakeholders, which they believe to be crucial ahead of Wednesday’s elections.

Sixteen (16) Presidential Candidates are taking part in the elections in Sierra Leone, with 789 candidates vying for the 144 parliamentary seats.

Some 3.17 million registered voters are expected in the polls, out of the country’s estimated population of 7 million.

Voting will be taking place at 11,122 polling stations across Sierra Leone in the March 7, 2018 polls.

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Today, Monday, November 27, the court ruled that Vice President Sam-Sumana’s fundamental human rights to fair hearing and to participate in politics, as guaranteed by the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights were violated.

The Court dismissed, in from the start, the argument of Sierra Leone to the effect that the ECOWAS Court had no jurisdiction to hear the case.

The ECOWAS Court held that it had jurisdiction to hear the Application by Mr. Sam-Sumana in defense of his Fundamental Human Rights.

The court also declared that the removal of Mr. Sam-Sumana from office was wrong, as it violated his right to appeal the decision, and therefore his right to Natural Justice and to a fair hearing, and further occasioned a violation of his right to participate in politics.

Mr. Sam-Sumana is also to receive all his salaries and emoluments from the day of his removal to date, as well as the cost of his legal fees.

Some other reliefs sought by Mr. Sam-Sumana were however not granted by the court, because they have either elapsed or hinge on the domestic laws of Sierra Leone.

Mr. Sam-Sumana was represented by two law firms from Nigeria and Ghana, Falana & Falana and Atuguba & Associates, led by Femi Falana and Dr. Raymond Atuguba.

Background

In 2015, the Sierra Leone Presidency said Mr. Sam-Sumana was sacked for seeking political asylum in a foreign embassy.

President Koroma was said to have dismissed him because he had “abandoned” his duties.

Mr. Sam-Sumana said he had sought asylum in the US because his life was in danger.

Prior to this, the ruling party had expelled Mr. Sam-Sumana after accusing him of trying to form a breakaway party

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The visit was to discuss issues of mutual benefit to both parties and commiserate with the High Commissioner and the people of Sierra Leone, following the mudslide disaster that devastated the West African country, a couple of months ago.

The group made a donation as a token of support and goodwill to the people of Sierra Leone. The items donated included sanitary towels, toothpaste and tooth brushes, bathing and washing soap, clothing, and others worth hundreds of Ghana Cedis.

President of the Association, Prosper Ahmed Amuquandoh, expressed the hope that this goodwill gesture would contribute to strengthening the bond that exists between Ghana and Sierra Leone, especially between the youth of both countries.

“Our connection with the youth of Sierra Leone started during the Mandela Washington Fellowship in the United States of America, where we had some representatives from Sierra Leone. So, following the mudslide disaster, we, as an Association, and feeling the pain of our brothers and sisters in Sierra Leone, decided to extend support and goodwill, through the High Commission, to them, with this donation. We hope this token of support would go a long way to show them how much we care, and hence strengthen the bond of brotherhood that exists between us.”

He further called on the Commission to consider partnering the Association on strategic projects that will inure to the benefit of both countries.

“We wouldn’t want our relationship with the High Commission to be restricted to donations during disasters; we want to relate beyond that. So we would be coming back to the High Commission to talk about how we can collaborate with our colleague young people in Sierra Leone to develop the capacity of young people in our two countries.”

On her part, the High Commissioner thanked the Association for the gesture, and noted that, this will set the tone for future collaborative projects between the High Commission and MWFAG.

“The people of Sierra Leone are grateful to you for this kind gesture. It is exciting to know that Africa can now boast of a new generation of young leaders who believe in the concept of Ubuntu. It is my hope that this will be the beginning of many more collaborations between the young people of both countries especially in the areas of leadership and capacity development.”

The Mandela Washington Fellows Association of Ghana (MWFAG), is an association of the alumni of the Mandela Washington Fellowship (MWF), a flagship program of President Barrack Obama’s Young African Leadership Initiative (YALI).

The Fellowship, which begun in 2014, is a 6 to 12-week academic, leadership and professional training program in selected US institutions that seek to empower selected young people in Africa through academic coursework, leadership training, and networking.

The Fellows, who are between the ages of 25 and 35, have established records of accomplishment in promoting innovation and positive impact in their organizations, institutions, communities, and countries.
–
By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The items comprised 16 cartons of all types of intravenous fluids, 400 pieces of intravenous sets, 400 pieces of different intravenous cannulas, antibiotics in intravenous and oral forms including Ceftriaxone, Ciprofloxacin, Cefuroxime , antimalarials like Artemether Inj, Artesunate Lumefantrine in tablet and suspension forms.

[contextly_sidebar id=”Vyqvr7k8gnckfUq93gXx8Rv934xlsPsb”]They rest are analgesics including Paracetamol in tablet and syrup forms, Ibuprofen in tablets and syrup forms, Diclofenac in injection and tablet forms, oral rehydration salts, blood tonics and vitamins, antibiotic eye drops, 3 cartons of Chlorine bleach, dressings including gauzes, plasters, cotton wool, bandages, syringes, needles and examination gloves.

Donating the items to the Sierra Leonean High Commissioner to Ghana, Justice Umu Hawa Tejan-Jalloh, a member of OccupyGhana, Sydney Casely-Hayford, said that the catastrophic events of August 14 saddened most people across the continent and that the gesture was not only humane, but also a reflection of the old bond that existed between the two countries.

“In times like these, no nation or society should stand alone, for such pain and suffering touches not only the people of Sierra Leone but all of humanity. Also, to a Ghanaian, Sierra Leone is not just another country but a nation with whom we share a strong bond that dates back over a 100 years. “, Mr. Casely-Hayford said.

Casely-Hayford was accompanied by members of the pressure group including, Dr. Radha Hackman and Kwaku Segbefia.

In her heartfelt remarks as she received the donation,the High Commissioner expressed the appreciation of the people of Sierra Leone to OccupyGhana, adding that she had been overwhelmed by the level of support from the government and people of Ghana in the aftermath of the tragic disaster in Regent, Sierra Leone.

“The relationship between Ghana and Sierra Leone is second to none in the West Region. The relationship has spanned centuries and we can only continue to pray that the ties will flourish and develop from strength to strength,” she said.

She marveled at the timeliness of the donation since she and her staff had been discussing ways of acquiring medical supplies for her country.

She explained that a medical disaster was highly possible since the mountains near Regent were the source of drinking water for all of Freetown.

She pointed out that, it was feared that, that source was probably contaminated by all the dead bodies and that the contamination could lead to spread of water-borne diseases. She pointed out that the donated supplies would go a long way in helping to combat any such medical calamity.

“This is a great humanitarian gesture which only a sister or brother can do for another sister or brother,” she added.

The mudslides have claimed close to a 1,000 lives and has made over 4000 Sierra Leoneans homeless. The country, which is trying to recover from the scourge of Ebola not too long ago, needs all the help it can get.

This comes on the back of Citi FM’s donation to that country some few weeks ago.

The station received clothing, student mattresses, shoes, blankets among others from its listeners, and handed it over to the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) for onward distribution in Sierra Leone.

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post OccupyGhana supports Sierra Leone with medical supplies appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The items were transported to Sierra Leone by the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO).

To witness the delivery of the items at the Lungi International Airport on Saturday August 26, 2017 was the Chargé D’affaires of the Ghana High Commission, Mr Ernest Amporful and his staff.

The President of Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma in the wake of the disaster, called for urgent help to support the thousands who were displaced.

Citi FM  through its Supporting Sierra Leone Initiative appealed for clothes blankets, mattresses for survivors of the tragedy.

In an interview on Citi FM President Koroma’s spokesperson commended the efforts of the station and its many listeners.

Confirming the development to Citi News, the NADMO’s Deputy Director General for Technical and Reforms, Seji Saji said the items touched down in Sierra Leone at 12 noon on Saturday.

“The items left here around 9am so by 11:45am on Saturday the plane had already touched down at the airport in Sierra Leone and our Chargé D’affaires, Ernest Ampofo was there with the Ghanaian team to receive the items,” he added.

Donations handed over to NADMO

Citi FM on Friday presented the many relief items it received from its listeners to NADMO for onward transportation to Sierra Leone.

The NADMO Director General, Eric Nana Agyemang-Prempeh who received the items was so grateful to Citi FM for spearheading the benevolent initiative.

“I have just come back from Sierra Leone and the situation there is not pleasant at all. The people of Sierra Leone are calling for more of such donations. I had a call from my deputy while there that this is what you are also doing. I never estimated it this way that we were going to receive many things like this. So you’ve done a very wonderful job. On behalf of the platform that is working on this disaster and the Sierra Leonean government, we appreciate this very much. We are so grateful, I want to say a very big thank you for what you have done as well as the numerous listeners of Citi FM who donated these items,” he added.

Over 400 people were confirmed dead after the August 14 mudslide disaster in Sierra Leone and about 3,000 more were displaced while over 600 more were said to be still missing.

–

By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Citi FM’s donations arrive in Sierra Leone [Photos] appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Citi FM on Friday presented the many relief items it received from its listeners to NADMO for onward transportation to Sierra Leone.

The NADMO Director General, Eric Nana Agyemang-Prempeh who received the items was so grateful to Citi FM for spearheading the benevolent initiative.

Having just returned from that country, the NADMO boss expressed optimism that the relief items donated were going to be of great help to the people since he has seen their anguish at first hand.

He was himself surprised with the volume of items Citi FM, a private entity, gathered from its listeners.

Mr. Agyemang-Prempeh further indicated that NADMO will personally write to the Sierra Leonean government informing them about the efforts of Citi FM and its numerous listeners.

“I have just come back from Sierra Leone and the situation there is not pleasant at all. The people of Sierra Leone are calling for more of such donations. I had a call from my deputy while there that this is what you are also doing. I never estimated it this way that we were going to receive many things like this. So you’ve done a very wonderful job.”

“On behalf of the platform that is working on this disaster and the Sierra Leonean government, we appreciate this very much. We are so grateful, I want to say a very big thank you for what you have done as well as the numerous listeners of Citi FM who donated these items,” he added.

The items are expected to be in Sierra Leone later on Friday or on Saturday morning.

About Supporting Sierra Leone initiative

Following the news of a mudslide tragedy which claimed hundreds of lives and destroyed millions of properties in Sierra Leone, Citi FM launched an initiative dubbed “Supporting Sierra Leone” aimed at gathering relief items for the survivors.

A delegation from Citi FM on Tuesday visited the Sierra Leonean High Commission in Accra to express the grief of the station over the tragedy.

The Chief Executive Officer of Citi FM, Samuel Atta-Mensah, signed the book of condolence at the High Commission and also informed the Commissioner about the relief items.

The items were transported from the premises of Citi FM to the Airport by McDan Shipping and Logistics Company.

The government of Ghana last week also donated relief items amounting to $1 million to Sierra Leone.

–

By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

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The station received  clothing, blankets and mattresses among others after it appealed to Ghanaians to support the survivors of the mudslide in Sierra Leone as well as the thousands who are currently displaced in that country.

Over 400 people were confirmed dead after the August 14 disaster and about 3,000 more were displaced while over 600 more were said to be still missing.

Presenting the items, News Editor at Citi FM, Richard Mensah said “we are hoping that through this token at least some relief will be brought to our neighbours in Sierra Leone and we are also grateful to government that you’ve accepted to transport the items to our brothers and sisters in Sierra Leone.”

NADMO Director General, Eric Nana Agyemang-Prempeh who received the items commended Citi FM for the laudable initiative.

Having just returned from that country, the NADMO boss expressed optimism that the relief items were going to be of great help to the people since he has seen their anguish at first hand.

He was himself surprised with the volume of items Citi FM, a private entity, gathered from its listeners.

Mr. Agyemang-Prempeh further indicated that NADMO will personally write to the Sierra Leonean government informing them about the efforts of Citi FM and its numerous listeners.

“I have just come back from Sierra Leone and the situation there is not pleasant at all. The people of Sierra Leone are calling for more of such donations. I had a call from my deputy while there that this is what you are also doing. I never estimated it this way that we were going to receive many things like this. So you’ve done a very wonderful job. On behalf of the platform that is working on this disaster and the Sierra Leonean government, we appreciate this very much. We are so grateful, I want to say a very big thank you for what you have done as well as the numerous listeners of Citi FM who donated these items,” he added.

The items are expected to be in Sierra Leone later on Friday or on Saturday morning.

About Supporting Sierra Leone initiative

Following the news of a mudslide tragedy which claimed hundreds of lives and destroyed millions of properties in Sierra Leone, Citi FM launched an initiative dubbed “Supporting Sierra Leone” aimed at gathering relief items for the survivors.

A delegation from Citi FM on Tuesday visited the Sierra Leonean High Commission in Accra to express the grief of the station over the tragedy.

The Chief Executive Officer of Citi FM, Samuel Atta-Mensah, signed the book of condolence at the High Commission and also informed the Commissioner about the relief items.

The items were transported from the premises of Citi FM to the Airport by McDan Shipping and Logistics company.

The government of Ghana last week also donated relief items amounting to $1 million to Sierra Leone.

–

By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post Citi FM hands over Supporting Sierra Leone Initiative donations to NADMO [Photos] appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The Chief Executive Officer of Citi FM, Samuel Atta-Mensah, signed the book of condolence at the High Commission and also informed the Commissioner that listeners of the station have contributed relief items to help survivors of the mudslide that claimed hundreds of lives and destroyed property worth millions of dollars.

Citi FM’s Supporting Sierra Leone Initiative aimed at gathering relief items for survivors received overwhelming support and donations from listeners of the station. 

Mr. Atta-Mensah was accompanied by Citi FM’s Human Resource Manager and head of Corporate Social Responsibility, Jenifer Anane-Nsiah, Sales Manager, Omane Mensah Bonsu and Director of News Programming, Bernard Avle.

Also part of the delegation were Priscilla Mensah, Executive Assitant, and Fred Djabanor, producer of the award winning Citi Breakfast Show.

Sierra Leone is contending with a humanitarian crisis after Regent, a town near Freetown, was struck by a mudslide and flooding after torrential rainfall.

Over 400 people have been confirmed dead after the August 14 disaster and about 3,000 more have been displaced while over 600 more are said to be still missing.

The government of Ghana over the weekend donated relief items amounting to $1 million to Sierra Leone.

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Citi FM commiserates with Sierra Leone [Photos] appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.