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𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐈𝐆𝐏 𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐮…
𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐆𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐔𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐦

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), William Fayia Sellu, is set to commission three major projects this month as part of ongoing efforts to modernise and strengthen the Sierra Leone Police (SLP).
The projects include the newly established Masingbi Police Division, a state-of-the-art Forensic Laboratory at the Transnational Organised Crime Unit (TOCU) Headquarters in Rogbangba Junction, and the inaugural Blood Bank, Eye Clinic, and Dental Units at the Police Hospital in Kingtom.
The commissioning ceremonies are expected to attract senior government officials, security sector stakeholders, development partners, and members of the public.
These projects form part of IGP Sellu's broader vision of transforming the Sierra Leone Police into a modern, efficient, and service-oriented institution capable of meeting contemporary policing standards.
One of the key projects scheduled for commissioning is the upgrade of Masingbi Police Station into a fully-fledged divisional headquarters.
The new division is anticipated to significantly improve police response capabilities across Tonkolili District, parts of Kono District, and surrounding communities through increased personnel deployment, the establishment of additional operational units, and enhanced logistical support, including vehicles and motorbikes.
Police authorities noted that rapid population growth and the expanding geographical coverage of Masingbi and its environs made this elevation necessary. The development is expected to improve access to policing services and strengthen security operations within the region.
In a major milestone for the institution, the Sierra Leone Police will officially unveil its first modern forensic laboratory at the TOCU Headquarters.
The facility is expected to significantly enhance the force’s investigative capacity, particularly in scientific evidence gathering, drug analysis, and criminal investigations.
Speaking on the significance of the project, forensic expert Detective Assistant Superintendent of Police (D/ASP), Joseph Steven, described the laboratory as a major step towards achieving internationally recognised standards in forensic science.
According to him, the laboratory represents a critical foundation in the SLP’s pursuit of International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) certification, which would enable forensic and drug-testing reports produced by the facility to gain international recognition and acceptance.
The laboratory is also expected to reduce reliance on external institutions for forensic analysis, while strengthening Sierra Leone’s capacity to investigate complex criminal cases through scientific methods.
Another major highlight of the commissioning programme will be the official opening of the first-ever Blood Bank, Eye Clinic, and Dental Units at the Police Hospital in Kingtom.
The Medical Superintendent and Deputy Director of the hospital, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Dr. John Mumuneh Konteh, described the development as both timely and essential, given the increasing demand for healthcare services provided by the institution.
Dr. Konteh explained that the hospital now serves not only police personnel but also members of the general public, making the establishment of a blood bank a vital addition to healthcare delivery.
"We conduct surgeries here and often receive patients who urgently require blood. In the past, because we did not have a blood bank, we had to depend on other hospitals for blood supplies," he said.
He noted that delays in sourcing blood from external facilities sometimes posed serious risks to patients’ lives.
With the commissioning of the new blood bank, Dr. Konteh expressed confidence that the hospital’s ability to respond to emergencies and provide quality healthcare services will be greatly enhanced.
He further disclosed that the facility would facilitate the establishment of a blood donor centre, as the hospital now has the necessary storage infrastructure.
Regarding the Dental Unit, Dr. Konteh stated that although the facility may not immediately provide a full range of dental services, it will offer first-aid treatment and basic dental care to patients.
The commissioning of these projects underscores the ongoing reforms and infrastructural developments being implemented under the leadership of IGP William Fayia Sellu.
Many within the security sector and beyond have described the initiatives as practical investments aimed at improving policing services, enhancing healthcare delivery for police personnel and the public, and strengthening the operational capacity of the Sierra Leone Police.
As the institution continues its modernisation agenda, the June commissioning ceremonies are expected to mark another significant milestone in the transformation of the Sierra Leone Police.

𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐄𝐠𝐛𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚 𝐄𝐬𝐪. 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐇𝐞𝐫 “𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐫” 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬
𝐁𝐲: 𝐌𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐞𝐫

The Sierra Leone Bar Association presidential candidate, Martina Baindu Egbenda Esq., has continued her nationwide consultative engagement with members of the legal profession, holding a strategic meeting with Benchers and legal practitioners in Makeni, the judicial hub of the Northern Province.
Welcoming Madam Egbenda and her team, Billy Kamara Esq., Coordinator for Lawyers in the Bombali and Tonkolili Judicial Districts, expressed concern over what he described as growing divisions within the legal profession under the current Bar leadership. He endorsed Egbenda's candidacy, describing her as a unifying leader with the vision and capacity to restore cohesion, professionalism, and confidence within the Sierra Leone Bar Association.
Margaret Murray Esq., a candidate for the position of Treasurer of the Sierra Leone Bar Association, also endorsed Madam Egbenda, describing her as a bridge-builder committed to fostering unity among lawyers. She emphasized that the Bar has historically operated as one professional family and should continue to speak with one voice in the interest of the profession and the administration of justice.
Presenting her vision, Martina Egbenda Esq. described her candidacy as a movement for unity, inclusion, and professional advancement. She reaffirmed that unity remains the cornerstone of her campaign and pledged to build “One Bar, One Voice, One Profession,” ensuring equal access to opportunities, training programmes, scholarships, mentorship, and professional development for lawyers across Sierra Leone, irrespective of geographic location.
She further underscored the critical role of legal practitioners in advancing justice sector reforms and strengthening collaboration with key institutions, including the Sierra Leone Police. She highlighted the importance of continuous professional development, referencing recent training initiatives on the Criminal Procedure Act, 2024 (Act No. 8 of 2024), as well as the ongoing constitutional review process.
Madam Egbenda called for a Bar Association that is united in purpose, respectful of diverse perspectives, appreciative of service, and unwavering in its commitment to defending the rule of law, judicial independence, and the integrity of the legal profession.
During the engagement, Paul Kamara Esq. expressed concern regarding an incident during the 18 May 2024 Bar Association elections in Kenema, where he alleged that he was assaulted. He lamented the lack of resolution of the matter and appealed for leadership that would ensure such incidents are never repeated within the Association.
A.T. Jalloh Esq. emphasized the importance of sustained engagement with lawyers in the regions, advocating for inclusiveness, capacity building, and equal participation for practitioners in the North.
Dr. C.M.B. Jalloh Esq., Acting Dean of the Postgraduate Faculty at the University of Makeni and Head of Chambers at C&J Partners, welcomed Madam Egbenda's candidacy and expressed concern over the events that transpired during the Kenema elections. He called for a united Bar that speaks with one voice and cautioned against political interference in the affairs of the legal profession.
Responding to the concerns and recommendations raised, Madam Egbenda assured participants that her administration would be founded on inclusiveness, transparency, accountability, and equal opportunity. She pledged to work collaboratively with lawyers across all regions to strengthen the Association, protect the interests of practitioners, and uphold the highest standards of professional excellence.
“Together, we can build One Bar, One Voice, One Commitment a Bar Association that serves every lawyer and stands firmly for justice and unity

𝐍𝐣𝐚𝐥𝐚 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐇𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐈𝐀𝐄𝐀 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐬
𝐁𝐲 𝐏𝐚𝐭 𝐊𝐚𝐰𝐚 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐨

A team of international e
xperts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has concluded a 5-day training at the Njala University Guest House at Mokonde campus.
The training which aims to build capacity among staff and students in advanced methods for studying ground water brought together various institutions including water resources and sanitation, SALWACO, National Water Resources Management agency, Lecturers, postgraduate students from department of Chemistry and Agriculture Engineering who are committed to improving water management and research in Sierra Leone.
Delivering his keynote address at the opening session of the training, the Vice Chancellor and Principal of Njala University Professor Bashiru Mohamed Koroma told his international partners and trainees that Sierra Leone must abandon outdated methods and embrace nuclear science to end the country’s water crisis.
Professor Bashiru Mohamed Koroma said, he felt both urgency and hope as rural methods across Bombali and other regions still draw murky, contaminated water from unprotected water wells stating that “we are here in this very room to ensure that we never have to do those methods again”.
The University Vice Chancellor and Principal painted a stark picture of the nation’s water paradox.
Professor Bashiru Mohamed Koroma said despite abundant rainfall and countless rivers, Sierra Leone remains a nation thirsty for safe water.
He informed that rapid urban migration has overwhelmed the Guma Valley villages suffer from depleted surface watermark crippling farming.
He noted that when water system falls, our people are forced in to perilous choices adding that they drink from stagnant pounds and invite invisible killer diseases into their homes such as typhoid and cholera as the daily wages of water insecurity in the country.
Professor Bashiru Mohamed Koroma further that the era of guessing where to dig a well over, the training marks a shift towards using Isotop Hydrology, a nuclear techniques that reads the natural fingerprints of water to reveal its age , source and safety from contamination .
The Vice Chancellor and Principal of Njala University Professor Bashiru Mohamed Koroma however outlined three critical reasons for the training noting that first for life by helping agencies pinpoints deep, safe aquifers that will not make people sick and second for livelihood by securing brought resistance water for irrigation to fight hunger and rural exodus and third , for policy stating that the project directly supports Sierra Leone 2024 to 2029 country program framework on Water Resources Management .
He told the participants that this is not just about science, it is about stewardship noting the data you interpret will determine where a community builds it next water well as your work will literally safe lives.
Professor Bashiru Mohamed Koroma further urged the trainees to master the tools well with seriousness and called on them the bridge between nuclear science and thirsty mother waiting for clean water.
He concluded by stating that, with government policy set and water agencies ready to drill. the task now rests with the trainees.
Speaking to the Global Times in a snap interview, the Dean of the School of Technology at Njala University, Dr Mohamed Blango who doubles as the project counterpart informed that the Project is being supported by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the training activity is funded by IAEA which is meant to help with the implementation of the project that is being implemented by Sierra Leone, with him currently serving as the project counterpart.
Dr Mohamed Blango informed that the training targeted twenty five participants drawn from various institutions including water resources and sanitation, SALWACO national water resources management agency among others.
According to Dr Mohamed Blango, the international experts are conducting specialised training on preparation of tools and interpretation of Isotop hydrology data for water resources which the training aims to build capacity among Lecturers and students for studying advanced ground water surface.
He told this medium that the training will go a long way to manage the water resources particularly considering the fact how they trainees can improve on public health, providing safe water and also enough water to improving on the irrigation.
He said the training also geared towards utilization of nuclear techniques using it to manage water resources to improve public health and also Agriculture water productivity.
Dr Mohamed Blango disclosed that at the end of the training, he is expecting that the trainees to develop skills in using basic tools to manage water resources to be able to carry out samples techniques ultilizing those techniques to access water resources assessment.
One of the International Atomic Energy experts Spanish born Dr. Inaki Vandillo said they are in Sierra Leone through the invitation of Njala University to come and teach the participants and to share knowledge with them about the preparation of tools and interpretation of Isotop hydrology data for water resources assessment.
He said their motive is to provide the participants the basic tools to apply for management of water resources and not only to see when and where to distract water but to also study the quality of groundwater in bid to have quality water resources in Sierra Leone.
Dr. Inaki Vandillo described the training as timely and a great achievement for Njala University and the people of Sierra Leone as the country is yearning for a better water resources management.
Dr Limbikani Chistundi, another international expert from IAEA, spoke about the fundamentals of a stable Isotop and environment tracers in water, data, standard, isotopic fractionation and types of isotopic fractionation among others.

𝐆𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫
𝐏𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 & 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲…
𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐯𝐬 𝐅𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐞𝐬
𝐁𝐲: 𝐍𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐝𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐲𝐨 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐧

Media Consultant & Development Communicator
In recent days, some faceless bloggers and unscrupulous media practitioners have circulated reckless publications linking the Director General of Sierra Leone Ports & Harbours Authority, Mr. Yankuba Askia Bio, to drug involvement. As a media professional, I believe it is our duty to separate facts from fiction, especially when a public officer’s reputation is under attack without verifiable evidence.
1. NO EVIDENCE, NO CHARGES, NO CASE
Serious allegations demand serious proof. To date, no law enforcement or regulatory agency — Sierra Leone Police, DEA, ACC, or international Port security partners — has named, charged, investigated, or arrested Mr. Yankuba Askia Bio in connection with drugs.
In journalism, “allegation” without “evidence” is rumor. In law, it is defamation. Citizens deserve verified facts, not recycled and unsubstantiated social media claims.
2. RECORD OF SERVICE AT SLPHA
Since his appointment as Director General, Mr. Yankuba Askia Bio has focused SLPHA on modernization, revenue growth, and Port security in line with international standards. Key focus areas under his leadership include:
1. Improving cargo handling efficiency to reduce clearance time for traders and importers
2. Strengthening Port security and ISPS Code compliance for global trade confidence
3. Enhancing revenue systems to support government’s development agenda
These are measurable results. Attempts to distract from institutional progress with unverified rumors do not serve the national interest.
3. MEDIA RESPONSIBILITY VS “BLOGGER JOURNALISM”
Press freedom is protected by the Constitution, but it comes with responsibility. Publishing drug allegations against a serving DG without police reports, court filings, or official statements violates basic journalism ethics: verification, balance, and right of reply. Trial by social media destroys careers and institutions. The right place for credible evidence is the ACC, SLP, or courts — not unverified blogs.
4. PRESUMPTION OF INNOCENCE
Mr. Yankuba Askia Bio remains the legally appointed DG of SLPHA, serving at the pleasure of His Excellency the President. Under Section 23 of the 1991 Constitution, every Sierra Leonean is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.
CONCLUSION
Sierra Leone needs development, not distraction. As media practitioners, we must choose truth over fabrication. Let us allow institutions to work and allow due process to prevail. Until any competent authority proves otherwise, Mr. Yankuba Askia Bio deserves the respect and presumption of innocence owed to every citizen.

𝐌𝐏𝐬 𝐓𝐨 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐞 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐚 𝐊𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐚’𝐬 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬

Parliament has given the go-ahead to the Deputy Leader of Government Business who doubles as the outspoken SLPP Member of Parliament for Bo District, Hon. Bashiru Silikie, to move a motion to investigate how Musa Koroma alias “Musa Dollar” is conducting business in the country.
One of Musa Koroma’s companies, Logistics Solutions and Services, is unlawfully charging importers US$1000 if they land a container in Freetown without CTN (Cargo Tracking Note) certificate.
Empty cargo vessels coming to collect cargoes from bauxite and iron ore mining companies pay between US$35,000 to US$40,000 just for a cargo tracking exercise. “This is daylight robbery”, one businessman said.
Meanwhile, MPs have been requested to investigate how Musa Koroma got a contract from NRA in 2021 to supply 5,000 ECR (Electronic Cash Register) machines and related software.

They have also been requested to investigate how Musa Koroma controversially acquired a lorry park in the heart of Bo City.

The Parliamentary investigation may lead to the opening of a Pandora’s box.
Investigations continue

𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲'𝐬 𝐄𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐎𝐟 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐫

𝐎𝐩-𝐄𝐝
𝐒𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐫 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡 – 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭: 𝐌𝐬. 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐄𝐠𝐛𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚’𝐬 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦
𝐁𝐲 𝐋. 𝐆𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞

The Sierra Leone Bar Association (SLBA) has at no point since the 1970s been free from serious criticism and strictures. The 2004 report of the Truth and Reconciliation noted that members of the bar, in colluding with various governments since Siaka Stevens’ depraved one-party state, “contributed a great deal towards the massive abuse of human rights that took place before and during the war.” Still, at critical moments, particularly during the struggle to return the country to liberal and multiparty democracy, the association played an overwhelmingly positive, and critical, role.

The return of competitive politics with the election of President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, a highly civilized lawyer himself, gave a profound new boost to the SLBA and the legal profession. Mr. Kabbah, and still more his highly competent and effective Attorney General and later Vice President Solomon Berewa, invested a touch of real glamour and purposiveness to the legal profession. In consequence, many young people enrolled for legal training – and now dominate the profession. But it was always clear that politics would, once again, rudely intrude – and there were several instances of regime machinations and corruptions in the running of the SLBA when President Ernest Bai Koroma was in power. Even in this depraved context, however, the SLBA’s sordid theatricality in Kenema in 2024 occasioned prodigies of excess and incompetence all its own. Its much-disputed outcome of an election led to enough fissures, perhaps for the first time in its around 120 years history, to the formation of a breakaway faction, the so-called Lawyers’ Society. The Association has since lost its lustre and perhaps even relevance, attracting media and other attention for all the wrong reasons. This is an intolerable state, which must be reversed for the good of the country. It is not the sort of legacy that should be associated with the government.

The legal profession is a key guarantor, and enabler, of the rule of law – fundamental to justice, human rights and security of all citizens alike. This imperative stands over and above other considerations. It must be set right.

In announcing her candidacy for President of the SLBA, Ms. Martina Baindu Egbenda offers real hope for the reunification and renewal of the Association. I have met Ms. Egbenda a few times, mostly when she comes for meetings at the World Intellectual Property Organisation in Geneva as a representative of the government. She is the very able Administrator and Registrar General of Sierra Leone, managing important issues like copyright and patents. I have always found her to be presentable, articulate and highly professional in her engagements. Affable and even urbane, she happily combines great sociability with a deep intellect. I am in no doubt that if elected, she will quite easily unite the SLBA and restore its sense of purpose as a professional and effective association.

Her platform – succinct, shorn of demagoguery and divisiveness – is anchored on three, linked aspirations: together we Elevate the Bar; together we Protect Justice; and together we Build Sierra Leone. What’s not there to like? Her background – as a private legal practitioner, administrator and constitutional lawyer for around 14 years – offers real hope. In electing her, the SLBA would be giving itself a real lifeline.

May she prevail.

The author is Sierra Leone’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative in Geneva.

Eid Mubarak