The Government of Sierra Leone, through the Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Security, has announced the commencement of a nationwide inspection exercise targeting foreign nationals and employers who fail to comply with the country's work permit regulations, warning that violations could attract penalties and the closure of business premises.

The announcement was contained in an official Press Release issued by the Ministry on Thursday, 5 November 2026, outlining plans to conduct targeted and unannounced inspections at workplaces, business establishments, institutions and project sites across the country.

According to the Ministry, the exercise forms part of the Government's ongoing efforts to strengthen enforcement of labour laws, ensure proper registration of foreign workers and promote compliance with the Work Permit Act, 2023.

The nationwide operation follows an earlier notice issued approximately two weeks ago, directing foreign nationals residing and working in Sierra Leone to comply with established work permit requirements.

The Ministry explained that the latest intervention is intended to verify whether employers and foreign workers have taken the necessary steps to regularize their employment documentation in accordance with the law.

Under the planned enforcement exercise, a designated task force will undertake compliance verification and spot checks at various locations where foreign nationals are engaged in employment or business activities.

The inspections will cover workplaces, commercial premises, institutions, project sites and other establishments where foreign nationals may be working, with particular attention given to the validity and availability of relevant employment documents.

The Ministry emphasized that the exercise represents a continuation of the Government's commitment to enforcing mandatory registration requirements for foreign nationals and ensuring that employers operate within Sierra Leone's legal and regulatory framework.

Employers and foreign nationals have consequently been strongly advised to ensure that all relevant labour documents, including applicable work permits, are valid, updated and readily available for inspection whenever requested by authorized officials.

The Government warned that failure to comply with the established requirements would result in enforcement measures consistent with the laws of Sierra Leone.

Such measures, according to the Ministry, may include financial penalties and the closure of business premises found to be operating in violation of applicable labour regulations.

The announcement places renewed responsibility on employers, particularly businesses and institutions engaging foreign nationals, to verify that their workers possess the necessary legal authorization  before undertaking employment activities.

It also serves as a reminder to foreign nationals working in Sierra Leone of their obligation to comply with the country's employment and immigration-related requirements.

The Ministry's decision to intensify inspections underscores the importance of regulatory compliance in maintaining an orderly labour market and ensuring that businesses and individuals operate within the provisions of national legislation.

The planned exercise is expected to place greater scrutiny on employment practices involving foreign nationals, while encouraging businesses to strengthen their internal procedures for maintaining accurate and up-to-date employment records.

Although the Ministry did not specify the exact date on which the inspections would begin or how long the exercise would continue, its announcement makes clear that compliance checks will be conducted nationwide and may take place without prior notification.

The Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Security has therefore urged all affected employers, institutions and foreign nationals to take the necessary steps to meet their legal obligations and avoid possible sanctions as the Government intensifies enforcement of the Work Permit Act, 2023. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/66004

Seventeen youth-led teams showcased innovative solutions to Sierra Leone’s growing electronic waste challenge during the Youth for Circularity 2030 Innovation Challenge held on Thursday, November 5, 2026, at the University Innovation Pod (UniPod), Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone.

Organized under the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Sierra Leone’s Youth for Circularity 2030 initiative, the competition brought together Government officials, academics, development partners and young entrepreneurs to explore sustainable approaches to electronic waste management while creating economic opportunities for young people.

The event attracted prominent personalities, including UNDP Sierra Leone Country Representative, Fredrick Ampiah; Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie; and Vice-Chancellor of Fourah Bay College, Professor Andrew Baio.

Addressing participants, Fredrick Ampiah commended the young innovators for developing practical solutions to environmental challenges. He emphasized that the competition was intended to encourage innovations capable of contributing meaningfully to community development and economic transformation.

“I want to see those solutions that can contribute to national and community development,” he stated.

Fredrick Ampiah disclosed that finalists would receive laptops and other essential devices to strengthen their technological capabilities and support the development of their innovations.

Delivering the keynote address, Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie, commended UNDP Sierra Leone, Samsung Electronics and the University of Sierra Leone for providing young people with opportunities to demonstrate creativity and entrepreneurial potential.

She emphasized the importance of integrating technological innovation, practical education and entrepreneurship into higher education, noting that discarded electronic devices could become valuable economic resources through responsible recycling and reuse.

“Young people cannot do this alone. Government has a role to play to develop policies and create more opportunities, especially for women,” Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie stated.

She encouraged stronger collaboration among Government institutions, universities and development partners to transform promising innovations into sustainable businesses.

Vice-Chancellor of Fourah Bay College, Professor Andrew Baio, reaffirmed the university’s commitment to promoting research, experimentation and practical innovation.

“Experiment is a key part of this process,” he said, encouraging participants to develop solutions that address real community challenges.

Speaking to The Calabash Newspaper, Winifred Doe of Female Innovation Lab introduced an initiative titled “Second Life Tech,” designed to empower women to repurpose discarded mobile phone components into creative and educational materials.

She explained that the project also seeks to educate women about electronic waste hazards while developing practical recycling skills.

The competition attracted 39 concept submissions, of which 29 satisfied eligibility requirements. Following technical assessments, 17 teams qualified to present their innovations before a panel of experts.

The proposed solutions focused on repairing, refurbishing, reusing and responsibly recycling discarded mobile electronic devices.

Promising concepts will be considered for further incubation, technical assistance and prototyping support.

The initiative has also supported Circular Innovation Clubs across four universities, promoting environmental awareness, sustainable consumption and entrepreneurship.

Through these interventions, UNDP Sierra Leone and its partners aim to strengthen youth participation in the circular economy while transforming electronic waste into opportunities for innovation, employment and sustainable national development. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/66003

The Urban SHADE Project has handed over disaster preparedness and response materials, including megaphones, first aid kits and Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials to three vulnerable communities in Freetown to strengthen their capacity to respond to extreme weather events.

The handover took place on Thursday, November 5, 2026, during a dissemination and handover ceremony at Dove's Nest at Aberdeen in Freetown. The beneficiary communities are Crab Town, Kolleh Town and Gray Bush(CKG) and two stand-alone communities, Susan’s Bay and Moyiba.

The project, which began in 2024, is being implemented by the Sierra Leone Urban Research Centre (SLURC), the Institute of Gender and Children's Health Research (IGCHR) and the Centre of Dialogue on Human Settlement and Poverty Alleviation (CODOHSAPA).

Speaking at the event, Dr Desta Ali, Senior Research Officer at IGCHR, said the project was designed to strengthen the responsiveness of the health system to extreme weather events, particularly in vulnerable urban informal settlements.

She explained that the project adopted a participatory research approach, involving community members from the beginning rather than imposing predetermined interventions. According to her, interviews, data collection and settlement profiling helped identify gaps in community preparedness and the capacity of health workers to recognize illnesses associated with climate change and extreme weather events.

She said health workers identified the need for capacity building to recognize climate-related illnesses, while community members prioritized disaster preparedness and response.

Dr Desta Ali said the project subsequently engaged relevant institutions, including the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), National Fire Force, Freetown City Council (FCC), Ministry of Health and National Public Health Agency (NPHA), to support training and the development of interventions.

Among the outputs, she highlighted an Extreme Weather Events (EWE) Communication Protocol, which outlines how weather-related information should be communicated from relevant institutions to communities.

She also disclosed that the Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency (SLMet) had established a WhatsApp group through which vulnerable communities receive weather alerts to help them prepare for impending weather conditions and protect their property.

Other outputs include a Community Disaster Preparedness and Response Plan, a health worker response checklist, an EWE Event Summary Form and IEC materials developed in collaboration with the Health Education Directorate of the Ministry of Health.

Dr Desta Ali explained that the disaster preparedness plans include vulnerability assessments identifying people who may require assistance during emergencies, particularly evacuation.

She said the project also conducted a validation workshop where community members reviewed the documents to ensure that they reflected the needs and recommendations they had raised.

Also speaking, Dr Joseph Macarthy, Executive Director of SLURC, described climate change as a critical global challenge, stressing the need for Sierra Leone to examine its relationship with public health and healthcare delivery, particularly in informal settlements.

He said the commitment demonstrated by communities had enabled the three implementing organisations to mobilize local action through research, interventions and collaboration with state institutions.

Dr Joseph Macarthy emphasized that the outputs being handed over were developed through a process of co-design and co-production, allowing community members to contribute to decisions affecting their settlements.

Francis Reffell of CODOHSAPA also underscored the importance of community participation, noting that residents understood their communities better and were therefore well-positioned to contribute to the development of relevant interventions.

He said the ultimate objective was to translate research data into practical action, urging beneficiaries not to treat the items received as decorations. "Focus on the messages and translate them into action for the betterment of our community," he urged.

Meanwhile, Yatta Esther Kallon, Climate Change Officer at FCC, said the Urban SHADE Project complemented the Council's efforts to address climate change and its effects on communities.

She described extreme heat as a growing global phenomenon and said equipping communities with preparedness and mitigation skills was timely, given the increasing occurrence of disasters associated with extreme weather events. Yatta Esther Kallon highlighted the importance of data in informing policy and decision-making, noting that the evidence generated through the project could help guide interventions.

She further disclosed that FCC had trained 500 healthcare workers on heat and health under its Enhancing Heat Health in Freetown project, to improve their ability to identify heat-related illnesses.

For his part, Gibrilla Kamara, Principal Climate Change Officer at SLMet, described the intervention as timely, considering the effects of flooding and extreme heat on communities.

He called on relevant stakeholders to integrate the project outputs into their respective activities to ensure sustainability, adding that communities must build resilience and adapt to changing climate conditions.

Bai Banya, Chief of Operations at NDMA, said the project's objectives aligned with the Agency's mandate of disaster management, capacity building and supporting government policies on disaster preparedness.

He explained that the Agency had established disaster management committees at district, chiefdom and community levels, while providing training to strengthen local capacity to identify hazards and respond to emergencies. He assured the project of the Agency's continued support.

Mohamed Conteh, Programme Manager at the Health Education Directorate of the Ministry of Health, emphasized the importance of providing individuals and communities with timely, accurate and practical information to protect themselves during extreme weather events.

He said the IEC materials, including posters and banners, would help communicate essential health messages, promote protective behaviours and encourage communities to take responsibility for their health and safety.

He urged institutions, health workers and community structures to ensure the materials were widely distributed, particularly in vulnerable communities, and that the messages translated into positive behavioural change.

Representing the beneficiary communities, John Conteh, a community researcher from Moyiba community, said the project had been inclusive and had equipped community representatives with knowledge they intend to share with residents.

He explained that although communities had traditional ways of responding to floods, heatwaves and fire incidents, the project had introduced them to additional knowledge and practical approaches to preparedness and response. He pledged to take the lessons learnt back to his community to strengthen local awareness and preparedness.

Similarly, Binta Bah, chairlady of Susan’s Bay, expressed appreciation, describing the training as the first opportunity many community members had benefitted from to learn about extreme weather events.

She said community representatives would disseminate the IEC materials in strategic locations and organize community engagements and sensitization activities to ensure residents understood the messages.

The ceremony also featured the signing of the EWE Communication Protocol and Community Disaster Preparedness and Response Plans by community leaders and disaster management committees, alongside the formal handover of the intervention outputs and materials to the beneficiary communities. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/65996

The Media Reform Coordinating Group (MRCG) has expressed serious concern over persistent threats, intimidation, harassment and attacks against journalists in Sierra Leone, revealing that 109 cases of alleged press freedom violations have been documented since 2018.

In a statement issued on Monday, 2 November 2026, marking the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, MRCG called on the Government and relevant authorities to strengthen journalist protection, investigate reported violations and ensure accountability for crimes committed against media practitioners.

The organisation joined the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) and other international media freedom organisations in commemorating the day under the theme, "Threats Evolve. Impunity Endures."

MRCG maintained that journalists continue to face physical attacks, intimidation, harassment, cyberbullying and other forms of threats that undermine their independence and ability to report on matters of public interest.

According to the organisation, protecting journalists remains essential to strengthening democracy, promoting transparency and ensuring public accountability.

Providing details of its monitoring activities, MRCG disclosed that its Sixteenth Edition Report on Press Freedom in Sierra Leone documented 109 cases involving alleged violations against journalists and other media practitioners.

The organisation reported that 72 cases had been concluded, settled, resolved or dropped, while nine remained before the courts and 27 were under police investigation or classified as inconclusive. It also referenced nine abandoned cases.

However, the reported categories total 117, exceeding the stated figure of 109. The discrepancy requires clarification to establish the accurate number and status of documented cases.

Among the incidents highlighted were the reported intrusion by Sierra Leone Police personnel into the offices of Voice of Salone Newspaper, a court matter involving a cinematographer and alleged threats against journalists Thomas Dixon and Victor Jones.

MRCG attributed the reported threats against Dixon and Jones to Moses Mambu, National Publicity Secretary of the ruling Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP). The allegations remain subject to appropriate investigation and due process.

The organisation emphasized that ending impunity requires effective investigations, prosecution of offenders and appropriate remedies for victims rather than public condemnation alone.

Its concerns come amid broader challenges confronting press freedom in Sierra Leone. The 2026 World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders ranked Sierra Leone 79th out of 180 countries, compared with 56th in 2025.

Despite the repeal of criminal libel provisions in 2020, concerns persist over political pressure, journalist safety, digital harassment and institutional accountability.

MRCG consequently urged the Government, security agencies, judiciary, media institutions and civil society organisations to strengthen cooperation in protecting journalists and promoting digital security.

The organisation reaffirmed its commitment to working with SLAJ and other stakeholders to defend press freedom and ensure journalists perform their professional responsibilities without fear of intimidation, harassment or reprisals.

It stressed that meaningful protection of journalists requires sustained institutional action, accountability and justice, warning that continued impunity threatens freedom of expression, democratic governance and the public's right to information. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/65991

The Ministry of Health has officially reopened the rehabilitated Gbondapi Community Health Centre in Kpanga Chiefdom, Pujehun District, marking another significant intervention aimed at improving maternal and newborn healthcare services in underserved communities across southern Sierra Leone.

The facility, commissioned on Saturday, 31 October 2026, under the leadership of Minister of Health, Dr Austin Demby, is expected to provide essential healthcare services to more than 9,067 residents across 14 communities, including hard-to-reach riverine settlements in Pujehun and neighbouring Bonthe District.

The rehabilitation, undertaken through the Ministry's Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Project, has considerably improved the centre's infrastructure and capacity to provide Basic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (BEmONC) services.

Major improvements include expanded labour and delivery rooms, modern toilets and shower facilities, solar-powered electricity, air-conditioning, improved drainage systems and paved surroundings, creating a safer and more comfortable environment for patients and healthcare workers.

The facility has also been equipped with four delivery beds, nine postnatal beds, three birth-waiting-home spaces, two ultrasound scanners, two oxygen concentrators and two pulse oximeters to strengthen pregnancy monitoring, childbirth assistance and emergency medical interventions.

Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, Chief Medical Officer Dr Mustapha Sundifu Kabba reaffirmed the Government's commitment to strengthening primary healthcare services, particularly in remote communities where access to skilled medical attention remains challenging.

He emphasized the importance of qualified healthcare personnel, functional ambulance and referral systems, proper equipment maintenance and community participation in ensuring sustainable healthcare delivery.

Dr Mustapha Sundifu Kabba also encouraged traditional authorities and residents to protect the rehabilitated facility and support healthcare workers in maintaining effective service delivery.

Delivering the keynote address, Minister of Health, Dr Austin Demby, described the rehabilitation as an important investment in reducing preventable maternal and newborn deaths.

He urged healthcare workers to demonstrate professionalism, compassion and dedication while encouraging pregnant women to attend antenatal appointments regularly and deliver at health facilities under skilled supervision.

Dr Austin Demby further disclosed that a proposed 100-bed hospital, approximately five kilometres from Gbondapi, remains under consideration as part of efforts to expand healthcare infrastructure in the area.

According to Ministry of Health statistics, the centre recorded 379 facility-based deliveries between October 2025 and September 2026, achieving 101 per cent of its delivery target. During the same period, it registered 401 first antenatal visits and 364 fourth antenatal visits.

Despite those achievements, staff accommodation, adequate deployment of healthcare professionals and the pin-coding of eligible health workers remain priorities requiring attention.

The reopening also supports the Ministry's 300-Days Activism for Triple Zero campaign, which targets zero preventable maternal deaths, zero preventable child deaths and improved immunization coverage for zero-dose children.

For residents of Gbondapi and surrounding communities, the rehabilitated centre represents renewed hope for safer childbirth, improved newborn care and greater access to essential healthcare services closer to home. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/65990

A coalition of media organisations has convened a national town hall meeting in Freetown, bringing together representatives of Statistics Sierra Leone, political parties, electoral authorities, civil society and members of the public to examine preparations for the 2026 Population and Housing Census, amid concerns over transparency, credibility and an estimated US$19 million funding gap discussed during the engagement.

The meeting, held on Friday, October 30, 2026, at the New Brookfields Hotel, was organized by Liberty Online TV, Truth Media, Sierra Eye Magazine, Sierra Check and Engage Salone, in collaboration with the Institute for Legal Research and Advocacy for Justice (ILRAJ).

Held under the theme, "Counted and Represented: The 2026 Census in Sierra Leone," the engagement provided a platform for citizens to question officials about the country's readiness for the nationwide exercise scheduled to begin in December.

Delivering the welcome address, Edward Kargbo, Chairman of the Media Coalition and representative of Engage Salone, underscored the importance of public education, transparency and citizen participation in ensuring a credible census.

He encouraged participants to seek clarification on issues surrounding the exercise, emphasizing that accurate population statistics are essential for effective national development planning and equitable resource allocation.

The panel featured Abdulai Salia Brima, National Census Coordinator and Director of Censuses and GIS at Statistics Sierra Leone; Alex Saffa, Electoral Commissioner for the Eastern Province; Ahmed Saybom Kanu, Census Focal Person representing the Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP); and Leonard Balogun Koroma, Chairman of the All People's Congress (APC) 2026 Census Committee.

Political scientist Lena Thompson and data analyst Joel Abdul Kallon also participated, while Kadijah Bangura and Mabel Kabba of Liberty Online TV moderated the discussions.

A major concern raised during the engagement was the estimated US$19 million financing gap, prompting questions about funding commitments, expenditure management, procurement procedures and accountability mechanisms.

Participants sought assurances that financial constraints would not compromise the quality, independence or nationwide coverage of the census.

Earlier reports indicated that the exercise could cost approximately US$37 million, with the Government committing US$24 million and development partners pledging approximately US$1.5 million. The different financial figures discussed reinforced demands for clearer public disclosure of funding requirements and available resources.

Technical preparedness also featured prominently, particularly ongoing cartographic mapping, personnel recruitment, training, pilot exercises and the planned introduction of electronic tablets using Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing technology.

Political representatives discussed the importance of cross-party cooperation in strengthening public confidence and preventing misinformation surrounding the exercise.

The engagement further highlighted the distinction between population enumeration and voter registration, stressing that both exercises serve different institutional and national purposes.

With Census Night scheduled for December 1 and nationwide enumeration expected to commence on December 2, participants emphasized the need for adequate financing, effective public sensitization and credible monitoring arrangements.

The town hall concluded with renewed emphasis on institutional accountability, political cooperation and citizen participation as essential requirements for producing reliable population statistics capable of supporting Sierra Leone's development priorities. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/65985

Government Chief Forensic Pathologist and Chief Medical Examiner, Dr Simeon Owizz Koroma, has presented detailed medical evidence concerning the death of 17-year-old Tujah Sesay, revealing extensive injuries allegedly sustained during a violent assault on July 23, 2024.

The testimony was delivered during the ongoing murder trial of Tommy Alusine, popularly known as Alhaji, who is facing a murder charge under Section 1 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, as repealed and replaced by Section 1(a) of the Schedule to the Abolition of the Death Penalty Act 2022.

Appearing as a prosecution witness, Dr Simeon Owizz Koroma informed the court that he conducted a post-mortem examination on July 26, 2024, after the deceased's body was taken to the Connaught Teaching Hospital Complex mortuary.

According to his testimony, Tujah Sesay was allegedly subjected to a severe physical assault at approximately 10:50 p.m. on July 23, 2024, and died shortly afterwards.

Describing his findings, the pathologist disclosed that the external examination revealed a substantial haematoma on the right side of the head, bleeding from the ears, nostrils and mouth, bloodshot and sunken eyes, a bitten tongue and a two-centimetre laceration on the lower lip.

He further identified swelling around the neck, fingernail scratches and injuries on both sides of the deceased's hands, which he described as defensive wounds.

Additional examinations revealed multiple bruises and fractures affecting the left upper arm and forearm, alongside serious fractures involving the right thigh and lower leg.

Dr Simeon Owizz Koroma told the court that the internal examination uncovered extensive skull fractures measuring approximately 26 centimetres, accompanied by massive bleeding within the brain.

He also discovered severe fractures and dislocations throughout the spinal column, spinal cord injuries and extensive damage to structures within the neck, including the hyoid bone and laryngeal cartilages.

The pathologist maintained that the deceased had no underlying medical condition capable of causing or accelerating her death.

Based on his findings, he attributed the death to massive intracerebral haemorrhage resulting from skull fractures, neurogenic shock associated with spinal injuries and asphyxia caused by manual strangulation.

He consequently classified the death as unnatural and homicidal.

During cross-examination, defence counsel C. Taylor Young of the Legal Aid Board questioned whether the injuries could have been inflicted by several individuals rather than one person.

The lawyer particularly challenged the witness on whether the number of persons involved could be established without DNA testing.

Responding, Dr Simeon Owizz Koroma clarified that his examination did not identify any individual responsible for the injuries. He confirmed that no DNA examination had been requested or conducted.

He emphasized that his conclusions concerned the medical cause and manner of death, rather than the identity or number of potential perpetrators.

The proceedings highlighted the distinction between forensic medical findings and evidence establishing criminal responsibility.

The matter was subsequently adjourned to November 10, 2026, for further proceedings. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/65983