Social Linkages for Youth Development and Child Link (SLYDCL) has renewed its call for a review of Sierra Leone’s drug laws through an appeal to the newly appointed Executive Director of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Prince Bull-Luceni.

The call was contained in a policy brief presented to Prince Bull-Luceni during a courtesy visit by the organisation to his office.

Prince Bull-Luceni was appointed on August 11, 2026, as part of the latest high-profile changes in Government announced in a press release issued by State House. Before his appointment, he served as Deputy Executive Director of the NDLEA.

The SLYDCL delegation, headed by its Executive Director, Habib T. Kamara, congratulated Prince Bull-Luceni on his appointment and expressed the organization’s commitment to continued collaboration with the Agency in addressing drug-related challenges across the country.

SLYDCL is a Civil Society Organisation focused on combating drug and substance abuse. It provides medical care, rehabilitation support and education to at-risk young people and children affected by drugs.

The organisation is also a major stakeholder in Sierra Leone’s fight against drug abuse, promoting evidence-based, human rights-centred and public-health approaches to drug prevention and control.

Prince Bull-Luceni assumes leadership of the country’s anti-drug Agency at a time when Sierra Leone is battling a serious drug and substance abuse crisis, which campaigners say requires significant reforms in the national response.

SLYDCL said its 15-page policy brief on the review of the National Drugs Control Act of 2008 highlights key areas requiring reform to ensure that Sierra Leone’s legal and policy framework responds effectively to the country’s changing drug situation.

The document focuses on the need to strengthen prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, harm reduction, recovery and the social reintegration of people affected by drug use. Reform of the law has remained a major demand of SLYDCL and other Civil Society Organisations working in the anti-drug sector.

Campaigners argue that the existing legislation has outlived its relevance and does not adequately distinguish between people who use drugs and those involved in the manufacture or trafficking of illegal substances.

A major concern is that the legislation places possession and personal use within the same criminal framework as broader drug offences. It provides for a prison sentence of not less than five years for the unlawful buying, selling, possession, control or use of drugs.

However, another provision of the same Act provides a basis for a more health-oriented response. Part IV calls for the treatment and rehabilitation of offenders through mechanisms such as treatment assessment panels, treatment orders and the suspension of penalties.

Campaigners say the apparent contradiction between the punitive and treatment-oriented provisions has hindered efforts to establish an effective and balanced drug-control system in Sierra Leone.

SLYDCL stressed that although the law remains an important foundation for controlling illicit drug trafficking and organized drug-related crimes, the changing nature of the crisis requires a review of the approaches contained in the current legislative framework.

“Sierra Leone’s drug situation has changed substantially since 2008. The country is now confronting increasingly diverse and unpredictable substances, including the synthetic-drug crisis associated with Kush, while also expanding efforts around treatment, rehabilitation, harm reduction, HIV prevention, overdose prevention and community-based services,” the executive summary of the policy brief stated. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/64815

 

The Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) has commenced engagements with a delegation from the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC) as part of a five-day post-election follow-up and needs assessment mission in Freetown.

The mission, which runs from September 21 to 25, 2026, provides an opportunity for ECSL, ECOWAS and ECONEC to review Sierra Leone’s 2023 General Elections, assess progress made in strengthening electoral administration and identify institutional and technical priorities ahead of the 2028 Multi-tier Elections.

ECONEC brings together Election Management Bodies within the Economic Community of West African States and serves as a platform for regional cooperation, peer learning, professional development and the exchange of experiences and good practices in electoral administration.

Welcoming the ECOWAS and ECONEC delegation on Monday, September 21, 2026, the Chief Electoral Commissioner and Chairman of ECSL, Edmond Sylvester Alpha, said the engagement comes at an important stage in Sierra Leone’s electoral development.

Edmond Sylvester Alpha said the mission provides the Commission with an opportunity to reflect on its recent electoral experience, take stock of measures undertaken to strengthen electoral administration and examine the priorities and challenges that must be addressed ahead of the next electoral cycle.

He stated that ECSL attaches great importance to its relationship with ECOWAS and ECONEC, noting that regional cooperation, peer learning and the sharing of good practices among Election Management Bodies are essential to strengthening democratic governance and professional electoral administration across West Africa.

Reflecting on the 2023 General Elections, Edmond Sylvester Alpha described the polls as an important milestone in Sierra Leone’s democratic journey, marking the country’s fifth consecutive nationwide elections since the end of the civil war in 2002.

He recalled that the ECOWAS Election Observation Mission recognizes that the electoral process, in many respects, provides citizens with opportunities to exercise their democratic rights. However, the mission also identified challenges, particularly the highly polarized political environment and mistrust among several critical stakeholders.

According to Edmond Sylvester Alpha, the observations and recommendations of the ECOWAS mission remain important reference points for institutional learning and continuous improvement within ECSL.

He highlighted recommendations relating to stakeholder engagement, transparency in results management, the identification and training of polling personnel and improvements to the voting environment.

The Chief Electoral Commissioner stressed that public confidence in elections is not built only on Election Day, but progressively throughout the electoral cycle through transparent procedures, effective communication, stakeholder engagement, professional administration, credible information and accountability.

Edmond Sylvester Alpha also highlighted the Commission’s efforts to implement recommendations arising from the July 2024 Cross-Party Committee Agreement, particularly those intended to rebuild stakeholder trust, strengthen engagement and promote informed participation in the electoral process.

He said ECSL has continued to strengthen stakeholder engagement and electoral education to ensure that political parties, candidates, Civil Society Organisations, the media, traditional and religious leaders, security institutions and citizens are adequately informed about electoral laws, procedures and institutional responsibilities.

On institutional capacity, Edmond Sylvester Alpha said the Commission continues to invest in the professional development of its staff. He cited ECSL’s participation in an ECONEC-sponsored BRIDGE Train-the-Facilitator session held in Lagos, Nigeria, in 2024.

The Commission also benefited from a European Union-sponsored BRIDGE Modular Session on “Introduction to Electoral Administration,” implemented by International IDEA between March and April 2025. More than 45 ECSL staff members recruited since 2016 acquired structured technical knowledge of electoral administration through the programme.

Edmond Sylvester Alpha further disclosed that the Public Sector Reform Unit is conducting a functional review of ECSL’s management systems and processes. The review covers the Commission’s organizational structure, management systems, functional arrangements, institutional roles and responsibilities.

He expressed hope that the outcome of the review would help improve ECSL’s effectiveness and strengthen its capacity to discharge its constitutional and statutory responsibilities.

Turning to the 2028 Multi-tier Elections, Edmond Sylvester Alpha said the Commission recognizes the complexity involved in conducting multi-tier elections and the importance of beginning preparations early and implementing them in a carefully coordinated manner.

He explained that preparations would cover electoral boundary delimitation, voter registration and centre verification, candidate nominations, voter and civic education, campaign-period activities, recruitment and training of temporary personnel, polling and counting, results management, logistics, technology, electoral security, stakeholder engagement and post-election evaluation.

The Chief Electoral Commissioner also drew attention to the ongoing constitutional review process, saying ECSL is awaiting the completion of the parliamentary stage and the determination of any constitutional and electoral reforms that may emerge.

He noted that, depending on the outcome, the reforms could have implications for the Commission’s mandate, institutional arrangements, procedures and operations.

Edmond Sylvester Alpha further stated that modern electoral administration increasingly requires electoral institutions to understand and respond effectively to emerging technologies, digital information environments and new forms of operational risk.

He described ECOWAS and ECONEC as important platforms through which Election Management Bodies can learn from electoral experiences, innovations and challenges across the region.

Looking towards 2028, Edmond Sylvester Alpha said ECSL remains committed to learning from experience, strengthening its institutional systems and preparing systematically for the future.

He said the road to 2028 should not be regarded merely as preparation for another election, but as an opportunity to further strengthen professional electoral administration, stakeholder confidence, informed participation, institutional resilience, technological readiness and democratic governance.

Edmond Sylvester Alpha expressed appreciation to ECOWAS, ECONEC, the European Union, International IDEA and other regional and international partners for their continued technical cooperation and institutional support.

He concluded by expressing hope that the mission would produce frank, constructive and forward-looking discussions and further strengthen cooperation among ECSL, ECOWAS and ECONEC in support of credible, peaceful, inclusive and professionally administered elections in Sierra Leone and across West Africa. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/64810

 

President Dr Julius Maada Bio has called for a fundamental shift in Africa’s management of its mineral resources, urging countries to process and transform their minerals on the continent instead of continuing to export them in raw form.

President Julius Maada Bio made the call during a fireside chat at UNSTOPPABLE AFRICA 2026 in New York, United States, on Sunday, September 20, 2026. He became the first African Head of State to participate in this year’s programme.

President Julius Maada Bio said Africa’s vast mineral wealth should serve as a foundation for industrialization, economic transformation and inclusive development. He stressed that expanding mineral processing and manufacturing within Africa would promote value addition, strengthen national economies and create meaningful employment opportunities, particularly for the continent’s growing youth population.

The President also called for increased investment in infrastructure across key sectors, noting that modern and reliable infrastructure is essential to unlocking Africa’s productive potential and supporting sustainable economic growth.

“Africa must move beyond the extraction and export of raw materials. We must process and transform our minerals on the continent while investing in the infrastructure needed to drive value addition, strengthen our economies and create meaningful jobs and opportunities for our young people,” President Julius Maada Bio stated.

Following the fireside chat, President Julius Maada Bio attended the high-level opening ceremony of UNSTOPPABLE AFRICA 2026, which brought together United Nations leaders, former African Presidents, prominent African business executives and representatives of leading financial institutions.

United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres and Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, addressed the opening ceremony, highlighting the importance of strong African leadership, effective global partnerships and bold investments in advancing the continent’s development.

UNSTOPPABLE AFRICA 2026 is being held under the theme: “Powering Business, Scaling Economies, Shaping the Future.” The event is organized by the United Nations Global Compact and jointly convened by the United Nations and the African Union. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/64806

 

The Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority (SLCAA) has held a two-day Safety Management and Occurrence Reporting Workshop aimed at strengthening aviation safety, improving risk management and promoting the timely reporting of safety-related occurrences.

The workshop brought together representatives from the Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority, Sierra Leone Airports Authority, Sierra Leone Handling Partners, Freetown International Airport and Roberts Flight Information Region. Their participation reflects the importance of cooperation among regulators, airport operators, ground-handling companies and air-navigation service providers in maintaining a safe aviation system.

Director General of the Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority, Musayeroh Barrie, said the engagement forms part of the institution’s commitment to strengthening proactive safety management, effective risk control and timely occurrence reporting across the aviation sector.

Musayeroh Barrie explained that the workshop provides an opportunity for participating institutions to deepen their understanding of aviation hazards, assess operational risks and strengthen the procedures used to report and address safety concerns.

According to Musayeroh Barrie, collaboration among the participating institutions is essential to building a stronger safety culture and ensuring safer skies in Sierra Leone.

Discussions during the workshop focused on hazard identification, risk assessment, incident prevention, safety-data collection and the proper documentation and analysis of operational occurrences. Participants also examined how improved information-sharing can help aviation institutions identify potential dangers and introduce corrective measures before they develop into serious incidents or accidents.

Occurrence reporting is an important component of aviation safety management because it enables regulators and service providers to collect information about incidents, operational irregularities and potentially unsafe conditions. The information gathered can be analyzed to identify recurring problems, emerging risks and areas requiring corrective action.

The workshop also promoted the principle of a “just culture,” which encourages aviation personnel to report genuine safety concerns without fear of unfair punishment, while maintaining accountability for deliberate misconduct or serious violations of established procedures.

An effective Safety Management System requires aviation institutions to establish clear responsibilities, develop safety policies, introduce risk-control measures and continuously monitor their safety performance. It also encourages organisations to move beyond reacting to accidents by identifying and managing risks before they cause harm.

The engagement supports Sierra Leone’s State Safety Programme, which provides a framework for regulating and managing aviation safety in accordance with International Civil Aviation Organization standards. Under the framework, the Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority exercises regulatory oversight, while aviation service providers are expected to establish and maintain effective Safety Management Systems.

The participation of Roberts Flight Information Region was particularly important because aviation safety requires coordination beyond individual airports and national institutions. Effective cooperation in airspace management, occurrence reporting and the exchange of safety information can help reduce risks across interconnected aviation operations.

By bringing the institutions together, the two-day workshop strengthened shared responsibility, institutional coordination and risk-based decision-making within Sierra Leone’s aviation industry.

The initiative demonstrates the Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority’s continued commitment to protecting passengers, aviation personnel and the wider public while promoting safer airport operations and more secure skies across the country. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/64804

 

International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva, has commended President Dr. Julius Maada Bio for Sierra Leone’s impressive progress in macroeconomic consolidation.

Kristalina Georgieva made the remarks during a bilateral meeting with President Bio on the margins of the 81st United Nations General Assembly on Monday, September 21, 2026, in New York, United States.

She noted that Sierra Leone had made significant progress in its partnership with the IMF despite pressures arising from challenging global economic conditions.

“This is a difficult time for Governments everywhere, particularly because of the rising cost of energy,” Kristalina Georgieva said.

She reaffirmed the IMF’s commitment to supporting the Government of Sierra Leone in further improving the country’s investment climate. She also emphasized the need for the Fund to communicate proactively about Sierra Leone’s progress and the reforms undertaken by the Government.

During the meeting, President Bio formally introduced Sierra Leone’s new Minister of Finance, Karefa A.F. Kargbo, who also serves as the country’s Governor to the IMF.

The President reaffirmed his Government’s commitment to the sustained implementation of prudent economic policies as a foundation for sustainable economic growth and job creation.

“The IMF has been a very reliable partner in these efforts, and you, in particular, have been very supportive throughout my presidency,” President Bio told Kristalina Georgieva.

He thanked the IMF Managing Director for her support in facilitating the IMF Executive Board’s approval of the third review of Sierra Leone’s performance under the ongoing Extended Credit Facility programme, as well as the simultaneous approval of the Resilience and Sustainability Facility.

President Bio also briefed Kristalina Georgieva on progress made in implementing various structural benchmarks. He disclosed that the Ministry of Finance is introducing new revenue-enhancing measures to strengthen domestic revenue mobilization.

The President further highlighted the impact of the crisis in the Middle East on Sierra Leone’s economy, noting that the Government had made significant progress in stabilizing the economy over the past two years.

“By the end of 2025, inflation had fallen to 4.4 per cent, its lowest level in decades. The exchange rate remained stable, the fiscal deficit narrowed, the trade deficit declined, public debt began to stabilize and foreign reserves recovered slightly,” President Bio said.

“However, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the resulting disruption to oil supplies led to a sharp rise in international oil prices. This translated into higher domestic fuel prices and increased transport costs, as well as higher costs for producing and distributing goods and services. These developments have reignited inflationary pressures,” he added.

The meeting underscored the continued cooperation between Sierra Leone and the IMF as the Government pursues economic reforms, strengthens fiscal management and works to create conditions for inclusive and sustainable growth. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/64801

 

President Dr Julius Maada Bio has warned African countries against repeating historical economic patterns in the emerging artificial intelligence era, urging the continent to play a greater role in developing, governing and benefiting from technologies that will increasingly shape the global economy.

President Bio made the statement on Monday, September 21, 2026, during a high-level roundtable on artificial intelligence convened by Kenyan President William Ruto on the margins of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Addressing Heads of State and Government and other distinguished participants, President Bio raised a fundamental question about Africa’s place in the AI revolution: whether the continent would simply consume technologies developed elsewhere or assume a meaningful role in building and governing them.

He noted that although no African country could build the entire AI ecosystem alone, the continent should not accept a future in which its infrastructure, models, data and AI governance rules are largely determined elsewhere.

“We have another choice. We can build what we can build ourselves, work together where scale is necessary, protect what is sovereign and engage the rest of the world on terms that reflect our interests,” he said.

President Bio described the approach as “shared sovereignty,” arguing that African countries could achieve greater capacity and resilience by cooperating in areas where scale is necessary while retaining control over matters of national interest.

He highlighted Africa’s significant infrastructure gap, noting that although the continent is home to roughly one-fifth of humanity, it accounts for only a fraction of global data-centre capacity.

Turning to Sierra Leone, President Bio disclosed that the country is developing its first national AI strategy with support from the World Bank Group. He acknowledged the realities confronting the country, including limited internet access, particularly outside urban centres.

He stressed that Sierra Leone’s AI solutions must be adapted to local realities by working on mobile devices, functioning in low-bandwidth environments, understanding African languages and contexts, and ultimately improving people’s lives.

“For me, that is the real test. Can a farmer get better information about his crops? Can a health worker make a better-informed decision? Can a teacher use these tools to help a child learn? Can a citizen access a public service more easily?” President Bio asked.

He also called for innovative approaches to digital infrastructure, especially for smaller economies, arguing that countries should consider properly governed regional infrastructure where it could deliver greater security, resilience and capacity.

President Bio disclosed that Sierra Leone had been exploring the concept of regional data embassies, under which a country could host critical public data in another participating state while retaining clearly defined legal jurisdiction and control over that data.

“The principle is simple: sovereignty should travel with the law, not simply with the building,” he stated.

Addressing the economic implications of AI, President Bio warned that Africa must avoid reproducing the extractive patterns associated with previous economic eras.

“For generations, we have exported raw materials and imported much of the value created from them. We should be careful not to do the same thing with data,” he cautioned.

The President observed that Africa’s minerals would help power the infrastructure on which AI depends, while African people would generate the data from which AI systems learn. He therefore called for greater investment in African talent, research institutions, languages, datasets and innovation ecosystems, alongside strong protections for citizens’ privacy and rights.

He described the objective as moving “from mine to model,” ensuring that Africa participates in more stages of the value chain—from the minerals powering digital infrastructure to the models and technologies shaping the global digital economy.

On global AI governance, President Bio urged African countries to participate actively in establishing the rules governing artificial intelligence instead of waiting until major decisions had already been made.

He called for practical cooperation among interested African countries in areas including access to computing capacity, data governance, interoperability, capacity-building, safety and regulatory approaches that African institutions could realistically implement.

“That is why I believe there is merit in beginning work among interested African countries on a practical framework for shared AI sovereignty,” he said.

President Bio also invited Governments, investors and businesses to continue the discussions in Sierra Leone during the inaugural West Africa Integration and Investment Summit, scheduled for November 17 and 18, 2026. Digital transformation will be one of the summit’s four principal pillars.

He said the summit would provide an opportunity for participating countries and partners to move beyond declarations and facilitate concrete projects and partnerships.

“So, what we discuss here in New York as principle, let us begin testing in Freetown as practice,” President Bio stated.

Concluding his remarks, the President reiterated that Africa’s future in the AI era should be defined by cooperation without surrendering its agency.

“Our generation inherited an Africa whose raw materials too often created greater prosperity elsewhere than they did at home. We should not leave the next generation an Africa whose data, knowledge and intelligence do the same,” he said.

President Bio maintained that sovereignty did not mean doing everything alone, but having the capacity to choose, the ability to contribute and the power to determine the terms on which countries work with others.

“That is the kind of shared sovereignty Sierra Leone is ready to pursue with you,” President Bio concluded. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/64794

 

The dispute over the political affiliation of Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) presidential flagbearer aspirant Hon. Alhaji Musa Tarawally has taken a new turn, with a former Chairman of the Citizens Democratic Party (CDP), Gibril Thullah, maintaining that Hon. Alhaji Musa Tarawally resigned from the CDP in 2018 and joined the SLPP.

Gibril Thullah, who also described himself as an ex-officio member of the CDP, made the disclosure during an exclusive interview in which he recounted the circumstances surrounding the formation of the CDP coalition and its participation in the 2018 presidential election.

According to Gibril Thullah, several political parties came together under the CDP ahead of the 2018 elections and agreed that Hon. Alhaji Musa Tarawally should lead the coalition. The coalition contested the election but failed to secure enough votes to proceed to the second round.

Gibril Thullah said that following the first round, the CDP leadership held discussions on the political direction the coalition should take, including whether it should support the SLPP and its presidential candidate, Julius Maada Bio, in the runoff election. He acknowledged that the proposal generated disagreements within the CDP executive, with some members supporting the idea while others opposed it.

He recalled that Hon. Alhaji Musa Tarawally subsequently took members of the CDP leadership to meet Julius Maada Bio, where they pledged their support for the SLPP candidate ahead of the runoff. Gibril Thullah said the decision contributed to a split within the CDP and eventually resulted in Hon. Alhaji Musa Tarawally being suspended from the party.

According to Gibril Thullah, the suspension was communicated to the Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC), now the Political Parties Regulation Commission, through a formal letter. He further stated that shortly afterwards, Hon. Alhaji Musa Tarawally submitted a resignation letter to the CDP.

Although the letter was not written on an official party letterhead, Gibril Thullah said the CDP at the time considered it a valid resignation and accepted that Hon. Alhaji Musa Tarawally had left the party.

The fresh account comes amid a dispute triggered by a September 17, 2026 letter from SLPP National Chairman Jimmy Batilo Songa, directing Hon. Alhaji Musa Tarawally to stop presenting himself as an SLPP member or presidential flagbearer aspirant. The directive followed correspondence dated September 3, 2026, from CDP National Secretary General Ibrahim Sorie Sesay, which reportedly stated that Hon. Alhaji Musa Tarawally remains a member of the CDP.

Hon. Alhaji Musa Tarawally has rejected that position, producing a resignation letter dated June 15, 2018, which he said was addressed to the CDP Secretary General and clearly stated his decision to resign and return to the SLPP.

Hon. Alhaji Musa Tarawally has maintained that he is a fully paid-up SLPP member, Grand Chief Patron and National Delegate. He also said he participated and voted at the party’s 2025 National Delegates Conference.

Hon. Alhaji Musa Tarawally has disputed the claim that he continued to belong to the CDP after 2018, saying he has neither paid membership dues nor attended meetings or participated in the party’s activities since his resignation. He described the allegations as untruthful and misleading and indicated that his legal team is considering possible legal and constitutional remedies.

The dispute has meanwhile exposed differing positions within the CDP itself. Four regional chairmen of the CDP subsequently rejected the assertion that Hon. Alhaji Musa Tarawally remains a member, stating that he resigned on June 15, 2018 and subsequently returned to the SLPP. They said they witnessed his return and public support for Julius Maada Bio during the 2018 runoff campaign.

Against that background, Gibril Thullah said he was not aware of any disconnect regarding the historical events. He insisted that his account reflects what transpired within the CDP following the 2018 election and that Hon. Alhaji Musa Tarawally’s resignation was accepted by the party at the time. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/64793