Russians To Rebuild Sierra Leone Railway

A high level Russian delegation led by the Vice President of the Russian railway system paid a courtesy call on H.E the President, Alhaji Dr Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, to explain to him what they have been doing in the country since their arrival.
The Vice President of the Russian Railway system accompanied by other high-ranking officials including the Russian Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Sierra Leone's Ambassador to Russia and Mr. Usman Boie-Kamara explained to President Kabbah the aerial ut inspection they have carried out throughout the country. They also informed President Kabbah of the aerial survey of the old railway tracks in Sierra Leone.

(30th May 2006)

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Sierra Leone Commercial Bank Presents Le5 Billion Dividend

The Sierra Leone Commercial Bank has presented a Le.5 Billion cheque to President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah as divided for year ending 2005.
Presenting the cheque to President Kabbah the Acting Chairman of the Board of Directors, Alhaji Gibril said the results of the banks operation in 2005 had been very encouraging and they continues to enjoy the confidence of the general public including major international institutions and organizations. He proudly stated that they remain the market's leaders in terms of the size of their assets and especially in the area of deposit mobilization.
Gains for 2005 included a 38% growth in their balance sheet, a 30% increase in deposits, and a 38% increase in loans. There was also an increase in the bank's profit before tax from Le11.4 billion in 2004 to Le12.01 billion in 2005. He said that the bank now operates eight branches country-wide and hopes to reopen the Njala branch which was closed in 1995 due to the war. He also stated that they hope to open a new branch in Mobimbi to serve the Sierra Rutile, Bauxite mines and the community, while the new bank building in Kenema is almost completed.

(30th May 2006)

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RokelCommercial Bank Presents Le 2 Billion Dividend

The Rokel Commercial Bank Ltd. on Monday 29th May 2007 presented a cheque of Le2,855,347,200 to President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah as dividend to the Government of Sierra Leone for the 2005 financial year.
At the presentation ceremony which took place at the State Lodge, the Chairman of the Board, Mr. Y.T. Sesay, said although there was a slight decrease in the dividend as compared to the previous year due to challenges the Bank faced in terms of fuel price and increase in inflation rate. The Rokel Commercial Bank however still made some gains in the area of infrastructure and staff training to meet current technological challenges. He said that the bank has opened a new branch at Congo Cross and plans are underway to reopen the Makeni branch

(29th May 2006)

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President Kabbah Opens Mercy Ship Fistula Centre

Vesico-Vaginal Fistula (VVF), a condition which affects women of child-bearing age and which is caused during child birth, had been a condition that many of Sierra Leone's women and indeed many other women on the African Continent had lived with for time unknown. Although a preventable condition, the lack of aid in suitable treatment had made the women endure the shame and physical discomfort of this condition for life.
Mercy Ships, an international humanitarian medical team, finally came to the aid of Sierra Leone's women when in 2001 the Mercy Ship, Anastas visited Sierra Leone and at the request of government and NGOs on the VVF issue, the first VVF surgeries were conducted on board the ship at the port of Freetown. After four years of operation in Sierra Leone, through the efforts of Mr. Vincent Kanu, erstwhile Managing Director of National Petroleum (NP), and with funding from Addax and Oryx Foundation of Switzerland and in collaboration with Rotary International of Britain and Ireland, the Mercy Ship has built a Fistula Centre, including Community Clinic for children and the Hostel of Hope for Fistula patients at Aberdeen village. Since the completion of the construction of the complex in April 2005, over 500 women have received VVF surgeries.
President Kabbah together with Vice President Berewa, was at Aberdeen to officially open the Centre, Clinic and the 44-bed Hostel on Tuesday 23rd May 2006.
Click Here For President Kabbah's Speech
(23rd May 2006)

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4th Anniversary Of Food Security Pledge

Four years ago, on 19th May 2002 during the inauguration of his second term of office, President Alhaji Dr. Ahmad Tejan Kabbah pledged to work harder so that by the end of his term in 2007, "No Sierra Leonean should go to bed hungry".
This drive to ensure Food Security for Sierra Leone since then had been topmost in government's priority, second only to national security. For four years the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security in collaboration with various partners and stakeholders have been working relentlessly to provide the enabling environment for achieving President Kabbah dream of Food Security.
On Friday, 19th May 2006, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security in collaboration with its various partners and stakeholders held a National Symposium at the Bintumani Hotel, Aberdeen Freetown, to assess gains made and lessons learnt after four years of ardent work towards achieving food security for all Sierra Leoneans.
Click Here For President Kabbah's Speech
(19th May 2006)

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British High Commissioner Takes Leave

The British High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, Dr. John Michiner has taken leave of President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah after ending his tour of duty in Sierra Leone.
President Kabbah expressed deep appreciation to Dr. Mitchiner for identifying with Sierra Leone's problems and for all his contribution to ensuring that Sierra Leone's peace process was a success. The President particularly remembered the weekly meetings held with the High Commissioner where they discussed openly and frankly. He described the meetings as productive and hoped for his successor to continue in the same vein.

(11th May 2006)

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