By: Hafsatu Z Bangura
Presidential Spokesman Dr Alhaji Alpha Kanu lavished praises on President Julius Maada Bio as a man of peace and who has brought peace to this nation; he made this statement at the weekly presser held at the Ministry of Information and Communications Conference Hall, Youyi building in Freetown.
He said Sierra Leone has been described as the most peaceful country fourth time in a row before the unprecedented insurrection on August 10th due to unsubstantiated social media claims of economic hardship and an unsuccessful scheme to overthrow his Excellency President Julius Maada Bio.
Dr. Alpha Kanu said over the years, being close with the President, and before his appointment known him as a man of peace, and has displayed such traits serving as President of the country so diligently.
He went on that, Sierra Leone is blessed to have a President who is looking in the right direction and that he said is the ‘’New Direction’’ and as a country, if we are united, we are a peaceful, loving nation. The Presidential Spokesman went on that President Julius Maada is a man devoid of tribalism, as he said his government is inclusive of Ministers from the north and west who are excellently serving the country.
Dr. Alhaji Alpha Kanu listed 30 names of significant north/western appointments made by President Bio accordingly are Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, Honorable Abass Bundu, Alpha Tejan Wurie, Alpha Timbo, Kanja Ibrahim Sesay, Peter Bayoku Conteh, Mohamed Orman Bangura, Brigadier Rtd Kellie Conteh, Abu Koroma, Ambassador Foday Yumkella, Umaru Napoleon Koroma, himself and many more, this he said shows that the President devoid of race, religion, and tribe appointed these Ministers to be a part of his government and that such display of patriotism shows a true leader who described as selfless and peace-loving.
Keynote speaker at the press conference Minister of Social Welfare Dr. Baindu Dassama, disclosed the situation of children in custody over the August 10th Insurrection and described these children as victims not criminals and that ways of reuniting these children with their families are ongoing.
She said on the 18th of July 2022 President Julius Maada Bio signed into law the Anti-Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Act, Act No12 of 2022, and went on that the Ministry of Social Welfare and Task Force is commencing the popularization of the new law.
Madam Baindu Dassama said amongst key provisions, said the funding will be provided for victims of anti-human trafficking and migrant smuggling and that a minimum sentence of 25 years Custodian sentenced for a person engaged in the Act of Human Trafficking and 7 years Custodian sentenced for persons found guilty of Migrant Smuggling.
She adds that trials of these events are to be tried at the High court, and that it’s time to go after these agents and their partners involved in these acts in the name of facilitating travel programs for innocent Sierra Leonean and that the chapter also has protection clause for children in prostitution who have been exploited.
Furthermore, she said a lot of Sierra Leoneans are exploited and smuggled to countries in the guise of better job opportunities or better education.
Officially, the Minister launched the Anti-Human Trafficking Public Education Campaign and the Anti-Migrant Smuggling and the 134 Hotline for reported cases of human trafficking and migrant smuggling, the 134 hotlines are connected to all mobile networks.
