Archive for January, 2010
Registering A Business In Salone – A 1-Day Wonder?
January 28th, 2010 | 
Author: Errrrhhh…..well no! It takes more than a day and infact I’ll recount here my experience of registering a new business here in Sierra Leone – For those of you in the UK, it’s similar to setting up your company at companies house and getting a certificate for it. As write, I’m still in the process of getting the registration. This is my first post about it, will write
OK, I went to the Business Registration Center (NRA) on Tuesday the 26th Of January, 2010. First of all, there were so many people in front of the building, I wasn’t sure what they were doing there. When I entered, I wasn’t sure where to go: there wasn’t any obvious receptionist or any visible directions for those who want to set up. What was available, though, were posters on the wall stipulating the various costs involved. This is a good as it’ll cut down on a great deal of backhandedness. (“For lack of knowledge….”)
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The Prodigal Sons Of Africa?
Just came across this and has set me thinking all day….about our African brothers and sisters suffering abroad..
African Immigrants Revolt in Italy (go here to read the full story)
“This event pulled the lid off something that we who work in the sector know well but no one talks about: That many Italian economic realities are based on the exploitation of low-cost foreign labor, living in subhuman conditions, without human rights,” Flavio Di Giacomo, spokesman for the International Organization for Migration in Italy, told the Times.
What is SO bad in Africa that some Africans will rather live in semi-slavery, unwanted, despised and rejected in another man’s country
Only tolerated because of the profit you’ll make your boss???
Perhaps you can shed more light on this.(Leave a comment)
The reason why I love the prodigal son story is that, when things got bad HE DID NOT STAY IN THE RUT, he believed that he’d get better treatment in his own home and country and at least some proper food and dignity. And what did he do? He humbled himself and went home.
If you’re reading this and perhaps suffering abroad (may be not to this extent), perhaps it’s time to start thinking about home….
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Business Bomba Finale…And The Winner Is…
The Business Bomba Finale took place at last! at Family Kingdom on Friday 15th Jan(it was postponed from the 18th December) and His Excellency The President, Earnest Bai Koroma graced
the occasion with his presence in order to encourage entrepreneurship in Sierra Leone. 
Other government officials present included the Prime Minister, Alhaji Sam Sumana and the minister of Trade, Mr David Carew. Also present were representitives of donors to the project: Mr Dominic O’Neil, Head of DFID Sierra Leone and Ms Jocelyn Songco representing the Soros Economic Development Fund.
The 20 finalists were palpably excited and I bet anxious too. Each went home with Le20million(approx $5,000) plus Le5 million business vouchers.
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Posted in Sierra Leone Business | 
Tags: business, business bomba, business in salone, business in sierra leone | 
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“First Na Global, Then The Dollar, Now GST, Wetin Next?”
That was the lament of a listener of one of the radio program (radio democracy 98.10 FM) about 4 days ago.
I believe this sums up the current mood of most people and the whole issue of high prices by vendors without recall to any authority was brought home to me when I was told that even “potato leaves” sellers have increased their prices due to the said GST!
I mean GST is supposed to be collected only by businesses with Le200 million turnover and even though many of these people don’t qualify, prices have still increased.
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Shops Closed Because Of New GST System…
Yesterday all the shops were closed as business owners are protesting against the new GST tax the government has introduced. This was supposed to come effect last year September but was delayed until Jan 01, 2010. Now 
you’ll be wondering what exactly GST is….
The acronym stands for Goods and Services Tax and it’s levied on all goods and services. (A bit like VAT in England ) only it’s charged at 15%. From the explanation I’ve garnered, it replaces seven existing taxes, import sales, domestic sales tax, entertainment tax, restaurant tax and food tax, messages tax, hotel accommodation tax and professional services tax thereby simplifying and streamlining the present system of indirect taxation and reducing the cost of administration for the Government, the NRA and businesses.
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Posted in Sierra Leone Business |
Tags: gst tax, gst tax in sierra leone, tax system in sierra leone, vat tax in sierra leone |
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My New Year Wishes For Mama Salone
With one year ending and another one soon beginning, I cannot but reflect on the past year as well as look ahead.
Thank God, we as a family have had a good year last year and the Bumbuna truly made our year! Also we have adjusted more to the environment and it gets better…
For Freetown and Sierra Leone as a whole here are some my wishes:
#1. Continuous 24/7 electricity
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