Sierra Leone News

Archive for March, 2010

Since 1995, Transparency International has published an annual Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) ordering the countries of the world according to “the degree to which corruption is perceived to exist among public officials and politicians”. The organization defines corruption as “the abuse of entrusted power for private gain”

The higher a country’s score, the less corruption there is. New Zealand ranks No.1 overall with 9.4 points. For Africa, Botswana, ranking at No.37 with 5.6 points, is the least corrupted country (kudos to them) It’s worth of note that there is no African country in Top 36.
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I’ve got good news today…well actually it happened on Tuesday: I finally received my Business Registration Certificate!! BRAVO!.  Feel like I’ve fought a real battle and WON but without any fanfare or trumpets! I’ll tell you why: in exchange for not succumbing to any shady tricks, I sacificed precious time.

In continuation, to my previous posts (read Part 1 and Part 2), I went to the OARG on Monday and I finally got the NRA personnel who was missingon Friday – to sign the written statement. My Business Registration was then printed but it had no signature and after waiting for an hour or so, I gave up and told Mr B. I’ll come back on Tuesday.
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Got a few people asking so here we go. This list is by no means comprehensive or mandatory as everything depends on your personal taste, likes and dislikes. Also, by all means do suggest some more by leaving a

comment.

This list here comprises of things you’ll save SERIOUS money on if you buy them abroad and import yourself. You can get these items in Freetown Sierrra Leone but either the prices are exhorbitant or the quality is not good.

Without much ado here’s the list:
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OK today, I’ve calmed down following my fury at the Business Registration Bureau in town. Now as I write this entry, I’ve been to this place a total of 10 times since my initial post about regisitering a business in Sierra Leone (click here to read Part I) and till today I’ve not completed eveything!

Remember, I don’t know anyone in this office and I’m not paying an bribes to push through my application. I just want to see how long it will take me and ordinary Joe who is in a similar situation.

Officially, it should take 1-3 business day to register a company, so far it taking me 10 working days, and 2x I’ve been asked blatantly for money by Mr. B (not putting full name here) who’s been dealing with my application. I know for a fact that it shouldn’t take this long because I have friends who recently (within the last 6 months) registered and they didn’t have the problem I’m having because they admitted they paid their way.
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For those of you who don’t know NATCOM, well they regulate the Telecomms Industry in Sierra Leone i.e. they ensure that mobile phone companies like Zain, Africell and Commium are kept in check. /tge also oversee, radio

Recently they fined Zain for breaches in contract or raising prices without notifying consumers. For me, it was one of those moments, I rubbed my hands with glee! Yep! because Zain, towards the end of last year, increased thei price of their Unlimited Internet Access package from $80 to about $300!!!!! YEESSSSSS! Insane, but this is Africa. After few, phone calls, I was told it was done to stop the overloading of their server and ensure handset users enjoyed smooth service. Felt like flushing my Zain phone! I mean what are they like! But I’m sure, NATCOM fined them for other offenses. From what I know, the matter is in court.

And to this day the extortionate price remains. I guess I should not be complaining since I moved from Zain to Sierratel, long before this. But this affects me too as there was mass migration to Sierratel, thus the reasonably fast internet speed I was enjoyind dipped and hasn’t recovered since. Even if I wasn’t so directly affected, I’ll still write this, as I absolutely dislike the way prices are put up here with no recourse to any authority or consumer body.

In addition to Zain, they have been successfuly catching and arresting folks conducting illegal mobile phone and radio activities.

The chairman Mr Siray Timbo highlighted all thier major achievements which include, newly refurbished premises, establishment of Cyber Crime Task Force, the setting up of Approval Laboratory and the establishment of 6 Zonal offices in all the headquater townships.
For me this industry affects me a great deal as I use it to blog and do business. So more

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It’s been a while since I posted, but after having my “chilled coconut” (hmmm..mm.. swit salone!) I thought, at least of all days I should post today. Of course, today being the day we celebrate women and their achievements throughout the world, I wonder what can be done to improve the lives of ordinary Sierra Leonean Woman.

For starters, the President has announced free health care for all nursing women and all children under 5 starting from the 27th of April (Independence Day). That, for me is good news, considering the dire and abject state of maternal care in this country.
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