Earth Science News  
AFRICA NEWS
Former S.Leone defense minister arrested for alleged graft
by Staff Writers
Freetown (AFP) Dec 29, 2018

Sierra Leone's former defense minister has been arrested by for alleged corruption in a deal to procure military supplies, an anti-corruption commission said Saturday, the latest former government figure to be nabbed in a sprawling graft probe.

Alfred Paolo Conteh was detained along with Sannah Marrah, the defence ministry's former director general, at the Criminal Investigation Department on Friday. Both are awaiting charges, the Sierra Leone Anti Corruption Commission said.

The commission said officials are investigating allegations of corruption over procurement of military vehicles, uniforms and rice in 2015. The procurement contract was reported to be worth $10 million.

"We are recovering monies stolen from our people," anti-corruption commissioner Joseph Ben Kelfalla told reporters in Freetown, adding that authorities had recovered more than one million dollars from corrupt officials.

Most of the military supply deals were done in China, according to a report published in 2015 by the Sierra Leone audit services that identified flaws in procurement procedures.

President Julius Maada Bio took office in early April after a tumultuous election campaign in which he targeted corruption, ending a decade-long rule by the All People's Congress (APC).

Soon after he took office a report commissioned by the new government charged that "rampant corruption" in the former administration had led to the "near collapse" of the West African nation's economy.

The government has approved a commission of enquiry, with hearings expected to begin in January 2019.

Several former government ministers including the ex-vice president Victor Bockarie Foh have been arrested this year on corruption allegations.

The APC has slammed the probe, calling it a "witch hunt" and vowing not to cooperate with the commission of enquiry.

"The government will not tolerate any intimidation, indiscipline and incitement from any political party," a senior official at the Ministry of Information and Communication told AFP.

"The fight against corruption will continue and the commission of enquiry will commence in January," the senior government official said.

One of the world's poorest nations despite huge mineral and diamond deposits, Sierra Leone's fragile economy is still recovering from war and disease, including a 2014 Ebola epidemic.


Related Links
Africa News - Resources, Health, Food


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


AFRICA NEWS
Elite force formed in Ethiopia to protect leaders
Addis Ababa (AFP) Dec 24, 2018
An elite force has been created in Ethiopia responsible for protecting officials including Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, after a deadly blast while he addressed a crowd in June, Fana radio said Sunday. Troops in the new Republican Guard unit began training six months ago for "protecting higher government officials and their family, from any form of aggression by ill-intentioned forces," Fana announced on its website. The formation of the specialised unit followed the explosion of a hand grenade in ... read more

Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.



Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

AFRICA NEWS
Tree-ring analysis explains physiology behind drought intolerance

China's state grain buyer resumes US soybean purchases

Recruiting ants to fight weeds on the farm

Changes in agriculture could cut sector non-CO2 greenhouse gas emissions by up to 50 percent

AFRICA NEWS
Health checkups for alpine lakes

Collecting clean water from air, inspired by desert life

New management strategies may help Los Angeles avoid future water crises

Protected Chilean sea lions are the 'enemy' of fishermen

AFRICA NEWS
2018 hottest year for a century in France

NGOs launch legal action against France over climate

Research sheds new light on what drove last, long-term global climate shift

Global warming did not pause as researchers disentangle hiatus confusion

AFRICA NEWS
How to spot every solar panel in the United States

Stabilizing 2D layered perovskites for photovoltaics: setting up a defensive wall

Stanford team locates nearly all US solar panels in a billion images with machine learning

Costa Rica hits renewable energy mark for fourth year in a row

AFRICA NEWS
Greener days ahead for carbon fuels

Obtaining polyester from plant oil

IIT researchers show how plants can generate electricity to power LED light bulbs

Researchers use jiggly Jell-O to make powerful new hydrogen fuel catalyst

AFRICA NEWS
Jail term demanded for ex-bosses over Fukushima nuclear crisis

Brazil military's central role in Rio security nearing end

Songs and toys for Indonesia's disaster-zone kids

Life and death choices for Indonesia tsunami victims

AFRICA NEWS
Crude oil prices appear headed lower after post-Christmas rally

New study first to predict which oil and gas wells are leaking methane

Oil prices rise after Christmas but gains not seen as longlasting

Venezuela restates rights after confronting two oil exploration ships

AFRICA NEWS
Siemens boss takes aim at Chinese buyouts

US team to visit China for talks during trade truce: report

Nike stays bullish on China as it reports higher profits

China and US 'make progress' after trade call









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.