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Network Support Peace Education, 1 Gbenga's Drive, Moyamba (2026)

05/08/2026

*URGENT PUBLIC APPEAL: HELP LITTLE KADAY KALOKOH, 6 YEARS OLD*

Powered by:
*George Gbenga*
_Activist, Social and Development Commentator_

It is with a heavy heart that we report a tragic accident that occurred *last week along Yoyema Road, near the Moyamba Correctional Centre*.

*Little Kaday Kalokoh, 6 years old*, was hit by a vehicle that *fled the scene*, leaving her helpless and in critical condition. Kaday sustained a *fractured hand, foot injury, head injury, and severe bodily pain*. She is currently experiencing excruciating pain and urgently needs advanced medical care.

Both parents are *vulnerable and financially handicapped* and cannot afford the cost of treatment. While medical authorities at Moyamba have provided supportive help including an *X-Ray*, the medical report shows her case is *critical and requires urgent referral to Freetown* for specialized treatment.

*It is against this background that we are calling on humanitarian organizations, well-meaning Sierra Leoneans, indigenes, and community members to come to the aid of little Kaday.* Your support can save her life and give her chance to walk and play again.

*For any support or assistance, please contact:*
*Mobile: +232 76 432 169*
*Mobile: +232 78 320 567*

Every contribution, no matter how small, will go directly to Kaday medical bills and referral.

04/08/2026

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS - INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY
2026
NeSPE invites young people ages 18 to 35 years to apply for participation in this year's International Youth Day activities.
Get Forms: NeSPE Office, Moyamba | District Youth Council | Ministry of Youth Affairs Office.
Theme: "Different Contexts, Common Aspirations".
Limited slots. Apply now!

31/07/2026

*"Crossroads or Cliff Edge? Parliament Must Not Gamble with Sierra Leone’s Democracy Today"*

Reflection by:
George AB Gbenga
Activist,Social and Development Commentator

Today’s decisions in Parliament on constitutional amendments will determine whether Sierra Leone deepens its democracy or slides back into the patterns that led us to one-party rule, and state fragility. With headlines locally and globally already warning of a "narco-state" narrative due to drugs and unexplained wealth in politics, the stakes could not be higher.

Here is the autopsy on the key concerns:

*1. Integrity of Candidates: Drugs and "Subversive Wealth"*
In a democracy, independence means institutions, not individuals, must be strong. When individuals linked to drug trafficking and illicit wealth can buy their way into office, governance is captured. It erodes trust, weakens the rule of law, and feeds the dangerous international narrative that Sierra Leone is moving toward a narco-state. If today’s amendments do not include stricter vetting, asset declaration enforcement, and disqualification clauses, we are legalizing impunity. _Advice: Parliament must tie any amendment to stronger anti-corruption and conduct requirements for public office._

*2. Threshold Change: From 55% to 50% + 1*
Lowering the presidential threshold sounds "more democratic" but in Sierra Leone’s context it is risky. A 50%+1 win can be secured with narrow regional or ethnic blocs, without the need to build national consensus. This could fuel *regional and ethnic polarization* instead of unity. Candidates will only need to mobilize their strongholds.
_Historical reference_: The negative constitutional amendments of *1967* opened the door to the one-party state. We must not repeat that mistake by tweaking rules for short-term political gain. _Advice: Retain 55% or add a runoff to force coalition-building and national mandate._

*3. PR System vs Constituency-Based System*
The shift to *Proportional Representation (PR)* has trade-offs.
*PR Pros*: More women, youth, and PWDs can enter Parliament. Parties get seats reflecting national vote share.
*PR Cons*: Voters lose the direct link to an MP they can hold accountable. Party bosses, not communities, control who gets on the list. In a patronage-driven system, PR can strengthen party elites and weaken grassroots representation.
Compared to constituency elections, PR reduces constituency development pressure but increases party control. In our fragile context, that risks centralizing power further. _Advice: If PR must pass, include open-list PR and recall mechanisms so voters retain some power._

*4. Moving Elections to November*
November falls in the *festive season and harmattan period*. Turnout may drop as people travel, and security costs rise. It also compresses the transition period before the new budget year and gives less time for post-election dispute resolution before the year ends. This timing can be manipulated to affect voter mobilization. _Advice: Government must publish the evidence base for this change and consult NEC, CSOs, and parties first._

*5. The Bigger Risk: State Capture and One-Party Drift*
Taken together — lower threshold + PR + November elections + weak candidate vetting — these changes can be read as tools for *state capture*. They reduce competition, centralize party control, and make it easier for money and incumbency to dominate. This is exactly how we slid toward one-party rule before 1967.

Sierra Leone is not a normal democracy. We are a post-conflict state. We signed the *TRC recommendations*, the *Peace Agreement*, and the *Tripartite Committee* commitments on electoral reform and consensus. To amend the constitution unilaterally today is to violate the spirit of those binding agreements.

*Advice to Lawmakers and Government of Sierra Leone*
1. *Pause and Consult*: Do not rush. Take these amendments through broad stakeholder consultation. Democracy is not decided in one sitting.
2. *Protect the Peace*: Any change must be tested against one question: "Will this make conflict more or less likely?"
3. *Put Country Over Party*: Reject any amendment that benefits one party or region. Sierra Leone needs national unity, not winner-takes-all politics.
4. *Clean the House*: Simultaneously pass laws to bar drug-linked and illicit wealth from politics. That is how we kill the "narco-state" headline.

The world is watching. Our youth, who suffered the war, are watching. Parliament has a choice today: be remembered as the guardians of the 1991 Constitution, or the architects who weakened it.

Sierra Leone has bled too much to gamble with its democracy.

30/07/2026

*"The Aid Guillotine: UK Slashes Support to Sierra Leone by 80% — What Happens Next to NGOs and Stability?"*

_Analysis by_
*George Gbenga*
_Activist, Social and Development Commentator_

The UK’s decision to cut aid to Sierra Leone by *80%*, and to other African countries by *90%, 80% and 49%* respectively, is not just a budget adjustment. It is a structural shock. For Sierra Leone, where NGOs deliver a huge chunk of basic services — health clinics, school feeding, water, peacebuilding, and governance projects — this cut threatens to collapse programs that communities depend on overnight. The NGO sector, already stretched, will face mass layoffs, project closures, and a funding scramble that favors only the biggest INGOs with diversified donors. Smaller local NGOs, the ones closest to the people in places like Moyamba, Kono, and Koinadugu, are the most at risk of shutting down.

Beyond NGOs, the implications for country stability are direct. When aid funds health, education, youth jobs, and conflict prevention, a sudden withdrawal creates vacuums. We should expect increased pressure on an already strained government budget, more uncompleted infrastructure, and growing frustration among youth and vulnerable groups. In a post-election environment like Sierra Leone’s, and across other African countries facing similar cuts, this can translate into protests, migration, and fertile ground for extremist recruitment or local conflicts. The timing is dangerous because it signals to citizens that partners are pulling back just when resilience is needed most. In short: less aid, less service delivery, less trust — and that is a recipe for instability.

So why is the UK doing this now? Three drivers stand out. *First*, domestic politics in the UK. With cost-of-living pressures and a push to “spend at home,” overseas aid is an easy target to sell to voters. *Second*, a strategic pivot. The UK is re-allocating resources toward defense, climate, and Indo-Pacific priorities, and is moving from grants to trade, investment, and loans. *Third*, aid fatigue and accountability concerns. London has argued for years that aid must show clearer value and be tied to migration, security, and UK interests. The result is a more transactional approach — and for countries like Sierra Leone that cannot yet attract large-scale UK investment, the grants are simply being cut.

This is the moment for an autopsy, not just mourning. For Sierra Leone and Africa more broadly, the message is clear: over-reliance on one donor is no longer tenable. Governments must prioritize domestic resource mobilization, fight corruption, and make aid budgets predictable. NGOs must pivot from donor-driven projects to locally funded, community-owned models, and build stronger partnerships with the private sector and diaspora. Regional bodies like ECOWAS and the AU must also step in to coordinate a continental response. The UK cut is painful, but it could force the reset Africa needs — less dependency, more ownership. If we fail to act, however, the bill will be paid in closed clinics, idle youth, and fragile peace.

29/07/2026

*Groundbreaking and Handover: Accountable Governance Project Kicks Off in UMC Yoyema, Moyamba*

Poweredby:
George AB Gbenga
Activist, Social and Development Commentator

*Date:* 29th July, 2026.

It was a day of joy and hope in *UMC Yoyema Village, Moyamba District*, as the *Accountable Governance Project* implemented by the *Moyamba District Council* under *Chairman Joseph Benedict Mbogba* held its *groundbreaking and official handing over to the contractor/engineer*.

The project will deliver:
*Rehabilitation of existing school buildings*
*Construction of a new 3-classroom block*
*VIP toilets, solar lights, water tower, and furniture*

*Chairman Joseph Benedict Mbogba* said the project is about giving children in rural areas the same quality of learning environment as those in town, and that education remains the surest path to development.

*Chief Administrator, Mr. Gbawuru Sillah*, while handing over the site, urged the contractor to deliver quality work on time and called on the community to take ownership:
_"This is your school. Protect it. Monitor it. Let us show that accountable governance brings real change to our people."_

Statements were also made by the *Town Chief*, *Civil Society representative*, *Head Teacher, Deputy Head Teacher and SMC*, *Youth Leader*, and *Women’s Leader*. All acknowledged the opportunity and thanked the *Government of Sierra Leone* and the *World Bank* for investing in education and community development in Moyamba.

The people of UMC Yoyema pledged their full support to ensure the successful and timely completion of the project.

29/07/2026

*NeSPE Awards Certificates to Volunteers, Interns and Support Staff After Intensive Training in Peacebuilding, Conflict Resolution and Leadership*

Pinnedby:
ÑeSPE media and community relations department

The *Network for Sustainable Peace and Empowerment - NeSPE* has held a *certificate award ceremony* for its support staff, volunteers and interns following a capacity-building training focused on *Peacebuilding, Conflict Resolution, and Leadership & Management Strategies*.

The training was designed to equip NeSPE’s frontline team with practical skills to promote tolerance, manage disputes, and provide accountable leadership in communities across Sierra Leone.

*Key topics covered during the training:*
- *Peacebuilding*: Understanding root causes of conflict, community cohesion, dialogue, and the role of youth and women in sustaining peace
- *Conflict Resolution*: Mediation techniques, early warning and early response, negotiation, and non-violent approaches to dispute management
- *Leadership and Management Strategies*: Team building, decision-making, ethical leadership, communication, and project management for social impact

*Executive Director of NeSPE* in his address said the certificates are more than paper — they are a *motivation and recognition of service*:
_"At NeSPE, we believe that capacity is the foundation of impact. This training is meant to complement the work you already do and to build a stronger, more skilled team that can respond to the needs of our communities. You are not just volunteers and staff. You are peace ambassadors. Let this certificate remind you that your growth matters, and that Sierra Leone needs leaders like you who choose dialogue over division."_

*Training Consultant, Charles Y. Fofana*, delivered a strong charge to participants:
_"Leadership without peace is noise. Peace without leadership is fragile. What you have learned here must now be lived in your communities. Go and be the bridge between anger and understanding, between conflict and solutions. Sierra Leone does not need more spectators to its problems — it needs certified, committed people willing to act. That is you."_

Participants expressed appreciation to NeSPE for the opportunity and pledged to use the skills gained to support peace initiatives, resolve conflicts at community level, and provide better service in their roles.

The ceremony ended with a call for continued investment in Staff leadership and grassroots peacebuilding as key to sustainable development in Sierra Leone.

28/07/2026

*Building Peace and organisational leadership from Within: NeSPE Staff Equipped to Lead Change in Moyamba*

Network Support For Peace Education (NeSPE), has concluded a 1-day intensive training for staff on peace building, conflict resolution, and leadership in organizational development and management. The training, held at Ndormai One in Moyamba, is part of NeSPE’s commitment to strengthening staff capacity to deliver programs effectively and efficiently while addressing internal and community-level challenges.

Welcoming participants, *George A.B. Gbenga, Executive Director of NeSPE*, provided a historical brief on NeSPE and its journey in promoting sustainable peace and community empowerment. He emphasized that strong institutions are built on staff who understand both technical delivery and the human dynamics of conflict and collaboration.
_“Our work in communities begins with how we work with each other. This training is about investing in the people who carry the mission of NeSPE forward,”_ he stated.

Delivering a statement on behalf of partners, *James Caulker, Program Officer at ActionAid Sierra Leone, AASL*, highlighted ActionAid’s overall work in Sierra Leone with specific focus on grassroots mobilization and rights-based programming.
_“ActionAid Sierra Leone remains committed to working with local partners like NeSPE to deepen democracy, promote social justice, and ensure that communities in places like Moyamba have a voice in decisions that affect their lives. Our partnership is rooted in building resilient institutions that can respond to both peace and development needs,”_ Mr. Caulker said.

*Miss Linda Williams, Project Officer for the EU-funded YAGGS Project*, gave the background to the YAGGS project and its impact on youths and civil society in Moyamba, Western Area, and Tonkolili.
_“The YAGGS project is about creating opportunities for young people to lead, and for civil society to hold duty bearers accountable. In Moyamba, Western Area, and Tonkolili, we have seen how equipping youth and CSOs with skills in leadership and conflict management directly contributes to more peaceful and productive communities,”_ she noted.

Lead facilitator *Charles Y. Fofana, Consultant*, took staff through practical strategies on peace building, conflict resolution, and leadership, all framed within a Human Resources Management perspective. The sessions focused on early warning signs of conflict, communication tools for resolution, and leadership approaches that foster teamwork and organizational growth.

The goal of the training is to strengthen NeSPE staff capacities to manage organizational challenges and deliver project outcomes with professionalism, unity, and a peace-centered approach. Staff left the session with new tools to apply both within NeSPE and in communities where NeSPE and partners like AASL and the EU-YAGGS project are active.

* *

28/07/2026

*Half a Year, Zero Transfers: Citizens Pay the Price*

Pinnedby:
George AB Gbenga
Activist, Social and development Commentator

For six months, Ministries, Departments and Agencieshave received no budget transfers from Government. As the Ministry of Finance prepares to lay a Supplementary Budget in Parliament on Friday 31st July 2026 at 10am, the damage is already being felt in clinics, classrooms, and communities across Sierra Leone. When MDAs have no money, service delivery stops — and it is ordinary citizens who suffer first.

In health and education, the
impact is immediate. Primary Health Units have run out of essential drugs and fuel. Nurses and support staff go unpaid. Schools
have not received capitation grants or feeding funds, forcing head teachers to send children home. The
result is simple: pregnant
women turned away, children missing meals and lessons,
and families forced to pay out of pocket for services that should be free. A government that cannot fund its MDAs cannot protect its people.

The economy is also grinding to a halt at th
e community level. With no releases, road, water and agriculture projects have stalled. Contractors, suppliers, market women and young people hired on public works have not been paid. Money is not
circulating in districts and chiefdoms. When government spending freezes for half a year, poverty deepens, trust erodes, and flagship promises become empty
words on paper.

As Parliament considers the Supplementary Budget this Friday, the priority must be clear: restore funding to frontline MDAs without delay, protect health, education and social services, and ensure
transparency on why transfers stopped. Sierra Leoneans have waited six months. They cannot afford another six months of
empty clinics, abandoned projects, and broken promises. A budget that does not reach MDAs does not reach citizens.

23/07/2026

*"FROM FRAGILITY TO REFORM": NeSPE URGES PRESIDENT BIO TO ENACT TRANSITIONAL POLICY AND RESTRUCTURE GOVERNMENT*

By George A.B. Gbenga — Activist, Social and Development Commentator_

*A Nation at a Crossroads*
Mr. President, Sierra Leone stands at a defining crossroads. As Civil Society, we, including Network Support for Peace Education - NeSPE, a demand-led organization, are calling for a *massive cabinet reshuffle and urgent public sector restructuring*. This is not about politics. It is about survival. Ten years of brutal war taught us that weak governance, impunity, and elite capture destroy nations. The *TRC Report* warned us. The *fragility reports* over the last two decades have diagnosed us. Today, with the economy under pressure, youth unemployment rising, and public trust eroding, we need bold, transitional leadership — not business as usual.

*The Case for Transitional Governance*
We call on Government to *enact a policy on transitional arrangements* to stabilize our governance and economic architecture. The *Tripartite Committee arrangement* showed us that dialogue and consensus can work when institutions are broken. But dialogue without structural reform is delay. Our public sector is bloated, inefficient, and disconnected from the people. Ministries are duplicating functions while service delivery collapses in chiefdoms. A transitional policy must set clear timelines, performance benchmarks, and accountability mechanisms to merge, retool, or remove institutions that no longer serve the public good. We must move from political appointments to competence and delivery.

*Learning From Our Past, Building Our Recovery*
Sierra Leone’s total recovery process after war was built on truth, justice, and reform. The TRC told us that exclusion and bad governance were root causes of conflict. Yet today, many of those same patterns persist — patronage over merit, silence over dissent, and short-term deals over long-term planning. A cabinet reshuffle must therefore be more than musical chairs. It must bring in technocrats, women, and young people with proven records. Public sector restructuring must cut waste, digitize services, and put citizens at the center. Without this, we risk sliding back into the fragility that cost us so much blood and treasure.

*The Demand and The Way Forward*
Mr. President, history will judge this moment. The people are not asking for miracles. They are asking for leadership that is responsive, accountable, and transformative. Civil Society stands ready to support a reform agenda that is transparent and inclusive. Enact the transitional policy. Restructure the state. Reshuffle the cabinet on the basis of performance, not loyalty.
Sierra Leone has survived war. We have survived Ebola. We can survive this economic and governance test — but only if we act now, decisively, and together.

*The time for half-measures is over.*

22/07/2026

*"YOUR NUMBER IS NOT YOURS ANYMORE": ORANGE NETWORK UNDER SIEGE BY SCAMMERS*

A Public Awareness Piece by:
George Gbenga
Activist, Social and development Commentator

Sierra Leoneans are waking up to a frightening reality — *scammers have taken over social media and mobile lines, especially on the Orange network*. The latest trend is not just fake Facebook accounts. Criminals are now *hacking people’s contact numbers, cloning WhatsApp, and impersonating family, friends, and even institutions*. Once they gain access to your number, they message your contacts asking for money, mobile money transfers, or “urgent help.” In days, hundreds of citizens in Moyamba and across the country have lost cash and trust. This is no longer petty fraud. It is a national digital calamity.

*People Must Be Educated and Alert*
The weapon these scammers use is ignorance. They thrive because many of us still believe every WhatsApp message from a “known number” is genuine.
Here is what you need to know and do right now:
1. *Never share OTP codes* sent to your phone. No bank, no Orange staff, no friend will ask for it.
2. *Verify before you send money*. Call the person directly on a different line if they ask for help.
*Enable 2-Step Verification* on WhatsApp and change your passwords regularly.

*Report suspicious numbers* to Orange and to the police immediately.
Awareness is our first line of defense. If we don’t educate our parents, youth, and market women, we are handing scammers the keys to our phones and our pockets.

*NATCOM Must Act Now*
This crisis demands urgent action from our mobile regulator, *NATCOM*. We cannot leave citizens to fight organized digital crime alone. NATCOM must work with Orange and other operators to:
1. *Strengthen SIM registration and number recovery processes* so hackers cannot easily take over lines.
2. *Launch a national public awareness campaign* on mobile fraud in local languages.
3. *Establish a rapid response fraud desk* where victims can report and freeze accounts within minutes.
Our networks must be safe spaces for business, communication, and development. If we fail to act, we risk losing public trust in mobile money and digital services — the very tools driving our economy.

*The message is simple: Protect your number. Protect your money. Demand protection from those who regulate.*@
Orange@

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