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By Ahmed Sahid Nasralla (De Monk)
As celebrations of International Women’s Day continue after March 8th, Sierra Leonean women and girls can draw a lot of inspiration from their history.
Historically, the country’s women contributed hugely to the political, socio-economic, educational, and civil rights development of the nation.From Madam Lehbu, who became Queen of Upper Gaura in 1891 following the establishment of the Province of Freedom in 1787 (what is now known as Freetown); the Sherbro Queen Yamacouba, who was a signatory to the treaty of 1787 which ceded the land to the British; Madam Yoko, the powerful Queen of Kpaa Mende Seneghum; the contribution of Hannah Benka-Coker to education; Lati Hyde-Forster, the first woman to graduate from Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone, with a doctor of civil laws degree; the role of Betsy Carew to commerce in the 1830s; Adelaide Casely-Hayford, one of the pioneers of women’s rights in Freetown and who founded the ‘Girls
Sierra Leone government under fire over graft accusations against first lady
By AFP
Saidu Bah
Freetown, Sierra Leone - After casting itself as a fighter against corruption, Sierra Leone s government is under fire over allegations of irregular spending by its first lady and a senior minister.
The scandal has come as an embarrassment to the West African state s president, Julius Maada Bio, who after coming to power in 2018 launched a graft probe into his predecessor.
Scrutiny of his inner circle began in January, after an African news website reported that the president s wife, Fatima Bio, had spent the equivalent of about $3 million (2.5 million euros) in government funds as part of an anti-rape campaign.
After casting itself as a fighter against corruption, Sierra Leone's government is under fire over allegations of irregular spending by its first lady and a senior minister.
Sierra Leone government under fire over graft accusations
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against corruption, Sierra Leone’s government is under fire over allegations
of irregular spending by its first lady and a senior minister.
The scandal has come as an embarrassment to the West African state’s
president, Julius Maada Bio, who after coming to power in 2018 launched a
graft probe into his predecessor.
Scrutiny of his inner circle began in January, after an African news
website reported that the president’s wife, Fatima Bio, had spent the
equivalent of about $3 million (2.5 million euros) in government funds as
part of an anti-rape campaign.
Sierra Leone forbids the office of the first lady from using taxpayers’