tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48430170245609862642012-01-08T07:13:08.309ZA blog for my stay in West Africa working with Journalists For Human Rights in Takoradi, Ghana at SKYY Radio & Television News and in Freetown, Sierra Leone at the Concord Times newspaper.Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.comBlogger1101100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-51989431144256671662009-04-28T19:59:00.007Z2009-05-05T01:21:18.514Z

As the players, friends and colleagues from the United Nations, took to the artificial turf football pitch at Manhattan’s Pier 40 in New York City, fans cheered knowing this was a game with a difference.3,000 miles away and a world apart, children in football mad Sierra Leone, a nation at the bottom of the Human Development Index still recovering from the effects of a brutal civil war, would soon

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-37337873379147890762009-03-13T16:18:00.002Z2009-03-13T16:35:12.986Z

With images ranging from banana trees, a football, a bag of rice and a village path, residents of the eight villages surrounding the Tiwai Island Wildlife Sanctuary are sharing the things they want to protect for future generations.The project is meant to build stronger connections to the reserve and to help protect their culture from increased tourism.Thirty-two people participated in the

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-6830358072338169112008-11-07T14:32:00.003Z2008-11-07T14:34:23.092Z

Combining my love of basketball and the mind blowing election of Barack Obama...http://www.theonion.com/content/news/kobe_bryant_scores_25_in_holy_shit

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-76497518850221030882008-11-06T11:50:00.006Z2008-11-06T13:10:24.163Z

A day after the historic election of Barack Obama as president of the United States of America I think it has finally sunk in that things will never quite be the same again.Taking in the election at the home of an employee of the Special Court for Sierra Leone, on a couch with some Americans and a couple of Canadians watching the over-the-top graphics on CNN and making fun of the staid and boring

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-35710609627122814812008-10-13T10:44:00.000Z2008-10-13T10:46:17.493Z

Defending champion of the Journalists for Human Rights award for excellence in human rights reporting in the newspaper category has repeated the feat in 2008.The award ceremony also honored Concord Times' senior reporter Rachel Horner for outstanding performance and lasting contribution to the field of investigative and human rights reporting in Sierra Leone.Other winners included Radio Mankneh,

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-82538352231542644042008-10-13T10:37:00.002Z2008-10-13T10:43:10.732Z

Under instructions from the minister of tourism, virtually all beach bars on the beach side of Lumley Road, perhaps the largest tourist attraction in Freetown, have been demolished in what has been called a beautification exercise.At about 12 pm yesterday a large crew of workers wielding machetes, crowbars, sledge hammers, axes and shovels, with heavy police and military presence violently took

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-35626830669260141692008-10-06T23:43:00.003Z2008-10-06T23:51:46.414Z

By Rachel Horner and Kevin HillThe Minister of Health has called for a reorganization of the way women in Sierra Leone give birth and will focus on the role of the traditional birth attendant. Currently one in eight women is at risk of dying while giving birth in this country.“People who are in attendance aren’t able to deal with complications. Often these people are traditional birth attendants

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-6365233510007277412008-09-27T12:02:00.002Z2008-09-27T12:09:13.514Z

By Rachel Horner and Kevin HillIn Sierra Leonean 1 in 8 women will die giving birth. This horrifying statistic from the UN places the country among the worst places in the world for women to get pregnant and give birth.There are many reasons for the conditions that have led to this situation, including a brain-drain that sees the best and brightest skilled healthcare workers leave the country for

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-61966326769315687872008-09-20T11:56:00.003Z2008-09-20T12:10:01.508Z

Photographer Anna Kari, http://www.documentography.com/ and Time Magazine reporter Vivienne Walt document maternal mortality in Sierra Leone in this masterfully done photo/audio essay:http://www.time.com/time/photoessays/2008/sierra_leone_mothers/I met with Anna and Vivienne for lunch as they were trying to organize themselves for a trip to a rural village for the story. Anna told me that she was

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-60848025347531213332008-09-10T19:13:00.010Z2008-09-10T21:16:31.664Z

By Mohamed Massaquoi and Kevin Hill The case of The Inspector General of Police vs. Harvey Steven Perez & Others, known around Sierra Leone as the cocaine case, represents the biggest drug bust in the country’s history and the biggest challenge so far to President Ernest Bai Koroma’s government. But in the haste to bring to justice those responsible for trafficking an estimated 700

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-13281758375470757712008-09-09T13:25:00.000Z2008-09-09T13:26:51.158Z

By Ben Samuel Turay and Kevin HillLead defence attorney and President of the Sierra Leone Bar Association, C.F. Edwards, has stated that unless Principal Magistrate Tarwallie Deen allows for a transfer of two ill accused to a medical facility he will apply for a transfer to a new magistrate court.The defence filed a motion appealing for the bail and transfer of two defendants to a secure medical

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-6451063724952969192008-09-03T21:43:00.001Z2008-09-03T21:46:50.574Z

By Mohamed Massaquoi and Kevin HillIn an effort to show the strength of young women, to protect their rights and to have their voices heard across the world, Plan International in partnership with MTV Netherlands has created a television show that focuses on an up and coming young woman in Sierra Leone.19 year old Harriet Tucker, creator of youth radio show called Child’s Rights Watch in Moyamba

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-25119179564323889692008-09-03T21:41:00.000Z2008-09-03T21:43:07.247Z

By Mohamed Massaquoi and Kevin HillCoordinator for the Justice Sector Coordination Office Wednesday disclosed that there are major gaps in the criminal justice system when dealing with juvenile offenders in places outside of Freetown and Bo, where remand homes and approved schools exist. Makini, in the north of Sierra Leone, is one such place. Sarah Lewis made the statement in an exclusive

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-62937571258108828412008-09-02T11:04:00.002Z2008-09-02T16:51:16.589Z

The story of a woman who experienced first hand the horrors of civil war in Sierra Leone and lived to tell the tale - she now calls Toronto home.http://www.thestar.com/living/article/488690

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-7073488890109486962008-08-27T15:10:00.000Z2008-08-27T15:11:33.644Z

By Al Hassan Bah and Kevin HillIshmail Koroma is a student who lives at Mount Auroel. Everyday he drives his locally made push-truck making trips to carry up to six gallons of water up the hill. For this back breaking labor each trip earns him Le3000 or Le500 per gallon.“I have been in this business since we started suffering from the shortage of water. For residents around Mount Auroel, taps

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-69934856258744772322008-08-22T22:01:00.001Z2008-08-22T22:04:34.884Z

The story of the "Unofficial world champion of bicycle thieves".

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-28589043939046923202008-08-22T21:01:00.000Z2008-08-22T21:02:33.319Z

The Hastings Community Health Centre is the major medical service provider for the community of Hastings, but it struggles to meet the requirements of the people it has been created to serve.With a scarcity of drugs, supplies, a leaky roof that has rendered the antenatal examination room moldy and unusable, and patients who cannot afford treatment or even transport to a referral hospital in

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-69377485680223538512008-08-21T15:20:00.003Z2008-08-21T15:35:43.934Z

By Ibrahim Jaffa Condeh and Kevin HillPeople living with the long-term effects of polio in Sierra Leone struggle with the physical limitations that prevent them from living fully normal lives, as well as the stigma attached to being disabled that sees them as being less than full members of society.In order to combat this stigma and to give people living with the effects of polio a helping hand,

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-58884092886170114102008-08-08T16:04:00.000Z2008-08-08T16:06:06.871Z

In an effort to educate and empower young people in the fight against HIV and AIDS across Sierra Leone, 18 secondary school drama groups in Moyamba District and 5 in Makeni are competing for the title of Salone Drama Idol 2008.Drama Idol targets secondary school students to establish safe practices early on in life because these youth are a high-risk group for HIV infection. Organizers hope to

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-56797692131676317902008-08-04T23:34:00.008Z2008-08-22T21:17:23.828Z

In a small drop-in center located near the National Stadium in Freetown, a group of young people including school dropouts, homeless youth, ex-child combatants and amputees gather to escape the harsh reality of life on the street. They talk, share and learn in a safe space called ‘iEarn’ that provides them a positive environment to help turn their lives around.As a beneficiary of the World

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-46128599863137099952008-07-29T19:33:00.000Z2008-07-29T19:35:38.887Z

By Mohamed Massaquoi and Kevin HillMinister of Mineral Resources Tuesday said President Ernest Bai Koroma has met with ministers, senior officers at the ministry of Mineral Resources and the management of Sierra Rutile Mining Company to communicate his concern for the recovery of the two missing workers and the maintenance of the company’s workforce.Minister Alhaji Abu Bakarr Jalloh recently

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-31023558845676586182008-07-21T23:59:00.003Z2008-07-22T19:53:00.845Z

By Ibrahim Jaffa Condeh and Kevin HillThe small village of Tombo on the Freetown peninsula is a center of artisanal fishing in Sierra Leone, but its future and the future of all local fishermen in the country might be at risk.Between 500 and 600 fishermen use the Tombo Harbor to go to sea everyday. These men provide fish for markets in the local area, in Freetown and beyond, as well as a source

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-89674591922933097402008-07-15T20:48:00.003Z2008-07-15T21:28:19.270Z

A year ago today, or close enough anyway, I began my JHR experience - and damn has it been a good one. I've traveled a lot of West Africa, met and worked with fascinating people, flexed my media muscles and helped to tell stories that shed light on important local issues in the developing world.I've written lead stories in the newspaper and dozens of stories for the web, and produced in-depth

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-61571613322026782582008-07-13T19:22:00.003Z2008-07-13T19:38:39.639Z

By Mohamed Massaquoi and Kevin HillVoting in the local council election in Tongo Fields saw low turnout despite the fact that fears over intimidation and election-day violence were mitigated by the heavy presence of police and military personnel.During the campaign period Tongo Fields had been a hotspot for confrontations between political rivals. There are many unemployed or underemployed youths

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-58234308566339785082008-07-13T19:19:00.001Z2008-07-13T19:21:53.348Z

By Ibrahim Jaffa Condeh and Kevin HillOn the outskirts of Freetown lies the former internally displaced persons camp at Grafton. With rows of crumbling mud brick and tarpaulin structures housing hundreds of people, the temporary camp has become a permanent community facing serious challenges. With little support from government or NGOs, Grafton and its people have been left to survive on their

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-57937741590158680662008-06-26T19:11:00.002Z2008-06-26T19:18:44.063Z

http://www.slate.com/id/2193870Why does Mugabe attract so much attention? Perhaps it really is a Western conspiracy to bring down a revolutionary hero (with democracy as a Western ideal). Or maybe he really is an insane despot who will torture, kill and intimidate to hold on to power. What's the whole truth? Probably somewhere in the middle. (Though closer to the insane dictator side, in my

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-35559193439234492812008-06-26T19:01:00.002Z2008-06-26T19:04:45.631Z

Captured by rebels, bound at the wrists and feet, beaten, dragged and interrogated for information, Fatmata experienced first hand the evils of war and lived to tell the tale. On that day in 1998 she experienced torture and the effects of her ordeal linger to this day.Fatmata’s story is not unique in Sierra Leone, or around the world. It is a story that can be repeated by the innumerable

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-77210449231994469072008-06-19T19:46:00.000Z2008-06-19T19:47:11.693Z

BY Ibrahim Tarawallie and Kevin HillAs World Refugee Day is observed across the globe, acting representative of the United Nations High Commission for Refugee (UNHCR), Abid Ali Mir, has disclosed that there are still 42,000 Sierra Leonean refugees outside the country.The UN agency is currently calling for the end of refugee status for all Sierra Leoneans seeking refuge outside of the country.

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-44939696145143035862008-06-19T19:43:00.002Z2008-06-19T19:45:46.897Z

In honor of World Refugee Day, June 20, a first person account of life as a refugee:I left Liberia because of the continuous fighting of aimless civil war, which claimed many human lives. I only thank God that I am still alive today to tell people the story of all I went through, as a survivor of violence during the 14 year war in Liberia.The war started in 1989 in Liberia, the Charles Taylor

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-59334195696887885712008-06-18T14:16:00.002Z2008-06-18T14:35:33.491Z

Some people come into your life, eat your food, sleep on your couch, steal your toothbrush and leave your apartment looking like it was hit by a hurricane - and you'd invite them back anytime. One such person is Kate Press, a Torontonian with piercing blue eyes, crazy hair, funky dance moves and a smoky, Kathleen Turner-like voice.She came into my life, took over the spare room in my apartment

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-11510310491012482462008-06-18T00:31:00.005Z2008-06-19T00:11:31.860Z

It all started with three kids, a ragged, ruined football and a young Danish man a long way from home. A game erupted and strangers became friends.Jakob Lund was staying in a guesthouse in Moyamba in the north of Sierra Leone while working for a local NGO called Forum of Conscience. Jakob was in Moyamba to help organize a community reconciliation project called ‘Fambul Tok’ in an area of Sierra

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-67070589559583035622008-06-17T23:41:00.004Z2008-06-18T14:48:45.214Z

Craziest week of my lifeSo crazy that I can't do it justice in blog form.Climbed a mountain - Mt. Bintumani, at a shade under 2000 metres, is the highest point in Sierra Leone. Camped over night without gear in a cold, windy rain storm under a partially enclosed shelter. Screwed up my knees on the way down, hobbled back to the base camp with the aid of a stick. The bruises are only now rising

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-23755906430585621462008-06-06T11:48:00.003Z2008-06-06T12:29:05.940Z

Sierra Leone is a difficult place to feel settled in. You get here, begin to feel like you might understand things, start to make friends, dig into work, create a routine, and then something happens to throw the whole thing into disarray.Or maybe I'm just being dramatic.This past weekend my roommate and colleague had a substantial amount of money taken from his room. The only person to have

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-57853595613768092082008-06-05T14:01:00.004Z2008-06-05T14:22:39.481Z

By Ibrahim Jaffa Condeh and Kevin HillFaith-based addiction and mental health facility City of Rest has been granted approval from the Ministry of Lands, Country Planning and the Environment to use three acres of government land to build a new healing centre in Grafton in the eastern part of Freetown.Mission Direct, a UK-based religious NGO has made City of Rest part of their main program for

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-56778886681762355942008-05-28T21:36:00.004Z2008-05-28T21:45:48.956Z

Larissa Strong left a comment on this blog about the Sara Minogue article dealing with the negative experiences of some JHR interns. The comment is so insightful that it deserves our full attention. Another perspective in the ongoing development debate:Hope you don't mind the late comment on your post, actually on the Sara Minogue article. I just came across it and was looking for response to

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-61101028753801809392008-05-26T23:52:00.001Z2008-05-27T00:04:24.609Z

By Ibrahim Seibure and Kevin HillThe government has focused its mining review on getting a better deal from Sierra Rutile, according to the Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources.Deputy Minister Abdul Ignosi Koroma said that many mining deals were negotiated during a time of political instability, which undermined the government’s bargaining position.“It is the job of the Ministry of Mineral

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-24908899645847562792008-05-26T22:46:00.001Z2008-05-26T22:53:43.791Z

By Ben Samuel Turay and Kevin HillKroo Bay residents are teaming up with international children’s charity Save the Children to prevent flooding in their community in advance of the rainy season.Flooding is a major problem for the Kroo Bay slum area. Two rivers flow through the community, which is built close to the ocean. As the rainy season starts, the rivers become swollen and overflow their

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-24168021129643683292008-05-23T10:32:00.002Z2008-05-23T10:35:06.144Z

Please note that my phone number for Sierra Leone was incorrectly posted on this website.It should be correct now.

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-18535910323219694632008-05-23T10:15:00.002Z2008-05-23T10:16:40.819Z

By Rachel Horner and Kevin HillMay 22, 2008Chairperson of the Independent Media Commission, Bernadette Cole, called for the Minister of Information and Communication to honour Radio Unity’s “right to operate” and reverse his decision to close the station.The move by government to close the station, which is owned and operated by the opposition Sierra Leone Peoples Party, has been widely seen as

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-67532465031378428242008-05-23T10:14:00.000Z2008-05-23T10:15:11.908Z

By Sahr Morris Jr. and Kevin HillMay 15, 2008In an effort to promote non-violent local council elections this July, the Political Parties and Registration Commission (PPRC) and United Nations Integrated Office in Sierra Leone (UNIOSIL) Tuesday hosted a nonpartisan inter-party discussion.Despite prositive dialog between five political parties, the Sierra Leone Police, the National Commission for

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-6159827448648707582008-05-23T09:55:00.000Z2008-05-23T10:06:06.183Z

By Mohamed Massaquoi and Kevin HillMay 13, 2008The SLP are trying to improve on the standard of the training recruits receive to ensure effective policing for the public, but face numerous challenges to reaching their goal.Chief Superintendent of Police in charge of Training and Curriculum, Theophilus Senesie, said it was not an easy task to train police officers, specifically general duty

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-69414565488058263482008-05-22T17:37:00.002Z2008-05-22T17:51:13.954Z

Hello readers. Sorry for the delay in posting. In the past three weeks I have been to Bo and Kenema for a workshop, sat in on two days of the Special Court for Sierra Leone watching former president Tejan Kabbah testify, interviewed about a dozen people on an ongoing story on the social and environmental impact of a mining operation, played volleyball on the beach, attended a few ex-pat parties

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-18330878826550267852008-05-01T20:13:00.007Z2008-05-01T21:16:04.497Z

I took today off, not feeling well after a week of killer head cold.(and I know head colds)I spent last weekend in Conakry, Guinea. Lots of traveling and new germs.I didn't call into work, just went back to sleep.Is that wrong?Conakry was nice - like a French version of Accra, but with 10 times more corrupt police and military! They openly asked for bribes, but backed off when we said no.Most of

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-92177870588666933362008-04-23T23:27:00.009Z2008-05-01T20:12:28.309Z

By Kevin Hill and Ibrahim Jaffa CondehThe mental health system in Sierra Leone faces many challenges including stigma, discrimination, a lack of qualified personnel, insufficient infrastructure and poor funding. Another, more immediate challenge, is simply feeding the patients.For the past month patients at the Sierra Leone Psychiatric Hospital have not been receiving food as a part of their

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-79537183092665943362008-04-15T16:22:00.004Z2008-04-15T17:03:22.301Z

By Ibrahim Jaffa Condeh and Kevin HillAccording to a recently released report by UNICEF on child labour and school attendance, 78% of children between the ages of 7 and 14 in Sierra Leone are engaged in child labour. The study, which covered one quarter of the world’s population, ranked Sierra Leone last among nations surveyed.The survey used data from two types of household surveys: the

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-71431356106109852342008-04-11T20:49:00.008Z2008-04-12T11:56:10.438Z

By Ibrahim Jaffa Condeh and Kevin HillAs the rainy season approaches, fears of a cholera outbreak have spurred the chief of Rokupre-Portee Warf to ask for help from government for his community.Highly congested and overpopulated, the Wharf is situated in the eastern part of Freetown on the sea. The shamble houses of fishermen and wood sellers fill a densely packed cove with no road access.The

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-42323763605498016002008-04-03T23:59:00.003Z2008-04-04T00:13:12.127Z

Hours after filing the story below, I received a phone call from a colleague at the Concord Times who told me that interviewing a minister in court is illegal. She laughed as she described a scenario that saw me and the editor of the paper picked up by police and charged with a criminal offense. Having just completed a story on the criminalization of libel, the thought of being sent to prison for

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-38240547267830181582008-04-03T23:57:00.002Z2008-04-04T00:08:29.920Z

Minister Ibrahim Kemoh Sesay is pursuing the case against Jonathan Leigh, editor of the Independent Observer, not as part of the government, but as an individual, in an effort to stop attacks on his human rights.Sesay, in an interview with Concord Times after Thursday’s court appearance, said that the articles published by Leigh “trample on my human rights” – and he may be right.According to

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-56692387201741753782008-03-31T23:26:00.004Z2008-03-31T23:40:55.340Z

Picture this:A company of Mongolian UN Peace Keepers frolicking in the shallow waters of an idyllic beach on the southern tip of the Freetown peninsula.Half naked soldiers clamoring to have their pictures taken with yours truly, while trying not to go too deep into the water, because they can't swim. In fact, they've been ordered not to swim.All while being protected by fully uniformed and armed

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-72492139011937370342008-03-26T22:37:00.006Z2008-03-27T00:35:32.650Z

Finding words to describe Freetown is not easy. A city ravaged by war and extreme poverty that refuses to succumb to the perilous situation of being the capital of the least developed nation in the world is one that defies simple description. From the tops of the many undulating hills that constitute Freetown one can see the suffering in the ramshackle slums of Kroo Bay below. Slums which seem

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-26553489796626112172008-03-25T21:47:00.000Z2008-03-25T21:48:07.918Z

by Rachel Horner and Kevin HillConcord TimesMinister of Transport and Aviation Kemoh Sesay has denied all accusations leveled against him by Jonathan Leigh, editor of the Independent Observer, in a series of articles printed in January of this year.The denials come in the trial of Mr. Leigh, who faces up to 7 years in prison under Sierra Leone’s criminal libel and false news laws. These laws

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-81336273565147844472008-03-25T21:45:00.002Z2008-03-25T22:12:56.924Z

By Rachel Horner and Kevin HillConcord TimesThe Ministry of health is intensifying efforts to increase access to treatment of Tuberculosis (TB), but stigma is still a problem in the fight against the diseases.Programme Manager of National Leprosy and Tuberculosis Programme in Sierra Leone Dr. Foday Dafae said, since 2004 the ministry has registered almost 30,000 new cases of TB. This increase is

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-82199429768964322132008-03-25T21:43:00.000Z2008-03-25T21:45:15.829Z

The UN refugee agency, United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), has urged the Ghana Government to cease any further deportation of Liberian refugees in Ghana.Read more here

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-30546191100130490512008-03-22T11:55:00.002Z2008-03-22T12:04:44.628Z

In another strange twist Liberian President Ellen Sirleaf Johnson has apologised to the government of Ghana for the behaviour of the Liberian citizens living in Ghana.A delegation from Liberia is expected in Accra on Wednesday, March 27, 2008, to assess the situation.http://www.myjoyonline.com/news/200803/14652.asp

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-47847372323964812222008-03-22T11:46:00.004Z2008-03-22T11:54:09.010Z

The process of forced repatriation of Liberian refugees living at the Buduburam refugee settlement has now been intensified as police have begun arresting men in their homes.http://www.myjoyonline.com/news/200803/14651.asp

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-67811332326660542732008-03-22T11:31:00.002Z2008-03-22T11:42:04.010Z

Check out this pretty amazing site by UK based NGO Save the Children. The site tells some of the stories of Freetown slum Kroo Bay and its inhabitants through spectacular 360 degree images, photos and video.http://www.savethechildren.org.uk/kroobay/

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-88144535222534763652008-03-20T12:57:00.002Z2008-03-20T13:00:07.067Z

Former colleague Seth Kwame Boateng has the inside story on the protests and subsequent arrests at the Buduburam refugee settlement.http://www.myjoyonline.com/news/200803/14506.asphttp://www.myjoyonline.com/news/200803/14593.asp

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-63064699687724819852008-03-20T01:02:00.002Z2008-03-20T01:05:32.054Z

Former JHR volunteer and resident at Buduburam refugee settlement Ryan Bolton takes us a little further into the developing situation at the refugee camp in his article published in The Dominion.http://www.dominionpaper.ca/articles/1778

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-91894829334573054772008-03-19T21:25:00.003Z2008-03-19T21:27:59.444Z

Sign a petition to help stop the apparent campaign of forced repatriation of Liberian refugees living in Ghana. A negotiated settlement is possible!http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/LiberianRefugees/index.html

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-3872338614782042172008-03-19T19:18:00.003Z2008-03-19T20:08:50.820Z

After a three and a half week hiatus, a return home to Toronto to see friends and family, I have returned to West Africa. Leaving the friendly embrace of Ghana was difficult to do. My last month was spent trying to fit in as much as possible. My attempt failed miserably. I did, however, manage to throw a pretty good going away party and finish the UNICEF youth reporter project. Leaving Toronto

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-5765466264955590232008-03-19T13:26:00.007Z2008-03-19T14:11:33.908Z

With reports of hundreds of women being arrested for a naked protest outside of the Buduburam refugee settlement, with imminent deportations to follow, Ghana is demonstrating how it intends to deal with their Liberian refugee 'problem'.Liberian refugees have been living in Ghana since 1990, fleeing a terrible war and seeking refuge within their peaceful neighbour. 35,000 people currently live in

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-42824314810456065392008-03-19T13:09:00.000Z2008-03-19T13:10:59.924Z

Ghana to expel female protestersThe Liberians fled into Ghana during the years of conflictA group of Liberian women refugees who were accused by a minister of holding naked protests by the roadside are to be deported from Ghana.Hundreds of the women were arrested on Monday and taken away from a refugee camp in 10 buses, witnesses say.They were protesting at plans to send them home with $100 -

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-36472462392117154352008-02-12T20:34:00.000Z2008-02-12T20:39:02.621Z

Hey everyone,here's another chance to get involved in Buduburam's ARCH!As part of a family donation, a big water tank has been given to the home.Help out by filling the tank with water and keep the children of ARCH clean, fed and well hydrated!Thanks!

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-9088081171005084032008-02-11T23:10:00.000Z2008-02-11T23:16:11.347Z

The two youth journalists I have been working with, Samuel Tronu and Sandra Nyarko, have each had an article published on the United Nations Girls Education Initiative website! The collaboratively written overview of the project also appears! To read the articles click here.

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-64158173161665586612008-02-05T21:31:00.001Z2008-02-08T13:50:31.785Z

As the Africa Cup of Nations rages on in the centre of the earth, the world is taking notice of Ghana - and for more than just football.The BBC, in an effort to capture some of the other issues that are going on in Ghana have produced two shows of World Have Your Say, a fascinating conversation between local peoples who are dealing with a particular issue and the rest of the world. Or at very

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-91664639995699598852008-02-04T12:14:00.000Z2008-02-04T12:17:37.818Z

Check out UNICEF's website for more information on the program, here.

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-75266514093964193292008-01-24T18:45:00.000Z2008-01-24T21:57:30.182Z

According to recent data released by the UN, some 41 million children of primary school age in sub-Saharan Africa do not go to school. This number includes 800,000 Ghanaian children.In an effort to help promote these children's right to an education, UNICEF, in collaboration with the Confederation of African Football, the Local Organizing Committee of Ghana2008 and lead sponsor MTN, is using the

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-47466219022964197212008-01-22T18:37:00.000Z2008-01-22T20:37:44.260Z

From the Associated Press story by Eliane Engeler:A new UN report says a newborn in Sierra Leone has the lowest chance in the world of surviving until age five.The fund says that in 2006 – the most recent year for which statistics are available – more than 26,000 children around the world died each day before reaching their fifth birthday.Most of the 9.7 million deaths were from preventable

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-81909599444297496752008-01-22T07:35:00.000Z2008-01-22T18:54:36.872Z

The fervor of the biggest event to hit Ghana since, well, I got here, is now in full swing with the opening game of the African Cup of Nations 2008. In anticipation of the match I make the journey to Accra.It is clear that the Black Stars are more than just a football team. They are a religion. All over Ghana, and on radio and television, prayers are being offered for a successful

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-74462948415303096822008-01-14T12:06:00.000Z2008-01-14T12:34:49.980Z

In about two months I will be working with the Concord Times of Freetown, Sierra Leone.For a sneak peak at the paper, click here.JHR colleague Danny Glenwright has been working at CT for the past 6 months. For an example of the work he has done, click here.

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-55954398787569403482008-01-12T17:51:00.000Z2008-01-12T18:25:54.804Z

An email from JHR headquarters has arrived in my inbox. It is an email sent to those in my wave of current (and about to expire) interns. It tells of an internship at a newspaper in Sierra Leone. The person selected has decided to drop out at the last minute. The email states that anyone interested is invited to apply.I call my long suffering, recently returned to Canada, girlfriend to see

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-46948276870423978742008-01-06T12:47:00.000Z2008-01-06T16:38:37.915Z

It's been almost a month since my last post and I feel the need to give a quick recap to get back into the swing of things after a very busy holiday season.I've covered some interesting stories, from a behind the scenes look at the fire safety preparations for the Cup of African Nations at the stadium in Sekondi to integrated HIV education for kids at the primary school level.I spent a lot of

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-48160133881160286332007-12-11T10:13:00.000Z2007-12-11T10:44:06.060Z

So, last Thursday was my birthday. My thirtieth birthday. I am now no longer twenty-something.It was very strange to celebrate it so far away from home, away from friends and family, but having my girlfriend here to share it with made it all OK.On the actual day I worked late, finishing a story in the SKYY Newsroom, came home to a candlelit dinner of chickpea salad and a beer and went to bed.

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-21905922705062230142007-12-05T22:01:00.000Z2007-12-05T22:03:04.887Z

After missing a day of work due to a ‘runny stomach’ I return to the newsroom to discover that some further changes, apart from the addition of CCTV cameras, have been made. The news director, a staff journalist/newsreader, and two long term and unpaid intern-journalists have been fired. Or, as it was stated in today’s poorly attended editorial meeting, their appointments have been terminated.

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-49181987414099306722007-12-04T12:57:00.000Z2007-12-04T12:58:45.478Z

Big Brother is watching… and maybe broadcasting to the Internet, too. In a move some might describe as bizarre, invasive, paranoid and offensive, the CEO of SKYY has installed a CCTV security camera in the newsroom and MCR, or master control room, in the station to monitor the activities of his employees.The CCTV system has been in place watching the front door and perimeter of the building as a

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-8707721028857135362007-12-03T16:04:00.000Z2007-12-03T16:06:11.276Z

December 1st is World AIDS Day, a day to recognize the effects of the global HIV/AIDS epidemic and to work towards the prevention of its transmission. In advance of this day, I organize a workshop for the journalists on current HIV information, and invite Kate into the office as a veteran of HIV/AIDS NGO work and current medical student. Organized in about a day, capturing the latest

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-17155706063791319002007-12-03T15:58:00.000Z2007-12-03T16:03:55.608Z

After traveling back to Accra from Koforidia, I get a hotel room, drop off my stuff, have a shower, a nap and go back out onto the streets to get some supplies for Kate’s impending arrival. I hit a cell phone service provider to get a SIM card and the Obruni grocery store for some luxury items that I know she’ll like. Sun-dried tomatoes in olive oil, capers, spices, pesto, and others fill my

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-49226685108113443302007-12-03T15:49:00.000Z2007-12-03T15:58:13.683Z

JHR holds regional workshops for reporters every month in the different regions of Ghana. This month’s two-day summit is held in Koforidia, a city known for it’s beautiful flowers. In fact, I’m asked to bring back some flowers to the SKYY newsroom upon my return. I am eager to attend the workshops, both to visit the city and to meet Nick Fobih, a JHR colleague in with the last wave, whom I

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-76295862472972864792007-12-03T15:44:00.000Z2007-12-03T16:22:17.297Z

Film making is the art of visual story telling. It’s the process of weaving together different visual and auditory elements to tell one complete story. A good story is one that grips our imagination and takes us on journey of discovery through emotions, places, facts and realities. A good story challenges our perceptions of the world. A good story gives structure and meaning to a film.

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-39873329529664791552007-11-14T13:18:00.001Z2007-11-14T14:06:15.523Z

So, I just remembered another name that I'm called. One that I hear literally everyday. Spoken by people I know. My name in Ghana is almost always transformed into Kelvin. There are no Kevins in Ghana, but there are Kelvins.When I am asked my name, I say Kevin, and the person almost invariably says, "Nice to meet you, Kelvin".When I first arrived in Ghana, I would try to correct people. I

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-6078711195530013422007-11-11T12:46:00.000Z2007-11-11T20:28:45.652Z

People! I've just made a stunning discovery!One that has made me want to yell at the top of my lungs from this multimedia mountain topto the masses congregating below!I have only 100 days left in Ghana!My work plan with JHR, as well as my plane ticket, currently has me leaving this wonderful country on February 18th. Which means I have but a dollar of days left to make sense of my time here.It

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-54898475871732901242007-11-07T18:26:00.000Z2007-11-07T19:24:56.277Z

I've been called a lot of names since I arrived in Ghana. Not all bad, most of them just descriptive and some very flattering. It has expanded the ways in which I self identify, and has helped show me much about Ghanaian culture and how I fit into Ghanaian society.First and foremost is Obroni, the word for white man in Akan, which I hear pretty much everyday. When I hear it I smile and reply "

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-39997335031204337592007-11-06T10:22:00.000Z2007-11-06T10:54:08.710Z

For the past three weeks, academic activities in Borkorkope, a small village outside of Takoradi, have come to a stand still. Access to basic education, a human right protected by both the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Ghanaian Constitution of 1992, is at risk. Authorities seem unwilling or unable to act. Christian Baidoo, journalist at SKYY News, contacts one of the teachers

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-24171532711324992682007-10-23T20:53:00.000Z2007-10-23T21:52:43.021Z

Early Saturday morning, about 6AM, I awoke to the sounds of drums beating and voices singing, and I knew I was in trouble. A gathering of SKYY employees was about to set off on a trip to Tarkwa, a town about 90 minutes away, for the official launching of SKYY TV in the area. So, there I was, laying in bed, wracking my brain, trying to decide what to do.About three weeks ago, SKYY held a huge

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-70783122035205734352007-10-19T09:45:00.000Z2007-10-19T09:50:47.964Z

Inspired by Gandhi, and the height and weight of my hair, I undertake my first home haircut.What do you think?

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-4967452114995157222007-10-18T11:28:00.000Z2007-10-19T09:45:18.943Z

I have rabies. OK, I'm not actually sure I have rabies, but after an encounter with a local dog I am taking steps to make sure that it doesn't happen. In my neighbourhood, a sleepy valley on the outskirts of Takoradi called Christian Hills, is a dirt road that goes between two major paved arteries that serve the region. As I walk to work each morning I pass by and greet my neighbors including,

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-72138591152898880792007-10-17T19:56:00.000Z2007-10-17T20:06:18.073Z

What do you do when you can’t move forward, and you can’t go back? When you’re stuck in the middle and suffering surrounds you? In the case of Ms. Regina M. Kranger, you take a stand and sacrifice what little you have. With only the desire create change, the love in her heart and the faith that better days are ahead, she attempts to make her world in the Buduburam Refugee Settlement a better

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-43696767701971282972007-10-16T11:29:00.001Z2007-10-16T11:29:33.588Z

The new wave has arrived. The last of JHR’s interns for Ghana have landed. The group of consists of 8 interns. 4 placed in media houses in Accra, 1 in Ghana’s second largest city, Kumasi, 1 in Tamale in the north of Ghana and 2 roving workshop facilitators, wrap-up report writers and JHR school chapter animators.Doug Murray and I make the trip into Accra to meet the group, welcome them to Ghana

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-14070224468124860022007-09-23T21:19:00.000Z2007-09-24T01:26:07.559Z

Recently, a highly successful news story aired on the atrocious state of the 45 year old Sekondi-Takoradi abattoir. The story, produced by a young journalist at SKYY, calls for immediate action by local authorities. With no action yet taken, a follow-up story needs to be produced focussing on the health implications of using such a filthy slaughter house. The reporter agrees, and soon we're

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-37969549516330107432007-09-23T10:19:00.000Z2007-09-23T11:43:34.231Z

As I climb into the overloaded bus filled with screaming, yelling, singing, dancing, laughing kids, I know it's going to be a fun day in Ghana. The bus ride to Kakum National Park to film a SKYY Kids TV special is a treat for the senses. Sitting upfront with four people in a seat designed for two provides a great vantage point of the road, passing cars and scenery speeding by. Behind me are 50

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-23180818287507002092007-09-18T17:00:00.001Z2007-09-18T18:41:14.465Z

A weekend get-away to Togo. What could be better, jet-setter?Jessie, JHR colleague, and Mia, new lawyer and UNHCR intern, join me on a weekend jaunt to Lomé in Togo. Ghana's neighbour to the east. The road to Togo on the Ghanaian side is atrociously pot-holed. Our tro-tro driver feels like speed is a good way to deal with it. Winding through the pot-hole minefield, at night, an unbelievably

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-10899182049679977392007-09-18T15:53:00.000Z2007-09-18T20:21:08.045Z

About a month into my experience in Ghana, my laptop decides to die. Or rather, decides to go blind. The computer itself works fine, but the lcd screen no longer displays what is going on inside it's little head. I use the poor thing as a jukebox, connected to little speakers, with iTunes on random. I turned it on with the last gasps of the screen, and keep it going by opening and closing it,

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-26106342105313034032007-09-18T15:41:00.000Z2007-09-18T15:44:26.858Z

During a recent editorial meeting in the newsroom, a journalist offers up a story idea for vetting which creates a large reaction from the news team. The story is about a large multinational corporation whose product is renown in Ghana for poor quality and general unreliability. The reporter wants to speak to those in charge and ask why these problems are ongoing. Immediately upon hearing the

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-90976456119947103992007-09-07T20:56:00.000Z2007-09-08T13:55:14.383Z

Returning from a trip to the Regional Health Directorate to secure a placement for my medical student girlfriend, I am accosted at work, and dragged to the back of the building. There, at the small amphitheatre used primarily for televised Sunday church service, I am told that I've been written into a new SKYY television series. An unscripted drama that, from what I understand, is about the

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-25646104091196133462007-08-28T23:13:00.000Z2007-08-29T21:47:46.393Z

After a hectic, yet relaxing weekend in Accra, highlighted by a trip to the Buduburam refugee settlement, I find myself sitting in an old mini-bus waiting to leave for Takoradi. Sitting while the mini-bus fills up with people. They don't leave until full. Sitting in the cacophonous Nkrumah Circle station, surrounded by hordes of people, travelers, drivers and their mates, hawkers, sellers and

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-63592690841253173682007-08-27T00:42:00.000Z2007-08-27T23:46:05.352Z

August 24, 2007 Ryan Bolton and Kevin Hill BUDUBURAM, GHANA–A straight line of charcoal ash is poured onto a grass-less, sun-baked football field and the celebration begins. A rag-tag drum core bangs away as students of 30 of Buduburam's 50 schools await the signal to proceed. Some of the young women sport cheerleading garb displaying the national colours of red, white and blue. A group of young

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-14102225693161316202007-08-27T00:26:00.000Z2007-08-27T00:41:59.413Z

August 19, 2007The Journalists for Human Rights Film Festival, held this past weekend, was a terrific reminder of the reasons human rights need to be upheld.I was able to take in 5 documentaries over the two days of films. A great dose of socially conscious reportage on human rights violations and the people affected by them.The highlight was definitely Refugee Allstars, the story of Sierra

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-63268436769683882292007-08-15T18:10:00.000Z2007-08-15T18:15:40.438Z

A drama is unfolding in the SKYY newsroom. Or perhaps more appropriately worded, a bloody controversy. A big rig truck carrying timber runs over a cyclist, rendering him into a bloody pulp. It happens just down the road from SKYY. Two camera men have not come into work, so a young reporter grabs a camera to fill the void.The scene is grisly. The truck has pulled over to the side of the road.

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-30503227701468505792007-08-14T12:58:00.000Z2007-08-14T13:00:12.243Z

On Wednesday of this past week, two stories emerge in the newsroom that shed light on some of the fundamental challenges that Ghana faces today. Seth, a SKYY News reporter who has previously worked with JHR trainers at another media house, follows up on an ongoing investigation. 23 people have been arrested in a small town near Takoradi. They have been accused of participating in the murder of

Kevin Hillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00166804562483245039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4843017024560986264.post-65206704276373374692007-08-06T16:27:00.000Z2007-08-06T16:30:14.453Z

As a therapeutic measure and means of preventative mental health, I purchased an acoustic guitar. It’s a beautiful number with a red sunburst finish. It’s a Givson. The Ghanaian equivalent to Gibson, I think. Chinese, perhaps? For now, like my favorite 1980’s pro wrestlers, from ‘Parts Unknown’.I go shopping in the market, and get recognized. You’re the accountant! Yes, I am. Leaving work

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