Author: gleanernewspaper

Hong Kong Customs intercepted a suspected drug trafficking case at Hong Kong International Airport on April 13, seizing approximately 3 kilograms of cocaine with an estimated market value of $2.7 million. During routine customs clearance procedures, officers discovered the suspected drugs concealed inside an incoming passenger’s baggage. A 36-year-old woman arrived in Hong Kong from Freetown, Sierra Leone, via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. After the discovery, she was arrested and charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance. The trial began on April 15 in the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts. Hong Kong Customs said…

By Oswald Mensah CokerDr Ibrahim Bangura stands out as a remarkable leader in today’s complex world. His qualities and vision make him a source of inspiration for many.Vision and Direction One of the key aspects of Dr Bangura’s leadership is his clear vision. He sets achievable goals and communicates them effectively to those around him. This clarity helps others understand not just what needs to be done, but why it is important. People feel more connected to the mission when they see the bigger picture. Integrity and Trust Trust is essential in effective leadership, and Dr Bangura exemplifies this trait.…

The Sierra Leone government has confirmed that a number of bridge and road projects in Karene District are on track, with at least two critical bridges set to be completed by the end of 2026. Chernor Bah, Minister of Information and Civic Education, made the announcement on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at the Karene Civic Day Series in Kamakwei, citing Sierra Leone Roads Authority progress reports.The Lohindi Bridge on the Kalangba-Gbendembu corridor is one of the projects that is nearing completion. Minister Bah stated that the Lohindi structure has been decked and is now in the concrete curing phase, which…

Minister of Trade and Industry Alpha Ibrahim Sesay Sierra Leone’s government has announced a breakthrough in attracting private capital for industrial development, with up to US$700 million set aside for the expansion of the country’s manufacturing sector. Minister of Trade and Industry Alpha Ibrahim Sesay announced the Civic Day Series in Karene District. Minister Sesay stated that the investment will support local production of goods such as beverages, tomato paste, iron rods, and flour, which currently account for a significant portion of Sierra Leone’s imports. “By next year, we will have companies producing beverages, tomato paste, iron rods, and many…

On April 14, 2026, President Julius Maada Bio received letters of credence from five newly accredited envoys in a ceremony that highlighted Sierra Leone’s determination to expand diplomatic, economic, and technical cooperation with international partners. The ambassadors from the Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and the United Mexican States were formally introduced to the President by Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Timothy Musa Kabba. The envoy from Russia, Ambassador Andrei Stolyarov, described Sierra Leone and Russia as longtime partners and praised the country’s progress in key…

His Excellency Julius Maada Bio concluded a high-level virtual meeting of the G7+ Eminent Persons, urging intensified collective action to confront political and security challenges in fragile member states, particularly Guinea-Bissau and South Sudan. The meeting, convened by Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, aimed to strengthen cooperation, solidarity, and strategic engagement among G7+ countries and formalise bilateral relations between Timor-Leste and Sierra Leone. President Bio acknowledged Timor-Leste’s leadership in hosting the G7+ Secretariat and reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s commitment to the group’s core principles of peace, resilience, and sustainable development. He emphasised the importance…

Over 350 students from primary and junior secondary schools in Freetown participated in a two-day junior basketball clinic hosted by Africell Sierra Leone in collaboration with NBA Africa. The event, which took place on Thursday, April 16 and Friday, April 17, 2026, at the National Stadium Basketball Court in Brookfields, aimed to help beginner players improve their fundamental skills and confidence through hands-on coaching and structured drills. Throughout the clinic, participants were taught the fundamentals of the sport — dribbling, passing, and shooting — as well as teamwork and game awareness. Experienced coaches led age-appropriate drills that made the sessions…

Alpha Sesay, Attorney General and Minister of Justice, met a delegation of International Moral Guarantors to discuss progress on Sierra Leone’s electoral reform agenda and the implementation of the Agreement for National Unity. The April 14, 2026 meeting brought together international figures charged with monitoring the country’s political reconciliation and electoral readiness in advance of upcoming national milestones. The visiting delegation, led by former Gambian Vice President Her Excellency Fatoumata Jallow Tambajang, included the Deputy UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for West Africa and the Sahel, the UN Resident Coordinator in Sierra Leone, and ECOWAS and Commonwealth representatives.…

Sierra Leone’s Minister of Youth Affairs, Ibrahim Sannoh, used a high-level Side Event of the 2026 ECOSOC Youth Forum on 16 April to press international and domestic stakeholders to convert commitments into concrete, youth-led solutions that accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The event, convened by the Commonwealth Youth Council in partnership with the Governments of Sierra Leone and Ghana and UNESCO, brought together policymakers, UN agencies, development partners, private sector representatives and youth leaders to deliberate on how to boost meaningful youth engagement in sustainable development. In a keynote that combined urgency with a practical roadmap, Minister…

President Julius Maada Bio President Julius Maada Bio has defended his frequent international travel, telling Sierra Leoneans that he often travels to “Manjalaji” (a local term meaning to beg for help) in developing countries to support young people and address pressing national issues. Speaking to a small group during his Easter vacation in the country’s southern region, President Bio dismissed criticism of his travel schedule, saying, “People always complain about my frequent travelling, but they don’t know I’m going to ‘Manjalaji’ to support the youths and solve the many problems we face as a nation. To make his point, the president used…