Author: gleanernewspaper

Alhaji Koroma, a soldier in the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF), entered a plea of guilty and was given a thirty-year prison sentence for the failed coup attempt on November 26. Koroma was put on trial before a Court Martial in Freetown along with 27 other military personnel. The accused was facing a total of 88 charges. Numerous offences were included in the charges, such as mutiny, aiding the enemy, speaking with them, stealing government property, and even murder. The extent of their alleged involvement in the attempted coup, which sought to topple the government, was made clear by…

By Issa Davies Freetown – Evette Regnant sits on rows of neatly spread mats on the floor of a newly built two-classroom Early Childhood Development (ECD) centre in Taiama Community in southern Sierra Leone. She is joyously flanked by cheerful preschoolers who are rhythmically chanting, “We should always wash our hands with soap before eating and after using the toilet.”Evette has been an ECD teacher for over two years, teaching early skills and nurturing children between the ages of three and five years at the ECD centre of the Roman Catholic Primary School in Taiama. “I am a trained ECD educator,…

The spouse of notorious drug lord, Abdul Kamara, popularly known as Bigitel of Mamaba Ridge in the Moyiba Community, East end of Freetown, Juliet Kamara, was taken into custody by the Harbour Division Police during a well-thought-out operation that targeted drug dealers across the nation. This represents a significant advancement in the war against drug trafficking. A sizable amount of illegal drugs were taken from Kamara’s home, as a consequence of the operation that resulted in her arrest, suggesting that she may have been involved in the drug trade. Along with two of her sales agents, Mariatu Koroma and Fatmata…

The Sierra Leone Maritime Administration (SLMA) is proud to announce the inauguration and handover of a state-of-the-art Police Station to the people of Bonthe. This milestone achievement underscores the commitment of the SLMA towards bolstering community safety and security, in line with the vision of His Excellency President Bio. Following the reinstatement of Mr. Paul Sobba Massaquoi by His Excellency the President in January 2023, initiatives were swiftly undertaken to enhance Sierra Leone’s maritime reputation on the global stage. The administration prioritized the domestication of all maritime international conventions, reaffirming the nation’s commitment to adherence and compliance with international standards. …

By Ibrahim Sorie Koroma Ministry of Health, in collaboration with its partners, in April this year, will roll out FREE Malaria Marklate in 15 Districts in Sierra Leone, excluding Western Area Urban. The Programme Manager of the Expanded Programme on Immunization, Desmond Maada Kangbai, said that they are targeting at least 80% of over 286,253 surviving infants in 15 selected districts with 4 doses of the malaria vaccine, adding that the introduction age cohort of the vaccine is at 6 months, which means only children at age 6 months at the time of the introduction/roll-out will be eligible for the…

The Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED), the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS), the European Union (EU), and the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) in Sierra Leone have officially launched the project titled ‘Salone Access to Finance’ in Freetown at the Sierra Palms Resort. Funded under the EU’s Jobs and Growth Programme, this pioneering initiative will improve access to finance over the next five years, contributing to scaling up digital financial solutions and piloting insurance to 500,000 low-income farmers, including women, and youth entrepreneurs. At the heart of the ‘Salone Access to Finance’ Project lie four crucial pillars: investment -creating access to credit, insurance – a climate adaptation SafetyNet, digitalization -leveraging technology for…

By Agnes Aineah Dozens of survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in Sierra Leone have completed a skills training program that Caritas Freetown designed to help the victims of abuse get back on their feet. In the programme that ran for two years, ending with the Wednesday, March 20 graduation, 25 SGBV victims from Waterloo, a highly populated settlement in Sierra Leone’s Western Area Rural District, were equipped with catering and knitting skills. At the graduation ceremony, the 25 participants in the programme were also awarded start-up kits for income-generating ventures, based on the skills they had acquired. In his address…

During the 21st Annual General Meeting of the West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA), Chief Minister Dr Moinina David Sengeh challenged regulators to prioritize connectivity to integrate the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). At the meeting in Freetown, Dr Sengeh emphasized the importance of regulatory collaboration and coordination in ensuring a strong connectivity system that promotes subregional development. Dr. Sengeh emphasized the importance of technology, specifically Artificial Intelligence (AI), in improving learning outcomes and citizens’ lives in Sierra Leone. He discussed President Bio’s “BIG FIVE GAME CHANGERS” initiative, which aims to improve citizens’ lives through a variety of…

Dr Robert Taliercio O’Brien, World Bank Country Director for Sierra Leone, Ghana, and Liberia, paid a courtesy call on His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio at the Presidential Lodge in Hill Station, Freetown. The focus of the meeting, which was chaired by Mr Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura, the nation’s finance minister, was the government’s priority agenda and investment plans for food security. Throughout the discussion, Dr. O’Brien conveyed how happy he was in Sierra Leone and restated the World Bank’s commitment to the nation’s progress. He underscored the Bank’s dedication to offering support in vital domains like sustenance security, infrastructure,…

NaCSA Commissioner, Ambassador Ernest Mbaimba Ndomahina, is currently in New York to participate in the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). As a key representative of NaCSA, Ambassador Ndomahina has been invited to participate in a high-level event organized by the Permanent Mission of Belgium and the Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations. The side event, titled “Harnessing Social Protection to Tackle Poverty and Empower Women and Girls,” aims to explore the critical role of social protection in addressing poverty and promoting gender equality. Ambassador Ndomahina will join other distinguished panellists to share…