Author: gleanernewspaper

His Excellency Dr Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone and current Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), attended His Excellency Alassane Ouattara’s inauguration in Abidjan on December 7, 2025. President Ouattara, who was re-elected in the presidential election on October 25, 2025, took the oath of office in front of a gathering of regional leaders, symbolising both continuity and a renewed commitment to democratic governance in Côte d’Ivoire. President Bio commented on his arrival on Facebook, saying, “ECOWAS remains steadfastly committed to strengthening…

President Dr Julius Maada Bio has officially launched an Alternative Livelihoods Training programme for youth bike riders and unveiled the Status of the Youth Report 2025 at Milton Margai Technical University (MMTU) in Goderich. The programme, titled “Empowering Youth Bike Riders as Sustainable Agents of Peace in Sierra Leone,” aims to provide new skills and opportunities to improve the livelihoods of bike riders while strengthening their role in national development.Targeting 1,300 young riders and supported by the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund, the initiative seeks to formalise and professionalise a sector President Bio described as “essential pillars of national mobility and…

Freetown, December 8, 2025. Sierra Leone’s Minister of Energy, Cyril Arnold Grant, presided over the groundbreaking ceremony for a major extension of the power distribution network along the Freetown Peninsula today, applauding the Government and People of Japan for their continued support in expanding.Increasing energy access across the country. The project, funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), was described by the minister as a “generous gift” that will help light homes, power businesses, and support broader national development objectives.Minister Grant stated that the initiative renews a long-standing partnership with Japan and is a timely intervention in line with…

The Sierra Leone Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), chaired by Deputy Speaker Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh, convened a one-day National Dialogue on Monday, December 8, 2025, to enhance efforts to generate revenue for Local Councils and Chiefdom Authorities. On Monday, December 8, 2025, Brahim Tawa Conteh convened a one-day National Dialogue to enhance efforts to generate revenue for Local Councils and Chiefdom Authorities. Government agencies, civil society, and development partners came together to adopt seven key measures now known as “The Freetown Resolutions 2025.”The Dialogue, according to organisers, is a critical step toward improving the mobilisation, management, and utilisation of…

Dr Ibrahim Bangura Supporters and sympathisers of Sierra Leone’s main opposition party, the All People’s Congress (APC), are increasingly convinced that the 2028 elections will be hotly contested and offer the party a significant opportunity to return to power. Supporters say there is a growing consensus within the APC that the party should field a new, untainted candidate to challenge the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP). Dr Ibrahim Bangura is the name that APC members most frequently mention as their strongest prospect. Dr Samura Kamara, the party’s flagbearer in 2023, was embroiled in a high-profile legal battle, which many argue…

Mr Cyril A. Grant, the newly appointed Minister of Energy, has challenged the leadership of the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA) to step up efforts to make the utility a model institution for the rest of the country. At his first substantive meeting with EDSA management, Minister Grant emphasised the authority’s critical role in the nation’s energy sector and urged renewed focus, teamwork, and strategic cooperation among agencies and personnel. “EDSA is one of the best and largest institutions in the country and the backbone of the energy sector,” the Minister said, praising the talent, capability, and commitment he…

Female diplomats from African missions in Kuwait officially launched the African Women Diplomats in Kuwait (AWDK) forum at a Gala Dinner on Thursday, December 4, 2025, in the Al-Baraka Ballroom of the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Farwaniya. The new platform, unveiled during the international 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, aims to strengthen African-Kuwaiti partnerships and cultural exchange while advancing gender equality, professional development, and African solidarity.The event drew a diverse group of guests, including diplomats, government officials, civil society activists, and members of the media, who gathered to honour African women’s contributions in Kuwait and to launch a…

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of Sierra Leone hosted a delegation from the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) for a substantive discussion on the recently launched Second-Generation Country Review Report.The meeting, held in the Commissioner’s Conference Room at Tower Hill in Freetown, was intended to strengthen mutual understanding, facilitate experience sharing, and allow the APRM team to investigate the ACC’s mandate, operations, and institutional performance as part of the national review process.Dr Rachel Mukamunana, Director of Country Reviews at the APRM delegation from South Africa, explained that the APRM is a self-monitoring instrument established by the African Union to promote good…

Africell CEO, president and founder Ziad Dalloul (left) and NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum sign the expanded agreement at the NBA’s global headquarters in New York City on 23 September 2025 Africell Sierra Leone is proud to announce the official launch of its partnership with NBA Africa an expansion of the broader Africell Group collaboration with the National Basketball Association (NBA). This milestone extends NBA Africa’s development initiatives to Sierra Leone for the first time, positioning the country as an emerging hub for youth basketball talent in the region. The partnership builds on the success of…

President Dr Julius Maada Bio has announced a significant increase in government support for the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), bringing the annual subvention to NLe 2.7 million as part of a larger initiative to strengthen independent journalism and modernise the country’s information ecosystem. The announcement was made at the seventh Presidential Media Cocktail at the State House, which was attended by media executives, editors, and representatives from national media associations. President Bio described the move as a clear demonstration of his administration’s commitment to media sustainability, stating that the press remains “a fundamental pillar of democracy” and emphasising…