Author: gleanernewspaper

(Reflections From An Academic Soothsayer) If you felt optimistic about Sierra Leone’s future, the events that unfolded over the past few days might have left you scratching your head. These events highlight where the majority of Sierra Leone’s youth are investing their energy. This should be a cause for concern. On June 30th, President Bio participated in a Presidential Townhall in Makeni, marking another stop in his efforts to engage with the media and the public. During this town hall, the president answered numerous questions from citizens and the moderator, with the event facilitated by the Ministry of Information and…

The Sierra Leone Maritime Administration (SLMARAD) has achieved the best flag performance under the Paris Memorandum of Understanding (Paris MoU) to date, with the Registry now edging closer to the highly desirable White List following a marked improvement in Port State Control results for the 2023-2025 assessment period. The new rankings, based on inspections and detentions in the Paris MoU region during the three-year rolling period, are effective from 1 July 2026. Over the assessment period, using the Paris MoU methodology, the Excess Factor for Sierra Leone-flagged vessels was 0.33, with 172 Port State Control inspections and only 10 detentions.…

Lungi, Northern Province – 12 July 2026- Vice President Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh conducted a comprehensive inspection of the newly completed Julius Maada Bio International Conference Centre in Lungi, as preparations are fast gaining momentum for the upcoming ECOWAS Summit of Heads of State and Government scheduled for 19 July 2026.On 12 July, the visit was to assess the preparedness of the facility to host this high-profile regional gathering. The Centre was built under the supervision of the Office of Presidential Infrastructure and Initiatives (OPII) and is set to be officially commissioned on Saturday, 18 July 2026, a day before…

His Excellency Abdoulrahmane Sikhe Camara and His Excellency Alhaji Brima Elvis Koroma Algiers: Thursday, 09th 2026. — A warm and convivial meeting to highlight the long-standing fraternal relations, His Excellency Abdoulrahmane Sikhe Camara, Ambassador of the Republic of Guinea to the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, paid a courtesy visit to His Excellency Alhaji Brima Elvis Koroma, Ambassador of the Republic of Sierra Leone to Algeria, at the Sierra Leone Embassy in Algiers. The envoys described the encounter, held in a spirit of mutual respect and camaraderie, as emblematic of the deep historical, cultural and social bonds that link their…

Director General of the National Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NPRA), Brima Baluwa Koroma, this week briefed Parliament’s Committee on Trade and Industry on recent developments in Sierra Leone’s downstream petroleum sector, outlining the regulator’s mandate, policy priorities and ongoing interventions to protect consumers, industry operators and government interests. Koroma told committee members that the responsibilities of the NPRA are based on the National Petroleum Regulatory Authority Act, 2025, which provides the Authority with the power to regulate the downstream sector to ensure that it is efficient, competitive and safe. The work of the regulator is to strike a careful balance between…

Her Excellency Ayo Luther Ogbomde, High Commissioner of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Sierra Leone and President Bio Freetown, Thursday 9 July 2026_President Dr Julius Maada Bio today formally received three newly accredited envoys to the Republic of Sierra Leone and reaffirmed his government’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties, promoting regional cooperation and expanding international partnerships. Also at State House, the envoys handed over the Letters of Recall for their predecessors and presented their Letters of Credence.The diplomats who presented their credentials were: Her Excellency Ayo Luther Ogbomde, High Commissioner of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Sierra Leone;…

Africell Sierra Leone, in partnership with the Government of Sierra Leone, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the University of Sierra Leone, officially launched UniPod Sierra Leone on 9 July 2026. The innovation hub, launched at Fourah Bay College in Mount Aureol, aims to support young entrepreneurs, researchers and innovators by providing access to technology, mentorship and business development support with a view to translating ideas into commercially viable solutions to national development challenges.The UniPod is a catalytic space for students, researchers and entrepreneurs to collaborate in the design, prototyping and development of products and services that respond to…

By Shannon A. L. Scott Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in partnership with the Directorate of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) has called on government institutions and development partners to adopt data-driven decision-making, enhance digital coordination and increase inter-agency collaboration as important steps for improved public service delivery and fast-tracking national development.The appeal was made during a training workshop on Coordination and Planning Visualisation Platform organised by DSTI in partnership with CRS. The event took place on Monday 7 July 2026 at Country Lodge in Hill Station, Freetown, bringing together officials from ministries, departments and agencies and representatives of development organisations…

National Security Coordinator, Abdulai Caulker The Office of National Security (ONS), in collaboration with the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) and the Sierra Leone Police, has improved security in and around Freetown ahead of the 69th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State. The summit will be held on July 19, 2026, by His Excellency Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone and current Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, at the newly built Julius Maada Bio International Conference Centre, Lungi. Ministers, officials, delegates and guests from the West African region will…

4 June 2026, Freetown. The Chinese Embassy in Sierra Leone has presented 15 Lifan motorbikes to the Office of National Security (ONS) during a ceremony at the ONS headquarters on OAU Drive, Tower Hills, Freetown. The donation, which is aimed at enhancing the mobility and operational capacity of the ONS, was formally handed over to the National Security Coordinator (NS Coord), Mr Abdulai Caulker, in the presence of senior officials of the ONS and the Chinese diplomatic delegation. Deputy National Security Coordinator Dr Ahmed Sannoh, in his opening remarks, warmly welcomed His Excellency Zhao Yong, Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone…