Author: gleanernewspaper

The National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) and its partners commemorated the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR) under the theme: “Empowering the Next Generation for a Resilient Future.” The event, held at New Brookfields Hotel, highlighted the importance of prioritising disaster preparedness and risk reduction, particularly among the youths, who are seen as crucial in shaping a resilient future. IDDRR, observed globally on October 13, was established by the United Nations to promote a culture of disaster risk awareness and reduction. This year’s focus on youth empowerment underscores the growing recognition of young people’s pivotal role in building resilient…

Vickie Remoe Vickie Remoe, host of the “Make Sierra Leone Famous” podcast and executive producer and host of the “Vickie Remoe Show,” which airs on AYV TV, is the driving force behind the Sierra Leone Diaspora Investment Conference. This is the second annual Sierra Leone Diaspora Investment Conference. The one-day event will bring together 250 policymakers, entrepreneurs, Sierra Leoneans, and Americans who are dedicated to Sierra Leone’s economic development. “Our discussions and activities will be guided by this year’s theme.”Navigating the Local and Global Marketplace: Opportunities for Diaspora Entrepreneurs and Investors.” The conference takes place on Saturday, October 19, 2024,…

Andrew Kojo Morrison, Country Representative, Solidaridad, and Cappuro Fredrico, EU Policy Officer with cashew farmers in Kambia. To ensure the successful implementation of the Developing Inclusive and Sustainable Cashew Value Chain (DISCA-VC) Programme, funded by the European Union to improve farmers’ livelihoods, strengthen the cashew value chain, and create more jobs for Sierra Leoneans, a team of representatives from the EU Delegation and Solidaridad, Andrew Kojo Morrison, Country Representative, Solidaridad, and Cappuro Fredrico, EU Policy Officer with cashew farmers in Kambia met and interacted with cashew farmers during a four-day monitoring visit. The visit, which began in early October, is…

In a groundbreaking partnership to address the critical shortage of anaesthesia providers in the country, Mercy Ships (www.MercyShips.org), Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Health, and the University of Sierra Leone have launched a Nurse Anesthesia Diploma Programme. This initiative aims to improve surgical care capacity by training specialised nurse anaesthetists, ensuring lasting healthcare improvements, even after Mercy Ships depart Freetown. Suzanne Thomas, Mercy Ships Director of Education, Training, and Advocacy, emphasised the importance of this collaboration: “Our partnership with the Ministry of Health and the University of Sierra Leone is crucial for developing long-term solutions to the healthcare challenges here. The…

Minister of Finance, Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura The Parliament of Sierra Leone, on Tuesday, 15/10/2024, extensively debated and ratified with unanimity the Millennium Challenge Compact Between the Republic of Sierra Leone and the United States of America and the Programme Implementation Agreement Between the Republic of Sierra Leone and the United States of America. The two agreements, championed by the Minister of Finance, Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura, were unanimously approved by the Members of Parliament following an emergency sitting convened by the President of Sierra Leone, Dr. Julius Maada Bio. He assured them that these agreements hold immense potential for…

In a bold call for greater transparency, the Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah, has urged public institutions to adopt a proactive approach to releasing information to the public. He emphasised that such a move is critical to fostering transparency and combating the spread of misinformation. Minister Bah made these remarks during the 10th-anniversary celebration of the Right to Access Information Commission (RAIC) held at the Foreign Service Academy on September 15, 2024. Minister Bah stressed the fundamental nature of the public’s right to information, noting that access to information is not a privilege but a civic right.…

His Excellency, President Julius Maada Bio, has engaged in symbolic rice harvesting on 11 acres of his 1,467-acre rice farm located in his hometown of Tihun, Sogbini Chiefdom, ahead of the World Food Day Commemoration and the first anniversary of Feed Salone. During this harvesting exercise, President Bio passionately conveyed his enthusiasm for agriculture, stating that his goal is to inspire Sierra Leoneans to take up farming and illustrate his commitment. “I don’t want to stop asking people to do it; I want to be seen doing it myself and setting the example,” he asserted. He also announced plans to…

The Sierra Leone Diaspora Investment Conference (SLDIC) returns on Saturday, October 19th, 2024 at DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton in Gaithersburg, Maryland. The one-day event will gather 200 leaders in business, investing, finance, policy, and development to advance Sierra Leone’s economic growth. It will be the largest gathering of Sierra Leonean-American entrepreneurs, investors, and change-makers in North America.  The speaker lineup is impressive, featuring individuals with international and local leadership experience at home and in the diaspora. Here are some of the speakers for this exciting conference. 1. Victor Williams, Managing Partner, Lions Range Group (Keynote Speaker) Victor Williams is a distinguished…

His Excellency, President Julius Maada Bio, participated in the Economic Development Assembly, a two-day event that convened Heads of State, leaders from both public and private sectors, and representatives from civil society, all united in their effort to stimulate financial investments aimed at eradicating extreme poverty across Africa. During a high-level discussion featuring African Heads of State, President Bio underscored the significant contributions of the World Bank’s IDA funding across multiple sectors in Sierra Leone, including Agriculture, Energy, Education, and Transportation. He pointed out how IDA resources have supported the Free Quality Education Programme, resulting in a remarkable increase in…

UNDP Sierra Leone’s Resident Representative, Fredrick Ampiah In taking a step towards shaping Sierra Leone’s development trajectory, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Sierra Leone held a three-day retreat with their partners to discuss and develop a six-year programme document for the ‘People-Centered Sustainable Development and Resilience’ pillar. The event brought together representatives from 15 government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to collaboratively assess and develop a strategic framework to guide the implementation of the recently approved 2025-2030 Country Programme Document (CPD). The ‘People-Centered Sustainable Development and Resilience’ pillar focuses on stimulating economic growth and job creation while promoting sustainable…