Author: gleanernewspaper

On May 13, 2026, the Julius Maada Bio Leadership Colloquium brought together African decision-makers, youth advocates, traditional authorities, diplomats, and women leaders at the Freetown International Conference Centre to discuss leadership challenges and opportunities. The African Young Leadership Convergence (AYLC) organised the event, which was held to commemorate President Julius Maada Bio’s birthday, under the theme “Reimagining African Leadership: Courage, Accountability, Innovation, and Leadership in an Era of Global Uncertainty.” The colloquium, framed as more than just a ceremonial event, brought together seasoned statespeople and emerging voices to discuss how Africa can move beyond symbolic reform to the structural transformations…

The rehabilitated Maternity and Fistula Wards at Makeni Regional Hospital were officially handed over on Tuesday, May 13, 2026, as part of a major investment in maternal and reproductive health services in Bombali District. The rehabilitation, funded by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Embassy of Iceland, improves the infrastructure and patient-care capacity of a hospital serving more than 500,000 people in the region.Health officials, hospital management, development partners, and other stakeholders were present for the handover, which organisers said is expected to significantly improve access to quality maternal healthcare for women, including those with obstetric fistula, in…

The Ministry of Information and Civic Education and the World Health Organisation (WHO) have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening public health communication, civic engagement, and community mobilisation in Sierra Leone. The pledge was made during a meeting at the Minister’s Office between Minister Chernor Abdulai Bah and WHO Country Representative Dr George F. Ameh, during which both parties discussed ways to strengthen joint efforts in health messaging and national awareness campaigns.Minister Bah welcomed the WHO delegation and introduced senior Ministry staff, expressing gratitude for the ongoing partnership between the government and WHO. He emphasised the Ministry’s critical role in informing…

His Excellency Julius Maada Bio, Minister of Finance, Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura, and Jeneba J. Bangura, Commissioner General, National Revenue Authority (NRA)  Ordinary Sierra Leoneans are feeling the pressure almost six months into what President Julius Maada Bio has dubbed a “Action Year.” Small businesses are facing more challenges, and household finances are being strained as a result of the government’s increased revenue drive, which has seen taxes and levies deepened and expanded throughout the economy. The state is undermining the very services that revenue is meant to safeguard by continuing to spend more than it can afford in crucial areas. The public sector…

FREETOWN — In an era where economic growth is dictated by human capital, Sierra Leone faces a paradoxical crisis: a surplus of graduates alongside a desperate shortage of “job-ready” talent. While the jobs exist, the skills often do not. Leading the skills gap to solve this systemic mismatch is Aminata Kamara, Founder and CEO of Amikam Consulting. At the recent National Labour Day opening event at the Miatta Civic Centre, Kamara chaired a high-level panel that has become the definitive blueprint for workforce development in Sierra Leone. The Strategy: From Education to Employment Under Kamara’s leadership, the discussion—themed “From Education to Employment: Tackling Skills…

Air Sierra Leone (SXE), the virtual flag carrier based in Freetown, is in “advanced” discussions with three potential aircraft suppliers to restore the fifth-freedom service between Freetown and London Gatwick via Banjul in late May or early June 2026.. According to the carrier’s statement, regulatory procedures are underway with civil aviation authorities in Sierra Leone, Gambia, and the United Kingdom, and any restart is contingent on final approvals and operational readiness. The start-up halted operations on April 30 due to technical partner Ascend Airways losing its UK air operator’s certificate (AOC) and returning its aircraft to lessors. Since mid-February 2026,…

President William Ruto has stepped up Kenya’s diplomatic efforts to secure support for Supreme Court Judge Njoki Ndung’u’s candidacy for a seat at the International Criminal Court, bringing up the issue during bilateral talks with Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio ahead of a major continental summit in Nairobi.Ruto hosted President Bio at State House, Nairobi, on Saturday, May 9, 2026, ahead of the Africa Forward Summit on May 11-12. The next day, Ruto wrote on X that he had “informed President Bio of Kenya’s candidacy for the position of judge of the International Criminal Court.” We asked him to…

Sierra Leone and Turkey have signed a protocol to build and furnish the Emine Erdoğan Mother and Child Hospital in Bo City. The project aims to significantly improve maternal and child health services in the country. Sierra Leone’s Office of the President and the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) signed an agreement to strengthen diplomatic and development ties, aligning with President Julius Maada Bio’s Human Capital Development agenda.The new facility, covering approximately 2,000 square metres, will be designed as a modern, specialised centre for mothers and newborns. Emergency services, fully equipped operating theatres, specialised obstetric units, advanced neonatal intensive…

Freetown — Monday, 11 May 2026 Deputy Minister of Justice, Madam Saptieu Elizabeth Saccoh, has reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s commitment to strengthening the country’s legal and institutional preparedness for the activation and use of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Dispute Resolution Mechanism. Madam Saccoh described the AfCFTA Capacity Building Training on the Dispute Settlement Protocol Mechanism as a critical step in providing Sierra Leone with the legal, technical, and institutional capabilities needed to understand, implement, and defend the country’s rights and obligations under the continental trade framework.Madam Saccoh, speaking on behalf of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice,…

On Sunday, May 10, 2026, members of AWOL UK, in collaboration with AWOL Sierra Leone, delivered a significant consignment of medical supplies to Rokupa Government Hospital in the eastern part of Freetown. The donation is part of the organisation’s ongoing efforts to support vulnerable communities and improve healthcare delivery in facilities that care for a large number of patients under difficult circumstances.Wheelchairs, mattresses, blankets, Zimma frames, medical trolleys, baby packs, and a variety of other essential clinical supplies were distributed to improve patient comfort and help hospital staff provide care more effectively. Hospital officials stated that several of the donated…