Author: gleanernewspaper

The Director General of the National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT), Mohamed Fuaad Daboh, on Tuesday, 17th October 2023, received a team of officials from the World Bank at his Walpole Street Office in Freetown. Welcoming the team, Mr. Daboh expressed his gratitude to the World Bank for its immense contributions to the socio-economic development of Sierra Leone. He disclosed that the Trust, which was established some twenty years ago, was working on designing a scheme for workers in the informal sector who consider the current NASSIT scheme unattractive because of its long-term benefits. Giving an overview of steps…

The Sierra Leonean authorities must ensure truth, justice, and reparations for those killed during the 10th August 2022 protests, which turned violent, Amnesty International said, on the first anniversary of the burial of protesters and bystanders killed. More than 20 protesters and bystanders, and six police officers, were killed during violent protests on 10th August 2022, over mounting frustrations over the soaring cost of living. A Special Investigation Committee set up by the government delivered its findings in March this year. Despite recommending training of police officers to avoid heavy-handedness, the report falls short of recommending an investigation into excessive use of…

After several attempts to get justice from the police in respect of an assault on his person and damage to his vehicle while attending a Press Conference, to which he was invited, together with other journalists, at the Old Railway Line offices of the APC on 25th June 2023, Journalists Ibrahim Alusine Kamara of the Salone Compass Newspaper, has consulted his lawyers, who have written to the Police Complaint Board requesting for an investigation on the matter and to bring the said officers to book. See the letter from Lawyer Sengbe Marrah and Co. below: MARRAH & ASSOCIATES 18th October 2023 The…

Following the successful conclusion of its fifth licensing round, the Petroleum Directorate of Sierra Leone (PDSL) is now set to enter negotiations with three qualified companies that have been selected and which have all prequalified for exploration and production licenses as operators. Speaking during African Energy Week (AEW) 2023, in Cape Town, PDSL Director General Foday Mansary noted that the licensing round, which concluded in September, attracted applications from a diverse range of oil and gas companies. “After a rigorous evaluation process, we now plan to commence negotiations at the beginning of November,” he highlighted. PDSL aims to finalize the…

Through China’s Belt and Road Initiative, roads, railways, bridges, hospitals, schools and airports have been constructed in Africa. The Belt and Road Initiative was launched by the Chinese Leader Xi Jinping in 2013. When the SLPP came to power in April 2018, they decided to cancel the US$350 Million loan that the APC had negotiated with the Chinese Government for the construction of the Mamamah Airport. The SLPP Government argued that the US$ 350 million Chinese loan meant to construct the Mamamah Airport was not value for money. It is now being rumoured that the SLPP Government is secretly negotiating a US$…

Sierra Leone Premier League Champions Bo Rangers FC has officially unveiled John Keister as the new head coach of the club. In a statement, the club stated “Bo Rangers FC is thrilled to announce the official signing of Coach John Keister as the new Head Coach of the club. With an impressive track record and a wealth of experience in the football industry, Coach Keister brings a dynamic approach and a new spirit to accelerate the growth of the club. His tenure will commence on the 1st of November 2023, and the entire club is eager to witness the positive impact he will…

The 2023 annual Political Dialogue between the Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone and the European Union (EU), chaired by HE. Rtd. Brigadier General Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, took place at State House in Freetown on 17 October 2023, where issues of mutual interest were discussed and advanced. The dialogue started with an exchange on the economic situation in Sierra Leone. As in previous years, Team Europe and representatives of European private sector companies operating in Sierra Leone had a fruitful engagement with H.E. President Bio on the conditions for creating an enabling business environment. The…

The U.S. Government, through the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), awarded a grant to Africell Sierra Leone Limited (Africell) for a feasibility study to expand internet access to more than 95,000 individuals throughout Sierra Leone. The study will facilitate the expansion of Africell’s fibre backbone network nationwide and the complementary expansion of fixed broadband networks in up to 32 cities and towns. “USTDA is committed to expanding internet access across Africa in partnership with the private and public sectors,” said Enoh T. Ebong, USTDA’s Director. “Our Agency has a long history of partnering with African countries that are…

By Mohamed Kelfala Fofanah In what seems like the geopolitical switch from the Western World, Sierra Leone is fast embracing China and Russia. The People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Sierra Leone established diplomatic relations on July 29, 1971, but in recent times, the relationship has taken a sharp twist, with the Chinese on the verge of taking over every aspect of Sierra Leone’s economy. The Chinese now control Sierra Leone’s biggest economic asset, the mine, which has an estimated resources of 13.7 billion tonnes, was rolled over from China’s state-backed Shandong Iron & Steel Group, Kingho. Shandong bought the mine in 2015 but stopped operations when the Sierra Leone government cancelled its licence,…

Sierra Leone Minister of Trade and Industry, Honorable Ibrahim Alpha Sesay, has addressed the Fourth Turkiye Business and Economic Forum and has shared President Julius Maada Bio’s Big Five priority programmes. Minister Sesay was accompanied by His Excellency Mohamed Hassan Kaisamba, Sierra Leone Ambassador to Turkiye, senior members from the Ministry of Trade and Industry; and other players in the business community. He further told the Forum that the Parliament of Sierra Leone had ratified the trade agreement with Türkiye, adding that the agreement on the Exemption of Double Taxation would help eradicate trade barriers between the two countries; thereby…