Author: gleanernewspaper

AgDevCo aims to build successful African agribusinesses through long-term investment and support to deliver positive impact at scale | Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash By-Danielle Rossingh The commitment will allow Planting Naturals to grow its operations and boost incomes and livelihoods for its growing network of farmers in the West-Africa country. AgDevCo, a specialist investor in African agriculture with $340m (€292m) in assets under management, has invested $7m in a sustainable organic palm oil producer based in Sierra Leone. Planting Naturals produces organic crude palm oil and palm kernel oil for export, sourced from its own plantations and from…

The Sierra Leone government reiterated its commitment to promoting information integrity, media freedom, and equitable access to public-interest data at the Regional Conference on Information Integrity in West Africa and the Sahel, which will be held in Praia, Cabo Verde, from September 3 to 5, 2025. Sierra Leone, led by the Ministry of Information and Civic Education (MoICE), joined over 20 delegations made up of government ministers, regulators, civil society leaders, and digital platform representatives to address growing regional threats such as disinformation, hate speech, and information manipulation. The conference featured high-level and thematic sessions aimed at facilitating coordinated responses…

Mr. William Fayia Sellu, Inspector General of Police, has assured the Catholic community that the murder of Rev. Fr. Augustine Dauda Amadu will be pursued as an active criminal prosecution rather than a mere entry in crime statistics. During a condolence visit to the Catholic Pastoral Centre in Kenema City on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, IGP Sellu promised that investigators would work tirelessly to bring those responsible to justice. Fr. Amadu was discovered strangled in the early hours of Sunday, August 31, 2025, in Kenema’s Burma Section, causing widespread concern among clergy and parishioners. “This will not be just another…

NPRA Director General Brima Baluwa Koroma and SLSB’s Executive Director, Dr. John Paul Kai Sam The National Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NPRA) and the Sierra Leone Standards Bureau (SLSB) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at NPRA’s headquarters in the British Council Building on Tower Hill to formalise their strategic partnership. The agreement, described by both institutions as a watershed moment, seeks to strengthen cooperation, harmonise standards, and improve service delivery in Sierra Leone’s petroleum sector. Speaking at the ceremony, NPRA Director General Brima Baluwa Koroma stated that the agreement represents a significant step toward closer collaboration between the two agencies. He praised…

On August 25, 2025, Walk With Web, in collaboration with the Sierra Leone Public Archives (SLPA), held an official launch ceremony for the SLPA’s new website at the University Committee Room, University Building, Fourah Bay College (University of Sierra Leone), in Freetown. The launch is a significant step forward in Sierra Leone’s efforts to digitise and broaden access to its archival collections, strengthen national digital capacity, and make government and historical records more accessible to researchers, students, and the public. Senior archive employees, government representatives, academic leaders, students, and international collaborators all attended the event. Walk With Web’s CEO, Kartikay…

Sierra Leone’s criminal justice system will undergo significant changes when the Criminal Procedure Act (CPA), 2024 takes effect on September 16, 2025, Attorney General and Minister of Justice Alpha Sesay Esq. announced on Tuesday, September 2, 2025. The new statute repeals the Criminal Procedure Act, 1965 (Act No. 32 of 1965) and introduces reforms to shorten case timelines, protect witnesses, reduce arbitrary detention, and modernise court processes. According to the Attorney General, the 2024 Act will make the justice system “more efficient, transparent, and accountable—one that does not criminalise poverty and status.” He described the law as a “work in…

There are times when politics and ritual intersect in a way that feels larger than any campaign speech or manifesto. For Dr. Ibrahim Bangura, the past few months have been filled with such moments — ceremonies and symbols, ancestral affirmation and popular acclaim — all occurring in a sequence his supporters interpret as destiny. From sacred rites in the capital to coronations in the south and rain-soaked solidarity in the north, ceremony, weather, and the unmistakable presence of his people have all played a role in shaping his rise.  It began in April in Freetown’s Fourah Bay community, where traditional…

Sierra Leone’s Minister of Transport and Aviation, Ambassador Col. (Rtd.) Alhaji Fanday Turay, hosted a senior delegation from Egypt’s Arab Contractors Company on Thursday for high-level discussions aimed at expanding transportation and infrastructure cooperation throughout the country. The visiting delegation was led by Ing. Hassan Ibrahim, a company board member, and Ing. Osama El-Dasouki, Director of Maasara Shipyard. Meetings at the Ministry focused on a broad agenda, including strengthening regional transportation corridors, building bridges and airports, and developing local capacity to manufacture sea transport ferries. The discussions focused on practical projects that could improve Sierra Leone’s internal connectivity and links…

Statistics Sierra Leone (Stats SL), in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Food Security (MAFFS), has released the 2024 Women’s Empowerment and Nutrition Survey (WENS) Report and anonymised microdata, paving the way for evidence-based gender, agriculture, and nutrition policy in Sierra Leone. The launch event, held at New Sella Sport on King Harman Road, brought together senior government officials, UN agency representatives, civil society leaders, and development partners to emphasise the importance of addressing the systemic barriers that prevent women from fully participating and leading in agriculture. Deputy Statistician-General Lansana Kpewolo…

Image credit: Tasos Katopodis Photography On August 14th, 2025, Sierra Leonean music took center stage at Amazon’s headquarters in Arlington, Virginia as Drizilik delivered an electrifying performance for the tech giant’s employees. The concert was part of the Amazon Summer Concert Series, an annual tradition that brings global music talent to the company’s offices. This year, Drizilik joined a roster of past performers that includes Brittany Spencer, Lily Rose, Dayglow, CharlieonaFriday, and The Beths. This list reflects Amazon’s ability to spot emerging talent and celebrate diverse musical voices. (Caption: Drizilik performs Kriofusion hits at Amazon’s HQ in Arlington, Virginia on August 14, 2025) (Caption: A cross section of…