Author: gleanernewspaper

Antonio Rüdiger was dubbed one of the 10 best defenders in the world by RadioTimes following his 2022/23 campaign for Real Madrid. Best known for his composure on the ball and tenacious tackles, there can be no doubt that the 30-year-old has found footballing acclaim. Thousands watched Rüdiger put his body on the line against Manchester City, defending a one-goal lead to win the 2021 Champions League Final. Far fewer are aware of the German national’s philanthropic efforts off the pitch. Here is a run-down of the voluntary work undertaken by Antonio Rüdiger to tackle poverty in his mother’s homeland: Sierra Leone.…

“If the value of an individual wealth is greater than the value of their lawfully acquired wealth, it is an unexplained wealth”. That is said to be the case of former secretary to President Julius Maada Bio, Dennis Vandi. Many Sierra Leoneans deem the Dorwaila Inn & Suites Hotel investment of Dennis Vandi as an “unexplained wealth”. “Dorwaila Inn & Suites Hotel must be the subject of an ACC investigation”, one retired senior public official demands. The investment is worth approximately $11 million, according to someone who is familiar with the investment. The massive ultra-modern Suites Hotel owned by a…

His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio has met the team from the Commonwealth Secretariat and the leadership of the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion, ICPNC, to discuss mediation efforts with the opposition and key stakeholders. “I had fruitful discussions with the delegation from the Commonwealth Good Offices for Peace and the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion, on my Government’s commitment towards deepening democracy, the rule of law and enhancing peace in Sierra Leone. “I’ve reassured the mediating parties, including the Economic Community of West African States that my Government is open to working with all…

Chief Minister, Dr David Moinina Sengeh, has engaged the legislative, judiciary and executive arms of government as part of his role to ensure collaboration among the three arms of government for effective service delivery, especially in achieving the President’s ‘Big Five’ agenda on public sector and justice reform. The meeting brought together institutional heads from the three arms of government to discuss issues of effective collaboration in the areas of the public sector and the justice reform system. The Chief Minister’s meeting was part of the government’s commitment to ensure major reforms happen in the public sector and justice system,…

The incoming Managing Director of the ECOBANK in Sierra Leone, Sebastian Ashong-kadai, along with the Chairperson of the Board, the Regional Executive for Anglophone West Africa, the Country Head of Corporate Banking and the out-going Managing Director, Aina Moore, on Friday 8th September 2023, paid a courtesy visit on the Minister of Finance, Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura, at his George Street office in Freetown. The reason for this visit is for the outgoing MD, Aina Moore, to bid farewell to the Minister and introduce the new MD taking over the operations of ECOBANK in Sierra Leone. In the meeting, both…

Aidan Fitzpatrick, the Ambassador Designate of Ireland to Sierra Leone, has presented copies of his Letter of Credentials to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Timothy Musa Kabba. Ambassador Fitzpatrick said he is happy to return to Sierra Leone as Ambassador since he and his wife first came to Sierra Leone in 1997 and worked in development programs for some time and were residing in Segbwema, Eastern Sierra Leone. He recalled the diplomatic relations between Sierra Leone and Ireland that started back in 2014, furthering that he is coming at a time when the Irish Embassy is in…

Mohamed K. Fofanah Officials from the Ministry of Lands continue to undermine Bio’s government, which will cause serious setbacks and also have the propensity of making his 2nd term difficult. Certain officials in the ministry are taking undue advantage over poor citizens, dispossessing them of their lands and later selling the same to other people. Despite the effort by the media to expose rampant corruption on land matters, nothing has been done by the country’s anti-graft agency to either prosecute or charge corrupt individuals on land matters. Quite a good number of people have suffered corporate bullying and political intimidation…

Since 2015, the service provider for the Sierra Leone Passport, Netpage SL Ltd, has been complying with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standard in the new book design that was launched. This new passport book is a switch to e-passport from a machine-readable passport (MRP) book re-signed in 2022. It is also an electronic upgrade for faster processing of biometric data; currently, the e-passport is being used for ordinary diplomatic and service books. Netpage SL Ltd, through the government of Sierra Leone and their international partners, HID Global, has recently upgraded the e-passport with new security features and a…

Madam Kenyeh Barlay, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, delivered a keynote address at the Sierra Leone Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Acceleration Roadmap consultation. The event, which was held at the Sierra Bay Hotel, aims to gather stakeholders’ insights and expertise for the creation of a robust roadmap towards achieving the SDGs by 2030. The one-day workshop saw participation from development partners, government ministries, private sector representatives, civil society organizations, and local councils. The goal was to enhance and finalize the draft SDGs Acceleration Roadmap, which aligns with the upcoming successor National Development Plan 2024-2028. Peter N. Sam-Kpakra, Development Secretary…

When Sister Gurney and Sister Chambers started their day, they never could have imagined the series of tender mercies Heavenly Father had in store. As missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, these young women have dedicated their time and talents to sharing the gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ in Japan for a year and a half. On that day in March 2023, they were caught in a pouring rainstorm, without phone service, transportation, or umbrellas. Soaking wet, they hurried to a home, where they had hoped to find a Japanese member of the Fuchu Ward.…