Author: gleanernewspaper

By Kemo Cham Findings from studies by a group of mainly Sierra Leonean scientists have revealed a worrying trend of viral infections in the country. The scientists attached to the University of Sierra Leone and the Center for Biomedical and One Health Research (CBOHR) at the Koinadugu College (KC), through collaborations with local and international partners, uncovered the presence of deadly viruses hitherto considered as rare to Sierra Leone. One of the studies revealed the rare presence of a sexually transmitted infection in under-five children. These findings from about half a dozen studies were shared at the first dissemination of…

The United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the National Crime Agency (NCA) of the United Kingdom have joined Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in their investigation into what authorities believe to be an international cartel that is in charge of a 1,000-kilogram shipment of cocaine that was purportedly sent from Sierra Leone. At the Port and Terminal Multiservices Limited (PTML) in Lagos, the shipment was found inside a 20-foot export container. It is estimated to have a street value of N29.4 billion, or roughly $20.4 million. On October 7, 2025, while PTML staff were cleaning a set of…

Sierra Leone’s Clerk to Parliament, Mr Karmoh K. Konteh, paid a courtesy call on his Ghanaian counterpart, Mr Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, as part of a working visit aimed at strengthening inter-parliamentary relations and exchanging best practices in digital governance. The visit focused on Ghana’s information and communication technology (ICT) systems used in the parliamentary chamber, as well as how digital tools were used to improve legislative processes and institutional efficiency. Mr Konteh wanted a thorough understanding of the technological infrastructure that supports Ghana’s Parliament, including the software and hardware vendors and the architecture that allows for day-to-day operations. He looked…

On Monday, Sierra Leone’s Presidential Taskforce on Hajj paid a courtesy call to Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Hajj and Umrah Affairs, His Excellency Tawfig Al-Rabiah, at the Jeddah Superdome.The meeting, which came after Sierra Leone participated in the 5th Hajj Conference and Exhibition, provided an opportunity for both sides to express gratitude and focus on preparations for the upcoming 2026 Hajj season.The meeting, which followed Sierra Leone’s participation in the 5th Hajj Conference and Exhibition, provided an opportunity for both sides to express gratitude and focus on preparations for the 2026 Hajj season. Alhaji Murtada Sesay, the Taskforce’s chairman, thanked…

Sierra Leone’s Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Nabeela Farida Tunis, today pledged her country’s full support for Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais, who was unanimously elected as the new Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation at the 26th General Assembly. Al Nowais succeeds Zurab Pololikashvili, and in her first remarks, she outlined an ambitious agenda for transformative change in the global tourism industry, with a focus on sustainability, community empowerment, and technological innovation. Minister Tunis expressed gratitude to the outgoing Secretary-General for his leadership and for championing sustainability and digital innovation in tourism during his speech at the…

Hon. Sierra Leone’s Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs attended the UN Tourism Conference.Abeela Farida Tunis reiterated her country’s commitment to modernising the tourism industry through technological innovation. Minister Tunis outlined plans to use artificial intelligence to improve how Sierra Leone’s cultural and natural attractions are presented to international visitors during a speech that positioned the country as an aspiring leader in sustainable and smart tourism. She cited President Dr Julius Maada Bio’s establishment of a ministry dedicated to technology and innovation as evidence of the government’s commitment to a digital future. Minister Tunis stated that Sierra Leone is actively…

Sierra Leone’s economy is showing signs of stabilisation despite mounting global headwinds, according to the latest World Bank Sierra Leone Economic Update (SLEU) launched in Freetown. The report, titled “Enabling the Private Sector for Growth and Job Creation,” projects real GDP growth of 4.3 per cent in 2025, rising to 4.6 per cent by 2027, supported by expected gains in agricultural productivity, expansion in mining, and steady services-sector performance. The World Bank says this cautiously optimistic outlook reflects improving domestic conditions and a continuation of recent policy discipline, but cautions that private sector development will be critical to sustain growth…

Sierra Leone joined the international community in commemorating World Intellectual Property Examiners Day 2025 with a high-level ceremony that highlighted the critical role of intellectual property examiners in promoting national development, innovation, and economic prosperity.The event, hosted jointly by the Office of the Administrator and Registrar General and the Office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, brought together government officials, legal practitioners, creators, and development partners under the banner “Celebrating and Empowering Intellectual Property Exminers.”iners.” ACP Johan Bull Kamara, who chaired the ceremony, emphasised the growing importance of intellectual property in the legal and commercial spheres. With attention…

An extensive investigation into the movements of Dutch fugitive Jos Leijdekkers — also known by the nicknames “Bolle Jos” and “Omar Sheriff” — alleges that the suspect has been operating between Bunce Island and York village on the Peninsula, about 25 miles from Freetown. According to the investigation, Leijdekkers uses luxury speed boats to transport goods between the Rokel River and Port Loko Creek. According to the investigation, a massive warehouse in York village is being used as a cocaine processing facility. According to sources involved in the investigation, the facility is staffed by a mix of local and foreign workers who…

Rashid Sesay, Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Dean of the African Group of Ambassadors in the UAE, hosted a meeting of APRA Member State Ambassadors to discuss the results of the recently concluded APRA Investment Forum 2025. The forum, held in Freetown on October 22 and 23, brought together high-level political leaders, technical stakeholders, and private-sector actors to advance renewable energy investment across the continent. Ambassador Sesay opened the session at the Sierra Leone Embassy in Abu Dhabi, stating that the meeting had been organised in collaboration with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), which serves…