Author: gleanernewspaper
Ongoing collaboration between Bournemouth University’s Disaster Management Centre and Sierra Leone’s government has resulted in a new crisis management practice, based on BU research. The project: ‘Driving African Capacity-Building in Disaster Management’ (AFRICAB), has been recognised as influential in determining the contexts for a major new disaster management policy in Sierra Leone. On 10 October 2024, the Sierra Leone Cabinet formally approved a new World Bank-funded Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on Relief, developed by the country’s National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA). The new SOP will govern how Sierra Leone, under the coordination of the Agency, responds to disasters and how…
By Abu Bakarr Kargbo A vibrant ceremony held at the Chinese Embassy in Freetown marked the occasion where 174 students and school pupils from Sierra Leone were honoured with this year’s prestigious Chinese Ambassador’s Scholarship and Grant Awards. Among the recipients, 144 were awarded the Ambassador’s Grant, while 30 received the Ambassador Scholarship, recognizing their academic achievements and positive attitudes towards learning. Ambassador Wang Qing, the esteemed Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone, emphasized the significance of education and human development in his address to government officials, university representatives, and school authorities in attendance. Commending the awardees for meeting the stringent…
President Dr. Julius Maada Bio reaffirmed his commitment to advancing regional trade liberalisation in West Africa, as he received the 7th Technical Committee Report on the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ). The report was presented by Dr Olorunsola E. Olowofeso, Director General of the West African Monetary Institute (WAMI), during a courtesy call at State House. The Minister of Trade and Industry, Alpha Ibrahim Sesay, expressed gratitude to President Bio for hosting members of the West African Monetary Zone and for approving the 11th annual Trade Ministers’ Forum conference in Sierra Leone. The forum, themed “International Trade Vulnerabilities of WAMZ…
At a high-level ministerial workshop hosted by the Government of Sierra Leone on Friday in Freetown, under the auspices of the World Bank Group and Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), Ministers of Energy and Finance from the Central African Republic, Chad, Liberia, Mauritania, Republic of Congo, and Sierra Leone endorsed the Freetown Declaration on Regional Collaboration for Scaling Distributed Renewable Energy in West and Central Africa. The Ministers pledged to leverage financial and technical support from the World Bank Group and SEforALL to establish and expand a collaborative platform aimed at scaling up distributed renewable energy solutions across West and…
During his recent visit to Angola, US President, Joe Biden, praised Africell Telecommunications Company’s significant contributions to the Lobito Corridor, which aims to improve connectivity between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Biden praised Africell CEO, Ziad Dalloul, for the company’s efforts to provide local communities with fast mobile and fintech services. Dalloul pointed out Africell’s unique position as Africa’s only US-owned mobile operator, as well as its collaboration with the US government on initiatives to improve financial security for agricultural workers. Africell is also planning to release a documentary, “Lobito Bound,” in 2025 to highlight the Corridor’s significance. President Joe…
On Saturday 30th November 2024, the Thonko Development Association (ThoDA) was launched at the Council of Churches Sierra Leone (CCSL) hall at King-Harman Road in Freetown. In his opening remarks, the Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Mohamed Lahai Samura, welcomed participants to the launch and extended the same to those who would have loved to attend but did not, because of unavoidable reasons. Dr Samura disclosed that the purpose of the meeting is to witness the launch of a wonderful initiative that has been developed by a group of Thonko people. Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Abu Kargbo remarked that…
For nearly four decades, illegal foreign-owned fleets have devastated Sierra Leone’s once sustainable fisheries industry. Sierra Leone’s 400 km Atlantic coastline once contained abundant marine resources crucial to the nation’s economy. Fishing contributes 12% of the country’s gross domestic product and is the primary source of protein for 80% of the population. The industry employs around 500,000 people out of a population of eight million. But these jobs and economic benefits are in jeopardy. They have already dwindled and are under continual threat from the brazen network of foreign vessels engaged in illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing along Sierra…
The National Revenue Authority (NRA) held its annual Board/Management Retreat from November 27 to 30, 2024, at LIA Hotel in Lungi, focusing on the theme “Strengthening Digitalization for Improved Revenue Generation.” The event brought together the Minister of Finance, Board members, and senior management to discuss innovative digital strategies aimed at enhancing tax collection efficiency and addressing challenges in tax administration and domestic revenue mobilisation. In his keynote address at the opening, the Minister of Finance, Mr Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura, stressed the importance of leveraging technology, such as the Integrated Tax Administration Systems ITAS), Product Tracing System (PTS), Fuel…
Freetown is preparing to welcome another group of Sierra Leonean nationals repatriated from Lebanon as the government intensifies efforts to ensure the safety of its citizens amidst the unpredictabilities of the Israel-Hezbollah conflict. On Monday, December 2, 2024, a total of 41 Sierra Leonean women will arrive in Freetown to reunite with their families, following coordinated efforts by the Sierra Leonean government and its diplomatic partners. This latest move follows last week’s evacuation of 168 Sierra Leoneans from Lebanon, an operation led by the Sierra Leone Embassy in Tehran, the consulate in Beirut, and supported by the International Organization for…
The Tertiary Education Commission (TEC), in collaboration with the Commonwealth of Learning (CoL), has ended a two-day capacity-building workshop for Higher Education Institutions and respective stakeholders for online facilitation, including the use of artificial intelligence and inclusive technologies for Open and Distance Learning (ODL). In his opening remarks, the Chairperson of the Workshop, Dr. Issa Fofanah, welcomed participants at the session and expressed excitement for the scheduled topics that would be discussed. He admonished respective stakeholders to make meaningful contributions during the workshop, as the topics highlighted are key to the development of education in Sierra Leone. While delivering his…