Author: gleanernewspaper

The Republic of Sierra Leone’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Turkey, Dr Francess Virginia Anderson, PhD, led a week-long working visit to Istanbul, stepping up the embassy’s economic diplomacy efforts by meeting with prominent business leaders and private-sector investors. Converting diplomatic relations into tangible trade and investment outcomes that complement Sierra Leone’s national development priorities was the main goal of the delegation’s meetings in Turkey’s commercial hub.Ambassador Anderson centred the visit on a contemporary interpretation of diplomacy that goes far beyond political discourse. Her mission to promote trade, attract foreign direct investment (FDI), and facilitate business-to-business (B2B) partnerships was emphasised…

Strong Energy Industry & Trade Ltd, a leading Turkish lubricant manufacturer and distributor, paid a courtesy call on Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to Turkey, Her Excellency Francess Virginia Anderson, during a week-long working visit to Istanbul to discuss expanding commercial ties with the West African nation. The meeting reaffirmed the company’s intention to expand its presence in Sierra Leone and explore broader collaboration with the government.Strong Energy, which manufactures a diverse range of mineral oils and petroleum derivatives, discussed its current presence in Sierra Leone as well as future expansion plans. The company produces motor and gear oils, hydraulic and industrial…

Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Trade and Industry, with technical assistance from the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and financial backing from the Government of Japan, launched a three-day validation workshop to advance a Step-by-Step Guide for Trading Goods under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and its companion Digital Trade Information Portal.The AfCFTA brings together over 50 African countries into a single market of roughly 1.4 billion people and an estimated combined GDP of around USD 3 trillion, providing a wide-ranging opportunity for economic transformation. However, many traders, particularly Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and businesses…

The National Commission for Democracy (NCD) Western Region Office has announced plans to launch a nationwide Citizens’ Platform for Political Tolerance, with the goal of reducing political tensions, strengthening democratic culture, and addressing the growing problem of illicit drug use among young people. The announcement was made on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at the NCD Western Region Headquarters in Jui, Freetown, during a stakeholder engagement that included 50 people from across the region.Representatives from civil society organisations, the Office of National Security, media practitioners, students, political parties, youth and women’s groups, security agencies, and traditional and religious leaders from Hastings,…

The Sulima Weekend Getaway, hosted by the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs from February 13 to 15, 2026, transformed the small coastal township of Sulima into a vibrant showcase of Sierra Leonean culture, creativity, and coastal heritage. The event, hosted in collaboration with chiefdom stakeholders and powered by Inkee Media, was designed to transform a presidential vision into tangible activation under the Year of Culture and Creativity 2026.Mrs Nabella Tunis, Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, used the occasion to emphasise the government’s commitment to promoting tourism development in all districts. She stated that Sulima’s recent designation as a…

The Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA), under the authority of its Executive Committee and President Babadi Kamara, has approved and immediately implemented a policy that waives all coaching course fees for all female coaches in Sierra Leone. The waiver applies to enrollment in the Association’s entire coaching pathway, from Licence D to Licence A, and will remain in effect for the duration of the current Executive Committee’s term. This is a deliberate institutional intervention aimed at removing a long-standing financial barrier that has prevented women from pursuing formal technical education in football. President Kamara stressed that meaningful, long-term development of…

Director General of Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority (SLCAA), Musayeroh Barrie The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament, chaired by Deputy Speaker Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh, has discovered a significant discrepancy in revenue reconciliation at the Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority (SLCAA) following a review of the Auditor-General’s most recent report on Sierra Leone’s accounts. The audit findings, as well as the PAC’s subsequent engagement with Authority officials, point to systemic weaknesses in revenue management and inter-agency controls that have resulted in NLe28,777,169 (Twenty-eight billion, seven hundred and seventy-seven million, one hundred and sixty-nine thousand Old Leones) remaining unaccounted for…

Ecobank Sierra Leone Limited has announced the appointment of Professor Osman Alimamy Sankoh, DSc, COR, as Chairman of its Board of Directors, a position he will officially take on in November. Professor Sankoh, also known as Mallam O., brings over three decades of distinguished service in national governance, international research leadership, academia, and board-level oversight, and is expected to provide strong strategic direction as the bank enters its next phase of growth.  Professor Sankoh, a highly respected statistician and epidemiologist, combines extensive technical knowledge with experienced leadership in governance, risk management, and multi-stakeholder engagement. His professional footprint includes Sierra Leone,…

At a ceremony in the Sultan’s palace on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, His Excellency Mohammed Barrie, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Sierra Leone to Saudi Arabia and the non-resident Ambassador accredited to the Sultanate of Oman, formally presented his Letters of Credence to His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said. While highlighting Freetown’s intention to expand diplomatic and economic ties, Ambassador Barrie extended warm greetings from President Dr Julius Maada Bio and the people of Sierra Leone to the Sultan and the people of Oman. Ambassador Barrie brought up Oman’s comparative advantages in energy, ports and logistics, infrastructure, and…

February 2026- Sierra Leone’s Deputy Minister of Defence (DMD), Colonel (Retired) Muana Brima Massaquoi, led a high-level delegation to the Third Edition World Defence Show (WDS2026) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from February 8 to 12.  The event, held under the patronage of King Salman, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and organised by the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI) and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defence, brought together international defence institutions, security companies, and government delegations. The Honourable Massaquoi, accompanied by the Chief of Army Staff, Major General Kemoh Tewoh Sesay, and his Military Executive Assistant, Colonel…