Author: gleanernewspaper

Cyril A. Grant, the newly appointed Minister of Energy and President Bio President Julius Maada Bio administered the Oath of Office to Mr Cyril A. Grant, the newly appointed Minister of Energy, during a brief ceremony at State House last week. Mr Grant’s formal swearing-in follows his nomination by the President and subsequent approval by Parliament, with the Secretary to the Cabinet, Mr Prince E.O. Cole, confirming that all constitutional and procedural requirements have been met. Mr Cole cited Section 57 of Sierra Leone’s Constitution (Act No. 6 of 1991) while presenting the minister for the oath, noting that the…

Sierra Leone’s Parliament approved an Offshore Bulk Handling Concession Agreement on November 25, 2025. The agreement aims to modernise the country’s offshore transhipment capacity, increase revenue, create jobs, and improve maritime security and environmental practices. The agreement, titled Offshore Bulk Handling Concession Agreement and dated November 10, 2025, is between the Sierra Leone Ports and Harbours Authority (SLPHA), the Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone (GoSL), and Sierra Bulk Handling Limited (SBH). SBH, a newly formed company owned by indigenous Sierra Leoneans, will handle offshore consignments for transhipment in Sierra Leonean waters, with SLPHA providing support and supervision.Deputy Minister…

Sierra Leone’s Chief Justice, His Lordship Honourable Justice Komba Kamanda, reaffirmed the Judiciary’s commitment to the highest standards of accountability and transparency during a meeting with Madam Meisie Nkau, Chief Executive Officer of the African Organisation of English-Speaking Supreme Audit Institutions (AFROSAI-E). The Chief Justice described the visit as both appropriate and timely, with the goal of strengthening institutional collaboration between the judiciary and audit institutions in order to boost public trust in the administration of justice.In welcoming Madam Nkau and her delegation, Justice Kamanda emphasised the importance of collaboration among independent institutions while emphasising the need for those institutions…

As part of the Resilient Food and Nutrition Security (RFaNS) program, Solidaridad West Africa provided over 200 smallholder female farmers in Sierra Leone with necessary agricultural equipment and agro-processing machines. Beneficiaries in Bo, Kenema, and Moyamba districts received grinders, dryers, rice mills, gari-processing machines, blenders, and other tools to improve crop value, reduce post-harvest losses, and increase marketability. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints funded the RFaNS intervention, which targeted women who had previously been supported in cultivating key crops such as cassava, orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP), rice, and vegetables. Solidaridad not only provided hardware but also assisted…

Sierra Leone’s government, security, and civil society partners launched the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and National Cybersecurity and Awareness Campaign on Tuesday, reaffirming their commitment to addressing online harassment of women and girls. The Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs hosted the ceremony at Aberdeen’s Freetown International Conference Centre, which was organised in collaboration with the National Cybersecurity Coordination Centre (NCCC) and other stakeholders. The overarching theme for the activism period is “Unite!” The overarching theme for the activism period, “Unite! End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls,” was supplemented by the public awareness slogan,…

On Sunday, the Magburaka Town Field erupted in a carnival of colour and sound as Dr Ibrahim Bangura arrived in a sweeping motorcade to a thunderous welcome from thousands of supporters. Drum Beats, red-and-white banners, and chants greeted the candidate as he took the stage, framing his return to Tonkolili as both personal and political.  “Being in Tonkolili feels like coming full circle,” Dr Bangura told the audience, referring to family ties and long-standing relationships in the area. He reminded listeners that his stepmother is from Tonkolili and that he has previously worked with many of the district’s sons and daughters.…

November 2025 — Julius Daniel Mattai, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources and Chairman of the African Diamond Producing Association (ADPA), attended the opening session of the Kimberley Process Plenary Meeting in Dubai, UAE.In his opening remarks to delegates, Kimberley Process Chairman Ahmed Bin Sulayem urged unanimity in the midst of a difficult diamond mining and trading cycle, emphasising the need for the Process to act quickly and with renewed vigour.We emphasised the importance of reaching an agreement on several resolutions and proposed amendments currently before members. Bin Sulayem also discussed technological and sectoral developments, such as the…

The outgoing Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Sierra Leone, Wang Qing, paid a farewell call today to Hon. Chernor Bah, Minister of Information and Civic Education, at the Minister’s office on the 8th Floor of the Youyi Building in Brookfields, Freetown. As Ambassador Wang’s two-and-a-half-year diplomatic assignment in Sierra Leone comes to an end, the meeting provided an opportunity to reflect on the partnership formed between the Chinese Embassy and the Ministry since the Ministry was established in 2023.During the cordial exchange, Ambassador Wang thanked Minister Bah and the entire Ministry team for their warm cooperation and…

The Ministry of Employment, Labour, and Social Security has improved workplace safety in Sierra Leone’s agricultural sector by providing a comprehensive two-day Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) training to over 250 employees of Goldtree (SL) Ltd., a major palm oil producer based in Daru, Kailahun District. The training, held on November 20 and 21, 2025, was a key component of a larger workshop titled “Occupational Health & Safety, Employment, Industrial Relations, and Decent Work.”Participants included a cross-section of Goldtree staff — mill workers, field operatives, administrative personnel and members of management — who took part in intensive, hands-on sessions led…

November, 2025, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission held a groundbreaking ceremony and formally handed over sites for the construction of a modern Joint Border Post (JBP) straddling the Jendema-Bo Waterside border between Sierra Leone and Liberia.The two-sided facility, located in Jendema, Sorogbema Chiefdom, Pujehun District (Sierra Leone) and Bo Waterside, Grand Cape Mount County (Liberia), is expected to be completed in 24 months and is entirely funded by the ECOWAS Commission.The two-sided facility, located at Jendema in Sorogbema Chiefdom, Pujehun District (Sierra Leone) and Bo Waterside in Grand Cape Mount County (Liberia), is expected to be…