Author: gleanernewspaper
The newly appointed Chief Executive Officer of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), Ambassador Marie Antoinette Rose Quatre, has commended President Julius Maada Bio for his visionary leadership and steadfast commitment to governance. The commendation came during a courtesy visit to State House, as Sierra Leone hosts the South-South and Triangular Cooperation for Sustainable Development forum.Ambassador Quatre expressed profound gratitude for President Bio’s support on her appointment as Chief Executive Officer of the APRM. “Your leadership and dedication to good governance have been an inspiration, and I look forward to working closely with Sierra Leone in my new capacity,” she…
His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio has emerged as a powerful voice for transformative global reform, delivering a compelling address at the South-South and Triangular inclusive international system, led by countries of the Global South. The Third Africa High-Level Forum on South-South and Triangular Cooperation for Sustainable Development is currently taking place in Freetown, Sierra Leone, from May 7 to 9, 2025, at the International Conference Centre. This significant event brings together policymakers, ministers, experts, youth leaders, and representatives from non-governmental organisations across Africa and the Global South. The forum is organised by the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) in…
He noted a significant increase in the use of competitive procurement methods, particularly open bidding, which has become more widely adopted across MDAs. Compliance levels have improved steadily, rising from 40 per cent in 2021 to over 60 per cent in 2023. However, he acknowledged ongoing challenges, including weak recordkeeping, insufficient procurement planning, and gaps in post-award contract management.The CEO further underscored the NPPA’s commitment to driving transformative reforms, noting that since his appointment, the Authority has laid a solid foundation to digitise procurement processes. He explained that embracing digital systems would help eliminate wastage, enhance transparency, and ensure value…
H.E. Julius Maada Bio Augustine Sorie-Sengbe Marrah Esq. By-Augustine Sorie-Sengbe Marrah Esq.Sierra Leone’s political landscape has been dominated by two political parties since independence: The Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) and the All People’s Congress (APC). Despite towering promises of progress and growth, neither party’s delivery has matched their pledges to deliver sustainable socio-economic development for the complete emancipation and development of the people. Sadly, they have prioritised political rhetoric and regional loyalties over a holistic national development agenda. The consistent pattern of over-promising and under-delivering has left the country grappling with systemic challenges like corruption, ethnic and regional division,…
Cocoa farmers like Nema and Linda in Kenema, Sierra Leone, are not just growing crops; they are also part of a transformative story that stretches from Barcelona, Spain. While many Sierra Leoneans know Barcelona as the home of the legendary football team that includes Messi and Yamal, few are aware that this vibrant city also houses Organic Africa Chocolate, a shop dedicated to selling 100% organic chocolate sourced directly from Sierra Leonean farmers. My love of chocolate is only matched by my belief in President Bio’s vision for human capital investment, which is consistent with the mission of Organic Africa…
His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio and First Lady Fatima Maada Bio joined world leaders in Libreville, Gabon, to attend the inauguration ceremony of the President-elect of the Gabonese Republic, at the invitation of His Excellency Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, following his election as the 4th President of Gabon on 8 April 2025.The inauguration was attended by several other African and global dignitaries, including the Presidents of Ghana, Senegal, The Gambia, Rwanda, Kenya, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Burundi, Djibouti, and Guinea; the Vice President of Nigeria; the Chairperson of the African Union, H.E. Azali Assoumani; the U.S. President’s Special Adviser on…
In a significant step towards modernising tax collection, the Bo District and Bo City Councils unveiled a new electronic tax payment platform, Govpaysl, in collaboration with Afrimoney last week. This initiative aims to streamline the tax payment process for residents and businesses, allowing them to pay their taxes easily and efficiently via Afrimoney and Qmoney. During the launch ceremony, Deputy Mayor of the Bo City Council, Madam Hawa Campbell, emphasised the importance of this digital platform in transforming the way taxes are paid. She highlighted that Govpaysl not only makes tax payments faster and more transparent but also accessible to…
In a striking example of alleged deception, Nigerian national Ebude Chukwu Augustine Essay appeared in court and was charged with conspiracy to defraud and engage in fraudulent transactions. The charges stem from allegations that he duped a complainant into paying a whopping $48,000 for counterfeit gold bars. On April 15, 2025, Magistrate Santigie Bangura presided over the proceedings in Pademba Road Court No. 2. Essay faces two serious charges: conspiracy to defraud and causing money to be paid through fraudulent means. According to the police charge sheet, the alleged fraudulent activities took place between March 1 and March 19, 2025,…
By Jeneba Conteh. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with UN Women, the United Nations, and World Vision, held a three-day national conference on financing for women’s peace and security at the Lumely Atlantic Hall in Freetown on Wednesday, April 23, 2025. The conference’s goal was to advance inclusive and sustainable financing strategies for gender equality and peacebuilding in Sierra Leone. Dr. Isha Fofana Ibrahim Deen, Chairperson of the Faculty of Arts at Fourah Bay College (FBC), emphasised the critical importance of funding initiatives that empower women. She stated that, while significant progress has been made in addressing…
The Chief Executive Officer of GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, Dr. Sania Nishtar, has led a high-level delegation to pay a courtesy call on His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio at his residence ahead of the commemoration of the 2025 World Immunisation Week in Sierra Leone. The visit underscored GAVI’s commitment to supporting the government’s efforts in strengthening immunisation systems and improving child health across the nation.Welcoming the delegation, Minister of Health Dr. Austin Demby expressed gratitude to President Bio for granting an audience to the visiting team. He emphasised that the decision to host the commemoration of this year’s…