Author: gleanernewspaper

Thursday, April 9, 2026 — Sierra Leone President Dr Julius Maada Bio has called for immediate action to link energy access with economic transformation, arguing that green industrialisation is critical for stability and shared prosperity in Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Landlocked Developing Countries. President Bio spoke at a high-level roundtable on “Green Industrialisation for Stability and Shared Prosperity” on the sidelines of the International Vienna Energy Forum, urging governments, financiers, and development partners to focus energy investments on tangible economic outcomes rather than treating electrification as an end in itself.”For countries like Sierra Leone, energy is not the end…

Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary’s Community Outreach Programme (TCOP) recently conducted a focused education and engagement mission in communities surrounding Outamba-Kilimi National Park (OKNP), enhancing young people’s understanding of chimps, biodiversity, and the role of healthy ecosystems in sustaining local livelihoods. The team left Freetown on March 22nd and implemented a structured program that included classroom-based learning, interactive competitions, community outreach, and hands-on field experiences to reach a diverse group of students, teachers, and leaders.TCOP operates at the intersection of conservation and community development, providing both formal and informal environmental education, promoting sustainable livelihoods, and fostering long-term stewardship among those who live…

The Sierra Leone Ports and Harbours Authority (SLPHA), through its concessionaire Freetown Terminal Limited (FTL), has transfered eight million US dollars ($8 million) to the Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) as the government’s equity share for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025. The amount represents the government’s 20% entitlement to dividends declared by FTL, highlighting the port’s growing contribution to the national economy. Under the leadership of Director General Yankuba Askia Bio, the SLPHA’s financial performance has significantly improved in recent years. The Authority remitted $4 million to the government in 2023, $7 million in 2024, and is now remitted $8 million in…

Sierra Leone’s Minister of Youth Affairs, Ibrahim Sannoh, led a high-level delegation to a courtesy meeting with Alhaji Timothy Musa Kabba, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, on April 2, 2026, in Freetown. The meeting allowed attendees to reflect on Sierra Leone’s recent international achievements and discuss potential avenues for deeper collaboration on youth issues.Dr Paullier began by congratulating Sierra Leone’s government on its successful two-year term as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. He commended Minister Kabba for the country’s strong diplomatic posture during its UNSC term, particularly for ensuring that youth development and global…

On April 1, Hon. Alhaji Dr Kandeh K. Yumkella, Special Envoy for the West African Integration and Investment Summit (WAIIS), paid a visit to Abidjan on behalf of H.E. President Julius Maada Bio to discuss preparations for the summit, which is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2026. President Alassane Ouattara of Côte d’Ivoire praised the initiative’s potential to strengthen economic integration, expand regional markets, and attract private sector investment in West Africa. During the mission, Dr Yumkella met with African Development Bank President Dr Sidi Ould Tah and attended the EU Regional Business Forum on “Unlocking Investment along West…

Sierra Leone is stepping up its efforts to attract international upstream investment, showcasing its offshore oil and gas potential and upcoming licensing opportunities at the Invest in African Energy Forum in Paris. Sierra Leone’s Petroleum Directorate (PDSL) is preparing to launch its sixth offshore licensing round, providing access to underexplored deepwater acreage and an early-entry opportunity in a frontier basin. The push is underpinned by recent technical work and industry interest. Sierra Leone’s estimates point to tens of billions of barrels of recoverable resources across the margin, a prospect supported by a series of discoveries and an expanding seismic library.…

Sierra Leone’s Minister of Public Administration and Political Affairs, Hon. Amara Kallon, attended the Sub-Regional Forum on the Challenges and Reforms of Public Administration in West Africa, held in Dakar, Senegal, on March 27-28, 2026. The event, organised by the Association of Civil Administrators in Senegal (Amicale des Administrateurs Civils du Sénégal), brought together senior civil servants and policymakers from across the region to share their experiences and chart a collaborative path toward modernised, more responsive public administrations. The forum directly supports one of President Julius Maada Bio’s “Big Five” priorities, Revamping Public Service Architecture, and is focused on strengthening…

President Julius Maada Bio commissioned a suite of advanced diagnostic and emergency-care facilities at Connaught Government Hospital in Freetown on Thursday, emphasising his administration’s commitment to creating a people-centred, resilient health system. Sierra Leone now has publicly owned advanced CT scanners, upgraded ultrasound equipment, and a fully equipped burns unit, enhancing the country’s ability to diagnose and manage complex and life-threatening conditions.President Bio praised the dedication of healthcare workers, partners, and stakeholders involved in the project and urged staff to maintain high levels of professionalism and proper maintenance of the new facilities. He framed the investment in health infrastructure as…

March 31, 2026, President Julius Maada Bio formally opened the new headquarters of the West Africa Reinsurance Corporation (WAICA) PLC in Freetown, describing the occasion as a watershed moment not only for the company but also for Sierra Leone and the wider West African sub-region. He described the new building at 4A Alshek Crescent in Hill Station as a visible testament to WAICA’s confidence in Sierra Leone and the corporation’s contribution to regional integration, job creation, and financial-sector strengthening.In his keynote address, President Bio stated that WAICA has played an important role in creating professional opportunities for Sierra Leoneans and…

The Sierra Leone Water Company (SALWACO) has released its five-year Strategic Development Plan (SDP) for 2026-2030, which outlines a focused roadmap for improving service delivery, institutional resilience, and financial sustainability across the country. The official unveiling took place at the Miatta Conference Hall in the Youyi Building in Freetown and was attended by senior government officials, representatives from ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), development partners, civil society activists, and international organisations.Mr Alieu Bakarr Conteh, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, presided over the ceremony and publicly praised SALWACO for preparing the SDP internally rather than using…