Author: gleanernewspaper

Wilhelmus Adrianus Leijdekkers, the brother and alleged financial operator of one of Europe’s most wanted Dutch crime figures, Joseph Johannes “Bolle Jos” Leijdekkers, has been arrested by Turkish intelligence and Istanbul police. The detention occurred on May 16, 2026, in Istanbul’s Pendik district, as part of a coordinated operation by national intelligence agents and narcotics officers, Turkish authorities said. The arrest was carried out in accordance with an Interpol Red Notice requesting his arrest on an international scale.  According to Turkish prosecutors, Wilhelmus Leijdekkers has long been regarded by investigators as a senior figure within a Dutch-based international drug cartel and…

Sierra Leone’s Minister of Energy, Cyril Arnold Grant, has publicly acknowledged the electricity problems that residents of Freetown are experiencing and pledged to take action to restore a more reliable supply. Speaking on the SLBC Morning Coffee programme, Minister Grant blamed the recent drop in generation capacity primarily on lower water levels at the Bumbuna hydroelectric dam, which has reduced output and left parts of the city with intermittent power. The minister said he personally understands the difficulties faced by households and businesses, and he issued a direct apology to people in Eastern Freetown, who he said have been particularly…

Brima Baluwa Koroma, Director General of the National Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NPRA), has officially opened a refurbished retail fuel station operated by NP (SL) Limited in Freetown’s Kissy neighbourhood, marking another step forward in Sierra Leone’s modernisation of its downstream petroleum sector.Baluwa Koroma praised the Board, management, and employees of NP (SL) Limited at the unveiling ceremony for their ongoing commitment to strengthening the industry through increased product availability and better customer service. He stated that the company has used its long history, corporate culture, and past achievements to boost public trust and drive further business expansion, describing NP (SL)…

The National Monitoring and Evaluation Agency (NaMEA), with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), held a two-day validation workshop this week to review monitoring reports for ten public investment projects being implemented by Sierra Leone’s various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). Over 70 people from the central government, development partners, and implementing agencies attended the event, which took place at the Freetown City Council Hall on Wallace Johnson Street.The reports’ monitoring and evaluation exercises were carried out nationwide in November and December 2025, and they covered project activities in 16 districts. Among the attendees were representatives from the…

On May 13, 2026, the Julius Maada Bio Leadership Colloquium brought together African decision-makers, youth advocates, traditional authorities, diplomats, and women leaders at the Freetown International Conference Centre to discuss leadership challenges and opportunities. The African Young Leadership Convergence (AYLC) organised the event, which was held to commemorate President Julius Maada Bio’s birthday, under the theme “Reimagining African Leadership: Courage, Accountability, Innovation, and Leadership in an Era of Global Uncertainty.” The colloquium, framed as more than just a ceremonial event, brought together seasoned statespeople and emerging voices to discuss how Africa can move beyond symbolic reform to the structural transformations…

The rehabilitated Maternity and Fistula Wards at Makeni Regional Hospital were officially handed over on Tuesday, May 13, 2026, as part of a major investment in maternal and reproductive health services in Bombali District. The rehabilitation, funded by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Embassy of Iceland, improves the infrastructure and patient-care capacity of a hospital serving more than 500,000 people in the region.Health officials, hospital management, development partners, and other stakeholders were present for the handover, which organisers said is expected to significantly improve access to quality maternal healthcare for women, including those with obstetric fistula, in…

The Ministry of Information and Civic Education and the World Health Organisation (WHO) have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening public health communication, civic engagement, and community mobilisation in Sierra Leone. The pledge was made during a meeting at the Minister’s Office between Minister Chernor Abdulai Bah and WHO Country Representative Dr George F. Ameh, during which both parties discussed ways to strengthen joint efforts in health messaging and national awareness campaigns.Minister Bah welcomed the WHO delegation and introduced senior Ministry staff, expressing gratitude for the ongoing partnership between the government and WHO. He emphasised the Ministry’s critical role in informing…

His Excellency Julius Maada Bio, Minister of Finance, Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura, and Jeneba J. Bangura, Commissioner General, National Revenue Authority (NRA)  Ordinary Sierra Leoneans are feeling the pressure almost six months into what President Julius Maada Bio has dubbed a “Action Year.” Small businesses are facing more challenges, and household finances are being strained as a result of the government’s increased revenue drive, which has seen taxes and levies deepened and expanded throughout the economy. The state is undermining the very services that revenue is meant to safeguard by continuing to spend more than it can afford in crucial areas. The public sector…

FREETOWN — In an era where economic growth is dictated by human capital, Sierra Leone faces a paradoxical crisis: a surplus of graduates alongside a desperate shortage of “job-ready” talent. While the jobs exist, the skills often do not. Leading the skills gap to solve this systemic mismatch is Aminata Kamara, Founder and CEO of Amikam Consulting. At the recent National Labour Day opening event at the Miatta Civic Centre, Kamara chaired a high-level panel that has become the definitive blueprint for workforce development in Sierra Leone. The Strategy: From Education to Employment Under Kamara’s leadership, the discussion—themed “From Education to Employment: Tackling Skills…

Air Sierra Leone (SXE), the virtual flag carrier based in Freetown, is in “advanced” discussions with three potential aircraft suppliers to restore the fifth-freedom service between Freetown and London Gatwick via Banjul in late May or early June 2026.. According to the carrier’s statement, regulatory procedures are underway with civil aviation authorities in Sierra Leone, Gambia, and the United Kingdom, and any restart is contingent on final approvals and operational readiness. The start-up halted operations on April 30 due to technical partner Ascend Airways losing its UK air operator’s certificate (AOC) and returning its aircraft to lessors. Since mid-February 2026,…