Author: gleanernewspaper

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has delivered a new shipment of infection prevention and control (IPC) materials to Sierra Leone’s national health authorities, bolstering the country’s Mpox response as schools resume. The donation, made through the WHO African Regional Office, adds to the Government of Sierra Leone’s USD 1 million in financial and technical support since the outbreak was declared a Public Health Emergency in January 2025. The shipment includes a comprehensive package of IPC items that will be prioritised for distribution to hotspot districts’ health facilities and schools. The items provided include hand-wash sets, basic IPC commodities, 30L buckets…

By Kemo Cham Experts and government representatives have called for the need for collaboration to tackle one of the most pressing public health issues in West Africa – Lassa fever. The calls were made in the Ivorian capital, Abidjan, which is hosting the Second Lassa fever International Conference (ELFIC2025) which brings together scientists, researchers and policy makers to discuss progress and challenges in the fight against the haemorrhagic fever disease that is endemic to the region. In his welcoming statement, the host Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Pierre N’Gou Dimba, described Lassa fever as a public health threat to…

An important milestone for Sierra Leone’s creative and cultural industries was reached when the EU Delegation to Sierra Leone proudly attended the Creative Accelerator Pilot Program graduation ceremony and the launch of the Creative Economy Diagnostic Report at Creative Hub Africa (CHA). The event was attended by Ms. Nabeela Farida Tunis, the Honourable Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, demonstrating the high level of government support for the growth of the industry. The event showcased the diversity and vitality of Sierra Leone’s creative talent in the fields of music, fashion, crafts, and audiovisual production by honouring 24 outstanding women-led businesses…

Minister of Finance,  Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura and Julius Mattai, Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources President Julius Maada Bio’s administration faces scrutiny following a substantial disparity in declared mining sector receipts for 2024. According to the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources and the National Minerals Agency (NMA), the non-tax mining sector generated $49.4 million between January and December 2024. However, the Ministry of Finance only received $16 million, leaving $33.4 million unaccounted for.  The Mines Ministry and NMA issued a detailed breakdown in response to the Finance Minister’s claims, revealing that total non-tax revenue increased to $49.4 million in 2024 from $32.7 million…

AgDevCo aims to build successful African agribusinesses through long-term investment and support to deliver positive impact at scale | Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash By-Danielle Rossingh The commitment will allow Planting Naturals to grow its operations and boost incomes and livelihoods for its growing network of farmers in the West-Africa country. AgDevCo, a specialist investor in African agriculture with $340m (€292m) in assets under management, has invested $7m in a sustainable organic palm oil producer based in Sierra Leone. Planting Naturals produces organic crude palm oil and palm kernel oil for export, sourced from its own plantations and from…

The Sierra Leone government reiterated its commitment to promoting information integrity, media freedom, and equitable access to public-interest data at the Regional Conference on Information Integrity in West Africa and the Sahel, which will be held in Praia, Cabo Verde, from September 3 to 5, 2025. Sierra Leone, led by the Ministry of Information and Civic Education (MoICE), joined over 20 delegations made up of government ministers, regulators, civil society leaders, and digital platform representatives to address growing regional threats such as disinformation, hate speech, and information manipulation. The conference featured high-level and thematic sessions aimed at facilitating coordinated responses…

Mr. William Fayia Sellu, Inspector General of Police, has assured the Catholic community that the murder of Rev. Fr. Augustine Dauda Amadu will be pursued as an active criminal prosecution rather than a mere entry in crime statistics. During a condolence visit to the Catholic Pastoral Centre in Kenema City on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, IGP Sellu promised that investigators would work tirelessly to bring those responsible to justice. Fr. Amadu was discovered strangled in the early hours of Sunday, August 31, 2025, in Kenema’s Burma Section, causing widespread concern among clergy and parishioners. “This will not be just another…

NPRA Director General Brima Baluwa Koroma and SLSB’s Executive Director, Dr. John Paul Kai Sam The National Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NPRA) and the Sierra Leone Standards Bureau (SLSB) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at NPRA’s headquarters in the British Council Building on Tower Hill to formalise their strategic partnership. The agreement, described by both institutions as a watershed moment, seeks to strengthen cooperation, harmonise standards, and improve service delivery in Sierra Leone’s petroleum sector. Speaking at the ceremony, NPRA Director General Brima Baluwa Koroma stated that the agreement represents a significant step toward closer collaboration between the two agencies. He praised…

On August 25, 2025, Walk With Web, in collaboration with the Sierra Leone Public Archives (SLPA), held an official launch ceremony for the SLPA’s new website at the University Committee Room, University Building, Fourah Bay College (University of Sierra Leone), in Freetown. The launch is a significant step forward in Sierra Leone’s efforts to digitise and broaden access to its archival collections, strengthen national digital capacity, and make government and historical records more accessible to researchers, students, and the public. Senior archive employees, government representatives, academic leaders, students, and international collaborators all attended the event. Walk With Web’s CEO, Kartikay…

Sierra Leone’s criminal justice system will undergo significant changes when the Criminal Procedure Act (CPA), 2024 takes effect on September 16, 2025, Attorney General and Minister of Justice Alpha Sesay Esq. announced on Tuesday, September 2, 2025. The new statute repeals the Criminal Procedure Act, 1965 (Act No. 32 of 1965) and introduces reforms to shorten case timelines, protect witnesses, reduce arbitrary detention, and modernise court processes. According to the Attorney General, the 2024 Act will make the justice system “more efficient, transparent, and accountable—one that does not criminalise poverty and status.” He described the law as a “work in…