Author: gleanernewspaper

February 2026 – His Excellency Julius Maada Bio, President of Sierra Leone and Coordinator of the African Union Committee of Ten (C-10). The Conference of Heads of State and Government on the Reform of the United Nations Security Council has urged African leaders to step up collective action and unity to advance Africa’s long-standing demand for meaningful UN Security Council reform. Speaking at the Meeting of the C-10 Heads of State and Government held on the margins of the 39th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly in Addis Abeba, President Bio described the moment as decisive, marking two decades…

Dr Maxime Houinato, the UN Women’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa, arrived in Sierra Leone on February 16, 2026, for an official mission that will last until February 21, 2026. The visit is intended to expedite high-level partnerships with Sierra Leone’s government and development partners, as well as to accelerate progress toward gender equality and women’s empowerment throughout the country. During the mission, Dr Houinato will attend several high-level somencluding thomany Excellency the President, Dr Julius Maada Bio, selected Cabinet ministers, and diplomatic personnel. He will also meet with a diverse range of civil society stakeholders, including women’s rights…

Africell Sierra Leone has launched a nationwide toll-free radio call-in service aimed at removing financial barriers to public participation in broadcast media while also strengthening the country’s communication, disaster response, and security systems. The initiative was officially launched on Friday, 13 February 2026, at Africell’s headquarters in Wilberforce, Freetown.Africell subscribers will be able to call into participating radio shows for free with the new service. Africell stated that the move addresses long-standing barriers to listener engagement, particularly for low-income and remote communities whose ability to participate in live discussions has often been limited by the cost of airtime. “Radio access should…

For many years, women in Sierra Leone who were diagnosed with cervical cancer were frequently faced with the unavoidable decision of either trying to raise money to travel overseas for treatment or staying at home and only receiving palliative care. That is starting to change. Sierra Leone has quickly increased access to cervical cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment nationwide thanks to the Ministry of Health’s resolute leadership, as well as coordinated assistance from WHO, UNFPA, Friends of Africa, and international partners, including South-South assistance from Zambia and technical assistance from China.The number of operational screening sites reached 25 by…

KAILAHUN — Alpha Bingo Ndolleh, the Town Chief of Kailahun, led a traditional libation on Sunday to mark the start of artificial turf installation at the Kailahun Mini Stadium, a project fully funded by Dr Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai, Executive Director of the NSA.Seeking blessings from God and the land’s forefathers, Chief Ndolleh described the initiative as a long-term legacy for the town. “The field was in bad condition. With the artificial turf, we will now refer to this location as a mini stadium because the current atmosphere fits it,” he said, expressing gratitude that the upgrade will improve the venue’s…

By Kemo Cham KnowHep Foundation Sierra Leone is set to embark on a massive hepatitis screening exercise in a new project that targets at-risk women and newborn babies. Some 1000 pregnant females will be targeted in the initiative as part of the Foundation’s drive to raise awareness and promote access to services for Hepatitis B, a major public health issue. KnowHep Foundation, a member of the World Hepatitis Alliance, is dedicated to raising awareness about the disease, which is considered by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a growing global public health crisis. Dr Manal Ghazzawi, Founder of KnowHep Foundation Sierra Leone, is leading the implementation of the…

Director General, Brima Baluwa Koroma The National Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NPRA) declared in January 2026 that the price of fuel would increase from approximately NLe 25.00 to NLe 28.50 per litre at the pump. The increase, according to the regulator, is a result of new tax policies that were included in the 2026 budget with the goal of boosting domestic revenue collection. On the other hand, the adjustment has caused immediate public concern and several economic risks.  Transportation nationwide increased fares within hours of the NPRA’s announcement, transferring the increased cost of fuel to commuters. Urban and rural traders and…

From 9 to 13 February 2026, the Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will meet bilaterally with Sierra Leone’s Competent National Authority (CNA) and other key stakeholders to review and strengthen the enforcement of its judgments in the country. The gathering is part of a series of events commemorating ECOWAS’s 50th anniversary, and it aims to foster closer collaboration between the regional Court and national institutions.The week-long engagement, according to the Court, is intended to create a structured framework for collaboration, allow for the exchange of best practices, and address obstacles to the…

Dr David Moinina Sengeh, Sierra Leone’s Chief Minister, convened a high-level strategic forum on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, to advance national efforts to prevent and respond to sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and strengthen child protection. Dr Sengeh thanked government agencies, civil society, and development partners for their contributions to President Julius Maada Bio’s vision of a fairer, more inclusive society in his opening remarks, and he urged unified action to overcome obstacles to progress.Dr Sengeh acknowledged that measurable progress had been made, but warned that entrenched harmful practices and ongoing challenges continue to undermine those gains. He emphasised that…

Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Energy announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Global South Utilities (GSU) of Abu Dhabi on the sidelines of the World Government Summit in Dubai. The agreement entrusts GSU with conducting feasibility studies for renewable energy investments and projects worth up to 500 megawatts, to assist Sierra Leointending to assist meeting power needs in key sectors such as mining, agriculture, and manufacturing.Sierra Leone’s president, His Excellency Dr Julius Maada Bio, witnessed the signing, demonstrating the government’s dedication to increasing the country’s capacity for sustainable energy. In addition to accelerating efforts to improve…