Author: gleanernewspaper

UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Dr. Julius Maada Bio By Mohamed Kelfala Fofanah UN Secretary-General António Guterres recently praised Dr. Julius Maada Bio, the president of Sierra Leone, for his proactive leadership in promoting reform of the UN Security Council during a bilateral meeting. Secretary-General Guterres acknowledged the historical injustices that have kept Africa on the margins for far too long and expressed his strong support for the continent having more representation on the Council. He praised the recent discussion on the subject, pointing out that every member had responded positively, and he reiterated his resolve to address Africa’s underrepresentation…

On Thursday, August 8th, this year, the Environment Protection Agency (EPA-SL) hosted a Plastic Treaty Dialogue at the New Brookfield’s Hotel, attended by government officials, recyclers and development partners, civil society organisations, and non-governmental organisations. The dialogue was held to identify and assess options that reflect Sierra Leone’s position for the next global negotiation session, in conjunction with the outcome of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-4) meeting in Ottawa, Canada, and the ongoing UN Plastic Treaty Negotiation, which aims to address global plastic pollution with a particular emphasis on its impact on marine environment. With support from the Norad -…

Managing Director of Rokel Commercial Bank, Dr Walton Ekundayo Gilpin The West African Bankers Association (WABA) at the end of its 78th Executive Council Meeting and 42nd General Assembly, unanimously elected the Managing Director of Rokel Commercial Bank, Dr Walton Ekundayo Gilpin, as Vice President II of the association. The twin event, held in Sierra Leone at the Freetown International Conference Centre, Aberdeen, was hosted by the WABA Secretariat in collaboration with the Sierra Leone Association of Commercial Banks. Senegal’s withdrawal from the prestigious Sub-regional group created a vacancy in the leadership structure of the organization, and this effectively meant…

To observe this year’s World Breast Feeding Week (1st-7th August 2024) on the theme “Closing the Gap: Breastfeeding Support for All”, Medical Impact-Sierra Leone (MI-SL) on Saturday 10th August 2024, organized a sensitization meeting for 20 participants (15 lactating and 5 pregnant women) at its 2 Lower Dan Street headquarters, Off Fourah Bay Road in Freetown. In his opening statement, the Executive Manager of MI-SL, Mr. Allieu Sesay, disclosed that MI-SL is a Non-Governmental Organization complementing the efforts of the government in the health sector, and is working in Kono, Moyamba, Kambia, Port Loko and Western Area to reduce/eradicate malaria,…

The National Federation of Farmers of Sierra Leone (NaFFSL) has lauded the government for its proactive steps in providing 30,000 bags of fertilizers to farmers across all 15 districts of the country. This initiative, aimed at bolstering agricultural productivity and supporting the ‘Feed Salone’ Initiative, signifies a collaborative effort between the government, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, and farmers nationwide, to enhance food security and economic growth. The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security recently showcased its commitment to supporting farmers by officially launching the distribution of fertilizers for the upcoming planting season. The event, held on August…

Under the esteemed Leadership of the Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas, on Saturday, 10/08/2024, Parliament hosted a unique dinner at the Bintunani Hotel at Aberdeen in Freetown. The event, which brought together Members of Parliament and the business community, was a powerful testament to the value Parliament places on their contributions and the pivotal role this community plays in nation-building. In his statement, the Rt. Hon. Speaker assured guests at the annual gathering dinner that interacting with the business community will deepen strong relationships with sector players. Speaker Thomas stressed the importance for Members of Parliament to sometimes…

His Excellency Dr Julius Maada Bio speaking at the UN Security Council By Mohamed Kelfala Fofanah During his speech at the United Nations Security Council debate on the maintenance of international peace and security, His Excellency Dr Julius Maada Bio advocated for Africa to have two permanent seats in the UN Security Council, as well as two additional non-permanent seats. He emphasized that the African Union should have the authority to choose the African Permanent Members. President Bio addressed the historical injustice and the need to enhance Africa’s effective representation within the UN Security Council. He stated that Africa demands…

In April 2024, representatives from Sierra Leone’s Environment Protection Agency (EPA) participated in the high-level 4th session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-4) held in Ottawa, Canada. This session is part of the ongoing UN Plastic Treaty Negotiation, which aims to address global plastic pollution, with a particular focus on its impact on marine environments.With support from the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) through the Effective Capacity Building for Global Plastics Treaty in Africa (AFRIPAC) initiative, the Environment Protection Agency hosted a one-day national plastic policy dialogue. The purpose of this event was to identify and assess options that…

On Tuesday, 6th August 2024, the Director General of the National Social Security, and Insurance Trust (NASSIT), Mohamed Fuaad Daboh, presented a comprehensive progress report on the Informal Sector Project to the Minister of Employment, Labour, and Social Security, Mohamed Rahman Swaray. The project aims to extend NASSIT’s coverage beyond the formal sector to include workers in Sierra Leone’s informal sector, which constitutes over 70% of the country’s population. During the briefing, Minister Swaray expressed satisfaction with NASSIT’s leadership, commending the agency’s commitment to the project. He referred to the update as a “call to action,” acknowledging the rarity of…

CEO of Zoodlabs, Davar Fazaeli David Tamba Kpakima, Zoodlabs Ex-COO Issam Yatim – COO- Zoodlabs SL Zoodlabs, a private company entrusted with the management and commercialization of Sierra Leone’s Subsea Fibre Optic Infrastructure, has come under scrutiny for failing to fulfil its promises and operate the submarine landing station effectively. In April 2021, the company pledged to deploy a second Submarine Cable worth US$36 million by the end of 2023/24, to modernize the network and bridge the digital divide in the country. During a tour of the submarine landing station at Aberdeen, Zoodlabs’ Chief Operating Officer at the time, David Tamba…