Author: gleanernewspaper

The Rt. Hon. Speaker of Parliament, Segepoh Solomon Thomas, met with opposition leaders on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in an attempt to end their boycott of parliamentary sittings. The meeting aimed to persuade the opposition to resume legislative activity.Leader of the Opposition Hon. Abdul Kargbo stated that their withdrawal was due to the appointment of Mr Edmond Alpha as the new Chief Electoral Commissioner, and that Mr Alpha should not be allowed to conduct or supervise the 2028 elections.After hearing these concerns, the Speaker urged the delegation to put aside partisan differences and return to Parliament, emphasising that executive appointments…

Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio delivered a keynote address at the FII PRIORITY Summit in Miami, calling for a more inclusive and equitable global economic order, urging world leaders, investors, and development partners to prioritise people and the environment in growth strategies. President Bio addressed an audience of global leaders, business executives, and policymakers, stating that urgent international cooperation is required to address shared challenges such as economic inequality, climate change, and educational access gaps. He argued that long-term prosperity is dependent on human capital investment, describing education as “the foundation for long-term national development” and emphasising his government’s…

Sierra Leone observed Global Tourism Resilience Day on February 17, 2026, with a high-level programme at the Tunde Cole Building, Fourah Bay College in Freetown. The event, organised by the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs in collaboration with the University of Sierra Leone Creative and Theatre Group and the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre, convened under the theme “Tourism Resilience in Action: From Crisis Response to Impactful Transformation.” Sponsored by the One Love Salone Foundation, the commemoration drew tourism stakeholders, academics, students, and school pupils for a day of dialogue focused on. Mr Friencis Bockarie, Vice President of…

TORMABUM, BONTHE DISTRICT | 2026 — Sierra Leone’s drive for food self-sufficiency received a visible boost on Thursday, when Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Dr Henry Musa Kpaka and Chief of Defence Staff Lieutenant General Amara Idara Bangura led a high-level joint inspection of strategic rice production infrastructure in Tormabum as part of the government’s Feed Salone initiative.The visit marks a growing operational partnership between the Ministry of Agriculture and the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) to boost large-scale rice production. The inspection focused on irrigation works, which officials say are critical to enabling year-round farming in…

Dr. Eldred Taylor, Chairman of the Office of Presidential Infrastructure Initiative (OPII), presided over a meeting of the Project Management Technical Committee (PMTC) for the Lungi Hotel, Congress Centre, and Presidential Villas Construction Project today, urging all stakeholders to expedite work to ensure key components are completed in time for the ECOWAS Heads of State Summit in June 2026.Dr Taylor opened the meeting by praising President Dr Julius Maada Bio for championing the ambitious infrastructure initiative, which he says is intended to strengthen regional integration and position Sierra Leone as a competitive destination for tourism and international state engagement. He…

Hon. Timothy Musa Kabbah, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, represented His Excellency Brigadier (Rtd) Julius Maada Bio, Sierra Leone’s President, at the First CELAC-Africa High Level Forum, which took place in Bogotá, Colombia, from March 18 to 21, 2026. The forum aimed to strengthen South-South relations between Latin America, the Caribbean, and Africa, with a focus on trade, investment, development, cultural exchange, and environmental sustainability.At the Ágora Conference Centre, Gustavo Petro Urrego, President of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), described the summit as a strategic foreign policy initiative to consolidate bi-regional reconnection…

Belgian prosecutors seek up to 20-year prison terms for leaders of four criminal organisations accused of importing at least 25 tonnes of cocaine through Antwerp’s port in the “Costa case.” The trial of 51 defendants, including former law enforcement officers, prominent members of the Bandidos Benelux motorcycle club, and Dutch trafficker Jos Leijdekkers, aims to uncover a large-scale smuggling and money-laundering network. Prosecutors have proposed individual penalties for the ringleaders and key operatives, including 20 years in prison for Geert Frisson, 18 years for Tom Bastiaanse, and 15 years for Jos Leijdekkers, with a variety of other prison terms requested for…

The National Revenue Authority (NRA), in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has inaugurated new Block Management System (BMS) offices in the Western Area at Jui Junction. The launch, led by NRA Commissioner General Mrs Jeneba J. Bangura and UNDP officials, is a significant milestone in a three-year partnership to improve service delivery and outreach.Mrs Bangura reflected on several tangible outcomes of the collaboration, including UNDP support for the NRA’s vehicle procurement system and the upcoming delivery of a water bowser. She stated that the new containerised BMS units will bring taxpayer services and education closer to communities,…

Sierra Leone has made a significant step toward improving care for people suffering from chronic kidney disease (CKD) after Health Minister Dr Austin Demby received 15 new dialysis machines, including reverse osmosis (RO) water purification systems, at the 34 Military Hospital in Freetown. His Excellency Baisnab Charan Pradhan, the Indian High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, presented the life-saving equipment, which will help to strengthen the country’s limited renal care capacity.CKD remains a major public health challenge in Sierra Leone, with prevalence rates exceeding 30% among hypertensive people, particularly in rural areas. Uncontrolled diabetes, sepsis, and high blood pressure are among…

New Delhi, March — According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), India sent 1,000 metric tonnes of rice to Sierra Leone on Tuesday in support of the West African country’s school lunch program. In a post on X, the MEA stated that the shipment highlights India’s efforts to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the UN and strengthen cooperation throughout the Global South. “Global South collaboration in action! According to MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, “India has sent 1,000 metric tonnes of rice today to support Sierra Leone’s school midday meal scheme.” The shipment is intended to strengthen a program…