Author: gleanernewspaper

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…

Ambassador Michael Imran Kanu of Sierra Leone is president of the United Nations Security Council in August. He plans to use the international platform to advocate on behalf of the African Union for a permanent Council seat for the continent and more elected seats through a debate this month, Aug. 1, 2024. JOHN PENNEY/PASSBLUE By Damilola Banjo There is near-universal consensus to reform the United Nations Security Council, but there is no agreement on what changes should be made or how they can be accomplished. Sierra Leone, the West African country elected to the Council for a two-year term that…

Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Alhaji Musa Timothy Kabba, past week, presented a Deed of Gift of Lands at Hill Station to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Turkey for the construction of their respective embassies. Presenting the land documents and conveyances to the heads of the various missions in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation’s conference room, Minister Kabba reiterated the government of Sierra Leone’s commitment to strengthening the bilateral ties with its international partners, adding that the establishment of their physical presence in Sierra Leone through the construction of an embassy demonstrate the high-level…

By Shadrach Aziz Kamara Mercury International Sierra Leone Limited, the premier betting company in the country, recently organized a special event at the vibrant New Sella Spot on Kingharman Road in Freetown. During this memorable event, lucky winners were rewarded with an array of fantastic prizes, including standing fans, mobile phones, power banks, and the grand prize, a brand-new Kekeh. Public Relations Manager, Mercury International, Alhaji Komba, expressed the company’s commitment to giving back to its customers by distributing these exciting items. He encouraged everyone to engage with Mercury’s online platform and take advantage of the opportunity to win numerous…

The Public Debt Division of the Ministry of Finance, Monday 29th July 2024, commenced its Annual Debt Sustainability Analysis (DSA) report writing exercise workshop at Leisure Lodge, 30 off Cape Road, Aberdeen Beach, Freetown. The Director of the Public Debt Division, Matthew Sandy, in his opening statement, said Debt Sustainability Analysis is an annual requirement to assess Sierra Leone’s level of debt accumulation and risk of debt distress rating in the medium to long term, to provide appropriate policy advice to the government on the status of its borrowing. He stated that the exercise is to update the National Debt…

His Excellency, President Dr Julius Maada Bio, met with a team of subject-specific experts assembled by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to discuss perspectives and strategic directions in the ongoing fight against corruption in the country. The initiative represents a robust public-private partnership aimed at confronting graft, a significant impediment to development across Sierra Leone. The strategy aims to build an ethical, accountable nation with zero tolerance for corruption, promoting integrity, transparency, accountability, and the rule of law. ACC Commissioner, Francis Ben Keifala Esq, while introducing the team, emphasised the importance of the President’s insights for shaping the National Anti-Corruption Strategy…