Author: gleanernewspaper

Freetown, July 7, 2026 – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation today officially took delivery of 15 protocol vehicles donated by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, a gift aimed at enhancing Sierra Leone’s logistical preparedness for the upcoming Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Summit.The handover ceremony was held in the Ministry Conference Room on July 7, where officials stressed what they described as the enduring friendship and strategic cooperation between Sierra Leone and China. The donation comes at a crucial time when Sierra Leone prepares to host regional leaders, heads of State and…

Sierra Leone’s Minister of Trade and Industry, H.E. Alpha Ibrahim Sesay, speaking at the celebration of ECOWAS Day, held at the United Nations Trusteeship Council Chamber on 26 June 2026, highlighted the importance of economic integration and trade in building peace and resilience in West Africa. The ECOWAS Group of Ambassadors in New York and the ECOWAS Permanent Observer Mission organised a meeting to mark the 51st anniversary of ECOWAS and the 20th anniversary of the UN Peacebuilding Fund, bringing together senior UN officials, regional commissioners, ministers, development banks, private sector leaders and civil society. The keynote address was delivered…

His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio, in his capacity as Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), formally commissioned the new ECOWAS Headquarters in Abuja, greatly contributing to the regional bloc by overseeing the completion and official opening of the complex.  The new headquarters, hailed as a symbol of shared ambition in West Africa, is expected to serve more than 450 million people across the region. It will serve as the home of the ECOWAS Commission, Parliament and the Community Court of Justice, creating a central point…

The Sierra Leone Diaspora Investment Conference marks its first international expansion beyond the United States and proves the diaspora is done waiting. LONDON, United Kingdom — June 29, 2026 The fourth annual Sierra Leone Diaspora Investment Conference “SLDIC London 2026” concluded on Saturday at the InterContinental Hotel Park Lane, having sold out its two-day programme and drawn in more than 400 diaspora delegates, investors, entrepreneurs, and policymakers from across the United Kingdom and beyond. The conference, held on June 19 and 20, marked SLDIC’s first international expansion beyond the United States and its most ambitious edition to date, bringing the…

Vice President of Sierra Leone, Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, on Friday, June 26, had a meet-and-greet with Sierra Leoneans in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, using the occasion to update the diaspora on government achievements and plans in key sectors. “We have made measurable progress in the provision of electricity, education and health care, and we have set targets for the coming years,” Dr Jalloh told a jam-packed audience.“National access to electricity has increased from 16% to 34%,” he said. “This is as a result of the deployment of off-grid solar systems which are powering many rural communities which did…

The Sierra Leone Immigration Department (SLID) has presented a draft Cabinet policy to transform the department into a semi-autonomous regimental service. The move aims to improve border security and service delivery and bring it in line with global best practices. The draft proposal was presented by Dr Moses Tiffa Baio, Esq., Chief Immigration Officer, under the leadership of SLID at the Country Lodge Conference Hall. The presentation was made to the Hon. Minister of Internal Affairs, Retired Assistant Inspector General(Rtd. AIG) Morie Lengor, Deputy Minister, Permanent Secretary and Director of Research and Policy. The Minister and his senior team had…

Africa Global Logistics (AGL), through its Sierra Leone operator Freedom Terminal Limited, on Friday led a multi-stakeholder awareness campaign to mark the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. Held at the New Brookfields Hotel in Freetown, the event brought together government officials, law enforcement, customs and revenue authorities, port operators, media, civil society and members of the port community to reaffirm their commitment to reducing drug abuse and halting the flow of illicit drugs through the country’s gateways.The program was opened by Abibu Jalloh, who welcomed the participants and thanked the diverse group of stakeholders in attendance, highlighting…

Sierra Leone has sent a message of economic recovery and renewed appeal to international investors at the 16th African Business Leadership Awards (ABLA) Summit in London. The delegation was led by Minister of Finance Hon. Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura was at high level sessions at the Hilton London Metropole on July 2, 2026, for the summit theme, “From Vision to Velocity: Driving Africa’s Next Wave of Growth and Leadership.”Minister Bangura, in a keynote address that set the tone of the summit as a clarion call for action, called on African leaders to translate thinking into policy and investment results. He…

Lome, Togo – July 3, 2026 – Sierra Leonean President Dr Julius Maada Bio on Friday challenged African leaders to exploit the chaos in the world to galvanise a renaissance for the continent. “For too long, Africa has been a passive observer of geopolitical turmoil. We must now become active architects of the new world order,” he said. President Bio presented a comprehensive blueprint covering economics, security, diplomacy and institutional reform at the Extraordinary Conference of the African Political Alliance (APA) in Lomé, on the theme “Africa and the Middle East Crisis: Impacts, Challenges, and Strategic Responses.”President Bio began his…

President Dr Julius Maada Bio, who also serves as the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), on Thursday, 2nd July 2026, commissioned the Community’s new headquarters in Abuja, describing the edifice as a potent symbol of the shared aspirations of the region. At the inauguration, President Bio called on West African leaders to convert 50 years of institutional integration into real dividends for more than 450 million citizens.The President described the event as more than a mere unveiling of a structure. “We are not just opening a…