Author: gleanernewspaper

His Excellency Julius Maada Bio, Minister of Finance, Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura, and Jeneba J. Bangura, Commissioner General, National Revenue Authority (NRA)  Ordinary Sierra Leoneans are feeling the pressure almost six months into what President Julius Maada Bio has dubbed a “Action Year.” Small businesses are facing more challenges, and household finances are being strained as a result of the government’s increased revenue drive, which has seen taxes and levies deepened and expanded throughout the economy. The state is undermining the very services that revenue is meant to safeguard by continuing to spend more than it can afford in crucial areas. The public sector…

FREETOWN — In an era where economic growth is dictated by human capital, Sierra Leone faces a paradoxical crisis: a surplus of graduates alongside a desperate shortage of “job-ready” talent. While the jobs exist, the skills often do not. Leading the skills gap to solve this systemic mismatch is Aminata Kamara, Founder and CEO of Amikam Consulting. At the recent National Labour Day opening event at the Miatta Civic Centre, Kamara chaired a high-level panel that has become the definitive blueprint for workforce development in Sierra Leone. The Strategy: From Education to Employment Under Kamara’s leadership, the discussion—themed “From Education to Employment: Tackling Skills…

Air Sierra Leone (SXE), the virtual flag carrier based in Freetown, is in “advanced” discussions with three potential aircraft suppliers to restore the fifth-freedom service between Freetown and London Gatwick via Banjul in late May or early June 2026.. According to the carrier’s statement, regulatory procedures are underway with civil aviation authorities in Sierra Leone, Gambia, and the United Kingdom, and any restart is contingent on final approvals and operational readiness. The start-up halted operations on April 30 due to technical partner Ascend Airways losing its UK air operator’s certificate (AOC) and returning its aircraft to lessors. Since mid-February 2026,…

President William Ruto has stepped up Kenya’s diplomatic efforts to secure support for Supreme Court Judge Njoki Ndung’u’s candidacy for a seat at the International Criminal Court, bringing up the issue during bilateral talks with Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio ahead of a major continental summit in Nairobi.Ruto hosted President Bio at State House, Nairobi, on Saturday, May 9, 2026, ahead of the Africa Forward Summit on May 11-12. The next day, Ruto wrote on X that he had “informed President Bio of Kenya’s candidacy for the position of judge of the International Criminal Court.” We asked him to…

Sierra Leone and Turkey have signed a protocol to build and furnish the Emine Erdoğan Mother and Child Hospital in Bo City. The project aims to significantly improve maternal and child health services in the country. Sierra Leone’s Office of the President and the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) signed an agreement to strengthen diplomatic and development ties, aligning with President Julius Maada Bio’s Human Capital Development agenda.The new facility, covering approximately 2,000 square metres, will be designed as a modern, specialised centre for mothers and newborns. Emergency services, fully equipped operating theatres, specialised obstetric units, advanced neonatal intensive…

Freetown — Monday, 11 May 2026 Deputy Minister of Justice, Madam Saptieu Elizabeth Saccoh, has reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s commitment to strengthening the country’s legal and institutional preparedness for the activation and use of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Dispute Resolution Mechanism. Madam Saccoh described the AfCFTA Capacity Building Training on the Dispute Settlement Protocol Mechanism as a critical step in providing Sierra Leone with the legal, technical, and institutional capabilities needed to understand, implement, and defend the country’s rights and obligations under the continental trade framework.Madam Saccoh, speaking on behalf of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice,…

On Sunday, May 10, 2026, members of AWOL UK, in collaboration with AWOL Sierra Leone, delivered a significant consignment of medical supplies to Rokupa Government Hospital in the eastern part of Freetown. The donation is part of the organisation’s ongoing efforts to support vulnerable communities and improve healthcare delivery in facilities that care for a large number of patients under difficult circumstances.Wheelchairs, mattresses, blankets, Zimma frames, medical trolleys, baby packs, and a variety of other essential clinical supplies were distributed to improve patient comfort and help hospital staff provide care more effectively. Hospital officials stated that several of the donated…

President Julius Maada Bio is facing mounting public anger three years into his second and constitutionally mandated term, as Sierra Leoneans struggle with escalating economic hardship and protracted power outages that are impairing daily life across the nation’s capital.  President Bio promised earlier this year that the year would be marked by “tangible action” and that people would start to experience the advantages of the foundations his administration has built over the previous eight years. He pledged to address the “bread and butter” issues, particularly the economy, during his campaign for a second term to provide Sierra Leone with steady growth…

UNICEF Representative, Rudolf Schwenk, and the Chinese Rep exchange partnership agreement at the official launch of a Strategic Health Partnership to Accelerate Newborn and Child Survival in Sierra Leone. The Chinese government, through the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), announced a comprehensive partnership with Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Health and UNICEF to improve newborn and child health services throughout the country. The “Accelerating Newborn and Child Health in Sierra Leone for Improved Survival and Well-being” program aims to address care gaps that contribute to preventable deaths among newborns and young children. Sierra Leone has made progress in child survival…

H.E. Zhao Yong, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Sierra Leone, paid a courtesy call on Sierra Leone’s Minister of Energy, Mr Cyril Grant, today at the ministry’s headquarters in Freetown. The meeting provided an opportunity for both officials to review recent sector reforms and discuss areas for increased collaboration as Sierra Leone works toward an inclusive energy transition. Ambassador Zhao reaffirmed China’s commitment to assisting Sierra Leone in expanding access to affordable, dependable electricity, emphasising the importance of energy as a pillar of sustainable development. He stated that China is willing to expand cooperation in renewable energy…