Author: gleanernewspaper

Makeni, Bombali District, January 24, 2025 – President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone graced the Annual Education Week celebration at the University of Makeni, an event that underscored the nation’s progress in education, particularly through his flagship Free Quality Education initiative. This gathering brought together a diverse group of leaders, educators, and international partners, all united in their commitment to enhancing educational opportunities in Sierra Leone. The celebration commenced with a warm welcome from Regent Chief Foday Conteh, who represented the 12 Paramount Chiefs in Bombali District. In his address, Chief Conteh expressed heartfelt gratitude for the government’s inclusive…

On January 25, 2025, Statistics Sierra Leone (Stats SL) Council and Executive Management gathered at the Njala University Campus in Mokonde for a strategic retreat aimed at reviewing key achievements and challenges from the year 2024, while also laying out the Annual Work Plans for 2025. This significant event provided a collaborative platform for enhancing the institutional capacity of Stats SL, improving staff welfare, and refining service delivery, as well as promoting effective management and decision-making processes. The retreat commenced with opening remarks from the Statistician-General and CEO of Stats SL, Andrew Bob Johnny, who also serves as the secretary…

In a remarkable journey that has taken him from the bustling streets of Freetown to the grand stages of European football, Juma Bah, an 18-year-old defender, has become a name to watch in the world of soccer. Standing tall at 1.95 meters, this athletic player has made waves with his commanding presence on the field, particularly in aerial duels. Now, with a loan move to RC Lens in France until June 2025, Bah is ready to showcase his talents in the competitive arena of Ligue 1 while being part of the prestigious Manchester City FC family. A Journey of Unconventional…

Director General of NASSIT Mohamed Fuaad Daboh A recent audit of the National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT) discovered significant inconsistencies in the payment processes for government pensioners. According to the Audit Service Sierra Leone (ASSL), between January and August 2023, NASSIT paid out a staggering NLe1,448,191 (equivalent to NLe1.4 billion Old Leones) to 75 pensioners who lacked social security numbers and NASSIT unique identification numbers. This alarming revelation calls into question the payment system’s integrity and the veracity of records stored in the NASSIT database. The ASSL suggested that the Database Administrator take immediate action to repair the NAPOSS II…

In a stride towards enhancing the welfare of its citizens, the National Social Protection Bill 2024 has successfully moved to the legislative committee stage after completing its first and second readings in Parliament. This milestone marks a crucial development in the establishment of a comprehensive social protection framework in Sierra Leone, aimed at bolstering the safety nets available to all Sierra Leoneans. The bill’s advancement comes on the heels of extensive regional consultations led by the Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Security. These consultations were conducted in partnership with the Sierra Leone Labour Congress and the Sierra Leone Employers’…

Dr Nahla Saeedi and Ambassador Sadiq Silla In a notable development aimed at bolstering educational collaboration, His Excellency Ambassador Sadiq Silla held a constructive meeting with Professor Dr Nahla Saeedi, who serves as the Advisor to the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar for Expatriate Affairs and is also the Head of the Center for the Development of Education and Foreign Students. This important dialogue took place in Cairo and centred on creating expanded educational opportunities for Sierra Leonean students while strengthening the institutional ties between Sierra Leone and Egypt. During the meeting, Ambassador Silla highlighted the determination and commitment of Sierra…

Deputy Speaker and PAC Chairman, Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh In a decisive move, following audit inquiries regarding the Human Resource Management Office (HRMO) accounts for the financial year 2023, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has mandated that 33 specified staff members report to Parliament for physical verification on Monday, January 20, 2025. Failure to comply with this order could result in their removal from the Government of Sierra Leone’s payroll. The audit raised several concerns, including the inability of auditors to verify the employment status of certain staff members, questionable contract extensions granted post-retirement, unauthorised payments for study leave, unclear…

Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella By Abubakarr Bah The Future Minerals Forum (FMF) kicked off its fourth Ministerial Roundtable meeting on January 14th in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, bringing together government representatives from over 140 countries, along with participants from 50 international organizations and prominent leaders from the global mining industry. This three-day event, themed “Year of Impact,” is designed to solidify FMF’s reputation as a leading platform for collaboration and investment in the minerals sector, with a focus on critical minerals essential for the global energy transition. The main ministerial roundtable, held at the prestigious King Abdulaziz International Conference Centre, aims…

On September 9, 2024, His Excellency, President Dr. Julius Maada Bio, announced the upcoming Decennial Population and Housing Census (PHC) scheduled for 2025. In preparation for this significant national undertaking, a delegation of seven technical experts from esteemed organizations, including the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the United States Census Bureau (USCB), and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), concluded a comprehensive five-day assessment and support mission at Statistics Sierra Leone (Stats SL) on January 13, 2025. The primary aim of this mission was to evaluate Stats SL’s readiness and capacity to conduct a successful Digital Census in…

Foday B. L. Mansaray, the Director General of the Petroleum Directorate of Sierra Leone (PDSL) Sierra Leone is poised to make significant strides in the energy sector as it prepares to highlight its offshore oil licensing opportunities and upcoming drilling plans at the Invest in African Energy (IAE) Forum in Paris on May 13-14, 2025. Foday B. L. Mansaray, the Director General of the Petroleum Directorate of Sierra Leone (PDSL), will represent the country, emphasizing its potential as a burgeoning exploration hub in the African energy landscape. The offshore oil potential of Sierra Leone is considerable, with government estimates indicating…