Author: gleanernewspaper

At the inaugural joint African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF) Country Correspondents and ATAF Women in Tax Network (AWITN) Leadership Conference, Mrs Jeneba J. Bangura, the Commissioner-General of the National Revenue Authority of Sierra Leone and Vice President of AWITN, delivered a powerful call to action for African tax leaders to prioritize gender-responsive tax policies and empower women economically. Representing AWITN Chairman Ms Veronique Herminie, the former Commissioner General of the Seychelles Revenue Commission, Mrs Bangura emphasized the critical role of equitable tax systems in fostering Africa’s economic development. Echoing the 2025 International Women’s Day theme, “For ALL Women and Girls:…

His Excellency, President Dr. Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, participated in a significant high-level panel discussion focused on agricultural investment during his visit to the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. The event, which took place on the third day of his visit, brought together a distinguished group of global agricultural and financial experts, including former World Bank Vice President Hafez Ghanem and the former Assistant Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The discussions primarily revolved around strategies to enhance agricultural investment and finance, with the overarching goal of improving food security…

In a significant development for Sierra Leone’s health sector, President Dr. Julius Maada Bio has reaffirmed his government’s dedication to achieving universal health coverage following the country’s successful acquisition of a $20 million grant from the Pandemic Fund. This global financing initiative is designed to bolster pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response capabilities in low- and middle-income nations. During a recent briefing, Health and Sanitation Minister Dr. Austin Demby, alongside representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), outlined the details of the funding award. Dr. Demby explained that securing the Pandemic Fund was a…

A high-level delegation from Sierra Leone, led by Deputy Minister of Health Prof. Charles Senesie, participated in the inaugural Regional Public Service Leadership Conference on Human Health Workforce Development held in Monrovia, Liberia. The four-day summit brought together experts and senior government officials from various countries to discuss and strategize on enhancing healthcare systems through regional collaboration. During his address, Prof. Senesie praised the conference organizers for their efforts in bringing together leaders to focus on critical healthcare issues. He emphasized the importance of regional cooperation, asserting that it is essential for the improvement of healthcare systems across the region.…

In a groundbreaking initiative aimed at elevating global tourism and fostering business exchanges, the Qatari government has officially ratified a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Sierra Leone. This pivotal agreement, finalized during a recent Cabinet meeting, is set to enhance cooperation between the two nations in the realms of tourism and business events, marking a significant step towards strengthening bilateral ties and promoting economic growth. The MoU underscores Qatar’s strategic vision to broaden its international partnerships, positioning itself as a prominent hub for tourism and global business activities. As both Qatar and Sierra Leone seek to leverage their unique geopolitical…

President Julius Maada Bio and Commissioner General Jeneba Bangura The National Revenue Authority (NRA) is under intense scrutiny as the Ministry of Finance demands increased revenue collection to fund the government’s lavish spending. Recent meetings have highlighted President Julius Maada Bio’s dissatisfaction with the NRA’s ability to generate revenue, which is critical for meeting the government’s rising wage bill and other excessive spending. During a recent meeting at the Customs Department, Finance Minister Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura delivered a stern message on President Bio’s behalf, expressing frustration with the NRA’s failure to meet revenue targets. He emphasised that the country’s…

By Zainab Sunkary KoromaIn the aftermath of Sierra Leone’s brutal 11-year civil war, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was established under the Lome Peace Accord to promote healing and reconciliation. Among its many recommendations was a call for press freedom, enshrined in Section 75 of Volume 2, Chapter 3 of the 2004 TRC report. The report emphasized that freedom of expression is the lifeblood of democracy and that restrictions on it represent an abysmal state of affairs. Two decades later, Sierra Leone’s press freedom landscape remains a mixed bag. While the country’s 1991 Constitution guarantees freedom of expression, and international…

 Africell Sierra Leone has officially kicked off its much-anticipated annual Ramadan initiative, the ‘Na Yu Get’ show, which will reward subscribers with a total of 500,000 new Leones in cash prizes throughout the holy month. The official launch event took place at Africell’s headquarters located at 1 Pivot Street, Wilberforce Village, Freetown, where company representatives expressed their commitment to honouring customers and fostering the spirit of Ramadan. During the launch, Abdul Karim Sesay, the Media Manager of Africell Sierra Leone, emphasized that the ‘Na Yu Get’ show is part of the company’s ongoing tradition to infuse excitement and educational content…

In a remarkable achievement for Sierra Leone, Andrew Bob Johnny, the nation’s Statistician-General, has been unanimously elected as the Rapporteur of the United Nations Statistical Commission (UNSC) for a two-year term. This esteemed position places Mr. Johnny among the Bureau members of the UNSC, where he will bear the important responsibility of documenting, summarizing, and reporting on the discussions and decisions made during the commission’s sessions. As Rapporteur, Mr. Johnny will oversee the reporting on critical issues, proposed standards, and agreed-upon actions related to international statistical best practices for the years 2024 and 2025. This role is typically entrusted to…

Chief Minister Dr David Moinina Sengeh convened a crucial meeting at State House with key stakeholders, including Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Henry Musa Kpaka, and Acting Director-General of the Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute (SLARI), Dr Conteh. The primary agenda was to discuss the implementation of the SLARI Act 2023 and address the urgent concerns of research personnel within the institute. During the meeting, Dr Conteh, representing SLARI staff, expressed heartfelt appreciation to Dr Sengeh for the opportunity to engage in dialogue and acknowledged the consistent support from Dr Kpaka and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food…