Author: gleanernewspaper

In a move towards enhancing social welfare in Sierra Leone, the World Bank and UNICEF, alongside the National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA), paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of Employment, Labour and Social Security, Mr Mohamed Rahman Swarray, on January 23, 2025. This visit followed the recent enactment of the Social Protection Act, a landmark legislation aimed at improving the social safety net for vulnerable populations in the country. The meeting, held at the Minister’s office in New England Ville, served as a platform for congratulating the Minister and discussing the next steps for the effective implementation of…

In recognition of innovative leadership, the Parliamentary Learning and Sharing Series Team, under the guidance of Director Mohamed Jalloh, awarded the Rt. Hon. Speaker of Parliament, Segepoh Solomon Thomas, on Monday, January 27, 2025. This accolade was bestowed upon Mr Speaker for his unwavering commitment to enhancing the welfare and professional development of Parliamentary staff during his tenure. The award ceremony took place in the Speaker’s office at Parliament, located at Tower Hill in Freetown. During the presentation, Director Jalloh highlighted a pivotal moment from May 2024, when the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh, approached the Learning…

Sierra Leone’s High Commissioner to India, Rashid Sesay, gathered with Sierra Leonean students studying at various tertiary institutions across the country. The meeting took place at Andhra Pradesh University, where the High Commissioner motivated the students to concentrate on their academic endeavours while embodying the values and spirit of Sierra Leone. During his address, High Commissioner Sesay expressed his genuine excitement at the opportunity to engage with his fellow nationals, discussing their welfare, achievements, and the challenges they encounter while studying abroad. He underscored the importance of education as a vital component of national development and economic growth, aligning his…

(From right) Chairman of the Liberia Telecommunications Authority, Abdullah L. Kamara; Amara Brewah, Director General of the National Communications Authority of Sierra Leone; and Solo Sima, Deputy Director General of PURA of The Gambia, affixed their signatures to the MOUs. In a landmark development for regional telecommunications, the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA), the National Communications Authority of Sierra Leone (NatCA), and the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) of The Gambia have signed a series of Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) aimed at establishing free roaming agreements between their countries. The signing ceremony took place on January 31 at the picturesque Mamba…

In the advancement of rural electrification, the Government of Sierra Leone, in collaboration with its development partners, has successfully launched the Kassirie Mini-Grid project. This initiative, spearheaded by Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), aims to provide reliable electricity to communities that have historically lacked access to such essential services. The commissioning of this solar-powered mini-grid marks a new era for the Kassirie community, which has been entirely reliant on fossil fuel generators for its energy needs. The Kassirie Mini-Grid project, which is the third undertaking by the Universal Energy Facility, is equipped with 67kW of solar power and 204kWh of…

NASSIT HOUSE The National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT) awarded Systech Limited and IT Warehouse Joint Venture a significant contract worth NLe96,668,222.1 (approximately US$5.7 million) on January 4, 2023, to overhaul its Pension Administration System (PAS). This ambitious project was initially slated for completion by June 3, 2024. However, as of July 12, 2024, it remains incomplete, with critical components still in progress.   An audit report has revealed that the PAS project is still in the training phase, with numerous essential tasks yet to be finalized. These outstanding tasks include user acceptance testing, performance evaluations, data cleaning, data…

A logo is pictured in the Congress Center ahead of the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, January 13, 2024 [Denis Balibouse/Reuters] The annual World Economic Forum in Davos brings together the world’s most influential leaders with the stated aim of improving global economic conditions. This year, the promotion of inclusive and sustainable growth in Africa is once again a major conversation topic at the gathering. Yet when it comes to Africa’s development, we too often mistake discussion for progress. The continent hosts some of the world’s fastest-growing economies, but average growth remains below global…

A staggering amount of Le7.4 billion, generated from e-visa issuances by Securiport, has been flagged as unaccounted for by auditors from the Audit Service Sierra Leone. The investigation revealed significant lapses in the financial oversight of e-visa transactions, as the revenue collected from these digital visas was not properly recorded. In their review, auditors examined printouts from Securiport, which indicated that 4,827 e-visas were issued in 2023. However, the absence of escrow bank statements and a cashbook made it nearly impossible to ascertain the total revenue generated from these transactions. Attempts to verify the number of e-visas issued through the…

In a bid to alleviate the stress of cash shortages during emergencies, Afrimoney, Sierra Leone’s rapidly growing mobile money service, has launched the “Sen fo Mi” service. This innovative solution aims to assist users in urgent situations where immediate funds are needed. Picture this: you’re in a hospital needing basic first-aid treatment but lack cash, or you’re in a Kehkeh (local taxi) with a driver threatening to drop you off midway due to your cashless state. Or perhaps you’re caught up in a thrilling Premier League match but can’t top up your EDSA meter because your mobile wallet is empty. …

Young entrepreneurs in Sierra Leone are set to sharpen their digital skills with the launch of the ‘Sierra Leone: Empowering Youth through Digital Technologies’ (READY Salone) project by the International Trade Centre (ITC). Funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and implemented over four years, the READY Salone project aims to support youth, young entrepreneurs, business support organizations, tech hubs and policymakers to harness opportunities in the digital economy. The initiative places a strong emphasis on young women and persons with disabilities. ‘Trade is digital. It’s how business happens now, and young people are leading the way. Through READY…