Author: gleanernewspaper

Jamal and Daniel Shallop Netpage (SL) Limited, the company responsible for Sierra Leone’s e-passport system, has been accused of failing to pay royalties to the state and profiting from a questionable procurement process. Jamal Shallop, the company’s CEO, is of Lebanese descent. According to multiple audit reports and investigations by governance organisations, Netpage formed a joint venture with the Government of Sierra Leone and British printer Thomas De La Rue (DLR) to position Netpage as the local service provider and revenue collector, while DLR retained printing rights. The contract was signed in February 2013 with a ten-year term ending in December…

In September 2025, a small, mission-driven nonprofit founded by a Peace Corps volunteer celebrated its twentieth anniversary. The Washington-based Schools for Salone (SfS) has been expanding access to education in Sierra Leone since 2005. To date, SfS has built 47 schools, mostly in last-mile rural communities. A gathering of supporters came together at the Swedish Club in Seattle, marking two decades of service, impact, and friendship between Sierra Leoneans and Americans. Allison Sinning, who became Executive Director in January, succeeding SfS founder Cindy Nofziger, views the anniversary as both a time for celebration and reflection. “Schools for Salone’s founding mission…

Dr Sania Nishtar, Chief Executive Officer of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, praised President Julius Maada Bio for his global leadership and unwavering commitment to immunisation during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the World Governments Summit 2026 in Dubai on Tuesday, February 3, 2026. Dr Nishtar thanked President Bio for his role in last year’s replenishment summit and announced that Gavi had raised $10 billion since the Brussels summit to support vaccine programs around the world.Dr Nishtar praised Sierra Leone for its commitment to vaccine equity, sustainable health financing, and bolstering immunisation systems, highlighting the nation as a regional…

Dubai, United Arab Emirates | Tuesday, 3 February 2026 – Shaikha Alnuwais, the newly elected Secretary-General of UN Tourism and the first woman to hold the post, met with Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio on the sidelines of the World Governments Summit and committed strong institutional support for the development of Sierra Leone’s tourism sector. Alnuwais outlined her five strategic priorities for global tourism during a productive conversation between the two leaders: sustainable and responsible growth; digital transformation and data-driven tourism; economic inclusion and local empowerment; infrastructure, connectivity, and tourism enablers; and governance, transparency, and global trust.During the meeting…

Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Timothy Musa Kabba and US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau  On Tuesday, February 3, 2026, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Timothy Musa Kabba, met with US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau at the Department of State in Washington, D.C. The discussions, part of a broader diplomatic agenda for the inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial hosted by the United States, focused on expanding economic ties, promoting shared prosperity, and strengthening cooperation to deter illegal migration.Deputy Secretary Landau described the meeting as “productive and forward-looking,” stating that he valued…

Dr David Moinina Sengeh, the chief minister of Sierra Leone, gave the opening remarks at the Artificial Intelligence Forum at the World Governments Summit 2026 in Dubai on February 3. He urged world leaders to prioritise values, ethics, and human dignity in the development and application of AI. Speaking before an audience of heads of state, policymakers, technologists and private-sector executives, Dr Sengeh argued that governments must look beyond AI as a mere technological tool and explicitly build in fairness, inclusion and social purpose. The Chief Minister cited specific developments that show how intentional public investment can increase opportunity, framing…

On February 2, 2026, Minister of Energy Cyril Arnold Grant formally introduced and welcomed George Taylor as the new Director General of the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA), highlighting the importance of strong leadership as the utility prepares for major reform and an impending concession process.Minister Grant, speaking at the handover ceremony, stated that the appointment comes at an important time for EDSA. He praised Taylor’s credentials and professional background, mentioning that the Ministry thoroughly reviewed his record and was impressed with what it discovered. “George is here on the crest of a highly respected background,” the minister said,…

The President of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA), 𝐌𝐫. 𝐁𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐝𝐢 𝐊𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐚 has officially presented 𝐅𝐈𝐅𝐀 𝐛𝐚𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐬 approved to officiate international matches in 2026. The ceremony was held on Wednesday, 4 February, at the SLFA Headquarters in Kingtom, marking another significant step in the Association’s ongoing efforts to strengthen match officiating and enhance Sierra Leone’s presence on the global football stage. The presentation followed FIFA’s publication of its list of international match officials for the year, which features five centre referees and five assistant referees from Sierra Leone. The selected officials include six men…

Sierra Leone took the global stage on Wednesday, when Foreign Affairs Minister Timothy Musa Kabba represented the country at the invitation-only Critical Minerals Ministerial held at the United States State Department in Washington, D.C. The high-level meeting brought together foreign ministers and senior government officials from all over the world to discuss the growing strategic importance of critical minerals for global supply chains, economic security, and technological innovation. The summit, hosted by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, focused on strengthening trusted international partnerships, addressing supply chain vulnerabilities, and advocating for responsible, sustainable mineral resource development. Delegates discussed policy options,…

Dr Ibrahim Bangura (DIB) Following the announcement of the party’s National Delegates Conference (NDC) dates, Dr Ibrahim Bangura (DIB) is expected to be elected as the All People’s Congress (APC) flagbearer. The conference is set to take place from August 9 to 12, 2026, at Bai Bureh Hall in Port Loko Township, Port Loko District. With the NDC on the agenda, supporters and delegates are increasingly positioning the party to rally behind a candidate whom they believe can challenge the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) and reclaim the presidency in 2028. Across party gatherings and grassroots meetings, delegates have stated…