Author: gleanernewspaper
The Parliament of Sierra Leone debated and ratified two military defence agreements on Tuesday, 26/03/2024, to enhance the country’s security architecture. Parliament ratified the following Agreements: 1. The Military Framework Agreement Between The Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone and the Government of the Republic of Turkiye and (2) A Military Cooperation protocol between the Ministry of Defence of the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Sierra Leone. They presented the Agreements before ratification, and the Deputy Defence Minister, Colonel Rtd. Muana Brima Massaquoi said these agreements are military cooperation that strengthens…
By Andrew Keili When you have 32 young people buried in a mass grave, having died from abuse of a particular drug and 63% of patients admitted to a psychiatric hospital because of that same drug, and when you walk down the streets and see youths crouched in corners as if in a daze, you can’t help but feel we have a national disaster on our hands. Nobody needs to be reminded about the devastation caused by the Kush epidemic, dominating most national discussions. With additives comprising several chemicals, including formalin, a toxic chemical commonly used to preserve bodies, Kush is…
The European Union (EU), in collaboration with Solidaridad West Africa and partners, has commissioned the first state-of-the-art cashew processing factory in Sierra Leone. Constructed with funding from the EU under the Boosting Agriculture and Food Security Project, the factory provides a safe and hygienic environment for cashew processing. It employs over 300 women and youths from the Waterloo Cashew Processors and Sellers Association. The Newton, Sierra Leone factory will be commissioned on Tuesday, March 26th, 2024. It is estimated to process over 800 kilograms of raw cashew nuts daily and about 200 metric tonnes annually. This increase in production is…
In a compelling address at the 148th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Dr Sidie Mohamed Tunis, the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, emphasised the crucial role of Parliamentary Diplomacy in fostering peace and understanding in the West African region and beyond. The general debate theme, “Parliamentary Diplomacy: Building Bridges for Peace and Understanding,” resonated deeply with Dr Tunis and aligned perfectly with the core objectives of the ECOWAS Parliament. Established to promote peace, security, and stability in West Africa, the ECOWAS Parliament has steadfastly championed values such as democracy, human rights, gender equality, and sustainable development. Dr. Tunis articulated…
In a groundbreaking move that underscores its commitment to employee welfare, Africell Sierra Leone has set a new standard by distributing over 20 acres of land to its longest-serving staff members. This initiative, a first of its kind in the country, aims to acknowledge and reward the dedicated service of individuals who have been integral to the company’s success. Located in York Village, Freetown, Western Rural, the distributed plots of land serve as a tangible token of appreciation for the diligence and loyalty demonstrated by Africell’s employees over the years. According to Shadi Gerjawi, the Managing Director of Africell Sierra…
The panel event and cocktail reception coincided with the March 2024 Modern and Contemporary African Art exhibition at Sotheby’s in London, spotlighting African creative excellence. What is the relationship in Africa between economic growth and creative expression? According to actor, musician and entrepreneur Idris Elba, the connection is solid and direct. “There’s a stigma in Africa attached to creative industries as not being serious business”, Mr Elba explained at a panel discussion hosted by the Africell Impact Foundation and Sotheby’s in London on 20 March. But if investors and policymakers change this attitude, he argued, the arts could become a “significant…
The Founder and coordinator of the Media Initiative for Women and Girls Empowerment (MIWGEM), Adama Bai Conteh, has disclosed that 40 young women across the country are currently undergoing a week’s Public Relations Media Empowerment training. The training, conducted at the former Special Court premises in Freetown in partnership with Leone Rock Metal Group, started on Monday, March 25th, and will end on Friday, March 29th, 2024. She pointed out that MIWGEM is a young women’s advocacy organisation in Sierra Leone working with young women and girls interested in media and media-related work. She added that they train young women…
Alhaji Koroma, a soldier in the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF), entered a plea of guilty and was given a thirty-year prison sentence for the failed coup attempt on November 26. Koroma was put on trial before a Court Martial in Freetown along with 27 other military personnel. The accused was facing a total of 88 charges. Numerous offences were included in the charges, such as mutiny, aiding the enemy, speaking with them, stealing government property, and even murder. The extent of their alleged involvement in the attempted coup, which sought to topple the government, was made clear by…
On March 12, Sierra Rutile announced in the Australian Stock market that a company owned by U.S. Mining Mafia, Craig Dean, PRM Service LLC, had purchased an 8.19% share in the company, leading to concerns of a potential takeover. The move was described as “unsolicited” by the company, raising questions about Dean’s intentions in the Sierra Leone mining sector. Investigations revealed that PRM Service LLC, registered in the Commonwealth Republic of Puerto Rico, is associated with Gerald Group, of which Craig Dean owns 75%. Despite this connection, it was noted that Craig Dean is the authorizing person behind PRM Service…
By Issa Davies Freetown – Evette Regnant sits on rows of neatly spread mats on the floor of a newly built two-classroom Early Childhood Development (ECD) centre in Taiama Community in southern Sierra Leone. She is joyously flanked by cheerful preschoolers who are rhythmically chanting, “We should always wash our hands with soap before eating and after using the toilet.”Evette has been an ECD teacher for over two years, teaching early skills and nurturing children between the ages of three and five years at the ECD centre of the Roman Catholic Primary School in Taiama. “I am a trained ECD educator,…