Author: gleanernewspaper

In advancing peace and stability in the region, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has made great strides by lifting some of the economic sanctions against Niger, Mali, and Guinea. At an extraordinary summit in Abuja, where leaders deliberated over the political and security climate in the sub-region, a decision was made. While some targeted financial and economic sanctions have been lifted from Guinea and Mali by ECOWAS, political and targeted sanctions against Niger remain in place. This action demonstrates the regional bloc’s dedication to encouraging communication and collaboration among its members and the transition of these nations…

A delegation of high standing has accompanied President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone to Abuja, Nigeria, where he is taking part in the Extraordinary Summit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The summit, which is set to take place at the Presidential Villa in Abuja today, February 24, 2024, will centre on important conversations about the security, political, and peaceful environment in the ECOWAS sub-region. Prominent individuals including Chief Minister David Moinina Sengeh, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Timothy Musa Kabba, and Press Secretary Yusuf Keketoma Sandi Esq. are part of the Sierra Leone…

The First Lady of Sierra Leone, Dr Fatima Maada Bio, has spearheaded the “Hands Off Our Girls” campaign in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Welfare and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Task Force. Her deeds have shown an incredible degree of dedication and leadership in the struggle against human trafficking. A big step forward was made in the fight against this horrible crime when the campaign was formally launched at the Freetown City Council Hall. In her keynote address at the launch event, Her Excellency Dr Fatima Maada Bio addressed the grave issue of human trafficking and emphasised the urgent…

The Guma Valley Water Company and the senior management team of the National Investment Board (NIB) recently held their first collaboration meeting, a significant step towards supporting water supply projects in Sierra Leone’s Western Area. The purpose of the meeting, which took place on Thursday, February 22, at the Guma Building in Freetown, was to establish a strong collaboration between the two organisations to draw funding for important projects related to water supply. The Deputy Executive Director of NIB, Fatima Mahawa Sandi, provided insight into the organization’s critical role in organising and promoting investment opportunities in Sierra Leone for the…

The Special Envoy of Azerbaijan, Ambassador Elchin Amirbayov, paid a noteworthy state visit to President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone to strengthen the long-standing bilateral relations between the two countries. During the meeting at the Presidential Palace, Ambassador Amirbayov thanked President Bio for the chance to meet and gave President Ilham Heydar Oghlu Aliyev of Azerbaijan his best wishes. Azerbaijan has been in a relationship with Sierra Leone for over 29 years; during the meeting, Ambassador Amirbayov emphasised Azerbaijan’s commitment to strengthening this relationship, with an emphasis on the upcoming 30th anniversary in 2024. He mentioned that President Aliyev…

Bockarie Abdel Aziz Bawoh, the recently appointed Deputy Minister of Information and Civic Education, took an oath of office at a sombre ceremony recently held at State House, presided over by President Dr. Julius Maada Bio. John Sumailah, the Secretary to the Cabinet and Head of the Civil Service, presided over the ceremony, which included the Chief Minister and family members as well as other notable attendees. In addition to pledging to uphold and defend the Sierra Leonean Constitution, Mr Bawoh thanked President Bio for the honour of being appointed. He pledged to do his work with diligence and to…

The Minister of Information and Civic Education for Sierra Leone, Chernor A. Bah, has arrived in Istanbul, Turkey, before the 2024 Extraordinary Session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The conference is slated to take place on February 24, 2024, and its main focus will be on the growing tension that exists between the State of Palestine and Israel. The Republic of Turkey will host the Islamic Conference of Information Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to discuss pressing issues. As the current Chair of the Islamic Conference of Information Ministers, Turkey is driving the initiative to…

For a considerable time, multinational mining agreements in Africa have been contentious due to criticisms that the mineral-rich countries on the continent do not profit economically from these agreements. The deputy minister of mineral resources, Umaru Napoleon Koroma, has emerged as a leading voice for change during the 4th Edition of the ECOWAS Mining and Oil Forum in Benin. Koroma is pushing for the subregion to unify its mining laws and regulatory frameworks to ensure that the countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are fairly compensated for their mineral resources. He contends that through the adoption…

A significant turning point in their collaboration was reached when Ambassador George Hamilton and Mr. Ansu Dukuray of Varian Medical Systems succeeded in securing a $20 million grant for dump trucks in Sierra Leone through extraordinary dedication and perseverance. This achievement demonstrates both their unwavering commitment to building stronger international alliances and the transformative power of inspirational leadership, which is made possible by the Economic Diplomacy programme of His Excellency the President Rtd. Brigadier Dr. Julius Maada Bio. Ambassador Hamilton and Mr. Dukuray used a calculated risk-taking strategy that involved working directly with the Russian government to secure the grant,…

A major step towards strengthening medical cooperation between China and Sierra Leone was recently taken when a Chinese hospital signed a contract with the Sierra Leone-China Friendship Hospital. The partnership aims to improve medical assistance and collaboration between the two countries. It was formalised in Jui, a town near Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone. The agreement was signed by the Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University in Hunan Province, China, and the Sierra Leone-China Friendship Hospital to enhance nursing services. Renowned for its superior medical services, the Chinese hospital has a long history of collaborating with African counterparts…