After a week of intense discussions, Parliament has wrapped up the 2025 national budget hearing on November 29, 2024. Leaders from both the ruling SLPP and opposition APC delivered their closing remarks, highlighting contrasting views on the fiscal plan’s impact on the nation. Opposition leader Hon. Abdul Kargbo commended the government for stabilizing the exchange…
Aminata Wurie, Governance Specialist with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sierra Leone, recently shared her assessment of the 2023 elections, highlighting key challenges and successes during an event at Fourah Bay College. Key Challenges Notable Successes Recommendations for Future ElectionsWurie proposed expanding biometric voter registration, deploying mobile registration units to underserved areas, and…
For the first time in 24 years, a Nigerian president visited France on Thursday to strengthen economic ties and attract foreign investment. This historic visit marks the first time a sitting Nigerian president has been at the Champs-Élysées in two decades. President Bola Tinubu led talks at the Elysée Palace aimed at positioning Nigeria as…
Edward Aruna, founder and managing director of the Reptiles and Amphibians Program Sierra Leone (RAPSL), has won the prestigious 2024 Tusk Conservation Award for his exceptional efforts in protecting reptiles and amphibians, particularly marine turtles. The award was presented on November 27 in London, with notable attendees including King Charles, Prince William, and prominent African…
The National Safeguarding Community of Practice (CoP) was officially launched on November 28, 2024, at the New Brookfields Hotel in Freetown, marking a key step toward protecting children, young people, and vulnerable adults in Sierra Leone. The CoP brings together professionals from various sectors, including I/NGOs, CBOs, OPDs, and government bodies, to foster a unified…
ChildFund Sierra Leone, in collaboration with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), has officially handed over a newly constructed three-classroom block to Services Secondary School in Juba, Freetown. The ceremony, held on November 28, 2024, marked a significant step in supporting the government’s Free Quality Education initiative. The project also included a solar-powered borehole, 16…
The Sierra Leone Police (SLP) is set to reintroduce an informal resolution mechanism for minor offences as part of its 2025-2029 Strategic Development Plan. Announced by Inspector General William Fayia Sellu during a stakeholders’ engagement on November 29, 2024, the initiative aims to resolve minor crimes outside of court, focusing on community service instead of…
The National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), in partnership with the Internal Displacement Monitoring Center (IDMC), has unveiled a report titled “Impacts of Displacement Linked to Sea Level Rise on Plantain Island in Sierra Leone.” Funded by the European Union and USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, the report examines the severe effects of coastal erosion on…
The African Development Fund has allocated $99.16 million to bolster the Regional West Africa Rice Development Project, enhancing food security and self-sufficiency. The initiative will target Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, ECOWAS, and the Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice) to boost rice production, develop value chains, and promote climate resilience and economic growth. The funding, comprising four grants from…
The Budget Advocacy Network (BAN) has strongly condemned the government’s decision to allocate just 1% of the 2025 national budget to development programs, questioning its commitment to addressing pressing socio-economic challenges. Speaking at a press conference on November 26, 2024, BAN acknowledged progress in inflation control, trade deficit reduction, and exchange rate stability but raised…
