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…
Sierra Leone’s George Edward Ngegba has climbed to the top of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Sub-Regional Qualifier C bowling chart after stellar performances in the first three matches in Abuja. With an economy rate of 5.48, Ngegba took seven wickets in two innings, leading Sierra Leone to a win over Ivory Coast…
The Freetown City Council (FCC), in partnership with the C40 Cities Finance Facility, has completed a feasibility study for a $92 million cable car network aimed at transforming urban transportation. Mayor Yvonne Akie-Sawyerr announced the project at a press briefing on November 26, 2024, highlighting its capacity to serve 6,000 passengers per hour. The 3.6-kilometer…
Parliament of Sierra Leone has ratified a €12 million finance agreement with the European Commission aimed at improving business, environmental sustainability, and competitiveness through the “Business, Environment, and Competitiveness for Sierra Leone” (BEC4S) initiative. The agreement, presented by the Ministry of Finance on March 20, 2024, is seen as a significant achievement for the country….
Focus 1,000 has launched a groundbreaking strategic plan on November 26, 2024, at the Bintumani International Conference Centre in Freetown, aimed at improving youth access to family planning resources in Sierra Leone. The plan focuses on reproductive health education, reducing teenage pregnancies, promoting male involvement in family planning, and enhancing peer counseling. CEO Alhaji Bailor…
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) displayed NLe15 million in cash on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, as part of its ongoing efforts to combat corruption. The money, recovered from Salim Mansaray, a former Ecobank employee, is part of NLe34 million misappropriated from the National Revenue Authority (NRA). While NLe15 million has been retrieved, Ecobank has agreed to…
Advocaid, with support from Amplify Change, has organized a one-day training for 32 female correctional officers in Sierra Leone on November 26, 2024, to improve care for incarcerated women. Held at the Special Court Building in Freetown, the training focused on enhancing officers’ understanding of Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) and humane treatment, aligned…
Over 300 migrants were arrested in Libya’s desert by the 444 Brigade, a militia group aligned with the Libyan army. The group, which announced the arrests on November 25, condemned human smuggling and trafficking, stating that their patrols would continue to target smuggling routes. The nationality of the detainees remains unclear. The 444 Brigade shared…
The European Union Delegation in Sierra Leone recently concluded its annual film festival, spotlighting domestic violence against women. Held from November 11th to 24th, 2024, at Freetown’s New City Hall, the event attracted actors, filmmakers, and key stakeholders under the theme “United to End Violence Against Women and Girls.” Through films like Clash of Era, Everybody Loves…
