Recent scrutiny by the Public Accounts Committee has highlighted concerns over Sierra Leone Commercial Bank’s (SLCB) loan practices, particularly regarding politically exposed persons (PEPs). An audit revealed loans totaling SLE 41,448,000 disbursed to PEPs by December 31, 2022, without clear policies in place. In response, Victor Thomas Biandoma, Esq., SLCB’s Director of Corporate Affairs, defended…
President Julius Maada Bio announced that he has received an update from the Economic Management Team (EMT) on the state of the economy, prospects, and partner engagement for the first half of 2024. The report highlights significant improvements in key economic indicators. According to President Bio, Sierra Leone has experienced an 18% reduction in inflation…
Ascentonians FC kicked off the 2024 SLFA Women’s Division One Playoff with an emphatic 5-1 win over Rising Queens on November 5, at the SLFA Academy Field in Kingtom. Rising Queens opened the scoring early, with Maseray Turay netting in the 10th minute. However, Ascentonians quickly responded. Princes Bangura equalized in the 32nd minute, followed…
Hezbollah’s drone attack on an Israeli army base in central Israel resulted in the deaths of at least four soldiers and left around 60 others severely injured. This marks the group’s deadliest strike on Israeli territory since the IDF began ground operations in Lebanon nearly two weeks ago. Rafi Sheva, a Magen David Adom paramedic,…
A delegation from the United States Development Finance Corporation (DFC) recently met with Sierra Leone’s President, Julius Maada Bio, to discuss advancing additional investment in the private sector. During the meeting, United States Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Bryan Hunt, emphasized the delegation’s focus on economic development, a priority for President Bio. Hunt announced plans for…
US President Joe Biden has pledged to provide Ukraine with five new strategic air defense systems to counter relentless Russian attacks. In a forceful speech welcoming NATO leaders to Washington, DC, the president declared the military alliance “more powerful than ever” as it faced a “pivotal moment” in the war between Russia and Ukraine. Biden…
Former Nigerian Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika, once a prominent figure in President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, now faces corruption charges alongside his daughter and son-in-law. Accusations from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) suggest that Sirika abused his power by favoring a company linked to his daughter and son-in-law. Allegedly, contracts were awarded to this…
Babadi Kamara, the Executive Chairman of Bo Rangers Football Club, announced that the Sierra Leone government, via the National Sports Authority, will cover the airfare for Bo Rangers players and technical staff traveling to Ivory Coast for their second-leg CAF Champions League match against San Pedro FC. Kamara shared this news during a visit to…
In a significant move within the energy sector, the Office of the President has announced the immediate dissolution of the boards of directors for both the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA) and the Electricity Generation and Transmission Company (EGTC). This decision, effective immediately, marks a notable shift in the governance structure of two key…
Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education has launched a promising initiative to assist out-of-school children and youth in reintegrating into formal education and training pathways. The newly unveiled National Guidelines for Accelerated Education Programs (AEPS) provide structured frameworks to swiftly equip these individuals with essential skills and foundational knowledge needed to rejoin…