Local News
375 FIRES RECORDED NATIONWIDE IN 8 MONTHS, FIRE FORCE WARNS Western Area accounts for two-thirds of incidents as force pushes school safety drive
By Saidu Jalloh, D.S. Reporter The National Fire Force responded to 375 fire incidents across Sierra Leone between January and August 2026, exposing the growing scale of fire emergencies nationwide. The figures were released by Bintu Fatmata Kamara Esq., PRO/Legal Officer of the National Fire Force, during the government weekly press conference on Tuesday, September…
GOVERNMENT TO DELIST โGHOST TEACHERSโ AFTER SIX TERMS OF ABSENCE New biometric โWe Day Yaโ system to track attendance nationwide
By Saidu Jalloh, D.S. Reporter Teachers who fail to report to their assigned schools for six consecutive terms face removal from the government payroll, the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education has announced. Minister Conrad Sackey made the disclosure on Wednesday during a special edition of the Civic Town Hall on the theme: โHow…
ECSL EYES AI TO MODERNISE 2028 ELECTIONS Commission partners youth group as staff complete training in India
By Kadijatu Bangura, D.S. Reporter The Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone is exploring the use of Artificial Intelligence to strengthen electoral processes ahead of the 2028 general elections, as part of a broader push to modernise election management and boost youth participation. The disclosure came on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, during a courtesy visit by…
INFLATION CLIMBS AGAIN TO 14.89% AS HOUSING AND FUEL COSTS BITE Western Area worst hit at 21.87% while food inflation eases
By Kadijatu Bangura, D.S. Reporter Sierra Leoneโs inflation rate edged up to 14.89 percent in July 2026, marking the fifth straight month of double-digit price increases, according to data released by Statistics Sierra Leone. The July figure represents a 0.12 percentage point increase from Juneโs 14.77 percent. However, month-on-month inflation slowed sharply to 0.42 percent,…
NRA LAUNCHES 10,000 SMART GST MACHINES TO SEAL REVENUE LEAKAGES Kanneh urges businesses and consumers to support new tax compliance drive
By Joseph Momoh, D.S. Reporter FREETOWN โ The National Revenue Authority has begun nationwide distribution of new Smart Goods and Services Tax machines in a major push to modernise tax collection and block revenue leakages across Sierra Leone. The rollout targets 10,000 GST-registered businesses and is designed to work alongside the existing Electronic Cash Register…
UK ANCESTRY VISA OPENS DOOR FOR SIERRA LEONEANS TO LIVE, WORK IN BRITAIN Diaspora route could boost tourism, investment and cultural ties
By Saidu Jalloh, D.S. Reporter Thousands of Sierra Leoneans with British heritage may now qualify for a new UK immigration route that allows them to live and work in Britain for up to five years, with the option to settle permanently. The UKโs Ancestry Visa, available to citizens of 22 African Commonwealth countries including Sierra…
94 YOUTHS GRADUATE FROM POLICE DRUG REHAB CENTRE AS โAMBASSADORS OF POSITIVE CHANGEโ
By Joseph Momoh, D.S. Reporter HASTINGS โ Ninety-four young people have graduated from the Sierra Leone Police Training School Drug Rehabilitation Centre in Hastings, Western Rural District, after completing a programme to overcome substance abuse and reintegrate into their communities. The graduates were among 105 young people admitted to the centre on July 6, 2026,…
SACKEY: GOVERNMENT SPENDS $850,000 ON 523,717 BOOKS TO REACH EVERY P1 PUPIL
By Kadijatu Bangura, D.S. Reporter FREETOWN โ The Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education has defended its record on school materials, citing the nationwide distribution of more than 523,717 literacy books and 13,500 teacher guides as proof of government investment in foundational learning. Minister Conrad Sackey gave the breakdown in response to concerns raised…
MINISTER KARMINTY SETS UP COMMITTEE TO SAVE APPROVED SCHOOL LAND FROM GRABBERS
By Joseph Momoh, D.S. Reporter Minister of Social Welfare Mrs. Melrose Karminty has established a multi-stakeholder committee to resolve the longstanding land dispute at the Approved School Community and protect the property from illegal encroachment. The committee comprises representatives from the Ministry of Social Welfare, the Sierra Leone Police, the Law Officersโ Department, and representatives…
SLTU PRESIDENT: BETTING, POVERTY AND POOR CONDITIONS FUEL EXAM MALPRACTICE
By Saidu Jalloh, D.S. Reporter Sierra Leone Teachers Union President Ibrahim Bankapoma Kargbo says examination malpractice is being driven by a mix of social and systemic problems, not just by teachers and students. Speaking at the Governmentโs Special Civic Town Hall session in Freetown hosted by the Ministry of Information and Civic Education, Kargbo identified…