By KABS KANU :
Sierra Leone’s Minister of Information and Communications, Hon. Alpha Kanu, has hailed the profound confidence the International Community has in President Ernest Bai Koroma. The Minister said that because of President Koroma’s outstanding leadership , his transparency and accountability, the international community love him and have respect in his integrity.
The Information Minister made the statement in an exclusive interview he granted COCORIOKO after the International Post-Ebola Recovery Conference in New York last week.
Hon .Kanu described last week’s conference as a tremendous success .He said that the meeting was well-structured and the three Presidents of the Mano River Union States -Koroma ( Sierra Leone), Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf ( Liberia ) and Alpha Conde ( Guinea ) articulated their country’s Ebola-created problems and needs well.
“President Koroma’s presentation was powerful and went down well with the international community . “He showed gratitude to them and asked for help in the country’s post-ebola recovery program, and as a result, “The international community reiterated their support to get us back to zero infections, prosperity and sound health and educational systems, ” the minister emphasized . He went on to say that “The pledging went further to identify gaps in the Energy and Agriculture sectors ,which were prioritized in the belief that if agriculture is stimulated , it will provide impetus to the private sector .”
The Minister said that Over $ 3.4billion pledges were made to help the three Mano River Union countries fight Ebola . UK pledged 381m with Sierra Leone slated to receive $ 372m) from them; the EU pledged $ 500m and Sierra Leone will get 171.4m Euro while the Islamic Development Bank pledhed $ 360, out of which Sierra Leone will get $ 140m) . The African Development Bank ( ADB ) , he stated, came out stoutly to pledge $300 Million to engage in regional activities that will affect the potentials of the three countries. Mr.Kanu stated unequivocally that the pledges for Sierra Leone clearly demonstrated the confidence the international community has in President Ernest Bai Koroma.
Minister Kanu said that if the international community had any doubt in their minds about President Koroma’s stewardship of money, they would not have pledged a cent. Sierra Leone, he went on, should be proud of having a President who enjoys such confidence and goodwill from the international community.
“The international community were more enthusiastic because they have seen the commitment of the countries they are helping”, the Minister further emphasized.
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