By Ediatu Kargbo, just back from Geneva :
Sierra Leone’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom has said that his government’s Agenda For Change policy aims to put Sierra Leone solidly on the path that will take it away from ‘aid dependency to a dynamic, self-sustaining economy.
H.E. EDDIE TURAY
At the official opening ceremony of Sierra Leone’s mission in Geneva, Switzerland, His Excellency Edward Mohamed Turay spoke about government’s present progress in unlocking the full productive economic capacity of the economy and subsequently advancing the overall growth and prosperity of the country.
“Some of these achievements are evidenced in the improved ranking of the IMF, MIGI and HDI respectively,” the High Commissioner said adding that his government is determined to improve the welfare of her citizens.
Turay praised President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma for the appointment of Yvette Stevens to serve as Head of Mission in Geneva.
He described Stevens as a ‘woman of substance’ with vast experience at the United Nations having worked in Geneva for quite some time now, which he believes, will enhance the efficacy of the office in advancing the interest of Sierra Leone.
The High Commissioner expressed his government’s thanks and appreciation for the support and generosity they continue to receive from Commonwealth member states, the government of Switzerland and the Sierra Leone community resident in Geneva.
He described Geneva as the ‘hub of both diplomatic and bilateral co-operation.’
“It is indeed a great pleasure and an honour for me to usher in a historic period in Sierra Leone’s diplomacy,” the High Commissioner said.
The mission’s Charges d’Affairs Yvette Stevens expressed her appreciation for being chosen to serve her country in a very important and strategic capacity while promising to explore the benefits that Geneva has to offer the people of Sierra Leone.
Earlier, the High Commissioner, on behalf of His Excellency and the people of Sierra Leone, welcomed distinguished guests and representatives from member states present at the ceremony.
Giving his Vote of Thanks, the President of the Sierra Leone Association in Geneva, Claude Stephanopulous expressed delight that his country has finally established a mission in Geneva.
Prominent personalities who graced the ceremony include Dr Franklyn Lisk who works at the Central for the study of Globalisation and Regionalisation and Yusuf Bangura who has been a Research Coordinator at UNRISD since 1990. He is also the lead author of UNRISD’s 2010 flagship report Combating Poverty and Inequality: Structural Change, Social Policy and Politics.
The United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG) is the second-largest of the four major office sites of the
, hosting a large number of intergovernmental organizations, specialized agencies, programmes, funds, offices and research institutes as well as related organizations.
It is said that two thirds of the activities of the United Nations system take place in Geneva.
Geneva has undoubtedly established itself as a leading centre of international diplomacy.
The author is the Information Attaché 11 at the Sierra Leone High Commission in the United Kingdom
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