Members of the international community, who are moral guarantors for good governance, peace and stability in Sierra Leoneans have been holding important engagements with former President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma at his residence in Makeni.
COCORIOKO brings you various reports on these engagements by the former president’s legacy team :
Former President Koroma Continues Diplomatic Engagements, meets British High Commissioner
Office of Former President Koroma – News Brief
Freetown – 12th October, 2021
Former President Ernest Bai Koroma, has Tuesday, 12th October, held a closed – door with the British High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, Ms Lisa Chesney. The meeting Tuesday afternoon is part of a flurry of diplomatic engagements the statesman has embarked upon with the international community in Freetown.
Britain is Sierra Leone’s major bilateral and development partner – with a wide variety of social, economic and cultural links. The British have also heavily invested in restoring democracy, in building peace and in supporting the country’s development agenda.
The former President is particularly pleased with the “forthright discussion” he had with British High Commissioner. Like his previous engagements with the UNSRSG for West Africa and the Sahel and the European Union Ambassador to Sierra Leone, the discussion was centered around the need to consolidate peace, strengthen democracy, good governance and rule of law in Sierra Leone.
Although it is not immediately clear what road map would be utilised in pursuit of those shared objectives, the well – regarded statesman has once again put on offer his distinguished peace and democratic credentials to help bolster Sierra Leone’s beleaguered peace, democracy and good governance records.
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EU Ambassador Holds Consultative Meeting With Former President Koroma
The newly appointed European Union (EU) Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Manuel Muller, has Tuesday 12th October, paid a courtesy call on Sierra Leone’s past President Ernest Bai Koroma, at his Goderich residence in Freetown.
The EU is one of Sierra Leone’s strongest partners and over the years, particularly during the ten years of President Koroma’s tenure, they have made substantial contribution to the country’s governance and development aspirations.
The former President’s meeting with the EU Ambassador which was centered around good governance, the rule of law, peace and national cohesion, was very timely in view of the current circumstances in the country.
Of note, the EU Ambassador recognized the important role of the opposition in a democratic state in so far as inclusive participation in national development, peace consolidation are concern. He also acknowledged President Koroma’s remarkable peace and democratic credentials both while in office and in his current international role with ECOWAS and the African Union. Ambassador Muller believes that President Koroma’s experience and influence should be better tapped in fostering Sierra Leone’s democratic progress and development aspirations.
Former President Koroma was pleased with the EU Ambassador’s visit and has reaffirmed his well recorded commitment to the promotion of democracy, good governance, peace and stability.
“I am always open to constructive dialogue because this is the bedrock to consensus building, effective cooperation, sustainable peace and national cohesion,” said president Koroma.
Ambassador Muller’s visit comes on the heels of a similar engagement with the UN Special Representative to the Secretary General for West Africa and Sahel, Ambassador Mahamet Saleh Annadif.
European Union in Sierra Leone
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Former President Koroma Receives the UNSRSG in Audience
Office of Former President Koroma – News Brief
Freetown – 11th October, 2021
Sierra Leone’s distinguished statesman, H E. Ernest Bai Koroma, has on Monday 11th October, 2021 received in audience the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary General (UNSRSG) for West Africa and the Sahel, Ambassador Mahamet Saleh Annadif. The SRSG was accompanied by the UN Resident Coordinator in Sierra Leone, Dr. Babatunde A. Ahonsi.
It could be recalled that during President Koroma’s tenure, Sierra Leone was widely acclaimed as a bastion of peace building and peace consolidation, an achievement which the UN was very central to.
Before their closed door meeting, Ambassador Annadif said it was important to meet with former leaders not only to get their perspectives on critical issues, but also to show their example to the youth that there is life after the Presidency.
Responding, former President Koroma recalled that during his tenure, his government worked very hard, particularly with the UN, to deepen democracy, peace and national cohesion.
“This is why I remain committed to the issues of peace, good governance and national cohesion because I believe that without peace development will be difficult,” said the former President.
As he put it, peace, democracy and good governance form part of the legacy he is determined to protect which is why they have been the hallmarks of his engagements with ECOWAS and AU since he left office.
President Koroma assured Ambassador Annadif that he stands ready to support efforts geared towards strengthening these values.
Ernest Koroma Hosts Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
Makeni -10th October, 2021.
Former President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, today paid a courtesy call on her colleague former President, Dr Ernest Bai Koroma, at his Robureh home in Makeni, northern Sierra Leone. Sirleaf’s visit came within days after both leaders were honoured past Monday in Niger with the African Medal of Merit in Leadership by the African Bar Association.
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, a Noble Peace Laurette and Africa’s first female president was the 24th President of Liberia. Liberia is one of Sierra Leone’s closest neighbours with strong social, cultural and economic ties.
Her visit to her colleague former Head of State emanates from a shared interest to promote peace, security and democratic good governance in Africa and beyond.
It would be recalled that during President Koroma’s tenure, Sierra Leone was reckoned by the Global Peace Index as the most peaceful country in West Africa and the third most peaceful in the whole of Africa.
Both former leaders held fruitful discussions on these shared interests and reminisced the good old days when they both made remarkable progress in their countries development trajectories.
President Koroma was delighted to receive his colleague former president.
“I am pleased to have hosted my sister and colleague advocate for peace and democracy in Africa. Former President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is an inspiration not just to her native Liberia but for Africa and the rest of the world”.
Describing her as a dependable friend and sister, the Sierra Leonean statesman also expressed profound appreciation for the special efforts the former Liberian Leader usually makes to visit him in his home town.
“Each time she is visiting Sierra Leone, she would make time to drive 189 kilometers all the way to my home town of Makeni to see me. She is indeed such a great and dependable Friend and Sister,” said former President Koroma.
