By KABS KANU :

There was no doubt about it and everybody said it . Since they came to Franklin Township, it was one of the best and the most exciting and fruitful  civic and community programs ever. It was the Victory celebration program held at the  Holiday Inn ,  Davidson Avenue, Somerset , New Jersey , for newly-elected Mayor, Dr. Phil Kramer, by the West African Community , last Saturday.

MAYOR KRAMER AND HIS WEST AFRICAN SUPPORTERS

THE PROGRAM WAS JAMMED TO CAPACITY

 

SOME OF THE CROWDS AT THE PROGRAM

It was not only a celebration of the Mayor’s victory in the last November elections; it was also a celebration of the tremendous influence the West African Community in New Jersey now enjoy in the political and socio-cultural renaissance of the State. It was the first time that Africans had taken ownership of any election in the U.S,  not only helping a Democratic contestant to  win, but now poised to help run the Township.

 

A COMPOSITE PHOTO OF THE CROWD

The celebration included impressive speeches by the Mayor, Assemblymen and Councilmen and women, the Police Chief , a Sierra Leonean-born Union County Freeholder, Mr. Mohamed Jalloh ( the son of retired eminent Professor Ben Jalloh ) ,  distinguished members of the West African Community , its Interim Chairman, Mr. Foday Mansaray and Messrs Dauda Jawara Mansaray and Charles Onyeijika,   and of course, Sierra Leone’s Minister Plenipotentiary to the United Nations , Rev. Leeroy Wilfred Kabs-Kanu .

MINISTER KANU ADDRESSING THE OCCASION

There was also indigenous African music played by the African Jazz Band  led by a Sierra Leonean of Guinean extraction, Sidique Jabateh,  and of course typical African dance , as West Africans and Americans alike took the floor to celebrate the landmark event. Saturday’s celebration was unique in its composition and repertoire of events ‘.

 

 

MR. FODAY MANSARAY ADDRESSING THE PROGRAM

Lavish praises for the Mayor’s victory and the growing influence and impact of the West African community were specially reserved for Messrs Foday Mansaray, Dauda Jawara Mansaray and Charles Onyeijika, who spearheaded the Mayor’s campaign and West Africans who did not only work on his campaign team but provided a significant amount of the votes that helped Dr. Phil Kramer win November’s election. Sierra Leoneans, especially felt a sense of pride at the praises poured on Foday Mansaray , in particular , and Dauda Mansaray  and others for their civic  involvement and and tremendous efforts to help push the community forward .

AMERICAN TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS DANCING WITH WEST AFRICANS

The night’s program was also graced by the giving of the symbolic oath of office by Somerset County Democratic Chairwoman Peg Schaffer. to  the new Somerset Prosecutor, American-born Attorney Tina Jalloh, the wife of Professor Ben Jalloh and mother of Freeeholder Mohamed Jalloh.

MR JALLOH FROM SAUDI ARABIA IN DRESS LACED WITH PINK DANCING WITH AN AMERICAN COUNCIL WOMAN

Many members of the West African Community who spoke with COCORIOKO  said they were overwhelmed by pride for the fascinating manner  the profile of their their respective countries and the subcontinent have been elevated in New Jersey. Many confessed that they have never felt elated and proud as it happened since the November elections when they helped to elect a whole Mayor in a Township in America. The Mayor himself could not have highlighted the significance of the event in a better perspective when he said during his statement : “I grew up a nerdy Jewish kid in Connecticut. Never once did I think I was West African. Now, I know I’m West African.”

Minister Plenipotentiary Rev. Kabs-Kanu, in his statement,  congratulated the Mayor and the elected council man and women on behalf of President Ernest Bai Koroma, who was invited as a special guest to the occasion. Amidst cheers, Minister Kanu said that President Koroma could not attend because he is very busy working to make Sierra Leone a stronger and more progressive country. He told his audience that President Koroma was presently busy marshalling Sierra Leone’s Post-Ebola recovery efforts. However, the President appreciates the invitation accorded him and he thanks the Mayor and Township for the gesture, Mr. Kanu went on. He said that President Koroma also extends thanks to the Mayor for the initiatives he undertook to help alert international attention to the outbreak of Ebola in Sierra Leone.

Brief statements were also made by the Presidents of the All People’s Congress ( APC ) and the Sierra Leone People’s Party ( SLPP ) respectively, Messrs Alimamy Turay and Saidu Amara.

Mr. Foday Mansaray thanked the West African community for their efforts not only in having the Mayor elected but for helping to push the community forward. He praised many people including Professor Jalloh, Mrs. Mercy Philips, Mr. Charles Onyiajika, Dauda Mansaray etc for their support. He informed the gathering that many West Africans are going to serve in various committees in the township.

 

Sierra Leone’s Information Attache to Saudi Arabia, Mr. Alhaji M.B. Jalloh, who is here on vacation and attended the program, said the event was very good for Sierra Leone and has played a part in the rebranding of the country. He expressed pride at the sight of Sierra Leoneans creating such an impact in the great United States.

HERE IS  HOW THE FRANKLIN REPORTER NEWSPAPER CAPTURED THE EVENT :