This declaration was made by the Hon. Vice President, Dr. Victor Bockarie Foh at this year’s maiden meeting of the Hajj Committee on Wednesday 22nd June, 2016 at the conference room of the Vice President’s Office.
“The membership of the Committee remains the same, with Hon. Minkailu Mansaray as Chairman”, Vice President Foh affirms.
This however, does not in anyway deny the Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs of it responsibility. The Ministry is still responsible for all religious affairs at governmental level, declares the Hon. Vice President.
Vice President Foh went further to appeal to the 30 man committee to give their fullest support to the Chairman, in other to make this year’s Hajj Pilgrimage a successful one. The President he said, is committed to the Hajj process and will as usual provide the necessary assistance to ensure our Muslim brothers and sisters fulfil their Islamic obligations.
The Chairman in his remarks, assured the Vice President that the Committee will work assiduously to ensure the process is transparent and stress free for the would-be pilgrims. He informed that they had already secured accommodation for eight hundred (800) people, which he said is the quota given to Sierra Leone by Saudi Arabia. The three (3) man Pre-Hajj delegation will be leaving the shores of Sierra Leone on Friday 24th June, 2016 for Saudi to among other things, negotiate the increase in quota to at least one thousand six hundred (1,600,000) for Sierra Leone.
The Hon. Minister of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs, Dr. Sylvia Olayinka Blyden in her statement, endorsed the arrangement as pronounced by the Hon. Vice President. She however informed the Hajj Committee, that she will be engaging them to see how best they can increase the scholarship quota for the Muslim women. She appealed that instead of one hundred and forty nine (149) Imams from the various Chiefdoms, some of that quota can go to the women. This appeal was received by a round of applause by the Committee members.
Statements where also made by the APC National Secretary General, Ambassador Alhaji Osman Yansanneh and the Secretary to the Committee, Alhaji Sheka Kamara who also doubles as Adviser to the President.
©Communications Unit
Office of the Vice President
