HEAD OF THE DELEGATION, HON.ALPHA KANU , SPEAKING AT NDI. WATCH OUT FOR PICTORIAL DISPLAYS.
KABS KANU-New Haven, Connecticut : Friday September 20, 2013-
The delegation selected by His Excellency President Ernest Bai Koroma to represent him in the United States in his absence (due to unavoidable circumstances) has been very busy indeed. President Koroma had a jampacked schedule for the trip and since all the programs he was billed to attend were not cancelled, it has been quite a week for the team representing him. They had been attending back-to-back programs.
SOME MEMBERS OF THE PRESIDENTIAL DELEGATION DURING YESTERDAY’S AMISTAD CELEBRATION IN CONNECTICUT .FROM RIGHT : MR. AJIBU JALLOH, DR. SYLVIA BLYDEN , FODAY MANSARAY AND SECOND FROM RIGHT M.P. ISATA KABIA : COURTESY AJIBU JALLOH
Though hectic, the programs have all been successful so far , thanks to the outstanding leadership being provided by the head of the delegation , the official Government Spokesman and Minister of Information and Communications, Hon. Alpha Kanu and other members including Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the United States, Mr. Bockarie Stevens, his Deputy, Mr. Ibrahim S. Conteh, the Deputy Minister of Finance, Mrs. Mabinti Daramy , the Member of Parliament of Port Loko, Ms. Isata Kabia; the Special Executive Assistant to the President, Dr.Sylvia Blyden , the Minister Plenipotentiary to the United Nations, Mr. Leeroy Wilfred Kabs-Kanu, the Head of Chancery at the Sierra Leone Embassy to the United States, Mrs. Isha Sillah and the advanced team sent two weeks ago, the Special Assistants in the President’s Office, Messrs Foday Mansaray and Ajibu Jalloh and Dr. Francis Dove-Edwin of the Diaspora Office.
HEAD OF CHANCERY IN THE SIERRA LEONE EMBASY IN WASHINGTON DC ISHA SILLAH DURING ONE OF THE FUNCTIONS
This delegation is specifically representing President Koroma in programs he could have attended in America while Foreign Affairs Minister , Dr.Samura Kamara , is representing the country at the 68th Session of the UN General Assembly and the Chief of Staff, Dr.Richard Konteh , is representing the country in the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC ) Town Hall meetings in the U.S.
MINISTER KABS KANU AND DR. DOVE-EDWIN ( TIPEPS )
We have already reported on the Ronald H. Brown African Affairs Annual Conference organized by Constituency For Africa (CFA ) , which President Koroma addressed by video link from Freetown on Tuesday Sepember 17. The President’s statement is still being acclaimed by participants at the meeting and the international community as it hit at the core of measures needed to be taken to harness the human and material resources in the diaspora for national development in Africa.
We have also reported on the successful MCC Town Meeting on Wednesday September 18 , also in Washington DC , in which the delegation participated as well as help to organize. President Koroma was represented at this meeting too by the Hon. Alpha Kanu , backed by his delegation.
On Thursday September 19, 2013 the delegation took part in a meeting at the National Democratic Institute For International Affairs ( NDI ) in Washington DC. According to its mission statement : ”NDI provides practical assistance to civic and political leaders advancing democratic values, practices and institutions. NDI works with democrats in every region of the world to build political and civic organizations, safeguard elections, and to promote citizen participation, openness and accountability in government”.
President Koroma was invited at this session to be the keynote speaker and that role was played by the Information Minister, Hon. Alpha Kanu ,who read an instructive statement on behalf of the President. In the statement, President Koroma spoke about his government’s plans to utilize the creativity and knowledge of youth in his desire to have youths play a leading role in national development. The President said that the priorities of his government are gainful employment for youth and building entrepenure skills which is emphasized in President Koroma’s Agenda For Prosperity. The minister spoke aout the appointment of many youths in government and other sectors and the formation of the All Political Parties Youth Association ( AYPA ) , through which youth come together to discuss national issues.
Dr. Christopher Fromoyoh, who moderated the program, spoke glowingly of President Koroma’s achievements , especially in promoting democracy and the rule of law. He described President Koroma as a friend of NDI and that he had been engaged with NDI since his days as an opposition leader. He thanked the President for the support he has been providing NDI.
There was a surprise guest at the meeting–The Senegalese musical icon, Akon, who is a friend and admirer of President Ernest Koroma and who visited Sierra Leone last year before the elections. He regards President Koroma as his mentor.
Sierra Leone’s Minister of Youth ,Mr.Alimamy Kamara , participated in the conference and delivered a much-applauded speech on youth employment and engagement in Sierra Leone.
Also on Thursday September 19, the Presidential delegation participated in the Ambassador’s Dinner at the residence of the Sierra Leone Ambassador to the U.S, Mr.Bockarie Stevens. This was a big event that was to have seen President Koroma interface and socialize with Sierra Leoneans in the diaspora and members of his delegation in Washington DC. Despite the fact that President Koroma did not travel to America due to circumstances beyond his control, Sierra Leoneans travelled from New Jersey, Boston, Philadelphia and Delaware to join their compatriots in Washington DC , Maryland and Virginia to attend the Garden party. Again, the Government’s Spokesman, Alhaji Alpha Kanu, made a stirring and inspiring statement on behalf of President Ernest Koroma. From the party the Presidential delegation packed bag and baggage and travelled through the night to Connecticut where they were slated to represent President Ernest Koroma at the 25th Anniversary of the Amistad Committee in New Haven.
The very impressive, auspicious and historic program was held yesterday at the City Hall , New Haven .It was followed by a banquet later that night for the presidential team. PASCO TEMPLE, the Information Attache in Washington DC , will be bringing you a full report on Saturday on the Amistad celebration.
The Presidential delegation is travelling to Boston this morning to attend an MCC Town Hall meeting before travelling to New Jersey tomorrow to attend the MCC Town Meeting there.
WATCH OUT FOR VOLUMES OF REPORTS AND PICTORIAL DISPLAYS COMING
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