His Excellency Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone led the country’s delegation to the Twentieth Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union Summit which commenced today (27thJanuary 2013) in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.
President Koroma is leading a 16 man delegation to this all important Summit in Africa.
In the next two days, President Koroma and other Heads of States in the Continent will be discussing very pertinent issues about Africa and how to resolve the challenges that are facing the Continent; they will also discuss the Report of the Executive Council.
The Summit was officially declared opened by the out-gone Chairman of the African Union and President of the Republic of Benin, His Excellency Dr. Thomas Yayi Boni.
Other speakers at the meeting were: His Excellency Mr. John Dramani Mahama, Ghana’s newly elected President; His Excellency Mr. Ban Ki Moon, Secretary General of the United Nations; Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Chairman of the African Union Commission and His Excellency Mr. Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestine National Authority and Chairman of the Palestine Liberation organization Executive Committee among others.
Meanwhile, on 26th January, President Koroma took time off his busy schedule to address the Sierra Leonean Community resident in Ethiopia at the residence of Ambassador Andrew Bangali, Sierra Leone’s multi accredited Envoy to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
The President said that he was very pleased that the people of Sierra Leone had given him a renewed mandate to govern them for a second term.
He said all the Sierra Leoneans in Ethiopia participated either directly or indirectly in the elections which was described as unprecedented in the country’s political history.
“Because I won the elections in the first ballot shows that I made tremendous success in the Agenda for Change,” he said, adding that the Agenda for Prosperity will be a great moment for all Sierra Leoneans.
The Head of State disclosed that 10 years is not enough to transform Sierra Leone, citing big nations like China, India and Brazil among other countries which took over 25 years to come out of the woods.
He stated that he has put in place some mechanisms to combat lawlessness and indiscipline in the country. He further stated that lawlessness should not only be limited to the Okada riders and the business people, adding that, “civil and public servants must also be disciplined and law abiding”.
“We have started noticing some successes not only in Freetown but also in the provinces. We must work within the framework of the law. Everybody must obey the law,” he stressed
President Koroma ended his address to the Sierra Leonean Community by saying: “As you have given me another mandate, I will not let you down”.
Mrs. Florie Cole, one of the oldest members of the Community and a Librarian at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa congratulated the President for emerging victorious in the past Presidential elections.
She lauded President Koroma for combating lawlessness and the disruptive behavior in the country.
The President was formally introduced by Ambassador Bangali whilst Mr. Amadu Koroma; Sierra Leone’s Deputy Chief of Mission to Ethiopia gave the vote of thanks.
The ceremony was climaxed by the introduction of the President’s delegation and that of the Sierra Leonean Community in Ethiopia by Ambassador Bangali.
Abdul Karim Koroma
Information Attaché
Embassy of the Republic of Sierra Leone
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Email: [email protected]
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