Salone Students in China called to “put country first”

Acting Head of Mission, Embassy of Sierra Leone in the People’s Republic of China, who also doubles as the Embassy’s Head of Chancery, has called on Sierra Leonean students studying in various Universities in China to put the interest of their country above all other interests and also endeavor to be good ambassadors and role models in society. (Photo: “Students should be role models”- Paul Minah)

Paul A.S Minah made this call on Monday, 19^th March during a courtesy call on the Embassy by a cross section of executive members of the Sierra Leone Students’ Union in China, led by its Secretary-General Lucinda M. Kargbo.

According to Paul A.S Minah, students studying in China should help present the positive image of their country as that would help in encouraging more investors into Sierra Leone. He also called on them to be united “instead of having so much infighting within the student body…”

Speaking further, Paul Minah also used the meeting to caution students from meddling into national party politics and called on them to look at the good things happening in the country. “It is good to criticize but insulting the government back home is unacceptable… I am not a propagandist for the APC but as a government worker, I will defend the President and his government … Sierra Leone is a small country with a population of about six million… we are all in one way or the other related…” he said.

He also spoke that majority of students now studying in China came as a result of the good works of the government in Sierra Leone and as such, it would be unacceptable to confront the government by failing to first put across student problems to the embassy, in a situation where there are problems. “Help the Embassy to bring the good side of Sierra Leone to the outside world… many investors want to go and invest in the country and you should therefore try to present the good image of the country everywhere you go…” he said.

Speaking on the recently concluded student elections in China, Paul Minah expressed the Embassy’s concern over the poor turnout of students during the convention and called on the present executive to look at the challenging issues they are faced with at the moment. He also used the meeting to inform the students about the efforts of government, through the Ministry of Education and the Embassy to address issues raised by the former executive through a letter to the Ministry, especially those regarding their allowances and the shipment of property of final year students.

Second Secretary in the Embassy, Dr. Phillip D. Kargbo congratulated the new Executive on their election into office but reminded them that “there are many issues to settle within the student body …” but he was optimistic that when they work as a team, the students are sure of overcoming those challenges. He reminded the students that they are under the guide of the Embassy and it would therefore be wrong for students to bring national party politics into the operations of the Students Union.

Amed Mansaray, students from Nachang University expressed shock at the attitude of some students in attempting to bring national party politics into the running of the Students’ body. He commended the Embassy for its effort in addressing needs of students in China and implored on his colleague students “not to allow these efforts to go in vain” .He encouraged the present Executive to work in collaboration with recent past Executives for the good of all. Similar comments were also made by Mohamed Sow, the Ombudsman for the present Executive and also a student.

In her remarks, Secretary General for the Serra Leone Students’ Union in China, Lucinda M. Kargbo expressed thanks and appreciation to the Embassy for meeting with a cross section of the Executive. She acknowledged the challenges they are faced with, stating, that “there have been series of challenges we are always faced with as a student body…” but promised to do her utmost in bringing students together. She also promised to do her best in getting a cordial working relation with the Embassy and also commended the Embassy for its effort in addressing their concerns.

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