Welcome Ban-Ki Moon
That Sierra Leone is hosting the first gentleman of the UN family in the person of Mr. Ban-Ki Moon  is no longer news. What perhaps could be news is that he is coming at a time when Sierra Leone is in the process of redeeming, some call it re-branding, its battered image after years of civil conflict, a conflict that badly bruised our once beautiful country, leaving it in a terribly bad shape. (Photo: Mr. Ban Ki-Moon waves as he arrives in Sierra Leone)
It is not yet clear why the UN Secretary General chose to visit us at this point in time and what he will be telling us while his visit lasted, although we are told he is here to assess progress made so far after the end of the war in 2002.
What we know for sure is that Ban-Ki Moon has been central to the support Sierra Leone is presently benefiting from the donor community. We can recall his behind-the-scene role during the successful hosting of the Consultative Group meeting in London in November last year by the Ernest Bai Koroma’s government. We can also identify him with the UN Peace Building Fund, from which our elections were conducted in 2007; the strengthening of our national security apparatus and the involvement of our women in peace and security, among many others, all of which we can proudly doff hats to the UN chief.
While here, the South Korean diplomat will learn some very unique things about Sierra Leone and Sierra Leoneans, generally. He will learn that in spite of our political or ethic differences; in spite of the poverty plaguing this country, Sierra Leoneans are hospitable, friendly and peace-loving people. And because we love peace and want to sustain it, after years of agony, the culture of tolerance remains paramount in President Koroma’s agenda for change. But beyond that, tolerance has become a political agenda, also. The self-preaching on tolerance, the Love One Another campaign and other peace engagement activities in every part of the country have become personal commitments, simply because we want to see this country on the true path of peace and progress.
However, it has not been easy to re-integrate, to conscientize our minds and heart towards one another, but we are making conscious effort to achieve that goal. Our visitor would be told that, surely.
While here also, Ban-Ki Moon will learn that Sierra Leoneans are generally resilient, and that when they say ‘No’ for a change they mean a change, regardless of the substance of that change. It was that resilience that won us our peace, though at a deadly cost. And with the same resilience, we are prepared to forge ahead, regardless of any external manipulation.
Sadly though, Ban-Ki Moon is coming at a time Sierra Leoneans are divided over an issue that has the potential to derail the very peace for which endless accolades have been lavished on the country and its people and for which our President, Ernest Bai Koroma awarded a peace prize on behalf his country in South Africa recently, the envy of other war-besieged countries around the globe. The issue builds around the setting up of an inquest to ‘identify’ the killers of Bambay Kamara and others in 1992.
It could be a domestic matter altogether, but now that this high profiled international civil servant will be with us for next few hours, one could imagine what role he will play in diffusing the build-up to the trial. Emotions are running high. The debate is getting hotter by the day. The people are worried.
Perhaps, as a man of peace who epitomizes the peace and happiness of mankind, Ban-ki Moon can possibly lend his voice so that this country does not slide back into a state of anarchy.
We are just thinking aloud as a medium.
It is on this note that we want to welcome the UN Secretary to our country, and like his representative here, Michael Schulenburg said during a radio interview, it expected that Sierra Leoneans of all shades of opinion would turn out to receive him in our usual friendly manner. Let us put our differences aside and show our visitor that we are a nation of civilized people.
You are welcome, Sir! Â
Stay with Sierra Express Media, for your trusted place in news!
© 2010, https:. All rights reserved.
