Golden Globe Award Actor Jeffrey Wright – SL Peace by Piece Ambassador
New York 22 November, 2010 – Golden Globe award actor Jeffrey Wright agrees to serve as Sierra Leone’s “Peace by Piece Ambassador” in preparation for the 50th Independence Anniversary Celebrations.
The Chairman of 50th Anniversary National Planning Committee, Dr. William Konteh on Sunday 21st November, 2010 unveiled the Golden Globe and Tony Award winning Actor and Chairman of Taia LLC and Taia Peace Foundation, Jeffrey Wright as Sierra Leone’s “Peace by Piece Ambassador” to more than 100 international key influencers, diplomats, celebrities and Sierra Leoneans at a reception held at the Tribeca Cinemas, Manhattan, New York.
The Committee also used the opportunity to premier an M3 produced documentary titled “Sierra Leone: Road to Change” which amidst thunderous applause from the audience highlighted President Ernest Bai Koroma’s achievements and Challenges in the first three years as President of the Republic of Sierra Leone and his vision for the country as captured in the “Agenda for Change”.
Bestselling Author, Ishmael Beah (A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier) told the audience that Sierra Leone went through a horrible past, but has rapidly transformed itself into a country of peace, hope and development. “Sierra Leone is the safest place in the world…I feel safer in Sierra Leone than in New York”. He says. Ishmael Beah called on Sierra Leoneans to be proud of their achievements over the years and continue to do the things that will attract serious minded investors that will partner with the Government.
Jeffrey Wright presented a reflection of the beauty and hospitality of the people of Sierra Leone with specific reference to those in the rural areas whom he says are talented and full of hope. He recounted his journey to Moyamba Junction in 2008 where the vehicle he was traveling in broke down and was rescued by a group of youthful and intelligent and mechanics that used rickety tools to repair the said vehicle. This to him portrays the fact that Sierra Leoneans are naturally gifted and need a little bit of support in terms infrastructural development and capacity building to make the difference.
“Sierra Leone has a different story to tell. The country moved from 167 to 158 on the United Nations Human Development Index for the first time since 2005.since the end of the war in 2002, the Government and the people of Sierra Leone have achieved other milestones such as conducting two free and fair Presidential and Parliamentary elections, worked to ensure the peaceful transition of political power, provided free health care for lactating mothers and children under five to combat maternal and infant mortality; and quite recently His Excellency the President, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma received on behalf of the Government and People of Sierra Leone the United Nations Millennium Development Goals Award for steps taken to reduce diseases such as HIV/Aids and malaria” Jeffrey Wright continued.
Jeff Johnson, award – winning Journalist and Political Commentator also pledged to join Jeffrey Wright in serving as host Committee members on behalf of the “Peace by Piece” campaign and spread Sierra Leone’s good news to at least 50 people and to help attract sponsorship for the 50th Independence Anniversary and long-term investors as well.
Sierra Leone’s music Ambassadors, Pupa Bajah and the Dry Eye Crew and R&B Singer/Songwriter Carolyn Malachi thrilled the audience with songs and performances from their latest album, “tell somebody that you love somebody”.
The 50th Anniversary Planning Committee is on a sensitization tour in Washington, DC, Maryland, Virginia and New York in the United States of America to sensitize Sierra Leoneans and friends of Sierra Leone to join them rebrand the image of the country and share the good news about the resurgent West African nation that will mark 50 years of independence from British rule by April, 2011.
By Kwame Yankson, Ministry of Information and Communication, Freetown
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