President Ernest Bai Koroma earns laurels in Germany
Sierra Leone’s President, H.E. Ernest Bai Koroma has scored another soaring mark for his tremendous achievements in various sectors of governance in the country. (r-l: President Koroma and German President Christian Wulf)
He got the appraisal during a two-day state visit to the Federal Republic of Germany, on the 14-15 of February respectively.
His bilateral talks with the Federal Chancellor, Angela Merkel, the German president Christian Wulf and the foreign minister Guido Westerwelle, did not only yield fruits to support the country’s socio economic development, but also extolled president Koroma’s success in governance.
The German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, welcomed President Koroma’s visit and emphasised on the need for infrastructural development, employment and private investment opportunities to accelerate economic growth in Sierra Leone.
She said, the development of the West African region depends on the stability of countries like Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Ivory Coast. “The more the situation is clear and stable, the easier it is to attract investors,” she stated.
Chancellor Merkel expressed delight over Koroma’s role in the Ivory Coast crisis. As part of the EU, Angela Merkel said Germany supports the AU to resolve the stampede.
Delivering his message to the German authorities, private business executives and the Center for International Peace Operations, President Koroma highlighted his government accomplishments in the energy sector, agriculture, health and infrastructural development in the country.
The aforementioned he said are priority areas as according to him, “sustainable development can only take place when the basic infrastructure is provided.”
The chief executive said his government’s next focus would be on commercial farming, in an effort to reduce poverty in the country. “Agriculture has to move from subsistence to commercial farming,” he noted, adding that, plans are underway to establish agricultural centers to market agricultural products within and outside the country
He said his leadership was a direct call to effect change and revamp economic growth in the country.
While encouraging investors to go and do business in the country, President Koroma called for additional support from the German government to realise his objectives.
In another development, the Director General for the Center for International Peace Operations (ZIF), Dr. Almut Wieland-Karimi, described president Koroma’s administration as an exemplary for good governance, peace and democracy.
“Despite many remaining challenges, Ernest Koroma has made remarkable progress in speeding up a peaceful and prosperous society,” she noted.
She said, President Koroma has set a precedent that should be emulated by other sister countries within the region.
“Ernest Koroma has made a lot of success stories in a country that has suffered eleven years of civil war.”
Dr. Karimi said, the transition of state governance in Sierra Leone has demonstrated Koroma’s commitment to peace. She further expressed hope that the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections in Sierra Leone will be held in a free, fair and transparent manner.
Regarding the political crisis in Ivory Coast, she said Ernest Koroma played a crucial role to end the stalemate and hoped for a peaceful solution to the problem.
Joachim Spatz, a member of ZIF, said his organisation would lend hand in President Koroma’s quest to create youth employment and also render support in strengthening law and order in Sierra Leone.
He identified the Ernest Koroma administration as his organisation’s partner in providing solutions for African problems within the sub region.
By Umaru S. Jah -Berlin
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