Sierra Leone @50: Food Self-Sufficiency
During a Symposium organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Sierra Leone in Addis Ababa in collaboration with the Sierra Leonean Community in Ethiopia on Friday 22nd April 2011 at the Africa Hall of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, themed: “Sierra Leone @ 50: Food Self-Sufficiency,” Sierra Leone’s Envoy to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, His Excellency Ambassador Andrew Gbebay Bangali (in photo) presented a speech, and a PowerPoint presentation was presented by Prof. Monty Jones, Executive Director of Forum for Agricultural Research.
Professor Jones
Ambassador Bangali served as the Chairman of the event whilst Prof. Jones was the Distinguished Guest Speaker of the programme.
A cross section of the audience
The Symposium is among the activities lined up by the Embassy and the Sierra Leonean Community to commemorate Sierra Leone’s jubilee celebrations.
Ambassador Bangali speaking to HOC Mr Francis Kandeh
Below is Ambassador Bangali’s speech:
Welcome remarks: Your Excellencies, Fellow Sierra Leoneans, Distinguished Guests: I wish to extend a warm welcome to all of you for honouring our invitation to be part of the 50th Independence celebration of the Republic of Sierra Leone which we are kicking off today with this Symposium.
Let me also take this opportunity to welcome the Distinguished Guest Speaker-a Sierra Leonean- Prof. Monty Jones and his team who are here to join us in this historic celebration.
Prof Monty Jones is a renowned Agricultural Scientist with extensive research work, the most important of which is his discovery of the genetic process to create the new rice for Africa (NERICA). He will soon be properly introduced by the Deputy Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), Mrs. Jennifer Kargbo.
Your Excellencies, Fellow Sierra Leoneans, Distinguished Guests, on assumption of office in September 2007, His Excellency the President Dr. Ernest Bail Koroma laid special emphasis on enhancing productivity in agriculture and fisheries as one of his priorities for a progressive turn around for Sierra Leone in three years. Thus the theme of this Symposium is not only relevant but it is in recognition and pursuant to the President’s vision for a better Sierra Leone. It also signifies our unflinching determination to ensure that Sierra Leone becomes food self sufficient in the very near future.
Your Excellencies, Fellow Sierra Leoneans, Distinguished Guests, Our meeting here today is to spur dialogue within the Addis Ababa Community in response to this strategic need. The Symposium will also provide a platform for dialogue on the significance of food self sufficiency in the socio-economic development of Sierra Leone. As we deliberate on this all important topic, let us focus on measures and ways to adequately address food self sufficiency with particular reference to our staple food, rice.
I wish to commend the entire Sierra Leonean Community in Ethiopia for displaying this high sense of responsibility to deliberate on the high priority subject of food self-sufficiency, which is central to the attainment of all other development goals.
By Abdul Karim Koroma, Information Attaché, Embassy of the Republic of Sierra Leone in Addis Ababa
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