Ambassador Bassir presents credentials to President Fonseca of Cape Verde
Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to Cape Verde, H.E Khadijatu Bassir has presented her letters of instruments to President Jorge Carlos de Almeida Fonseca of Cape Verde.
Presenting her credentials, at the Palace in a well impressive State ceremony, Ambassador Bassir conveyed warmest greetings and felicitations from President Ernest Bai Koroma and the people of Sierra Leone. She said “I have come to strengthen the already existing bilateral ties and cooperation between our two countries and to find even more ways of opening trade and cultural links.”
President Fonseca promised to do all in his power to enhance the strong relationship and bilateral cooperation between the two countries, noting that since the era of the present government the country has witnessed many developmental strides especially in the areas of roads infrastructure, health, communication and has widely participated in matters of interest in the ECOWAS region for the sustenance of peace and development.
According to President Fonseca, Sierra Leoneans in Cape Verde are very peaceful and go about their normal business at ease. He assured Ambassador Bassir of his government’s cooperation in further strengthening the ties between Sierra Leone and Cape Verde.
Ambassador Khadijatu Bassir, also met and held fruitful discussions with the Foreign Minister and Minister of Trade, bordering on bilateral cooperation, culture and Trade. Both Ministers referred to President Ernest Bai Koroma as an honored African Statesman and a development oriented President and promised to work closely with the Ambassador.
Prior to meeting with President Fonseca, the Ambassador Bassir found time to meet and discuss with Sierra Leoneans in the capital Priar. They raised concerns, that despite the ECOWAS Protocol of free movement in region they are requested to have at least one thousand EUROS before entering the country and secondly, they are subjected to higher payments for renewing Residential permits as compared to other Franco- phone Africans in the country.
Ambassador Bassir in her tete a tete with President Fonseca raised both areas of concern. According to the President, the thousand EUROS is a pre- requisite for all nationals, that this was only a measure to protect Cape Verde being a small fragile state, geographically speaking, and that with regards Sierra Leoneans being charged higher for Residential permit, that he is not aware of it but he would however find out and the matter be properly looked into.
Ambassador Bassir also visited and held discussions with Sierra Leoneans in Assoumada, the third largest city in Cape Verde. She informed them of developments back home and advised them to have a single United Sierra Leone Union in Cape Verde and to continue to comport themselves as Ambassadors of their country.
Also accompanying the Ambassador was the Head of Chancery, Sahr Johnny.
BY- Ralph Ese’Donnu Sawyerr, Information Attaché, Embassy of Sierra Leone, In Senegal and The Gambia.
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