Deaf Association gets new President
The Sierra Leone National Association of the Deaf (SLMAD) has appointed Alhaji Mohamed Rahman to serve as Acting President. The ceremony took place on last Thursday, January 30 at their Elk Street office in Freetown. (Photo: Alhaji Rahman joyfully smiling while receiving his letter from his former boss)
In her handing over speech, the outgoing President of the SLNAD, Mrs. Ramatu Sesay said she enjoyed working with the deaf people as it was a unique experience that was characterised by enormous challenges.
She maintained that despite the challenges she enjoyed working with the entire membership and praised them for the support and respect they gave her throughout her tenure.
She disclosed that she joined the association, through the help of Alhaji Lahai Vangahun in 1984 and remained steadfast and dedicated to the association since then. She said she was elected Vice President of the association in 1994 and her hard work paid off when she was appointed President in 1998.
Recounting her successes during her tenure, Mrs. Sesay disclosed that the association can now boast of a Mosque at Calaba Town, four members were sponsored to perform the Hajj in Mecca, they played international friendly matches in Liberia and The Gambia, while some members benefitted from skills training through the association’s vocational institute and large hectares of land were cultivated for agriculture in Port Loko among others.
She described her successor as a devoted and selfless personality who has sacrificed everything for SLNAD and expressed optimism that he would live up to what was expected of him.
In his acceptance speech, Alhaji Rahman thanked the outgoing President for taking the association to such a remarkable height. He continued that Ramatu had to relinquish power to put an end to rumours that she is power-thirsty and would never relinquish his power.
He therefore thanked her for her courage, resilience and for being content. He added that she is still useful in the association, describing her as a champion of women issues among the deaf.
Alhaji Rahman promised to reconcile with other members by calling a general meeting of all the deaf people in Western Area as he promised to continue to build on the solid foundation her predecessor has left behind.
The Program Director of Disability Awareness Action Group (DAAG), Mr. Saa Kortequee who chaired the occasion prayed for unity and love among the deaf people for, as he put it, “Unity Is strength” and reminded Alhaji Rahman to be transparent and accountable to the membership.
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