Newly elected Executive in Berlin pay a courtesy call on Jongopie Siaka Stevens
The newly elected Executive of the Sierra Leone Community in Berlin and Brandenburg, Federal Republic of Germany, paid a courtesy-call on His Excellency Mr. Jongopie Siaka Stevens, Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany, on Thursday, 22nd April 2010 at the Embassy’s premises in Berlin.
The purpose of the meeting was to introduce the newly appointed executive of the organization to the Ambassador. Some members of the executive were unavoidably absent. Present at the meeting were Messrs Alimamy P. Sesay – Chairman, Derek Bangura – Secretary General, James Gbla – Social Secretary, Muctarr Stevens – Ex-Officio and Mrs. Daphne Decker-Hora – Public Relations Officer. In attendance was Mr. Aiah E. Mbawa, Acting Head of Chancery.
The Chairman, Mr. Alimamy Sesay expressed his Organization’s desire to establish a close working relationship with the Embassy for the common good of our motherland, Sierra Leone and her people.
He informed the Ambassador that very stringent criteria were set and followed in the selection process of the executive to ensure that the executives selected will be able and willing to steer the Organization to higher heights.
He also informed the Ambassador that they were very delighted over the fact that the Embassy was now in Berlin. They believe a close working relationship between the Sierra Leone Community in Germany and the Embassy will bring forth many good fruits.
In response, Ambassador Stevens expressed heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the new Executive for taking time off their busy schedules to pay a courtesy call on him and to formally introduce the Executive of their organization.
He stated that the move was timely, as invitations had been sent out to all Sierra Leonean organizations within Germany eliciting suggestions as to how the 27th April 2011 Sierra Leone’s Golden Jubilee should be celebrated.
He deemed the introduction of the new executive as a sign of respect and honour to him as Ambassador and to the Embassy.
He informed the Executive that on his assumption to office as Ambassador, his first priority was to relocate the Embassy from Bonn to Berlin. He said that difficult though it was we were able to achieve this with the help and support of the President. There is still a lot more work to be done on the Embassy but was confident that with all our collective efforts we will get there
Ambassador Stevens briefed his guests on some of the achievements of President Ernest Bai Koroma’s Government by stating that his Government’s primary concern is to promote development in Sierra Leone for the good of its citizens. Towards this end the President:-
- Stands firmly against corruption by strengthening the Anti-Corruption Commission to ensure that they can and are able to do their job un-hindered.
- Â Has removed excess bureaucracy from business registration process and has simplified it in such way as to attract investors to Sierra Leone.
- Has put modalities in place to provide free health care for women, lactating mothers and under-five children from 27th April, 2010 and drugs for the scheme are now being transported to all government health institutions across the country.
- Has completed the long awaited Bumbuna Hydro Electricity project. This supplies power to the capital and its environs. Plans are also underway to undertake Rural Electrification and phase two of the Bumbuna Hydro-Electricity Project.
- Has put in place plans for the restoration of clean and accessible pipe-borne water in the major towns in the country.
- Has made positive moves to provide good road networks and infrastructural developments within the country. Construction work is in progress on the Kenema-Kailahun Road, the Lumley/Goderich-Tokeh Road, the Port Loko-Kambia Road and a host of others.
Ambassador Stevens encouraged Sierra Leoneans in Germany to join the Government in its development effort by attracting investors to Sierra Leone. One of Government’s top priorities is in the field of Agriculture. Investment in agriculture would lead to food self-sufficiency and would also help Sierra Leone regain its one time title of “chief exporter†of agricultural commodities like rice.
In concluding, Ambassador Stevens once again thanked the newly elected executive and expressed the hope for all Sierra Leoneans to work with the Embassy for the good of the motherland, Sierra Leone.
He informed them that he maintains an open door policy and that they should avail themselves of this and to feel free to call upon him anytime they have concerns or issues of interest to Sierra Leone.
Commenting on the newspaper publication about his Embassy concerning prices levied for certain documents, he pointed out that the current consular fees were established some years back and has not been changed since his assumption of office. All charges levied are published on the Embassy’s official website.
Mr. Derek Bangura, the Union’s Secretary General thanked the Ambassador for the brief on developments back in Sierra Leone and in Germany. He assured him of their organization’s support and cooperation to the Embassy at all times.
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