Koroma Raps Guinean Leader On Development- Mobbed in Port Loko

Concord Times (Freetown)

11 May 2011

Freetown — The people of Port Loko and its environs over the weekend welcomed President Koroma and his entourage including the Adviser to President Koroma Kemoh Sesay amidst thunderous applauds, drumming, dancing and singing.

In a short meeting held at the Port Loko town hall, chairlady of the Women of Port Loko District, Neneh Turay, presented a position paper to the President, calling for increase of women’s quota in government representation and state decision making bodies.

All People’s Congress (APC) District Chairman, Hon. Buya Kamara, in a statement informed the President that they have about 10,000 SLPP women from various constituencies in the district that have consented to cross over to the APC. Hon. Kamara said the already-defected SLPP women were only waiting for the green light from the President to fix a convenient date for what he described as a festival.

He attributed the willingness of the SLPP women to join the ruling party to the hard work of the APC Women of Port Loko District. He further informed that the Chinese were currently in Port Loko working on the Bankasoka Hydro Dam.

Speaking during the meeting, President Koroma thanked the people of Port Loko for the warm reception accorded him and his entourage on entering district. He described such a reception as an indication of their commitment and willingness to come together and work in the interest of the country.

According to President Koroma, if the women do come together they will provide answers to the district’s numerous problems. He urged them to maintain the peace and bring more people on board the party’s bandwagon as “politics is all about numbers”.

With regards their presented position paper, President Koroma welcomed the paper and noted his government’s willingness to look at it deeply and act on it accordingly. Government, he said, will recognize women and that “A Women’s Day” will be recognized as a national holiday. He used the opportunity to again thank the people for their massive support during the last general elections and their participation in the 50th anniversary celebrations.

Sierra Leone, President Koroma, noted has reasons to celebrate, and above all he said “we must be proud of being Sierra Leoneans, as this is the time to move forward as a nation. We will now lay the foundation for a better next 50 years. I predict that in the next 25 years we will cease being a dependable nation to a donor nation”.

“But first we as a nation have to work very hard, refrain from petty squabbles and do more in areas like roads, education, health and energy. I will convene a national conference on how to move the country forward,” he promised.

According to President Koroma, he will accept all changes to the constitution but not one to extend the ‘Two-Term Presidency’. He promised to continue to support the people of Port Loko, stating that Sierra Leone will rise again.

In another engagement, President Koroma visited his counterpart President Alpha Conde in the District Office of Forecariah in Guinea for the officially opening of a bridge used by both countries and the laying of the foundation stone for the construction of an international road linking both Sierra Leone and Guinea.

President Koroma, accompanied by ministers and top government officials, were given a rousing welcome at the Forecariah Stadium by various groups and institutions including Sierra Leoneans living in Guinea.

According to the Guinean authority, funds for the construction of the road to serve both countries were provided by the European Union and the World Bank.

Addressing the crowd, President Koroma said it was a great pleasure for him to be in Guinea and be given such a big reception. He said the crossing of the bridge was dear to both peoples and therefore both countries have come to celebrate together because “we are relatives with strong ties”. He said “had it not been for colonialism we would have been one people”, noting that “the commissioning of the bridge will bring us closer”.

“This is a Mano River achievement and we commend the people of Guinea for their democratic process in electing their president. Guinea no doubt is another shining example in Africa,” he said.

President Koroma told the Guineans that “we will succeed if we hold on together and build bridges”, adding that both countries have the same destiny due to the Mano River Union and ECOWAS. He said Sierra Leone still remains grateful for Guinean support and sacrifice during the country’s civil conflict and hospitality to Sierra Leonean refugees.

The President said “we must jointly oppose criminals, drug barons and violence and focus on peace”.

He informed that together with President Alpha Conde they will jointly submit more projects to the European Union for the construction of more roads between the two countries.

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