Former Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr. Alie Kabba and the former Director General and Ambassador at- Large Mr. Paul A.S. Minah have officially bid farewell and handed over the ministry to the newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mrs. Nabeela Tunis, her Deputy, Solomon Jamiru Esq and the Acting Director General and Ambassador -at- Large, Mr. Al-hassan A. Kondeh in a ceremony held at the Ministry’s main Conference Hall.

Giving his farewell statement, the outgoing Director General and Ambassador-at-Large, Mr Paul A.S. Minah welcomed the new Minister, her Deputy and the Acting Director General to the Ministry. He called on staff of the Ministry to be committed and cooperate with the new team in the dispensation of their functions in order to achieve His Excellency’s vision as stated in the ‘New Direction’ platform. He thanked His Excellency Rtd Brigadier Julius Maada Bio for having given him such a great opportunity to work with him and also thanked staff members for their tireless efforts during his tenure as Director General and Ambassador-at-Larger at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

In his response, the New Director General and Ambassador -at-Large, Al-Hassan Kondeh assured the new Ministers of his unflinching support and commitment in ensuring that they (the Ministers) actualize the aspirations of His Excellency Rtd Brigadier Julius Maada Bio within the time frame. He thanked the outgoing Minister, Dr. Alie Kabba and outgoing Director General aand Ambassador –at-Large, Paul A. S. Minah for working with him and staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. He called on staff to embrace the change in the leadership of the Ministry and work diligently in transforming the Ministry to a higher heights.

In his farewell statement, the outgoing Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr. Alie Kabba welcomed his successor, Hon. Nabeela Tunis and her Deputy Solomon Jamiru, Esq. Outlining his activities upon assumption of office a year ago, the New Sierra Leone Representative at the United Nations office in New York, Dr. Alie Kabba said he fought hard for the transformation of the Foreign Ministry and improvement of services while at the same time, driving the country’s economic diplomacy agenda, building bridges of cooperation to traditional and non-traditional partners and promoting the core priorities of the ‘New direction’ government.

 

The Sierra Leone UN Rep described the two Ministers as committed to and passionate in public service and trustworthy in the dispensation of their state duties. This, he continued, has been demonstrated in the development of the National Development Plan and transformation of the Ministry of Information and communications, for the Hon.Minister and her deputy, respectively. He thanked the outgoing Director General and Ambassador –at-Large for his commitment in working with him to achieve His Excellency’s goal on Foreign Service. Outgoing Minister Kabba expressed his profound thanks and appreciation to His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio for giving him the opportunity to serve as Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Sierra Leone; and for appointing him as Permanent Representative to the UN.

The New Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Nabeela Tunis thanked His Excellency for appointing her as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and thanked the outgoing Ministers Hon. Dr. Alie Kabba and his Deputy, Hon. Nimatulai Bah-Chang for their leadership in the past twelve (12) months. She acknowledged the efforts and supports given to the Ministers and the Ministry by the outgoing Director General and Ambassador-at- Large, Paul A.S. Minah.

Minister Tunis went on to state that, the hard work conducted by the outgoing Ministers has laid a solid foundation upon which they will be building a beautiful future of the Ministry and the country at large that all will be proud of. She assured Dr. Kabbah that they will work with him closely in his new role. To the staff, she assured them of upholding the values of the Ministry and called on them to work with them for the success of His Excellency’s vision for the Foreign Service and the development of the nation.

The programme was stirred by the Director of Protocol, Mr Sahr Johnny.

Present were: the Acting Director General Al-hassan A. Kondeh, Directors, Deputy Directors, Heads of Divisions and other staff members of the Ministry.