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COVID-19

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Supports the Fight Against COVID-19 by Donating Le 135,082,000 to EOC

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COVID-19

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation on Monday June 1st 2020 supports the fight against COVID-19 by donating Le 135, 082, 000 together with one hundred 25Kg bags of rice to the National COVID Operations Centre at the SLFA Football Academy, Kingtom, Freetown.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mrs. Florence N. Bangalie said that the idea of the Ministry’s support came in during a management meeting where they deliberated on how they as citizen could come in to help His Excellency’s strides in the fight against COVID-19 in the country.

Director General added that all staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation including officers at post agreed to contribute the said amount to support Government in the fight to end the COVID-19 plaque.

She lauded the sacrifices of her staff for raising such huge amount especially at these trying times.

Presenting the donations, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mrs. Nabeela Farida Tunis informed the gathering that, the initiative was borne out by the Director General and staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

The Minister revealed that such initiative was not new to the staff of the Ministry as according to her in 2014, the Ministry contributed some to EOC maintaining that such initiatives were to support government’s efforts and to ensure that their support to those scourges were owned by Sierra Leoneans and to also recognized the efforts of all EOC staff and Health Workers in the fight against those plaques.

The money Minister Nabeela Tunis said was willingly contributed by staff constituting the Ministry’s Messengers right up to her level adding that the contributions range from ten thousand Leones (Le10, 000) to five million Leones and had been collected over a month.

She reiterated her Ministry’s contributions in the fight against COVID-19 by facilitating several layers of supports from other countries and partners.

Minister Tunis concluded her statement with the announcement of an addition of a hundred bags of 25kg rice to support government’s efforts to adequately cater for those in the Quarantined and Isolation Centres.

Receiving the donations, the National COVID-19 Coordinator, Rtd Brigadier Kellie Conteh expressed on behalf of staff of the EOC thanks and appreciations for such a impressive venture taken by staff of the Ministry to not only appreciate His Excellency’s President Bio’s efforts in the COVID fight but also aiding the EOC.

He commended the Ministry for such ventures adding that the initiatives of the Foreign Ministry was a sign of good leadership among Civil Servants and called on other Ministries to emulate the outstanding example of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The National COVID-19 Coordinator thanked the Minister for supporting the fight at both home and abroad.

The Deputy Director General, Operations, Mr Duwai Lungay informed that the bags of rice donated to the EOC was given to the Ministry by one of the country’s long standing bilateral NGO partners, Direct Aid.

He explained the COVID-19 has affected the Ministry’s operations especially at the International level.

 

(MFAIC Press Office Freetown)

Diplomatic Corps in Sierra Leone Donates Items for the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC)

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Diplomatic Corps in Sierra Leone donates to EOC

Press Release

A cross section of members of the Diplomatic Corps in Sierra Leone on Wednesday, 8th April, 2020 presented a list of donated items for the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) through the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mrs. Nabeela Farida Tunis.

Presenting the list of items to the Minister on behalf of his colleagues at a ceremony held at the Director’s Conference Room of the Ministry, the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, His Excellency, Dr. Habiss Ibrahim Ugbada, High Commissioner of Nigeria to Sierra Leone, said they were presenting the items to the EOC to show solidarity with the Government and people of Sierra Leone.

High Commissioner Dr. Ugbada re-assured the Minister that as partners in development, the Government and people of Sierra Leone are not alone in the fight to combat the deadly scourge in the country. He said they would continue to partner with the Government of Sierra Leone in achieving the desired development goals of the ‘New Direction’ under the administration of His Excellency President, Dr. Julius Maada Bio.

Receiving the list of donated items, Mrs. Nabeela Farida Tunis thanked the Diplomats for their unwavering support to the EOC, Government and people of Sierra Leone during this crucial times. She stated that irrespective of the global spread of the COVID- 19 which has overwhelmed every nation in the world, the Diplomats have come together to support the country by donating such items. This, she maintained, exhibited the kind of relationship Sierra Leone has established with them which has transcended beyond boundaries.

Also, she updated the gathering that Sierra Leone has registered seven (7) confirmed cases with no loss of lives, adding that the Government of His Excellency President Julies Maada Bio is working hard to curtail the spread of the deadly virus in the country.

She called on the Diplomatic Community in Sierra Leone to work together in combating the pandemic in the world.

The list included 55 buckets, 44 packets of tissue, 37 rolls of toilet roll, 2 Cartoons of Dettol, 12 Cartoons of Hand wash soaps, 276 packs of water, 14 ½ Cartoons of Laundry soap, 15 Gallons of Bleach soap, Hand sanitizer, 1 Cartoon Hand Glove, 7 Cartoons of Liquid Dettol soap and provisions.

The ceremony was attended by all the Directors of Ministry.

 

(MFAIC Press Office Freetown)

Ground Breaking Event for the Construction of ECOWAS Logistics Depot in Lungi

Ground Breaking Event for the Construction of ECOWAS Logistics Depot in Lungi

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Ground Breaking Event for the Construction of ECOWAS Logistics Depot in Lungi

The ECOWAS Commissioner for General Administration and Conferences, Mr. Vafolay M. Tulay on Wednesday, 5th February, 2020 called on the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Solomon Jamiru Esq at his Tower Hill office in Freetown. Speaking on the purpose of his visit, Commissioner Vafola said it was to inform the ministry of the ground breaking event for the construction of the ECOWAS Logistics Depot in Lungi of which the Hon. Vice President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh is expected to turn the sod on Saturday 8th February, 2020.

Commissioner Tulay said that he was pleased to be in Sierra Leone for phases 2 and 3 of the project which according to him, will last for about 15 months. He went on to highlight some of the issues that the Commission would like to make sure that they are taking care of in order to ensure a smooth execution of the project; especially in the area of transporting material from Guinea to Sierra Leone.

The Hon. Acting Minister, Soloman Jamiru Esq in his response said the construction of the ECOWAS Logistics Depot is an encouraging development for Sierra Leone and that, for Sierra Leone to take such tangible steps indicated that, the country is giving meaning to the declarations and resolutions of ECOWAS.

He assured Commissioner Tulay of his Ministry’s support and added that his Ministry stands with the Commission to complement this all important construction project.

The construction of the regional logistics depot is one of several development projects commenced by ECOWAS towards attaining peace and stability in West Africa. This project will augment Peace Support Operations and support for democracy and good governance in the region.

An 18-acre piece of land was given to the ECOWAS Commission by the Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone for the establishment of a regional logistics facility in Freetown. This logistics depot is one of the two depots approved for West Africa by the Heads of State and Government of the ECOWAS Community. The other (humanitarian) depot is in Mali.

 

(MFAIC Press Office Freetown)