Posts

Parliamentary Oversight Committee Extols the Ministry on its Tremendous Achievements

/in /by

parliamentary oversight committee meeting

In line with the country’s National Development Agenda, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mrs Nabeela Farida Tunis, on 22nd May 2020, disclosed to Hon. Members of the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on the Ministry’s activities, the opening of three Embassies, the United Arab Emirate (UAE), Iceland and India, in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

During the opening formalities of this meeting, the Director-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mrs Florence N. Bangalie, expressed her appreciation to the Committee Members for scheduling such a meeting during the pandemic’s height. She further explained the functions of the various Directorates in the Ministry, followed by a comprehensive summary of the key activities undertaken within the fiscal year by the Minister, Mrs Nabeela Farida Tunis.  

In her statement, she started by disclosing the advanced stage of the opening of the UAE, India and Iceland Embassy in Freetown. She also highlighted the recent activities, which included but not limited to:

  • the preliminary work on the construction of the country’s Diplomatic Academy
  • the development of the nation’s Foreign Service Act which is now at the Cabinet-level
  • the establishment of Sierra Leone’s Missions in Morocco and France
  • the coordination of 2,717 metric tons of rice from Japan on Monday 25th May 2020 to support the Government’s free quality education initiatives

Furthermore, she revealed the Ministry’s invaluable role in coordinating donations of medical assistance and equipment received from various countries during this COVID-19 pandemic. One of these included securing Cuban Doctors who are slated to arrive shortly in the country to join the Ministry of Health and the EOC.

At the multilateral front, the Minister assured Committee members of her effective engagement with the United Nations and the African Union. She intimated that she actively participated in the just concluded AU Female Foreign Affairs Ministers’ discussions which focused on stopping the spread of COVID-19 in the continent. The Minister also outlined several Agreements she has signed on behalf of the Government and People of Sierra Leone, which Parliament has ratified.

In another development, Minister Tunis informed the Hon. Members of the Parliamentary oversight Committee that she has been in consultation with other countries, including the State of Kuwait, for Sierra Leoneans’ repatriation. She maintained that the Ministry, in collaboration with the country’s Missions abroad, are working assiduously to ensure thorough screening of the verified nationals before repatriation.

Finally, Mrs Tunis elaborated a bit about her intentions in promoting the professionalism of the Ministry. She confirmed that all former Career Diplomats she has engaged with have consented to support the upward trajectory of the Ministry, especially in the training of newly recruited Administrative Officers.

Hon. Members of the Parliamentary Oversight Committee extolled the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for its tremendous strides in promoting and enhancing President Bio’s National Development Agenda with the highest premium on economic diplomacy.

More specifically, Hon. Ibrahim Ben Kargbo thanked the Minister and her team for pursuing a comprehensive Foreign Policy objective that is in line with the National Development Agenda. He further applauded the Minister’s efforts in maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the implementation of the Ministry’s activities. He assured the Minister on behalf of the Committee of their unflinching commitment and collaboration for effective Foreign Service delivery in the country.

 

In closing, the Deputy Director-General Operations, Mr Duwai Lungay, acknowledged the MPs for their support in the Ministry’s development in his vote of thanks.

 

(MFAIC Press Office Freetown)

India Donates about 1000 Metric Tons of Rice as Humanitarian Assistance

/in /by

Humanitarian Assistance Provided by India with the Donation of about 1000 Metric Tons of Rice

Press Release

The Government and People of the Republic of India on Monday 15th March, 2021 handed over to the Government and People of the Republic of Sierra Leone a consignment of about 1000 metric tons of rice as humanitarian assistance.

In her welcome statement at the handing over ceremony which was held in the Ministerial Conference Hall of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Director General and Ambassador-at-Large, Mrs Florence Nyawa Bangalie, said the event was an enormous collective efforts by different entities since the arrival of the India Non-Basmati Parboiled rice some several weeks ago at the Queen Elizabeth II Quay.

She recalled that on 5th February, 2021, the Government of India had also donated a large quantity of medicines to help in the fight against COVID-19 and other illnesses. The Government of India she added, is one of Sierra Leone’s many friends that have helped and continues to help the Government and people of Sierra Leone at all times.

On behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, DG Bangalie expressed appreciation on behalf of the Minister to the Ministry of Finance and the Shipping Agency for facilitating the clearing process and the E&S Company for providing storage facilities for the donated quantity of rice.

Handing over the donated rice, the India High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, H. E Mr Rakesh K. Arora reiterated the commitments made by his country’s Vice President during his October, 2019 visit to Sierra Leone. These commitments, the India High Commissioner said, have been fulfilled with the provision of about 1000 metric tons of India Non-Basmati Parboiled rice and the establishment of an India Resident Mission in Freetown.

The rice, he said was donated to the Government and People of Sierra Leone by the Government and People of the Republic of India as humanitarian assistance, and that the establishment of the India Resident Mission in Freetown is to ensure efficient implementation of India’s development cooperation and capacity building programmes, as well as public services such as the issuance of visas to Sierra Leoneans. India and Sierra Leone, he said have continued to share warm and cordial diplomatic ties that have spanned for decades.

This relation Mr. Arora said, has led the two countries to sign numerous MoUs and to agree to hold the inaugural meeting of the Foreign Office Consultations in Freetown on the 25-26 March, 2021. He assured the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the India Government’s commitment in strengthening the bilateral the ties of cooperation between the two sister countries.

Giving the Key Note speech, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mrs Nabeela Farida Tunis, said the handing over ceremony of the donated rice by the Government of India to the Government and People of Sierra Leone as humanitarian assistance was a remarkable event as it serves as a testament to the friendly relations between the Peoples of the two countries.

She expressed thanks on behalf of His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio, the Government and People of Sierra Leone to the Prime Minister and People of India for the humanitarian offer. This, Minister Tunis said has come among several sustained bilateral engagements the India government has ensured since the sisterly countries established diplomatic relations decades ago. The donated 1000 metric tons of rice, she said would certainly go a long way in helping many vulnerable Sierra Leoneans.

Sierra Leoneans, the Minister said, are pleased with the efforts of the two governments in strengthening the bilateral bond that is existing between the two countries, adding that the cooperation agreements signed by the two Governments are invaluable in cementing the bilateral ties.

The Foreign Minister commented that, the Foreign Office Consultations which will be the first to be held in Freetown in the coming days, would provide the opportunity for further bilateral engagements and cooperation on global issues. Mrs Tunis renewed the assurances of the commitment of the Government of His Excellency Dr Julius Maada Bio to further deepen and strengthen the friendly relations between the two nations.

 

She expressed confidence that Sierra Leone will leverage the presence of the India High Commission in Freetown to explore more potential areas of partnership for mutual benefit of the two countries.

 

She concluded by thanking the High Commissioner, Mr Arora for his kind gesture in facilitating the arrival of the rice. Mrs Tunis also thanked the Ministry of Finance, the Shipping Agency for their support in clearing the rice within the shortest possible time and E&S for providing the storage facility.

 

-END-

 

SIGNED 

Alimatu Fofanah

Head of Section Media and Public Relations Department

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation

OAU Drive, Tower Hill, Freetown, Sierra Leone

Website: www.mofaic.gov.sl

Email: media@mofaic.gov.sl

Contact: +232 78 861 822/77 713 939