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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)

Parliamentary Oversight Committee Extols the Ministry on its Tremendous Achievements

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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)

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)