The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Sierra Leone to the Russian Federation and CIS States H.E Mr. John Sahr Yambasu has just proven the trust and honour bestowed upon him by H.E Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma in making Sierra Leoneans proud and be seen on the streets of Russia.
As the 50
th Independence fever has been among Sierra Leoneans all over the globe, Russia was not an exception. Sierra Leoneans in Moscow, especially the students, have been preparing for this great event for the past two months with weekly rehearsals and meetings to make sure everything went on well. The Ambassador, on his own part guaranteed the students got all they wanted and went an extra mile to meet the needs of Sierra Leoneans in Russia. Sierra Leone @ 50 paraphernalia like T-Shirts, caps, cups & plates, wall clocks, gift bags and pin-ups were presented to all Sierra Leoneans and guests at the Independence celebrations.
The ‘Kono Governor’ , as the Ambassador is fondly known, since his arrival to assume office last October has promised to change the negative perceptions of war and illicit diamond mining (as delineated in the Hollywood Blood Diamond movie) by Russians and other foreigners about Sierra Leone. The official celebrations took place on the 28
th of April 2011 but the 27
th did not go unnoticed as members of the Sierra Leonean community gathered at the Ambassador’s residence to commemorate the day with short speeches from the Ambassador, the deputy minister of health & Sanitation, Mr. Tamba Bobor-Sawyerr, who happened to be in Moscow on official grounds, and the students leader, Ibrahim M. Kapuwa. The gathering ended with eating, drinking and dancing.
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| The Ambassador giving his speech while the 1st Secretary looks on |
Celebrations of Sierra Leone’s 50
th Independence Anniversary were held at the Russian Foreign Ministry’s UpDK Cultural Centre with Sierra Leoneans and friends from all over Russia coming in their hundreds. Representatives from the Russian Foreign and Education ministries, the Institute of African studies under the Russian Academy of Sciences; African, European and South American Ambassadors and Diplomats were among the dignitaries that graced the occasion. The Ambassador, in his speech expressed his sincere gratitude to the Government and people of the Russian Federation in joining Sierra Leone to celebrate her freedom. “…this is a great manifestation of the strength of our partnership and commitments to the cherished values of freedom, Independence, peace and international cooperation.” H.E John Yambasu added that Sierra Leone’s custody of the promise of Independence was confounded by a 10 years civil war but has now regained peace that is the envy of the whole world as the overwhelming majority of Sierra Leoneans stood up to the challenges and asserted faith in the great ideals enshrined in the country’s motto: unity, freedom and justice
, he
explained how Sierra Leone has already passed several bumps on its political path and today is about to reach a “bright” stage in its development, adding that the West African nation, with its leader, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma, and people, continues to be a shining star in the region and the world.
“We are today a shining example of a country that is consolidating its democracy. …Religious tolerance is our inheritance and we have proved ourselves worthy of that heritage as one of the most religiously tolerant nations in the world” he continued.
He furthered on the developments of the present government under President Koroma in the fields of health, electricity, construction of roads, business and investments, press freedom, gender equity and press freedom among others and called on Russian entrepreneurs and other nationals to invest in Sierra Leone.
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| The Salone dance group |
In his response, the Director of Africa from the Russian Foreign Ministry, Mr. Sergey Gudkov, congratulated the people of Sierra Leone and emphasized on the mutual aspirations for the further expansion of trade, economic and cultural cooperation.
The highlights on the occasion were the cultural presentation and group dance by the sierra Leonean Students in Russia, performances by a Ghanaian Singer, groups from Russia, Columbia and Jamaica. Gifts and pin-ups were presented to the guests.
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| Guests dancing to Salone tunes |
There was enough food and drinks and some people danced untill their toes hurt as the programme was successfully hosted by the Master of Ceremony, Mr. Henry Nyandemoh, 1st Secretary at the Salone Embassy in Moscow.
Church services were held on Sunday, 1st May 2011 at the Our Lady of Hope Parish, Catholic Archdiocese of the Mother of God, Moscow and prayers were offered for the President and people of Sierra Leone.
Ibrahim M. Kapuwa
President, National Union of Sierra Leone students, Russia.
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