By: Mohamed M. Sesay
On Friday the 21st of October 2022, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Corporation Professor David Francis, held a press conference where he updated journalists on the tremendous benefits Sierra Leone has attained just in four years under the enviable leadership of President Julius Maada Bio on the International Stage.
Sierra Leone has been focusing on Human Capital Development by prioritizing Free Quality Education and Sierra Leone has one of the highest budgetary allocations of %22 to education alone globally. He added that for the past four years, Sierra Leone has spent one billion dollars just on education alone even at the height of the covid-19 pandemic.
Due to the astute leadership of President Bio in terms of promoting Human Capital Development, Professor Francis also intimated that Sierra Leone has been recognized globally.
The Minister highlighted several diplomatic gains including, the Invitation of President Bio by the UN Secretary-General, Mr. Antonio Guterres, to become a founding member of the informal Group of Champions for Global Education, the Co-facilitation of the UN Resolution on international cooperation on access to justice for survivors of sexual Violence and the emergence of Sierra Leone as sole candidates for the United Nations Security Council Seat bid for 2024-2025.
“I have never been so pleased with President Bio until when they met with the United Nations Secretary-General and the UN Secretary-General commended the president for transforming education in Sierra Leone. Nineteen months in the role as Foreign Minister, our engagements with both bilateral and Multilateral partners have been fruitful in areas of Education, Health, Trade, Mining, Agriculture, Tourism, sports, Security and other areas of cooperation. He stated.
Due to the trans-formative role President Bio has played in the educational sector, he said such prompted the UN Secretary-General to choose President Bio as Co-Chair of the just Education Summit. The Foreign Affairs Minister considered such a big win for not only the government but for Sierra Leone as a whole.
With the indelible support from the Chief Diplomat (President Bio), the Foreign Affairs Minister also intimated that he has been influencing the decisions and behaviour of Foreign Governments and people through dialogue and negotiations. He added that he has been also using bilateral and multilateral means to position Sierra Leone as a nation that is ready for business with a high level of respect, accountability and trust.
He said the County’s recent engagements with Ireland, Serbia, Singapore, Iceland and Vietnam at the UN will have positive outcomes in education, trade and investment and other opportunities for Sierra Leone.
Professor Francis concluded by expressing profound thanks and appreciation to the Chief Diplomat, His Excellency President Rtd. Brig. Julius Maada Bio for giving a clear directive on how he wants the Country’s diplomatic relations to be handled in terms of representation, protection of national interests, negotiations, reporting, and promotion of friendly relations. He said these directives have earned the Country many benefits and respect on the International Stage.
