By: James Kamara-Manneh
Residents of Bo district on International Women’s Day gave a rousing welcome to its very own son of the soil and the first Sierra Leonean-British Foreign Secretary of State Rt. Hon James Cleverly.
UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, Rt. Hon James described himself as the first British MP from a Sierra Leonean background and spoke of being “proud” of his heritage.
After a lousy street parade of motorbikes, onlookers and motorcades, his first point stop was at the BO Government Hospital where he was welcomed by the Hon. Paramount Chief Prince Lappia Boima IV of Kekua Chiefdom said his visit is a history-making for the people of BO to receive such a personality.
The late Mrs Evelyn Suna Cleverly (mother of UK FS) worked as a midwife before leaving Sierra Leone for the UK to monitor the UK-funded projects.
The Sierra Leonean-British Foreign Secretary of State was welcome in a traditional manner as he was groomed with traditional attires and was given a traditional nomenclature as Honorary P.C Kolorbombor. The title P.C Kolorbombor means a founder of Kekua Chiefdom. PC Boima concludes that the key message lies in the gift and title given to him and that they urged the newly crowned PC Kolorbombor to seek the interest of the BO people and to bring in development that will have positive impact on their lives and all Sierra Leonean.
On the other hand, Mr. James Spencer Cleverly expressed the UK’s great admiration for the Government’s Human Capital Development Initiative, the Oxygen plant, and the reliable supply of electricity at the Hospital.
In the presence of the Paramount Chiefs the Sierra Leonean Business Tycoon Babadi Kamara also welcomes the guest and in an exchange of pleasantries, the UK Foreign Secretary applauded him.
“I have been following your activities as Executive Chairman of Bo Rangers and how you transformed Bo Rangers Football Club to CAF/FIFA standard, the Southern Arena Stadium and the many lives you have transformed. Bo City is known for its gari production – this is sweet Bo, he smiled,” added.
While the British High Commissioner, Lisa Chesney praised Babadi Kamara for his patriotic service to humanity, youth empowerment and sports. “I have nursed admiration for you over the years, and I’m very much happy to meet you in person. The British Government and the British High Commission present you this historic gift in recognition of your service to humanity and the people of Sierra Leone,” she said.
Mr. James Spencer Cleverly made his second stop at the Islamic Call Secondary School, Durbar Bo district where he expressed his admiration for kids, especially school-going girls. He was ushered into the school compound and tour by senior pupils of the school.
Later, Mr. Cleverly conducted group discussions with the pupils where he was able to ascertain the constraints of the school, teachers and pupils. He danced and sang with the pupils coupled with group photos.
Mr. James Spencer Cleverly, born on 4th September 1969, is a British politician and Army Reserve officer (Rank – Lieutenant Colonel) who has served as Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs since 2022. He is a member of the Conservative Party and has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Braintree in Essex since 2015. He has previously served as Secretary of State for Education from July to September 2022, Co-Chairman of the Conservative Party alongside Ben Elliot from 2019 to 2020 and as a member of the London Assembly (AM) for Bexley and Bromley from 2008 to 2016.
The Foreign Secretary decided to use this trip to his mother’s home town-Sierra Leone on International Women’s Day to announce his department’s updated approach to helping women and girls globally.
Rt. Hon James Cleverly visited Bo to see how UK-funded projects are offering targeted assistance to women and girls.
His mother moved from Sierra Leone to south-east London in the 1960s, working in Lewisham Hospital as a midwife and marrying Mr Cleverly’s British father.
It is optimistic that this visit will unveil a strategy aimed at tackling increasing threats to gender equality, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
