By: MOHAMED M. SESAY
His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio, together with senior government officials and development partners, have on Thursday the 10th of February 2022, joined the Regional Vice President of World Bank, Ousmane Diagana to officially commission the World Bank Permanent Structure at Spur Road Freetown.
Welcoming the president to the newly constructed World Bank Permanent Structure at Spur Road Wilberforce, the Regional Vice President of the World Bank alluded that it was a great privilege to have the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone officially commissioning of the World Bank Country. He assured that president and other development partners of World Bank’s indefatigable support towards the country and the West Africa Region by extension.
He added that the commissioning of the new country office of the World Bank is a symbol of the good relationship the country has enjoyed with World Bank. President Bio confessed that it was indeed a great pride for him to be at the commissioning of the World Bank Country Office. The occasion was climaxed with a tour of the new World Bank’s admirable country office by the President, the Regional Vice President, the United States Ambassador, the European Union Ambassador, the British High Commissioner, and Ministers of government among other dignitaries.
“We had a short chart this morning and I consented to come and commission this edifies. We have enjoyed great relationship with the World Bank group and we will continue to enjoy that relationship”, he said.
It can be recall that Sierra Leone joined the World Bank Group on September 10, 1962 and since then the Bank has been the country’s leading development partner, supporting major investments in many sectors including health, education, energy, agriculture, fisheries, ICT, transport, and mining. The World Bank’s affiliate, IFC, has also been a key supporter of various private sector activities. Total current World Bank Group portfolio for Sierra Leone stands at $1.1 billion, covering 17 national projects.