May 5, 2021
By Ilyasa Baa
President Julius Maada Bio has awarded Sierra Leonean citizenship to eighty – eight former American citizens who have demonstrated interest in becoming citizens of Sierra Leone largely due to their ancestral linage.
Welcoming the new citizens, President Bio stated that he recognized the trend of Black people in the United States of America and what they are going through there but here in Sierra Leone, he admonished, “ All Lives Matter .“ Addressing them in Freetown recently, President Bio spoke about the strides his government is making towards providing the much needed human capital development in the country once ravaged by eleven years rebel war and bad governance.
He said access to health care, electricity and education has increased progressively under his three years administration. He inspired them to collaborate with the government and bring development to the country which he said is in need of support from all quarters to defeat the negative impact of the COVID 19 pandemic on the economy of the country.
President Bio said the country’s resources in terms of tourism, mining and other sectors are exponentially huge and he expressed the need for them to be tapped into.
The new sets of Sierra Leoneans have promised the President that they would use their expertise acquired through their stay in America to bring goodies to Sierra Leone.
The constitution of Sierra Leone empowers the President to award citizenship to any one he deems fit.
President further assured them that Sierra Leone was the 5th most peaceful country in Africa with one of the lowest risks of COVID-19, adding that there was a free press that also functioned in an open society.
“We are putting in place more pro-business and pro-investment policies and incentives in place. We welcome you to acquire land, live in communities, build capacity, and start a new life without the worries of that other place. I am also aware and very proud of the work of Free Yannoh Bangura, Dynast Amir, Dr. Adrienne Hunter, Dr. Sonya Bug-Alsoton, Karmen Thomas and many other brothers and sisters who are making an impact already in this country,” he said.
President Bio said his government was open to easing constraints around land rights, housing, investments, skills transfers, taxes as you make your decision to relocate here – whether permanently or semi-permanently,” he assured.
Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Memunatu Pratt, welcomed the African Americans and thanked them for returning to the home of their forefathers, adding that it was a distinguished honor to be in country to be given citizenship.
She said the people of Sierra Leone were hospitable and friendly and encouraged them to be loyal to the country and obey the laws and the oath of allegiance which they had subscribed to.
President of the African Ancestry Inc, Malandela Zulu, thanked the government and people of Sierra Leone for allowing the African Americans trace their origin, saying that their organization looked forward to more collaboration with the government of Sierra Leone to identify its citizens in the diaspora.
The African Ancestry Inc. is an international organization that helps people of African descent trace their ancestral roots back to a specific present-day African country and tribe or ethnic group.
The Ministry of Tourism and the African Ancestry Inc. signed and enter into a Memorandum of Understanding to henceforth “create a partnership between themselves to collaborate in facilitating and coordinating the authenticity, orientation, integration and affiliation and pilgrimage of members of the African Ancestry Family as may be deemed necessary from time to time on mutual understanding and the following terms and understanding”.