New Resident Coordinator, Dr Babatunde Ahonsi pays courtesy call president Bio
Recently appointed UN Resident Coordinator in Sierra Leone, Dr. Babatunde Ahonsi has presented his letters of credence to President Julius Maada Bio.
During his courtesy call on the President at State House, Dr. Ahonsi underscored the goal of the United Nations support to Sierra Leone in ‘Building back better and ‘leaving no one behind. The UN RC also said that COVID-19 may be defeated, “by being responsible citizens and heeding to the call of our health experts.”
“We are now in the decade of action, and we only have ten years to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. The UN family in Sierra Leone currently comprises 21 resident and non-resident agencies, funds and programmes who remain engaged to ensure we can address national priorities ranging from food security and livelihoods to health, education, social protection, good governance and environmental sustainability,” Dr. Ahonsi said.
Accompanied and introduced to the President by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ms. Nabeela Tunis, Dr. Ahonsi said, “ Sierra Leone needs all of us to overcome the outbreak,” while pledging that the UN System in Sierra Leone remains committed to supporting the government not only with the health response but also with the socio-economic recovery.
He praised the admirable resilience of Sierra Leoneans that has kept the country going notwithstanding the health challenges and adverse development impacts of dealing with the 2014 Ebola outbreak, and now, with the current pandemic.
Dr. Ahonsi also said that the UN continues to deliver on their programmes across the country using the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework as its guiding document.
While congratulating Dr Ahonsi on his appointment by the UN Secretary-General, the President said his goal is to strengthen good results between the UN and the people of Sierra Leone. He noted that Dr. Ahonsi’s appointment came “at a very difficult time not only to Sierra Leone but to the rest of the world.”
The President invited the UN to continue to support his government with its priority areas, including improving quality education, peace and national cohesion, agriculture and health, among others.
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