In farewell courtesy call on President Bio, UN Resident Coordinator hopeful for a new Sierra Leone.

At a farewell courtesy call on President Julius Maada Bio at the State House yesterday, Tuesday, the outgoing United Nations Resident Coordinator (UN RC) Mr. Babatunde Ahonsi expressed his hope that with the building blocks in place, “we can begin to imagine a new Sierra Leone in our lifetime.”

He told the President that he considers Sierra Leone his adopted country and his assignment in the past three years as a contribution to its development aspirations.

The UN RC recalled that he came to the country at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, but as it turned out, it was more of a socio-economic than a health challenge. “Sierra Leone had a response programme in place even before the first case was reported,” he said.

He attributed this to the President and his Government and the resilience of Sierra Leoneans in dealing with the crisis. He also praised the administration for efforts that have been made in the areas of education, health, infrastructure, and peace.

According to Mr. Ahonsi, “I see Sierra Leone as a glass that is half full and with a successful agri-food system in place, the sky is the limit,” adding that the multiplier effect of transforming the food system in the country will be huge.

He also singled out efforts by the country to vaccinate 10-year-old girls using the school system with the human papillomavirus vaccine (HPV). The outgoing RC said that in the next 10-15 years, women in Sierra Leone would have been spared of cervical cancer, a disease that kills more women than any other cancer in Africa, according to WHO.

Mr. Ahonsi noted that the passing of the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act during his time in Sierra Leone as transformative and thanked the President for the longstanding partnership with the United Nations. “I am grateful to have had the opportunity to serve in Sierra Leone,” he said to Mr. President.

In response, the President thanked Mr. Ahonsi for his tour of duty to Sierra Leone. He said he was happy that he had justified “many of our steadfastness” and that his Government remained consistent in delivering for the people.

“We continue to work very hard to maintain stability and are genuinely interested in achieving a middle-income status by 2035,” said Mr. President.

He emphasised that agriculture has a multiplier effect, and with a youth bulge, it can help to stimulate economic growth. “We have also not forgotten our commitment to education,” said Mr. President.

The President wished the outgoing RC all the best in his new assignment in Turkey and said on behalf of his Government and the people of Sierra Leone, “You have our support and best wishes.”

Mr. Ahonsi ends his tour of duty to Sierra Leone on Wednesday, 28 November, and he will be succeeded by Ms. Seraphine Wakana, who arrives in the country on 6 December.