By Angelica Adama Mansaray
The opposition leader 2 of the All People’s Congress (APC), Hon. Aaron Aruna Koroma representing Tonkolili District, has disclosed that there are a lot of illegal mining activities going in the said district purportedly by Ghanaian nationals.
But he said nobody has arrested or apprehended them or stopped their operations ‘because their Ghana Embassy has always protected them’.
Hon. Koroma made the accusation on Tuesday, 16th June, 2024, in the Well of Parliament during the approval of nine (9) presidential nominees.
However, Hon. Koroma called and urged the ambassadors they approved to do the same as Ghanaian Embassy in the various countries to which they are going to serve. Hon. Koroma encouraged the ambassadors including Paul Sobba Massaquoi and others to protect Sierra Leoneans who are in the various countries they are going to serve and also bring development to the country.
However, he accused Ghanaians of being engaged in illegal mining activities in Tonkolili, although nobody has arrested or stopped them, saying that the reason they have not been arrested is because the Ghana Embassy has been engaging the government of Sierra Leone to protect them.
He added that this is why Sierra Leoneans heading out to work at the various embassies in other countries are expected to do the same for our citizens in those countries.
Hon. Koroma disclosed that most Sierra Leoneans who are working in the Middle East are serving as burdens on the government of Sierra Leone. He maintained that they are not only appointed by the president to serve the SLPP, but to serve in the best interest of Sierra Leoneans.
Buttressing, Hon. Rosy Bangura told the nominees, ‘To whom much is given, much is expected’ and urged them to work assiduously to prove themselves in respect of their tribes, colours, regions, beliefs and political party affiliations. She further admonished the nominees to do their best because Sierra Leone is looking up to them, especially women, to deliver on the promises president Bio made to Sierra Leoneans. Hon. Bangura added that she has no doubt in them as they are capable or up to the task, disclosing that is the more reason they were appointed by the president.
In his submission, Hon. Wuyata Songa from Kailahun District noted that they are looking forward to the ambassadors’ performances in the various countries and institutions they are going to occupy. Hon. Songa congratulated the three female commissioners who are going to work at the Tertiary Commission and advised them to improve on the quality of education in the country. She admonished them to focus on the areas in the country’s educational landscape that have issues and to improve on them. She said despite the country’s strides in the education sector, more needs to be done. Hon. Songa wished the ambassadors well and urged them to bring goodies to Sierra Leone.
Eventually, both the ruling and opposition MPs unanimously endorsed the nine nominees.