Sierra Leone's President H.E. Ernest Bai Koroma Inaugurated in Freetown

Freetown, Sierra Leone - Sierra Leonean President HE Ernest Bai Kroma has been inaugurated at a colorful ceremony in Freetown. During the occasion attended by a number of African leaders and representatives of other world leaders and organizations, President Koroma said his government remains committed to maintaining good relations with all international friends, as well as international organizations such as the United Nations, the African Union, the Mano River Union, and ECOWAS, among others.

President Koroma said his government will remain actively engaged with brothers and sisters in the West African sub-region, particularly Guinea and Liberia, in pursuit of peace, stability and development in ECOWAS and the Mano River sub-region.

An Executive Mansion release says the Sierra Leonean leader was speaking on Thursday at an open-air ceremony attending by an estimated more than 50 thousand supporters and other Sierra Leoneans at the country’s Sports Complex.

President Koroma reminded his citizens that the elections are over, and the nation is striving to be untied once more. He called on citizens to desist from those actions that threatened to divide the country and mar the successful conclusion of the country’s highly acclaimed elections.  “We should all be working now as one united body for the good of our nation by safeguarding our republic, strengthening our Government and building new institutions,” the Sierra Leonean leader pleaded with his citizens.

President Koroma called for a radical change from the way his country and its people have been used to doing things, inspite of the tremendous strides the country has made. “We must all be ready now to embrace change. Change in our attitude towards one another, change in our attitude to our work and responsibilities and change in our attitude towards our nation.” All of these changes, President Koroma said, should translate positively into progress and development for the country.

President Koroma reiterated his pledge to prioritize the provision of electricity not only for the capital city, Freetown, but for all provincial headquarter towns. The Sierra Leonean President said his government will exercise zero tolerance towards corruption. Koroma, however, cautioned that unless his citizens change their attitude, his government’s determination to stamp out corruption will be fruitless. Corruption, President Koroma maintained, is not a matter only for the leaders and heads of government institutions. “It is equally a matter for everybody.”

The New Sierra Leoneon government hopes to build in the next five years and beyond, President Koroma said. “We will increase our GDP per capita; reduce the number of people that make up the poorest segment of our population; increase access to jobs and other economic opportunities,” Koroma promised. To achieve these goals, he said his government expects all its citizens to play a substantial role in revitalizing the country’s economy.

Also participating in the inaugural ceremony were outgoing government officials, including former President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah who handed over the baton of the Office of the President to  Koroma, amid cheers from spectators.

President Sirleaf and delegation returned home Thursday evening following the inaugural ceremonies.