Country profile

PRESIDENT KOROMA TO ATTEND UNIDO CONFERENCE IN VIENNA

His Excellency President Ernest Bai Koroma recently attended the two-day 12 th session of the General Conference of UNIDO, in Vienna , Austria from the 3 rd to 5 th December 2007.

The Head of State was accompanied to Vienna by two Cabinet Ministers in the persons of Alhaji I. B. Kargbo (Minister of Information and Communications) and Haja Hafsatu Kabba (Minister of Energy and Power).

The President returned to Freetown on 5 th December, 2007 . A Sierra Leonean, Dr. Kandeh Yumkella is head of UNIDO in Vienna , Austria . The speeches will be published in due course.

FOREIGN MINISTER IN LONDON

The newly-appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs &International Cooperation, Mrs. Zainab Bangura, who was in transit in London from Kampala , on 29 th November 2007 addressed a cross section of Policy Makers, Academics and Opinion Makers at the Royal Institute for International Affairs at Chatham House in Central London .

The Minister outlined plans for her ministry, the vision and priorities of President Ernest Bai Koroma. She disclosed that the priorities of the new APC government include energy & power, infrastructural development, the fight against endemic corruption, and a desperate effort to change the attitude of people.

Mrs. Zainab Bangura said that the deadline for the restoration of power supply to the Western Area still remains December 20, 2007.

The Minister later met and held very frank discussions with staff members of the Sierra Leone High Commission in London about Government's focus and priorities. She emphasised that their support for and participation in successful governance will be appreciated.

In his introductory remarks, the High Commissioner, Mr. Melvin Chalobah heartily welcomed the Minister to the premises of the High Commission and said it was a rare occasion for a Minister to address staff members.

The Minister said that she was delighted to be in the premises of the High Commission and assured staff members that the APC Government of President Ernest Bai Koroma was determined to succeed. “Failure,” she emphasised “is not an option.”

 Public Notice

With effect from 1 st February 2007, payments for Visas and Emergency Travel Certificate (ETC) should be made at any Barclays Bank Branch to the following Account:

Sierra Leone High Commission,

Account No: 10782653,

Sort Code: 20-36-47.

 Payment adivice slip must be submitted with completed Application forms at the High Commission.

NO CASH PAYMENT IS ACCEPTED FOR CONSULAR OR VISA SERVICES.