PORTSMOUTH, England, March 2, 2023,-/Africa Media Agency (AMA)/- The President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, His Excellency Dr Julius Maada Bio, has said that Democracy and the rule of law are not foreign concepts in Africa. . He disclosed this during his speech at the African Leadership Magazine Persons of the Year Awards in Balaclava, Mauritius.
In his keynote presentation at the event, the President who received this year’s Africa Award stated, “Democracy and the rule of law are not foreign concepts in Africa. These concepts are based on the experiences and struggles of our people. Therefore, as Africans, we must apply these principles not because it is imposed on us, but because they are a part of us.
President Bio, who is mainly considered the father of Democracy in Sierra Leone because of his role in restoring party politics and Democracy in the country after many years of military attacks on politics, stated that “We should not be afraid of dissent or debate, but rather know that this is the hallmark of a healthy society.”
“This is why, under my leadership, we have worked to create a culture of openness and transparency in Sierra Leone. We have repealed the seditious libel laws, removed barriers to freedom of expression, and allowed a free press – essential for good governance and creating an informed citizenry. I am proud that no journalist in our country has been jailed for doing journalism. We recognize that the freedom to speak our minds, criticize the government and hold leaders accountable is not only a right but an essential part of any democracy. a culture of participation where all voices can be heard, and everyone can contribute to the nation’s development,” he said.
Before attending the event, President Bio was received at Clarisse House, at 37 Riverwalk Vacoas, in Port Louis, by the Prime Minister of Mauritius, Pravind Jugnauth. Both leaders discussed mutually beneficial partnerships and exchanged ideas on the shared potential of the two countries. President Bio is committed to learning more about the country’s tourism development strategy. The economy of Mauritius is highly dependent on the tourism industry, which contributes 8% of the country’s GDP and 10% of total employment. Tourism accounts for about 24% of Mauritius’ GDP if the hotel industry and related businesses are included. The sector also attracts more than $360 Million in 2022, with more than 2 million visitors. He also met the President of Mauritius Mr. Prithvirajsing Roopun.
President Bio, in a two-day visit to the island of Mauritius, was rounded off by participating in the 11th African Leadership Magazine Persons of the Year Awards, with the theme of Reimagining Opportunities in a turbulent Time. The event also served as a platform to present instruments of honor to Africans who were winners in the annual vote-based poll. The event saw delegations from more than 13 countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Mauritius, Liberia, Angola, Kenya, Congo DRC, Sierra Leone, Zambia, and Namibia, among others.
The African of the Year, His Excellency Julius Maada Bio, won the popular vote. He came to power in 2018 promising to prioritize human capital development and provide free and quality education to Sierra Leoneans. Four and a half years on, he remains committed amid economic shocks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. The latest data by the UNESCO Institute for statistics states that total government expenditure on education is 32% of GDP – making it one of the highest in the world. Massive investments by the government in health, agriculture, mining and infrastructure development are also reshaping the country’s trajectory.
Other guests and award recipients at the event included Hon. Lucia Iipumbu, Minister of Industry and Trade, Namibia; Lieutenant General Yakuba Drammeh, Chief of Defense Staff, Gambia Armed Forces; Mrs. Naseem Lahri, Managing Director, Lucara Diamond, Botswana; Sonny Zulu, Managing Director, Standard Chartered Bank, Zambia; Dr. Sibongile Moyo, The Managing Director, Nedbank Zimbabwe; Mr. Mathieu Mandeng, CEO, Standard Chartered Bank Mauritius; Dr Adesola Kazeem Adeduntan Group Managing Director/CEO, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Dr Gertrude Mwangala Akapelwa Vice Chancellor, Victoria Falls University of Technology, Zambia, among others.
Earlier, while revealing the winners of the 11th edition of POTY, the Chairman and founder of the African Leadership Organization, Dr. Ken Giami, stated, “Africa has traditionally been the cradle of great leadership; from Nelson Mandela, Kwame Nkrumah, Steve Biko, to Julius Nyerere, the contribution of the Continent for the philosophy of leadership remains indelible. However, a new paradigm of leadership is developing on the continent – the new Changemakers. Then, the Chairman added, “our nominees are Changemakers, who have chosen to move forward with a vision to build and inherit an Africa that works for all for generations next.”
“Our nominees see progress, while others see regression; they see possibilities in the midst of challenges. They are on a mission and eager to lead Africa to the promised land,” he said.
The African Leadership Magazine Persons of the Year Awards is an endorsement based on the main vote in Africa, which is given every year to Africans who contribute to promoting the progress of the Continent and positively change the negative image that Africa is considered. The annual event has also become a platform to honor people-centred leadership and Africans pursuing a pan-African agenda in their chosen field of endeavor. This year’s event will provide a platform to celebrate the continent’s merchants of hope, ready to lead an army of change agents and reformers, to build an Africa that works for all.
Distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) on behalf of African Leadership Magazine.
About African Leadership Magazine:
African Leadership Magazine is published by African Leadership (UK) Limited, a UK registered company. The magazine focuses on bringing the best of Africa to a global audience, telling African stories from an African perspective; while developing solutions to the peculiar challenges facing the continent today.
Since its first issue, African Leadership Magazine has become the leading pan-African leadership-focused publication read by more than 1,200,000 international investors, business executives, government policy makers, and multilateral agencies from Africa, the Middle East and Asia, Europe, and the U.S. Distributed at events Major international and African leadership worldwide. The magazine has over 1,000,000 subscribers/Followers on Facebook and a virile readership on other social media platforms. It is a niche and unbiased African voice born from the desire to tell African stories from an African perspective by focusing on individuals and companies known for their heritage-based leadership approach.
The post Democracy, Rule of Law, Not a Foreign Concept to Africa – President Julius Maada Bio, Sierra Leone appeared first on African Media Agency.