British Foreign Secretary Visits Salone
By Mohamed Konneh
In a rousing welcome the British Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, who is of Sierra Leonean descent, made a historic visit to Sierra Leone.
James Cleverly was warmly welcome in Bo City on Wednesday 8th March 2023 a visit that coincided with celebrations marking International Women’s day.
The British Foreign Secretary was received by host of Paramount chiefs at the Bo Government hospital where his mom work as a midwife before relocating to England.
James Cleverly was crown honorary Paramount Chief of Kakua Chiefdom, Bo district and was bestowed with the name PC Kolobombor.
Welcoming the British Foreign Secretary, Paramount Chief, Prince Boima of Bo highlight the importance of the visit noting they were happy to receive their own.
‘We are extremely happy to receive our son, especially here in Bo. His mother hail from Bo and work as a midwife in the Bo government hospital. His visit also shows that Sierra Leone is a peaceful country, that has an improved governance system, he said.’
PC Boima said the visit of a high profile personal from Britain is only possible if the country he is visiting has good governance, peaceful and credible.
‘Despite having a route from Sierra Leone his visit would not have been possible if our country’s human right record is bad couple with bad governance. This is indeed a welcome news for Sierra Leone, thanks to President Bio for moving this country forward, he said.’
PC Boima noted that the visit was history in the making noting that James Cheverly’s mother hail from Bo, in Southern Sierra Leone.
‘We have to welcome him this was because he is part of us. And part of the tradition is to dress and crown our visitor, he said.’
Babadi Kamara a business and industrious Sierra Leonean also added his voice to the visit of the British Foreign Secretary describing the visit as a welcome news for Sierra Leone, the government and more so the people of Bo district.
‘We are proud to see our brother, this signifies peace and good governance. This is a historic visit and our brother is highly welcome, Babadi said.’
The visit is possible and came at a time when the UK is launching an international strategy on women and girls in Sierra Leone.
The UK Foreign Secretary Rt. Hon. James Cleverly is visiting his maternal home in Bo District, Sierra Leone today 8th March 2023. Sierra Leone under the leadership of President Julius Maada Bio has made tremendous gains in advancing the rights and protection of women and girls in the country. This is the first international strategy on Women and Girls that brings together all UK's development and diplomacy.
The British Foreign Secretary was crown honorary Paramount chief at the forecourt of the Bo Government hospital, where his mother used work as a midwife. The name PC Kolobombor bestowed on him is in honour of the man Kolobombor who found the chiefdom Kakua.
Kolobombor
James Cleverly was appointed Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs on 6th September 2022. James was previously Secretary of State for Education from July 2022 to September 2022.
From the Bo government hospital James visited the Islamic secondary at Durbar Grounds in Bo city, where he interacted with pupils and the school management.
