Sierra Leone’s Minister of Information and Civic Education, Hon. Chernor Bah is at present in Beijing, People’s Republic of China on the Invitation of that Country’s First Lady, Prof. Peng Liyuan and UNESCO. The erudite Minister, who serves on UNESCO’s Global Jury for Girls and Women’s Education is invited to attend the official Award Ceremony and to deliver the keynote address at the International Seminar on Girls and Women’s Education at the prestigious Beijing Normal University.

Though the Seminar is stipulated for the 28th September 20223, Minister Bah has already begun engaging authorities of China Institute of Education and SocialDevelopment at the Beijing Normal University on possibilities for partnerships in several areas ranging from training, media restructuring and equipment for his ministry and its subsidiary institutions.

Welcoming the Minister to their campus, the Executive Dean of China Institute of Education and Social Development, Madam Song Shanping assured the Hon Chernor Bah of her institute’s readiness to support his agenda and requested him to develop a proposal on all areas that his Ministry is seeking collaboration and partnership.

In a separate but similar development, Minister Bah earlier paid a courtesy call on the Embassy of the Republic of Sierra Leone in Beijing, People’s Republic of China.

Welcoming the Minister, Deputy Ambassador, Mr. Saffa Woya-Rogers who doubles as Charge d’affaires on behalf of the Embassy expressed excitement over the minister’s visit saying Minister Bah was home away from home. He went on to congratulate Minister Bah on his appointment, adding the appointmentdid not come as a surprise. ‘It justifies the good works you have been doing over the years’, the Deputy Ambassador told the Information and Civic Education Minister.

In conclusion, the Deputy Ambassador described the Embassy’s Staff as a very strong team to the extent that they can at times overlap their diplomatic functions in an effort to fly high the flag of Sierra Leone.

In his response, the Minister expressed gratitude for what he described as the warm reception accorded him, adding that staff of the Embassy have exhibited high level of protocol as diplomats representing Sierra Leone in China.

Briefing staff of the Embassy on the just concluded United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) he stated that this year is the most successful outing the Country has had in the past 60 years at UNGA and that President Bio attended over 50 bilateral meetings.

He disclosed that Sierra Leone is not just a member of the Security Council but is going to be the Chair of the United Nations Security Council in 2024.

Minister Bah mentioned that Sierra Leone is very much on course on the MCC and, the message from the Government of Sierra Leone is very clear that the Country is ready for business and partnership.

The Minister also expressed support for the Embassy’s work and his willingness to collaborate with the Embassy in further enhancing the bilateral relationship between Sierra Leone and China.