S/Leoneans brace up for President Koroma’s visit

Preparations are on high gear for the visit of yet another African head of state to the Gambia. On Thursday, 10 April, 2008, Dr Earnest Bai Koroma, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, will be embarking on his maiden visit to the Gambia as head of state. Dr Koroma is coming as guest of the Gambian leader, Alh. Dr Yahya Jammeh. In line with this, Sierra Leoneans in The Gambia are being urged to ensure that this visit becomes a memorable one.

Speaking to the Daily Observer, Mr John Alfred Ceesay, the Acting Chairman of the Sierra Leonean National Union (SLENU) in the Gambia, has appealed to his compatriots and "all those Gambians or non Gambians who were born in the Sierra Leone and all those that sympathizes with the country", to come out in their large number, come Thursday, to cheer up their leader.

Mr Ceesay said that since this was the first visit of President koroma to the Gambia, they were looking forward to the cementing of the already existing family ties that bind the two people together. He thanked the Gambian leader, President Jammeh, for what he called a brotherly gesture, for inviting their leader to the Gambia. "For many of us this is the first time we are going to be setting eye on him, he said.

The SLENU Acting Chairman also expressed delight that this visit would give the Sierra Leonean leader the opportunity to see the Gambia and emulate its leader, President Jammeh, in his development drive, which he said was responsible for the drastic development the country has undergone in13 years.   

"All those who want to receive President Koroma are urged to be at West Field by 1130am for onward transportation to the airport, prior to the arrival of the visiting president.