Sierra Leone: News & Information: February 2005 Archives: President Kabbah

Archive of February 2005 Reports

New Njala University Inaugurated

Education in Sierra Leone has undergone a tremendous transformation in terms of access, relevance, quality and cost effectiveness in the last few years The new millennium has witnessed a dramatic turn-around in all aspects and levels of the education sector. Apart from government taking the onus of paying examination fees for school children for the National Primary School Examination (NPSE), the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and the West African School Certificate Examination (WASCE), it has also designed the "SABABU Education Project" under which girls from Junior Secondary School year one to three in the Eastern and Northern regions have free access to basic secondary education including payment of their school fees, provision of books, uniforms and other educational materials for their use in school This move has led to an unprecedented rise in access and retention of girls in schools, especially in the affected areas where low levels of literacy have always adversely affected the national literacy statistical picture.

Click Here For President Kabbah's Speech
(26th February 2006)

ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT ALHAJI DR AHMAD TEJAN KABBAH AT THE CEREMONY HELD TO LAUNCH THE FINAL RESULTS OF THE 2004 POPULATION AND HOUSING CENSUS AT THE MIATTA CONFERENCE CENTRE, YOUYI BUILDING, BROOKFIELDS, FREETOWN.
(23rd February 2006)

Keynote Address By His Excellency The President Alhaji Dr. Ahmad Tejan Kabbah On The Occation Of The Opening Of TheWest African Investment Forum Abuja, Nigeria
(20th February 2006)

President Kabbah Opens Eight Rehabilitated Schools

The almost eleven-year rebel war in Sierra Leone did not only have a toll on human beings and human settlements, but did a severe blow on the educational sector especially the destruction of educational facilities including schools and colleges. Since the end of the war, government has through its donor partners worked relentlessly to rehabilitate the damaged infrastructure of this country.
In the last couple of days, President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah has been touring the South and Eastern provinces handing over rehabilitated and newly constructed schools to chiefdom and school authorities. Three newly constructed and five rehabilitated schools through the Sababu Education Project and funds provided by the Islamic Development Bank, the World Bank and other donors were officially opened and handed over to school authorities by His Excellency the President, Alhaji Dr. Ahmad Tejan Kabbah.

(17th February 2006)

President Kabbah Commissions War Monument

The eleven years rebel war in Sierra Leone cannot be completely documented without mentioning Bomaru, a small village in the south-eastern corner of Kailahun District. It was in this village on the border of Sierra Leone and Liberia that the first shots which started the long and protracted senseless war were fired on the 23rd March, 1991.
Although the war is now behind us and the peace and reconciliation process has gained grounds, this aspect of our history cannot be overemphasized. That's why the President, Alhaji Dr. Ahmad Tejan Kabbah requested that a war monument to be erected in Bomaru.

(15th February 2006)

President Kabbah Commissions Koyeima School Rehab

The Government Secondary School, Koyeima, one of the oldest secondary schools in the country opened in 1928 and one of the schools that were completely destroyed during the rebel war is still mostly lying in ruins. Up to date, it is the only school still existing in exile in Bo where it is currently located.
Although efforts have been made earlier by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology to rehabilitate the school, the initial intervention of Government and the European Commission that saw the construction of an administrative block, the principals quarter, a six-classroom block with furniture, VIP latrines and water-well hand pump could not enable the school to return as the teachers and pupils did not have a place to sleep.

(11th February 2006)

Moyamba Junction Gets New Secondary School

More than ever before in its history, Sierra Leone is placing the highest importance on the education of its children. This is evidenced by the rapid acceleration in the number and quality of schools constructed all over the country.
Thursday 9th February was a special day for the people of Moyamba Junction. The town was alive in a festive mood as dozens of the sons of the soil of Fakunya Chiefdom, Ministers, guests and government functionaries were all there to witness the official opening of the newly constructed Government Secondary School by His Excellency, the President, Alhaji Dr. Ahmad Tejan Kabbah.

(9th February 2006)

51 UK Judges Visit Sierra Leone

Fifty-one Judges from the United Kingdom who were on a two-day visit to Sierra Leone paid a courtesy call on President Kabbah at his Hill Station office in Freetown. The 51 Judges who are mostly concerned with immigration issues in the United Kingdom are on a familiarization tour to West Africa where most of their clients originate from.The President, Alhaji Dr. Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, while welcoming them, gave a brief historical background of Sierra Leone as a British Crown Colony. President Kabbah told them that there are a lot of things they might have interest in seeing like the beautiful peninsula beaches, the old slave fort at Bunce Island which links Britain to Sierra Leone more strongly as the first freed slaves were brought here to Freetown.

(7th February 2006)

President Kabbah At Police Passing-Out

Since the restoration of democratic rule and the return of peace to Sierra Leone, the Police Force, one of the national institutions that was most affected by the eleven year civil conflict had been undergoing massive restructuring, including both institutional and man-power development aimed at making the Police Force a "Force for Good".
One of the objectives of the Force was to have the requisite manpower to completely take over the internal security of the state with the departure of UNAMSIL. To achieve this, series of recruit training have been going on. On Saturday, 4th February 2006, four hundred and fifty recruits at the Police Training School, Hastings went through the passing- out ceremony.
The President, Alhaji Dr. Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, was at the ceremony. While expressing great satisfaction in being with the recruits on the memorable day President Kabbah stated that the ceremony provided further concrete proof of the dramatic progress that has been made towards overcoming the bitter legacy of the past and building a safer and better Sierra Leone.
Click Here For President Kabbah's Speech
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(7th February 2006)

New Fire Engines Commissioned

The National Fire Force, one of the institutions that suffered adversely over the years due to neglect by past governments, has finally begun to assume its purpose with the acquisition of new equipment to make it the vibrant force it is supposed to be.
Government quite recently acquired six new fire engines and assorted equipment as an initial step in putting the Fire Force back on its feet. Government with the aim of making the force a national institutions is also constructing, offices in each of the regional headquarter towns of Bo, Kenema and Makeni, including two other sub offices in Kissy to serve the east end of Freetown and Aberdeen in the West-End.
The President, Alhaji Dr. Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, was at the National Fire Force on Thursday 2nd February 2002 to commission the new engines.
Click Here For President Kabbah's Speech
(2nd February 2006)