Crown Prince Haakon Of Norway Visits Sierra Leone
By Marian Samu

Crown Prince Haakon of Norway has paid a five-day official visit to Sierra Leone. Prince Haakon is in Sierra Leone as a goodwill ambassador of the United Nations Development Programme.

Speaking with President Kabbah during a courtesy call at his Hill Station Office in Freetown, Prince Haakon noted the significant recovery Sierra Leone has undergone in such a short period after the end of the civil conflict more than two years ago.

He said he was particularly impressed with the rate of developed already taking place in the country, although it was difficult to totally forget the past because of the vestiges left behind by the war. The Prince informed President Kabbah that his government has been assisting Sierra Leone in the areas of emergency aid and reconstruction since the end of the war in 2002.

While welcoming the Prince to Sierra Leone, President Kabbah said that it became a strategy for government to facilitate development in the shortest possible time especially in areas that were not completely inhabited by the rebels. He, however, noted that Sierra Leone does not seem to be on the priority list of developing countries that receive assistance from Norway. The President expressed hope that with the visit of the Prince, his country will consider the inclusion of Sierra Leone on the list of developing countries receiving assistance from Norway, so as to enable the country fast-track its post-war reconstruction and development efforts.

While in Sierra Leone, Prince Haakon met with Vice President Solomon Berewa, the Mayor of the City of Freetown, and also took time to travel to parts of the country in the provinces where he visited Kono, Makeni and Magburaka among others. In the Tonkolili District the Crown Prince was crowned as honorary Paramount Chief.

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