Sierra Leone Telegraph: 21 August 2019:
The death is reported of Hadja Hawa Khadar Daramy, the wife of the late Honourable Dr Sheikh Batu Daramy, who was the first Financial Secretary of Sierra Leone and a Member of Parliament representing the Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP).
She passed away in the early hours of this morning, today Wednesday, 21st August 2019, at 34 Military Hospital, Freetown, Sierra Leone. She was 97 years old.
Mama Daramy as she is fondly called, and her beloved husband, SB Daramy, were among SLPP’s oldest members. When political dispensation was introduced in Sierra Leone in 1992, Hon. Dr. Sheikh Batu Daramy left the Ministry of Finance where he was working and took part in active politics in the SLPP.
He stood for election as Presidential candidate. At a point when no one would step forward and register the SLPP, Dr. Sheikh Batu Daramy and his wife, Hadja Hawa Daramy (Khadar), used their personal funds to register the party.
Although he did now succeed in his bid, he proved himself as a loyalist and one of the original SLPP members. He would move on to become a Member of Parliament. Dr. Sheikh Batu Daramy died over 20 years ago.
Hadja Hawa Khadar Daramy is survived by her daughters, Mariama Daramy-Lewis (Grand Chief Patron SLPP), Marta Daramy and Kumba Hutt; her sons – Ambassador Soulay Daramy, SB Daramy Jr, Dr. Sheriff and IB Daramy, as well as several grandchildren, notably Charles Tabansi and Naiomi Lewis who spent the later part of her life caring for her.
During Hadja Hawa Khadar Daramy’s final days at 34 Hospital, she was cared for by Ambassador Soulay, SB Jr, Mariama and her daughter-in-law, Afiju Daramy.
Funeral will be held in Freetown on 31st August 2019. Details of funeral arrangements to follow.
May Mama Daramy rest in perfect peace. God bless her wonderful doctors Dr Cole, Dr Soccoh Kabia and Dr. Johana and nurses at 34 Hospital. (Photp Below: Dr SB Daramy and his beloved wife – Hadja Hawa Daramy)
Remembering the late Honorable Dr. Sheikh Batu Daramy Sr
17th March 2019, marked the 20th Anniversary of the passing away of HONORABLE, DR. SHEIKH BATU DARAMY SR, aka, SB Daramy.
Dr. Sheikh Batu Daramy, Sr. B.Sc (Economics from London School of Economics, UK), M.A., Ph.D from Howard University, was born on 20th September, 1920 in Makeni.
Today we remember one of the Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) oldest members. In 1948, Hon. Dr. Sheikh Batu Daramy was awarded a Sierra Leone Government scholarship to attend the London School of Economics from where he graduated in 1952 with a B.Sc in Economics.
Afterwards, Dr. Sheikh Batu Daramy returned to Sierra Leone at which point he was promoted to the position of Labour Officer in the Senior Service of the Government of Sierra Leone.
In 1956, Hon. Dr. Sheikh Batu Daramy passed the Intermediate LL.B degree of London University. He was subsequently promoted to Deputy Commissioner of Labour here in Sierra Leone, and he finally became Commissioner of Labour in 1960. To complement all these successes, he was also promoted Deputy Financial Secretary here in Sierra Leone.
In 1963, Sir Milton Margai, the first Prime Minister of Independent Sierra Leone, promoted Daramy to the position of Financial Secretary.
When the first opposition party, the All Peoples Congress (APC) came to power in 1968, Daramy and a host of SLPP members were arrested and sixteen (16) of them were charged with treason and felony. Daramy served 3 years six months in jail while ten (10) others were sentenced to death by hanging. On appeal after 3 years six months Hon. Dr. Sheikh Batu Daramy was released.
He was exiled in the UK and subsequently moved on to the United States where he would go on to work at Howard University and earn in Ph.D degree in African Studies with distinction. Upon his return to Freetown, he would work at Fourah Bay College as Senior Lecturer in the Department of Political Science for two years. He also moved on to work at the Ministry of Finance as Economic Adviser.
When political dispensation was introduced in 1992, Hon. Dr. Sheikh Batu Daramy left the Ministry of Finance and took part in active politics in the SLPP. He stood for the election as a Presidential candidate.
At a point when no one would step forward and register the SLPP, Dr. Sheikh Batu Daramy and his wife, Hadja Hawa Daramy (Khadar), used their personal funds to register the party. Although he did now succeed in his bid, he proved himself as a loyalist and one of the original SLPP members. He would move on to become a Member of Parliament.
Sheikh Batu Daramy published a book in 1993 entitled “Constitutional Developments in the Post-Colonial State of Sierra Leone 1961 – 1984”.
On 29th March 1999 he was laid in the State Hall of Parliament, Parliament Building, Freetown. He was fondly remembered by his fellow Colleagues, Family and Friends.
May her soul rest in peace