President Koroma will not be attending UN General Assembly

Dennis Kabatto

The Sierra Leone Telegraph: 20 September 2014

Sierra Leone’s President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma, will not be attending the Sixty-Ninth Session of the United Nations General Assembly, which takes place next week in New York.

Due to the Ebola crisis, the president will once again be absent from a vital world summit.

According to the latest report of the US Center for Disease Control (CDC) published on September 18, 2014, Sierra Leone now has a total of 1673 recorded Ebola cases, 1513 laboratory confirmed cases and 562 deaths.

In a statement received from the National Publicity & Outreach Coordinator at State House, Government Spokesperson – Abdulai Bayraytay, said yesterday: “The honorable minister of information and communications – Alpha Kanu has just informed that, it is highly likely that president Koroma may not attend this year’s UN general assembly; and that travel restrictions for ministers will continue to be in place. He will give executive clearance to those attending instead. He will continue to appeal for a more robust support in the fight against the ebola through the UN and other multilateral humanitarian agencies.”

On July 31, President Koroma declared a state of public emergency in response to the Ebola epidemic outbreak. He announced the “Cancellation of all foreign trips by ministers and other government officials, except absolutely essential engagements.”

However, this declaration will not apply to the Sierra Leonean delegation attending the 69th UN General Assembly debate next week in New York.

According to Mr. Bayraytay; “the travel restrictions for ministers will continue to be in place. He will give executive clearance to those attending instead.”

Some members of the Sierra Leonean community in New York were hoping that, after the disappointing and lethally inadequate response to the Ebola disease by the international community, president Koroma should have seized the opportunity presented by the UNGA Debate to plead his case for badly needed equipment, resources and qualified health officials to help battle the Ebola crisis.

Samuel Koroma, a Sierra Leonean professional living in New York said; “I am not surprised, but disappointed that the president of Sierra Leone who is to highlight the severity of the Ebola crisis to  world leaders, will not attend the UN General Assembly’s Sixty-Ninth Session.”

In addition, “The gains would have been far reaching and beneficial to the citizens of Sierra Leone. As the president of Sierra Leone he could have presented his case to the world stage for a more strategic and a comprehensive structured plan on how to combat the Ebola epidemic,” Samuel said.

But Mr. Bayratay advised that president Koroma “will continue to appeal for a more robust support in the fight against the ebola, through the UN and other multilateral humanitarian agencies.”

Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Minister – Dr. Samura Kamara, who will be heading the country’s delegation to New York, said that president Koroma will be addressing the 69th UNGA Session via a video link.