The Amir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and the President of Ghana, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo have join world leaders and other dignitaries to congratulate His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio on his re-election for a second presidential term in Sierra Leone.
The Amir said: “I wished President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone a success in performing his duties for a second term, and for the relations between the two countries to continue their development and growth”.
President Bio in June 2022, held bilateral discussions with Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at the Emir’s Palace in Doha.
The Emir said the state visit is an opportunity to rekindle the bilateral relations between the two countries, adding that Sierra Leone is an important partner to the State of Qatar.
He also stated that the bilateral engagements must be a win-win relationship for both countries, as he commended President Bio for the progress, he had made in the West African nation for the past four years.
President Bio thanked the Emir of Qatar for his hospitality and spoke about the progress his government has made in various sectors, including education and the fight against corruption.
The President also expressed strong desire to focus on agriculture through mechanised farming and private sector partnership, adding that with the right investment in agriculture, Sierra Leone could become an exporting nation.
Later, President Bio and Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani observed the signing of six Memoranda of Understanding including: an MoU for Cooperation in the Legal Field; an MoU for Cooperation in the Fields of Tourism and Business Events; Agreement on Mutual Administrative Assistance for Optimal Application of Customs Laws and Repression, Investigation and Combating Violations; Agreement Concerning the Regulation of the Employment of Sierra Leone Workers in the State of Qatar; an MoU for Cooperation in the Field of Education, Higher Education and Science Research and Agreement on the Establishment of a Joint Committee for Cooperation.
The President of Ghana, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said: “On behalf of the people and Government of Ghana, I congratulate warmly His Excellency Julius Maada Bio on his re-election as President of the Republic of Sierra Leone in the presidential election of Saturday, 24th June 2023.
“The Sierra Leonean people are to be applauded for their peaceful and orderly conduct in the elections, which has strengthened the frontiers of multiparty democracy in Sierra Leone.
“I commend his closest challenger, Dr. Samura Kamara, and the All People’s Congress, for a well-fought electioneering campaign. It is the hope of all well-meaning democrats in and out of West Africa that their reaction to the results will serve to deepen the attachment of the Sierra Leonean people to democracy. The world expects this of them.
“I look forward to continuing to work with President Maada Bio in his second term of office, just as we did in his first, so we can continue to build on the strong ties of friendship and co-operation which exists between our two countries, and which are based on the shared agenda of development, prosperity and adherence to the tenets of good governance and the rule of law.
“Warm congratulations, once again, to President Julius Maada Bio, and to the people of Sierra Leone. Best wishes for his and the country’s success”.
