Let my son serve the nation well -Sampha Koroma’s mother

Ya Mabinty Bangura is the mother of James Sampa Koroma, Secretary to the President, Ernest Bai Koroma. She lives in her home village of Macrogba, Yoni chiefdom in the northern Tonkolili district, some 80 miles from Freetown.
Believed to be over 100 years, according to family sources, Ya Mabinty looks strong and energetic in appearance and can work long distances.
When Awoko visited her at her residence over the weekend for an interview, she manifested the true love a mother can have for her child.
Speaking passionately about her son, Ya Mabinty said, James Sampa Koroma, the first of her four children, “is a very caring and loving son” and urged him “to continue serving the nation well.”
According to Ya Mabinty, Mr Koroma who was also Governor of the central bank and Chief Executive Officer of Union Trust Bank, is very obedient. “He takes great care of me. Yes! He has built me a house and I appreciate his efforts. I truly love him and I appreciate and thank God for his achievements”, she said joyfully.
Asked whether her son visits her and other family members, the old lady said “even though my son is a very busy man for now, he normally visits us in the village, although not very often”.
Pressed further on whether she had ever foreseen her son’s achievements, Ya Mabinty responded, “when I gave birth to him years back, I prayed to God for his protection and for him to prosper. But honestly I was not dreaming of such achievements for him. But because of the parental blessing he got from me and his late father, he was able to succeed in life.”
Even though she is too old to even cook, Ya Mabinty said she was willing and ready to do so if the need arose.
Meanwhile, Ya Mabinty appeals to her son to continue with “the good work” by helping those in need especially in the area of job creation “not only for family members but all who deserve it” She appealed to him to “continue giving support to the village and providing for the poor where you can… serve the nation well”.
She also prayed for God’s guidance and protection for her son.
Family sources and other people in the village say Ya Mabinty became a widow several years back. “But this is hardly to be noticed because she accepted it as the will of God and is living a happy life”. They attribute that to her faith in God.