Zainab Bangura takes the oathIn her remarks after subscribing to the oath Mrs Bangura told President Koroma that “the fact that this great responsibility has been thrust upon me is an indication of your confidence in my ability to serve you and the people of Sierra Leone”
She acknowledged that “the challenges are huge and the expectations are extremely high”, but went on to assure the President “and the people of this great nation that I will give my utmost.”
The former civil society activist noted that “as a country, we have come a long way, and the journey has sometimes been torturous and difficult”.
She recalled that “hundreds of thousands of our compatriots have perished along the way, but because we have been steadfast as a nation, determined and committed as a people and have not given up or looked back, we can almost safely say now, that we have seen the sign post to our final destination”.
In his response President Koroma congratulated Mrs Bangura on her new appointment noting that, Mrs Bangura is an expected choice and one that has great respect in the international world.
President Koroma said he hoped that the Minister will strengthen the ties between the European Union, ECOWAS, Commonwealth and the Mano River Basin and create multilateral and bilateral relations with other countries.
He described Mrs Bangura’s Ministry as critical but stated the hope she will “forge ahead with hard work and commitment to the job (and) she will execute her job efficiently.”
The President further expressed the hope that with Mrs Bangura at the helm of the Foreign ministry “Sierra Leone could gain much access to the international scene.”
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