The
Deputy Ambassador of Sierra Leone to The Islamic Republic of The Gambia has
received a Certificate of Award from All Works of Life (AWOL), a Sierra Leonean
community organization in The Gambia, for her “well served term of office in
The Gambia”.
Her
Excellency Haja Saidata Sesay, who has served as Deputy Ambassador of Sierra
Leone to The Gambia for more than five years, is set to leave The Gambia.
The
Award was presented to Her Excellency on Thursday 28 July at the Sierra Leone
Embassy in Bijilo by Gibril M. Kanu, chairman of AWOL, together with his vice
chair Yusuf Saccoh and another AWOL member Harold Mahib
AWOL
is “the biggest and oldest” organization in the Sierra Leonean community in The
Gambia. Among its activities is the traditional ‘Paddle hunting’ parade its
coordinates annually to celebrate the Independence of Sierra Leone in The
Gambia.
In
presenting the certificate of award, Mr Kanu said the deputy ambassador played
vital role in serving the Sierra Leonean community in The Gambia as well as in
making sure a cordial relationship is maintained between Sierra Leone and The
Gambia.
“On
behalf of the Sierra Leonean community and AWOL, we are presenting this award
of appreciation to you in recognition of your invaluable service and
contribution to the lives of Sierra Leoneans in The Gambia. This is to show
that we have you at heart,” he said.
Since
her term of office in The Gambia, the deputy ambassador has been giving sound
counseling to AWOL and supporting its activities, as well as to the Sierra
Leonean community in The Gambia, he said.
“You
have done a lot for Sierra Leoneans as well as working closely with Ambassador
Soulay Daramy and all the staff of the Embassy to serve the Sierra Leonean
community in The Gambia,” he added.
He
also commended the Head of Chancery and Minister Counsellor of the Embassy, Mr
Andrew S.A. Kamara, Embassy Consular Officer Mr Sheku Kamara and other staff of
the embassy for their invaluable support both morally and financially over the
years, to AWOL and the community.
He
applauded other people who have been of immense support to AWOL over the years,
such as former Ambassador Foday Yumkella, former Ambassador Alhaji Mohamed Kemo
Fadika and Captain Adolphus S. Sawyer.
In
receiving the award, Deputy Ambassador Haja Saidata Sesay said: “We appreciate
you more; your presence and work in the community make our work in The Gambia
easy. You made the roadmap for us to be able to discharge our responsibilities
well.”
She
advised members of AWOL and Sierra Leoneans in The Gambia to continue to be
law-abiding, saying the Gambia government has high regard for the Sierra
Leonean community hence they should continue to behave well and respect
authority.
“We
will continue to advise and guide you to continue the good work and behaviour
in the land of The Gambia,” she said.
“As
long as we continue to do the right thing we will continue to enjoy our stay in
The Gambia, as the Government of The Gambia loves law-abiding people.”
She
added: “I thank you very much from the bottom of my heart. I will always be of
service to you all. I will be away but I am so close to you all; therefore
whatever I am able to do for you, I will be more than willing to assist the
Sierra Leonean community in The Gambia.”
In
his brief remarks, Head of Chancery and Minister Counsellor Andrew S.A. Kamara,
said: “We appreciate the role AWOL is playing. The award is significant and it
is good that it is coming from AWOL. We appreciate you all; continue the good
work.”
He
said the embassy will continue to serve and support AWOL and the Sierra Leonean
community in their activities.
In
his closing remarks, AWOL’s vice Chairman Mr Yusuf Saccoh said: “We feel very
proud that the embassy associates itself with us.”
While
praying for the safe return to Sierra Leone of H.E. Haja Saidata Sesay, Mr
Saccoh said: “You were not only here as Deputy Ambassador but as a mother.”
Recipients
of AWOL’s awards include H.E. Ambassador Soulay Daramy (presented by Foreign
Affairs Minister Dr Gibril Sesay), Head of Chancery and Minister Counsellor
Andrew S.A. Kamara, Embassy Consular Officer Mr Sheku Kamara, businessman Chief
Hamid Barrie, and Captain Adolphus S. Sawyer.
