By Idrissa Conteh: Information Attaché, Beijing, China
His Excellency Ernest M. Ndomahina, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Sierra Leone to the People’s Republic of China has participated in a two-day seminar on poverty alleviation organized by the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture in Changsha, Hunan Province.
HE Ndomahina expressed delight in participating in the two-day seminar organized to alleviate poverty globally, as well as delivering the keynote address on the final day of the seminar.
Delivering his address, Ambassador Ernest M. Ndomahina thanked the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs for a highly inspirational and commendable initiative, stating that it was a demonstration of China’s passionate crusade against poverty.
“China is now within striking distance of eliminating extreme poverty; since over the last four decades China has bailed out more than 800 million people from poverty,” he mentioned.
HE Ndomahina underscored how important the seminar could be in providing useful insights about some of the key steps that led to those spectacular achievements. He revealed that China’s success, in the fight against poverty, was as a result of political will, the mindset of its populace, her development of strategic human capital development and creation of a highly dedicated institution for poverty alleviation.
He reiterated that the political will to fight poverty was from the highest level of governance to the lowest, pointing out that President Xi was the latest Champion of the noble course, and has made the eradication of absolute poverty as one of his three “decisive battles”, stating that his move signified strong leadership to set the tone for all Governmental strata to vigorously pursue Poverty Alleviation in various areas.
He went on to state how important change of mindset could be in the fight against poverty as highlighted by H.E Xi Jinping when he wrote: “poverty alleviation requires a change of attitude.”
Ambassador Ndomahina disclosed that Sierra Leone is just like any developing country that had been plagued by poverty as the country’s backdrop of poverty resembles that of China. “Just like China, the country was seriously ravaged by a bitter and protracted civil war, whose vestiges are still perceptible on its physical and socio-economic landscape,” he added.
He affirmed that many Sierra Leoneans are living below the poverty line and that adult literacy is only 41%, stating how the above mentioned seriously undermine the agricultural sector which can provide employment for 75% of the population saying that many working in the sector lack the adequate farm techniques to cultivate the main cash crops such as cocoa, coffee, tubers and cereals.
Ambassador Ndomahina said despite the gloomy picture there is a very strong political will to alleviate the plight of the masses, and that the current Head of State, His Excellency Dr. Julius Maada Bio, has made poverty alleviation a national priority, and that upon assumption of office he made a solemn promise: “I am again offering the nation hope and a new promise that Sierra Leone will be better for all under my leadership. I promise a New Direction for Sierra Leone as a united peaceful, progressive, dynamic, confident enterprising and happy nation where the people have unlimited access to jobs, food, education and health services and where there is equal justice and equal opportunity for all. ”
He furthered that during President Bio’s visit to China in 2018, he asked for support from his Chinese counterpart, HE Xi Jinping. He, therefore, commended China for being highly responsive to the appeal whiles disclosing that it was only two weeks ago that the Chinese Embassy in Freetown gratuitously supported the training of a crop of Sierra Leoneans on poverty alleviation.
H.E Ndomahina concluded by assuring the organizers of the seminar that the knowledge gathered would be utilized as a foundation to build and fulfil the aspirations of his people to end poverty in Sierra Leone, mentioning further that the Government of Sierra Leone under the leadership of H.E Bio would look forward to engaging the Chinese Government on the alleviation of poverty in future.
