By Foday Moriba Conteh
In a bid to host the Young African Women Congress’ (YAWC’) 2023 Annual Continental Convocation in the country, the Office of the First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone has on Friday 18th August, 2023 signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Congress. The symbolic signing ceremony, which was attended by the First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Dr Fatima Maada Bio, Executive Chairman for YAWC, Daniel Osei Tuffuor, Cabinet Ministers was held at State House in Freetown.
In her welcome address, the President of the Young African Women Congress Sierra Leone Chapter, Michaela Kargbo, expressed appreciation to the First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone for the signing of the MoU between her office and the Young African Women Congress.
She said that the Young African Women Congress is apolitical, a non-racial fraternity of young women living in Africa and in the diaspora with its headquarters in Ghana.
Michaela Kargbo noted that their vision is to empower women in a collaborative approach furthering how they have been embarking on a continental campaign against rape, reaching a minimum of 50 million people, adding that over 2,000 women have been empowered through their organization.
In his statement, the Executive Chairman of the Young African Women Congress, Daniel Osei Tuffuor, also commended the First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone for her tireless efforts towards the empowerment of women and girls in the country.
He said his organization is focused on women’s empowerment and development, adding that they would always be happy to make their voices heard on matters that would promote women’s activities.
Daniel Osei Tuffuor also recalled that when he last visited Sierra Leone some months ago and found billboards bearing the portrait of the First Lady with the inscription: ‘Hands Off Our Girls’, he was thrilled by the ambition of a political figure championing the affairs of women.
He disclosed that he felt realness in the First Lady’s campaign against rape and other domestic violence against women maintaining how it is enough of paying lip service to campaigns such as this but rather there is need for genuine campaigners in Africa like the First Lady of Sierra Leone.
On her part, the First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Dr Fatima Maada Bio called on members of the Young African Women Congress (YAWC) Sierra Leone Chapter to partner with her office disclosing that in Sierra Leone there is no political barrier to the empowerment of women.
She said the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Office of the First Lady and YAWC would lead to the hosting of the Young African Women Congress’ 2023 Annual Continental Convocation in Freetown from the 20th to 24th November, 2023 which further describing such as very important towards the development and empowerment of women and girls in Africa.
He stated that the event will enhance an economic boom for the country’s hotel and tourism sector as Sierra Leone will have the opportunity to host over 1,000 people as participants in the forthcoming Congress.
She expressed gratitude to His Excellency, President Dr Julius Maada Bio, for empowering the women of Sierra Leone adding that the enactment of the GEWE Bill in the country has opened the space for women of which she noted that the recent appointment of women to Cabinet positions and the increase in the number of female members of Parliament in the 6th Parliament of the Second Republic of Sierra Leone speaks volumes of President Bio’s commitment towards the empowerment of women in the country.
She also informed the gathering that Sierra Leone is ready for business, and that hosting of the Young African Women Congress’ 2023 Annual Continental Convocation in the country would open up the space for new investment opportunities.
Climaxing the ceremony was the official signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Office of the First Lady and the Young African Women Congress by the First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Dr Fatima Maada Bio and the Executive Chairman of the Young African Women Congress, Daniel Osei Tuffuor.
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