Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Dr. Samura Mathew Wilson Kamara (second from right in photo) today (24th May 2013) took a conducted tour to assess the progress in the work at the Sierra Leone Embassy project site in Addis Ababa.
His Excellency President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma on 26th January 2013 officially commissioned and turned the sod for the construction of the Chancery building when he was here attending the 20th African Union Heads of State Summit.
The complex consists of a Presidential VIP Suite, the Chancery and the Ambassador’s residence. The building is situated in Bole at the commercial business district in Addis Ababa.
Dr. Samura Kamara was received at the site by the General Manager of MEEG Building Contractor, Mr. Mehari Enyew. MEEG Building Contractor is one of the leading construction companies in Ethiopia.
Mr. Enyew said that after President Koroma commissioned the project five months ago, 40% of the work has now been completed.
He said the Chancery building has 12 office rooms, a meeting room and a hall to host receptions excluding the Ambassador’s office.
“The Chancery when completed will be a ground plus three story building,” he said, adding that there will be a spacious car park and a guard house.
He pointed out that they have laid the foundation to kick start the construction of the Ambassador’s residence.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Dr. Samura Kamara who was delighted after the conducted tour said he was so impressed with the pace at which the construction work is going.
Dr. Samura Kamara said Sierra Leone now owns a property in Ethiopia after 40 years since the country established diplomatic ties with the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
Minister Kamara said: “Sierra Leone having a structure now in Ethiopia is like an acid test in a bid to scale up the already existing diplomatic relations between the two countries.”
He further said that he is finding ways to strengthen the cordial relationship between Sierra Leone and Ethiopia thus looking into opportunities to also strengthen trade links between the two countries for mutual benefits.
The Foreign Minister’s delegation to the site included Hon. Alhaji Ibrahim Kemoh Sesay, Minister of Political and Public Affairs; Ambassador Andrew Bangali, Sierra Leone’s Envoy to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia; Mrs. Rasie Kargbo, Director General and Ambassador-at-Large in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; Sierra Leone’s Deputy Chief of Mission to Ethiopia, Mr. Amadu Koroma; Dr. Osman Gbla, Chairman, Africa Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) National Governing Council; Mr. Mohamed Jalloh, Programme Manager APRM; Mr. Lawrence Lahai Amara, Assistant Secretary in the Ministry of Political and Public Affairs and the entire staff of the Sierra Leone Embassy in Ethiopia.
The Chancery, under construction.
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