Culled from Cocorioko newspaper,New Jersey, USA.
The Publisher and Editor-In-Chief of the COCORIOKO online newspaper, Rev. Leeroy Wilfred Kabs-Kanu, has been appointed Minister Plenipotentiary to the Sierra Leone Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York and Coordinator of the Africa Union Committee of 10 .
Journalist Kabs-Kanu received his appointment letter from the Foreign Ministry , Freetown, Sierra Leone, last Wednesday . The Editor was one of many distinguished Sierra Leoneans appointed to diplomatic positions by H.E. President Ernest Bai Koroma in January.
In his new capacity as Minister Plenipotentiary , Rev. Kabs-Kanu(photo) will deal with Press and Public Affairs, Commerce , Tourism and the Rebranding of Sierra Leone , a new government initiative designed to change the international perception and image of Sierra Leone. He will also internationally publicize President Koroma’s other initiatives : The Diaspora , The Open Government and Attitudinal Change programs.
In the C-10 Program at the UN, Rev. Kabs-Kanu will work directly with Sierra Leone’s Permanent Representatve to the United Nations, H.E. Shekou Touray, who heads the committee .
It must be recalled that African leaders elected President Ernest Koroma Chairman of the AU Committee of 10 . The C10 is the African Union’s Committee of ten Heads of States responsible for articulating the common African Position on the reform of the Security Council. Their mandate is to get Africa two permanent and three non-permanent seats in the Security Council and veto powers in the august council .
In accepting the appointment, Rev. Kabs-Kanu extended thanks and appreciation to President Ernest Bai Koroma, Foreign Minister Hon. Zainab Bangura and Information and Communications Minister, Alhaji Ibrahim Ben Kargbo for the assignment .He assured them that he will give his level best to justify the confidence reposed in him.
Rev.Kabs-Kanu has also thanked Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the U.S. H.E.Bockarie Kortu Stevens, Permanent Representative to the UN, H.E. Shekou Touray, Deputy Ambassador for Legal Affairs , Hon. Abdul Keh Kamara and Deputy Ambassador of Political Affairs, Hon. Rupert Davies , the Deputy Director of the Open Government Initiative , Khadija Sesay and Electricity Task Force member Dr. Lancelot Ayo Lake , as well as all his well-wishers within the Ernest Koroma government . He promised to work diligently with all of them to bring lasting socio-economic and political development to Sierra Leone.
In an exclusive interview with this reporter yesterday, the Rev. Kabs-Kanu said that his primary task will be to change the negative perception the international world holds about Sierra Leone. " We are a great nation with plenty of tourist and investment potentials. We have successfully ended the civil war and are now far advanced in the peacebuilding process and returning the country to its old glory, under the wise and exemplary leadership of President Ernest Bai Koroma . .. Sierra Leone is now the safest country in West Africa and it is very safe for investment, commerce and tourism . However, whenever you mention the country’s name abroad, people think and talk only about the last war, blood diamonds, amputations, rapes , killings and poverty. The world needs to know that all these things are no longer true of Sierra Leone as the country has taken important giant steps towards the noble ideals of peace, reconciliation and regaining her old glory as one of the most peaceful and progressive nations in Africa . "
Asked what will happen to his position as Editor-In-Chief of the hit newspaper , COCORIOKO, Rev. Kabs-Kanu said a new Acting Editor will be appointed while he will remain the Publisher . He said that with the consent of President Koroma and the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Information, he will set up a new international newspaper for Sierra Leone, called the NEW NATION , through which the rebranding of Sierra Leone initiative and the government’s other programs will be promoted to the international world .
Note from the editor: On behalf of the staff and readers of the Patriotic Vanguard, I would like to formally congratulate Kabs for his new appointment and wish him success. Congrats, Orlangba!
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