By Jarrah Kawusu-Konte, State House, Freetown.
Sierra Leone’s President Dr Ernest Bai Koroma and his Guinean counterpart Professor Alpha Conde Tuesday 10 February expressed the urgent need for an Extraordinary Summit of the Heads of State of the Mano River Union in Conakry, Republic of Guinea to intensify the fight against Ebola and also assess the challenges facing the national and sub-regional dimensions of post-Ebola recovery programmes.
The two leaders took this position following the signing of a joint communique climaxing the one-day working and friendly visit of President Conde to Sierra Leone and Liberia. The Guinean leader is also the current Chair of the Mano River Union (MRU).
The purpose of the visit was essentially for the two leaders to engage in an exchange of ideas on the progress made and remaining challenges with respect to the unprecedented outbreak of Ebola in the MRU basin.
President Alpha Conde and his host also noted the need to continue their social mobilization campaigns against cultural and traditional practices that have significantly undermined painstaking efforts by both governments and their development partners in breaking the chain of transmission of Ebola.
Furthermore, the two Heads of State described the continued stigmatisation of their nationals and consequently, the imposition of travel restrictions and suspension of flight services to the affected countries as a distraction to collective efforts in fighting the epidemic. Both presidents agreed that travel and other restrictions imposed on the three worst-hit countries should be reviewed without further delay.
In all of this one sees a clear path and determination to fend off and finally eradicate this dreadful disease. It also shows that African leaders are also anxious to tackle their problems head-on, especially following the signing of three separate joint communiques between Mauritania/African Union and GOSL; Togo/ECOWAS and GOSL and between GOSL and Guinea/MRU. All of these communiques tend toward one direction; to defeat Ebola and address post-Ebola socio-economic recovery. It shows the determination to utilize the double-edged nature of the Ebola outbreak.
Of course, there is no gainsaying about the fact that Ebola is a double-edged sword considering it’s ugly and positive side effects. Negative, because of its toll on not just the lives of of our people but also its devastating impact on our socio-economic, cultural and traditional practices. It has essentially robbed us of our humanity, an old man with great insight told me in Makeni.
But then the outbreak will end up helping to strengthen our health care delivery systems, it will engender massive awareness in personal hygiene and sanitation and also help to revamp the educational system as clearly mentioned in the presidential broadcast to the nation quite recently.
As he aptly observed during the ensuing press conference at the Presidential Lounge at the Lungi International Airport, President Koroma said that "Until Ebola is defeated in the three worst-hit countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, any national success will be less meaningful and less sustainable,"
This is why I also fervently and unflinchingly welcome the need to convene an Extraordinary Summit of MRU member states to consolidate efforts in the fight against Ebola and also drum up support for swift post-Ebola socio-economic recovery.
Editor’s Note: Here is a joint communique signed by the two leaders at the end of Professor Conde’s visit:
Joint Communique on Working and Friendly visit to the Republic of Sierra Leone of His Excellency Professor Alpha Conde.
Within the framework of the Mano River Union, His Excellency Professor Alpha Conde, President of the Republic of Guinea and, in his capacity as Chair of the Mano River Union (MRU), paid a one-day working visit to the Republic of Sierra Leone on Tuesday 10th February, 2015. The purpose of the visit was for the two Heads of State to engage in an exchange of views on progress made and remaining challenges with respect to the unprecedented outbreak of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) that has engulfed the three MRU member states and, to reflect on the national and sub-regional dimensions of post-Ebola recovery programmes.
The two Heads of State shared concerns and experiences on the scope and magnitude of the spread and impact of the Ebola outbreak on the social, economic, cultural and traditional norms and practices of their respective societies. They also discussed ways of cooperating and collaborating at all levels with a view to containing and eradicating the Ebola Virus Disease in the Mano River Union basin and, to pave the way for robust transitional as well as medium to long term socio-economic and cultural recovery programmes in the three affected countries.
Dilating on the need to strengthen security and stability on their porous borders, the leaders agreed to develop stronger synergies among the local authorities and communities along the borders in order to complement the efforts of the central government authorities.
They reflected on the longstanding and deep fraternal and family ties between the two countries and, the level of cooperation nurtured over the centuries. They pledged to deepen those historical and cultural linkages on a renewed dimension, given the kinship and ethnic commonalities existing between the two countries. The two leaders commended each other on their respective efforts to stem the Ebola menace. They thanked the international community for the support rendered to the three most affected countries in these difficult moments of the scourge and further appealed to them to scale up activities to achieve zero infection and, subsequently, eradicate the scourge in the region.
They both noted, at this point in time, the urgent need to continue their campaigns against those cultural and traditional practices that have significantly sustained the spread of the infection.
The two Heads of State described the continued stigmatization of their nationals and consequently, the imposition of travel restrictions and suspension of flight services to the affected countries. They considered these as a distraction to the collective efforts in fighting the epidemic. They also reiterated the need for those countries imposing travel and other restrictions to review their policies.
His Excellency President Alpha Conde expressed solidarity and empathy with the Government and people of Sierra Leone in these difficult moments and acknowledged, with deep appreciation, the unrelenting efforts and commitment of his Brother and Friend, President Ernest Bai Koroma, towards containing the spread of the Ebola menace, which has begun to show significant signs of decline. He reiterated his determination and commitment, both in his personal capacity and as Chairman of the MRU to collaborate with the Republics of Sierra Leone and Liberia to defeat the scourge and pave the way for these countries to regain their pre-Ebola development strides.
His Excellency President Ernest Bai Koroma on a reciprocal gesture, commended the leadership of His Excellency President Professor Alpha Conde, for his charismatic and strong leadership, as the Ebola infection rates are also receding in the sister Republic of Guinea. President Koroma agreed with his Brother and Colleague on the need to mobilize adequate financial and logistical support in order to bring the Ebola scourge to an end.
He re-echoed the appeal of his Brother and Colleague to the international community to continue to give the much needed support to the three Ebola affected countries, including budgetary support, debt cancellation, and the building of resilient Public Health Systems.
Finally, the two Heads of State extended their heartfelt condolences to all those families that have lost their loved ones in the Ebola menace.
His Excellency President Professor Alpha Conde extended his deepest appreciation to his Brother and Friend, His Excellency President Ernest Bai Koroma, for the characteristic warm and generous Sierra Leonean hospitality accorded to him and his entourage.
The two Heads of State agreed to convene an Extraordinary Summit of the Heads of State of the Mano River Union in Conakry, Republic of Guinea as soon as possible.
10th February, 2015.
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