Rabat, Saturday, 8th February 2025: Sierra Leone Ambassador accredited to the Kingdom of Morocco, His Excellency Alhaji Momodu Koroma, has informed the Speaker of Parliament, the Rt. Hon Segepoh Solomon Thomas, that the diplomatic ties between Sierra Leone and Morocco have been exceptionally fruitful, adding that there are several opportunities to tap into. Ambassador Koroma made the statement when the Speaker and his delegation paid a courtesy visit to the Sierra Leone Embassy in Rabat on Saturday, 8th February 2025.
The Speaker and delegation arrived in Morocco on Wednesday, 5th February 2025, to attend a four-day high-level meeting of Speakers of Parliament from the Atlantic African States in Rabat, Morocco, which started on Wednesday, 5th, and ended on Saturday, 8th February 2025, where he also made a statement.
Updating the speaker on the enjoyable diplomatic relationship between Sierra Leone and Morocco, His Excellency Alhaji Momodu Koroma said that the Moroccan counterparts are going beyond the normal diplomatic calls to ensure that they give their best to Sierra Leone in terms of diplomatic relations. According to Ambassador Koroma, the government of Morocco had proven on many occasions that they care and cherish the diplomatic relations they have with Sierra Leone. He disclosed that the government of Morocco had also opened a mission in Sierra Leone with plans to expand it in Freetown.
Ambassador Koroma intimated to Speaker Thomas that Sierra Leone has not fully exploited the vast opportunities offered by Morocco. He reiterated that the Moroccan government offers one hundred and five (105) scholarships to Sierra Leone every year but said the challenges that hinder Sierra Leone from making use of the scholarships are the language barrier. He said Sierra Leone has had an agreement with the Moroccan government to train Sierra Leoneans for six months in the French language on a pro bono basis.
Ambassador Koroma pleaded with Speaker Thomas to engage pertinent MDAs to ensure that Sierra Leoneans benefit from the opportunities the Moroccan government is offering, especially regarding the scholarships that are being offered to us. He called on the government to make a special offer to the Moroccan government to invest in the Fish Harbour, which he said would boost the socio-economic fabric of Sierra Leone.
Ambassador Koroma told Speaker Thomas that the embassy is planning to meet with and lobby some private farmers in Morocco to help invest in President Julius Maada Bio’s flagship Programme which is agriculture. Ambassador Koroma assured the Speaker that his mission has had an agreement with the Moroccan government on fisheries, education, and tourism, adding that the Moroccan government is ready to honour these agreements.
Mesmerized with the updates from the Sierra Leone Ambassador to Morocco, the Rt. Hon. Speaker Segepoh Solomon Thomas said that President Julius Maada Bio’s government is very pleased with the work of the Sierra Leone Embassy in Morocco. He thanked the ambassador and staff for the memorable reception accorded his delegation.
The Speaker assured Ambassador Koroma that when he returns home, he will invite all the respective MDAs to a meeting to ensure that Sierra Leone benefits from these scholarships. He pointed out that the language barrier is one of the things that hinders the progress of the nation but appreciated the Moroccan government for agreeing to train the students on the French language.
He told Ambassador Koroma to write down all the agreements or opportunities so that the Sierra Leone government would take the necessary moves to tap into those opportunities from the government of Morocco. “These are good offers, so why can’t we pick them up? It might be on the tables of some civil servants being ignored, but they will look at them. I will inform the president of all that we discussed,” Speaker Thomas said.
Meanwhile, the Speaker and delegation have departed the Kingdom of Morocco on Sunday, 9th February 2025.
Aminaash Nyande Brima, Information Attaché, Sierra Leone Embassy, Rabat, Morocco
