Sierra Leone Chancery, Riyadh, Friday, November 8, 2024
The Embassy of the Republic of Sierra Leone in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Thursday, 7th November, 2024 organized a farewell ceremony in honour of the outgoing Deputy Ambassador of Sierra Leone to Saudi Arabia, Alhaji Mohamed Hassan Koroma, who assumed office in 2019.
Ambassador Koroma was awarded a distinguished plaque during the sendoff ceremony at the Chancery in recognition of his five years outstanding service to the Embassy of the Republic of Sierra Leone to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Bidding farewell to the departing Deputy Chief of Mission, the outgoing Ambassador of the Embassy of Sierra Leone in Saudi Arabia, Dr. Ibrahim Jalloh, started off by thanking the Almighty Allah for making it possible for him and his deputy to serve as envoys of Sierra Leone.
He expressed his profound gratitude to His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio for appointing them from among the many competent Sierra Leoneans to serve “for more than two tours of duty as Ambassador and Deputy Ambassador respectively,”adding that “our appointment is for 2 years as stated in our appointment letters, and we were fortunate to serve for almost 6 years, of which we are very grateful to the President,” Ambassador Jalloh said.
He noted that it was a pleasure working with Alhaji Koroma as his deputy for the past 5 years, describing him as an elder brother whom he had a cordial relationship with in cementing the bilateral ties between Sierra Leone and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
He expressed optimism that their successors would further deepen the bilateral relations between Sierra Leone and Saudi Arabia.
On his part, the outgoing Deputy Ambassador of the Embassy, Ambassador Mohamed Hassan Koroma, thanked Allah for making it possible for him and Ambassador Jalloh to serve as envoys of Sierra Leone to the Kingdom. He said his appointment gave him the opportunity to fulfil the fifth pillar of Islam by performing the Hajj pilgrimage in 2019.
He expressed his profound thanks and appreciation to President Bio for appointing him to serve his country.
Recalling during the times when the SLPP was in opposition, Ambassador Koroma praised his wife, Haja Kadie Koroma, whom he said brought him into politics. He commended the Head of Chancery, Alhaji Ahmed Tejan Kabba and the entire staff of the Embassy, for the great work they have been doing especially during Hajj.
The departing envoy urged the staff of the Embassy to remain united and work as a team for the greater good of all.
Earlier, in his opening remarks as chairman of the ceremony, the Head of Chancery (HOC), Alhaji Ahmed Tejan Kabba, said the Embassy thought it necessary to organise a farewell ceremony in honour of Alhaji Koroma and to celebrate and appreciate his remarkable work in Saudi Arabia, and to wish him the best of luck as he departs the Kingdom.
“The duty of our Deputy Chief of Mission, Ambassador Alhaji Mohamed Hassan Koroma has come to an end, and like all diplomats, our tour of duties has fixed terms. When your tour ends, another envoy takes over to continue the work. So, we are gathered here today, to show our profound appreciation and gratitude to Ambassador Koroma for his distinguished service to this Mission,” Mr. Kabba said.
In a brief statement, the incoming Deputy Ambassador of Siera Leone to Saudi Arabia, Abdul Aziz Turay, commended his predecessor, Alhaji Koroma and the outgoing Ambassador Dr. Ibrahim Jalloh for their tremendous work during the past 6 years as top envoys of Sierra Leone. He said he and his boss, Ambassador Mohamed S. Barrie, would be cementing the solid foundation and gains the outgoing Ambassadors and their predecessors had built between Sierra Leone and Saudi Arabia.
“We are here because of your remarkable work, and the good work of our predecessors. We rely on the networks you had built and we will reach out to you as and when needed,” he concluded.
Alhaji Ibrahim Koi-Dowui, on behalf of the local staff of the Mission, said it was great working with Alhaji Mohamed Koroma and wished him the best in his future endeavors.
“I came to know Mr. Koroma in 2018 during the election campaigns in Sierra Leone which ushered the SLPP to power and since then, he has been an elder brother.”
He said Ambassador Koroma’s humility, generosity and selflessness were beyond measure. He also expressed his profound appreciation to Ambassador Koroma’s wife, Haja Kadie Koroma, whom he described as a sister that has been very supportive to his husband.
For more enquiries:
Abubakarr Bah, Information Attaché, Embassy of Sierra Leone, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Email information.attache@sa.slembassy.gov.sl
