MINISTER CHERNOR BAH RECEIVES HERIOC WELCOME IN PATERNAL HOMETOWN

MINISTER CHERNOR BAH RECEIVES HERIOC WELCOME IN PATERNAL HOMETOWN

NEWS STORY BY ALIMAMY LAHAI KAMARA

Minister of information and Civic Education has paid a visit to his paternal hometown in Bonthe Island, spending his Christmas with his people there. He first visited mainland Mattru Jong where he was welcomed by throngs of people who had come to receive and cheer a brother, whose father breathed life right at the Bonthe municipal hospital. These visits came months after a similar visit was made to Jimmi Bagbo in his maternal hometown in Bo, south of Sierra Leone. 

Chernor Bah’s delegation comprised deputy ministers of Finance and Agriculture, members of Parliament, former Vice President Victor Bockarie Foh, host of government functionaries, family members and friends. 

At the mainland, Deputy Minister ‘2’ of Finance Bockarie Kalokoh recalled he had known the Minister for over ten years and understood him as someone that ‘dwells with the common man, inspires the youth, and supports the wellbeing and growth of the masses’. For him, the appointment of Chernor Bah, like himself, should be a confirmation that the SLPP government is inclusive, consultative, and productive. Bockarie Kalokoh hailed from Binkolo in the North.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Theresa Dick said she was impressed with Chernor, amazed at the manner he managed information during and after the November 26 failed coup. She said she was proud when she realized that the minister was from Bonthe, noting that the district had produced performers serving the people of Sierra Leone.

Youth Leader would not cease his amusement for so slim-looking Chernor whom they were expecting to be some towering figure with looks of impossibility to access, impossibility of shaking hands with, and impossibility of exchanging smiles and laughter and hugs. ‘He was the first to hug me, walked me into some corner, and thanked me for representing young people of the district. I was shocked with mouth half open, eyes winked abnormally, and words in my conversation with him concealed their audibility in utter unbelievability about whether I was discussing with a minister. He was so simple, so traditional in dress, so humble and respectful, and he interacts well. He listens, he discusses, and entreats to addressing our challenges,’ Mohamed Bondo said. 

The Minster’s reception at Bonthe Island was like a fiesta – a Christmas jamboree where crowds of people filled the jetty and scattered about in confused mass along Medina Street. And the long march to council hall, with full entertainment by traditional drummers, demonstrated love and clannishness unseen anywhere. 

The whole of council including the mayors and the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, and Paramount Chiefs of Sittia, Bendu-Cha, and Imperi chiefdoms showed their reception for a brother who came to pay homage to his kindred and join the queue of the few who were giving back to the Island. According to Sengepoh Thomas, Deputy Speaker of Parliament it had been a huge fight in the search for development programmes for the district. His hope was that with Chernor, who was so close to the President, much would be achieved for Bonthe Island.   

In addressing the people, the Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah, first acknowledged the astuteness of former vice president Victor Foh for traveling to the island with him, for inspiring him to lead from the front, and for reinforcing the view that a successful politician was he who lived with his people. ‘I have come to live with you, discuss with you, and initiate with you programmes that will facilitate development to our district and our chiefdoms and our villages,’ Chernor Bah said. 

He said he was impressed with the remarkable development that had taken place in both Mattru Jong and on the Island in terms of road construction, water supply, and electricity. He praised construction of the Bo-Mattru Road, Yargoi jetty and the Senehun-crossing Point Bridge, describing them as the tangibles of development marking the legacy of President Bio. He would join stakeholders in the monitoring of those projects and supporting in ways he could for their speedy completion.

The Minister addressed groups after groups at both mainland and island, distributing the President’s Christmas package to his people, assuring them that the President would join them the sooner it was convenient for him.