August 8, 2018
By Regina Pratt
Amb. Alhaji Brima Elvis Koroma is Sierra Leone’s new envoy to Senegal
The newly appointed Ambassador to Senegal, Alhaji Brima Elvis Koroma, has in an exclusive chat with Concord Times remarked that ‘patience is golden’ and that it flows from ‘hard work and perseverance’.
“Whatever you believe in, continue to pursue with all your power and don’t look for reward as only God can reward those who work hard,” he noted.
Before his appointment, Ambassador Koroma was the Director of External Relations of the ruling Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) and a member of the party for over 25 years, holding membership as patron.
He started as a grassroots member of the party and rose through the ranks as Zonal Chairman at Brookfields to Constituency Chairman, Administrative Director and later Director of External Relations.
“I have been very much overwhelmed after being appointed through patience as I’m now going to Senegal as Sierra Leone’s Ambassador, flying the green, white and blue flag. Perseverance made me to achieve such position. I am calling on everyone to work together for the good of the party and the country as we are all brothers and sisters,” he said.
He disclosed that before going into politics he was a teacher for more than 13 years, having graduated with a degree in English and French from Fourah Bay College.
Ambassador Koroma further disclosed that he later travelled to Cote d’Ivoire, where he took refresher course in French and returned in 1986 and continued teaching.
“In 1991, I registered as an Executive Member of the SLPP and I was elected as Zonal Chairman in 1995 and constituency chairman in 1998, going through the interregnum and the 1999 invasion in the city,” he explained.
He admitted things had not been easy while in opposition as they suffered tremendous violence as a party from the previous government.
The teacher-cum-diplomat noted that sometimes human being face challenges because of their frailties, adding “if we are able and resilient to go through those challenges, we always conquer. Politics needs thick skin and not light skin people.”
“While being appointed in 2017 as Director of External Relations, which falls within the purview of the position I am now holding as an Ambassador to Senegal, I was able to rise up to the situation and move on with our party. Even though I was dismissed, I did not leave the party but worked harder for us to be successful. Don’t look for rewards because it is only God that can reward us. It is not the face that matters but what comes from the mouth, so let us work diligently for the progress of our party,” he waxes philosophical.
Meanwhile, in his contribution during the approval of High Commissioners, Ambassadors and other presidential appointees, Leader of the main opposition All People’s Congress in Parliament, Hon. Chernoh Maju Bah, said he had known Alhaji Koroma for over 30 years and that he would vouch for his patriotism and commitment to serve in whatever capacity.