March 17, 2016 By John Baimba Sesay, Information Attaché, PR China
President Ernest Bai Koroma on 13th March 2016, appointed Hon Alimamy Petito Koroma as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the People’s Republic of China.
Hon. Alimamy P. Koroma comes in with a wealth of administrative and political experience having served as the country’s Minister of Trade and Industry, and, Minister of Works, Housing, and Infrastructure. He is currently the governing APC’s Chairman in Kambia District, one of the electoral strongholds of the party.
In October 2007, he was appointed Minister of Trade and Industry by President Koroma and three years later in 2010, was appointed works minister where he served until 2013.
He was a Member of Parliament following his election during the 2007 Presidential and Parliamentary elections where he served briefly and got appointed as Minister.
Hon. Koroma was, before entering mainstream politics, General Secretary, Council of Churches in Sierra Leone. He was born into a fervent Islamic family; but he later converted to Christianity – rising up to become the executive head of the umbrella organization of Christians in Sierra Leone, the Council of Churches of Sierra Leone. Thus, he symbolizes the vaunted religious tolerance of Sierra Leone.
As head of the CCSL, Hon. Koroma played a key role in the formation of the Inter-Religious Council of Sierra Leone, a body which brought Muslims and Christians together in one organization, in 1997, at the height of the Civil War in Sierra Leone.
The Inter-Religious Council of Sierra Leone, it was, that in 1999, brokered the Lomé Peace Accord leading to efforts that brought an end to Sierra Leone’s Civil War.
As the country’s Minister of Works and Infrastructure, the country rolled-out the largest road construction programme ever in its history.
The position was last held by Ambassador Victor Foh, who was last year appointed as Vice President of the Republic of Sierra Leone.
China is a strategic partner of Sierra Leone as both countries have long lasting ties not only at the diplomatic, but also at the political and people-to-people levels.