On Friday, 11th October 2024, Madam Isha Johansen, speaking at a Youth Leadership event organized by the Johansen team, shared her reflections on the cold reception she often receives in Sierra Leone, contrasting it with the praise she receives internationally.

The event, moderated by renowned journalist Antonia Howard, was a two-part ceremony featuring a Youth Leadership session and an interactive ‘audience-guest’ discussion with Madam Johansen. During her session, Johansen, the former president of the Sierra Leone Football Association and an activist, shared her personal journey and the many struggles she overcame to reach her current position.

Johansen emphasized that her sense of success comes not from accumulating wealth, but from the inspiration she provides to people, particularly young women around the world, who are motivated by her story of perseverance and achievement.

She further lamented that while her story is celebrated abroad, it is often undervalued at home. Rather than being embraced, her journey and efforts are met with resistance in her own country. She expressed disappointment that her voice, which has inspired so many globally, is frequently stifled in Sierra Leone.

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Nonetheless, Johansen acknowledged that the cold reception from her homeland is a price she is willing to pay for her contributions to the nation’s development, not just in sports but in other important areas as well. She humorously noted that she often chooses to ignore negative

“I am here for the greater good,” Johansen remarked earlier when introduced by Howard. She reaffirmed her commitment to facing challenges head-on, hoping her journey would inspire the youth to pursue excellence and uphold high standards in whatever they do.

“I see myself in the next ten years watching you (young people) doing what I am doing now,” she concluded with optimism.opinions, remaining focused on her mission of making a positive impact.