Armchair critics of the New Direction Administration often blindly describe President Bio’s Overseas travel as “Another waste of the country’s resources on unnecessary Overseas trips” deliberately ignoring huge donor support that usually follows such visits.

They shamelessly expect President Bio to to be permanently glued on his chair at State House and expect rapid Socio-economic development in a country that experienced total retrogression under the last Administration of crooks.

Firstly a President travels in a bid to strengthen bilateral relationships with other states.

Secondly, there are travels that are statutory. As part of a regional or global institution, it is by law required of Heads of State to attend summits like ECOWAS, UNGA, AU and most recently the US-Africa Leaders Summit among others.

Unlike the EBK delegations to global and regional summits in the past, President Bio’s delegation to these summits have been comparatively small, without concubines or political stooges. Depending on the nature of the visit, President Bio’s delegation have always comprised ministers or heads of parastatals for very obvious reasons.

However not all conferences or summits are attended by President Bio. Ambassadors or High Commissioners also represent Sierra Leone.

President Bio does not go on pleasure trips but travels for strategic interest.