His Worship the Mayor of Bo City, Kobba Musa has called on both the United States Embassy in Sierra Leone and the British High Commission to Sierra Leone to join hands with the Bo City Council and develop the city and the lives of the residents.
He made this clarion call in meetings held with the United States of America’s Ambassador to Sierra Leone and the British High Commissioner to Sierra Leone on Wednesday 1st November, 2023.
Welcoming the foreign diplomats in two different meetings held at the Provincial Secretary South’s conference room in Bo, Mayor Kobba Musa stated that Bo City is a relatively peaceful destination in the country, adding that his people pride peace over violence.
Mayor Musa in an array, presented challenges of the city to each foreign diplomats, which he called on them to aid the City Council in salvaging. “Key to the problems we have are the unavailability of waste fleets and finance to clean the city,” cried the Mayor. He stressed that the city is expanding in population daily and that means waste generation increases with it; thus, these challenges make it almost impossible to properly manage the generated wastes.
His Worship the Mayor of Bo City also registered that proper healthcare in the city is also a problem, more for women and children. Among many other things, Mayor Kobba Musa appealed for scholarship opportunities for young people of Bo City as that shall “enhance the human capital development” of the city and the country in entirety. “The more our youths are capacitated, the more they can contribute to the growth and development of the city and country,” the Mayor stated.
The United States of America’s Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Bryan Hunt registered that since he came to the country, he has noticed that “Sierra Leone is bigger than Freetown,” thus the reason he and team are in Bo to meet with the people to familiarize with the authorities, know their operations, challenges and see how the US embassy can intervene. He informed the Mayor and other City, district and provincial stakeholders present that the Embassy has heard their cries and shall give them a thought.
On her part, the British High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, Lisa Chesney MBE informed the gathering that the British government is deeply connected with Sierra Leone and Bo City, and as such, whatever happens to Bo or Sierra Leone affects them equally. Chesney also remarked that the requests of the City Mayor are noted and that her Commission shall look into and see if the concerns fall within their purview for intervention and shall revert. “Mr. Mayor, this shall not be the last meeting between us as we look forward to much more collaboration with you, your council and the people of Bo city,” the British High Commissioner to Sierra Leone informed.
The meetings were held with the Resident Minister South, Mohamed E.K. Alie, Provincial Secretary South, Moses M. Gbetu, Bo District Council Chairman, Victor Korseh Hindowa, his deputy and his Chief Administrator, as well as staff of the Provincial Secretary’s office being in attendance.