“Sierra Leone Did Not Sign Any Deal at the Main US-Africa Leaders Summit” – Popular Journalist Asserts

Popular Sierra Leonean Journalist, Amadu Lamrana Bah, who was in Washington, DC during the U.S-Africa Leaders Summit has revealed that Sierra Leone did not sign any deal at the main Summit but the country through its Embassy in Washington D.C was able to a sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a U.S. based company specialised in health technology.

The three days United States – Africa Leadership Summit convened by President Joe Biden ended last week in Washington D.C, as the U.S continued its efforts to strengthen ties with African partners based on principles of mutual respect and shared interests and values. President Julius Maada Bio was among the 49 African heads of state that were in attendance.

According to AYV’s Lamrana Bah, whilst other African countries were busy signing a variety of deals within the confines of the summit, Sierra Leone only made it to the sidelines to sign a MoU with Varian, a U.S.-based leading manufacturer of medical devices and software for treatment of cancer and related medical conditions.

Bah noted that delegations from all 49 invited African countries and the African Union, alongside members of civil society and the private sector, attended the Summit where some countries like Ivory Coast, Kenya, Angola, Zambia and others signed deals in the Deal Room at the Walter Washington Convention Centre with the Corporate Council, the leading U.S. business association focused solely on connecting business interests in Africa.

“Sierra Leone did not sign any deal at the main Summit but the country through its Embassy in Washington D.C was able to arrange a meeting between the CEO of Varian, Chris Toth, and President Bio at his Fairmont Hotel Presidential Suite that culminated to the signing of a MoU between the company and the government,” he disclosed, also posting excerpt of the paragraph on his Twitter page.

In response, the Director of Communications at State House, Michael Berewa stated that it is the Government of Sierra Leone that signed the agreement with the company, adding that it’s a legitimate deal.

“Disclaimer Amadu Lamrana Bah !! Sierra Leone memorialized a 10-year agreement (deal) with Varian, a Health & Engineering subsidiary of Siemens to collaborate on developing a top class Cancer Center of Excellence focused on screening, diagnosis, advanced treatment & training. THIS WAS A REAL DEAL!” he posted on his social media page.

According to Bah, the MoU that was signed by Sierra Leone’s Health Minister, Dr. Austin Demby, and the Varian CEO is for the construction of an advanced Cancer Centre for screening, diagnosis, advanced treatment and training but the details of what it entails and resources involved have not been made public by either party.

“HE @PresidentBio met Chris Toth, CEO Varian, a Health & Engineering subsidiary of Siemens. We memorialized a 10-year agreement to collaborate on developing a top class Cancer Center of Excellence focused on screening, diagnosis, advanced treatment & training. We Move,” he sourced a Tweet posted by Dr. Demby after the signing ceremony.

Bah revealed that Varian is the leading manufacturer of medical devices and software for treating cancer and other medical conditions with radiotherapy, radiosurgery, and brachytherapy with 40 of the top 50 cancer centers in the United States of America using Varian linear accelerators and treatment planning software.

He noted that the Company also has offices in Africa- in Algeria, Kenya and South Africa and provide services to countries with Cancer Treatment Centers in the continent.

Varian Managing Director for Radiation Oncology Solutions for Eastern Africa and Anglo West Africa, Ansu Dukuray, who is an American Sierra Leonean, described the MoU with Sierra Leone as a landmark signing that is in line with the company’s vision and mission of creating a world without fear of cancer, per Bah’s report.

He added that they were inspired by the meeting with President Bio and his call to action to curb medical tourism for cancer patients by building local capacity for cancer treatment in Sierra Leone that will benefit the citizens of Sierra Leone and neighboring countries, Guinea and Liberia.

“We pledge to work with his government to establish a cancer center of excellence that will serve as a lighthouse for the region,” he noted.

According to Lamrana Bah, the MoU is expected to be taken to Cabinet for approval and Parliament for ratification, adding that a team from Varian is expected in Freetown in February 2023 for a follow-up meeting and possible feasibility study on the project.