Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio was last evening 20 October 2023 honored with the title of “African President of the Year 2023” at the 8th London Political Summit and Awards (LPSA) event held at the prestigious and resplendent Capthorne Tara in Scarsdale, London.
The three-day summit commenced on October 18, 2023, with a parliamentary session hosted by the Rt Hon. Paul Bristow, MP for Peterborough. This segment, which took place inside the British House of Parliament, delved into the theme: “How can the People, Politics, and Power Sustain Peace?”
Her Excellency, Professor Pauline Long, an AUGP Nobel Peace Prize recipient, moderated the event. Panelists included the Sierra Leone High Commissioner to the United Kingdom H.E. Dr. Morie Komba Manyeh; Professor Kishan Devani BEM, President of the International Relations of the Entrepreneurs Club; the Rt Hon. Paul Bristow, MP for Peterborough; Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State; Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, former Governor of Akwa Ibom State; and the Rt Hon. Jonathan Michael Graham Ashworth, the MP for Leicester South.
The culmination of the three-day summit, (which included a second-day Mayoral session in the London borough of Southwark, hosted by His Worshipful Mayor, Clr. Michael Situ, the Mayor of Southwark), took place in the evening of October 20, 2023.
In accepting the “African President of the Year 2023” award on behalf of H.E. President Julius Maada Bio, Dr. Morie Manyeh expressed gratitude to the LPSA conveners for recognizing a president who has reestablished Sierra Leone on the global map of education, given greater confidence and more hope to Sierra Leonean women in society, and removed historical legal barriers to democracy and good governance, such as the elimination of the Libel Laws and the Death Penalty.
Ambassador Manyeh pointed out that after the very successful implementation of the Free Quality Education policy, H.E. President Julius Maada Bio is now embarking on another significant component of his Human Capital Development Agenda—a revolutionary agricultural undertaking set to collaborate with citizens in producing enough food for the nation as well as for export.
Despite facing its own battles with the global challenges, Sierra Leone, under President Bio’s leadership, has maintained peace and cohesion through commendable inclusive policy choices and insightful leadership. In its 2023 Global Peace Index, the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), the world’s leading measure of global peacefulness, placed Sierra Leone as the 3rd most peaceful country in sub-Saharan Africa and the 47th most peaceful country globally.
Dr. Manyeh encouraged political and business leaders to explore the investor-friendly environment and outstanding business opportunities in Sierra Leone to do business in the country.
It is worthy to point out that this marks the second time H.E. President Bio has been honored by the LPSA. In 2021, he received the “West African President of the Year 2021” award.
Since its establishment in 2016, the LPSA has served as a vital platform for addressing contemporary social and political issues, and for recognizing the positive works of business and political leaders on the African continent as well as in the diaspora.
This is in sync with the primary objective of the London Political Summit which endeavours to advance political order, promote peace, and good governance through dialogue and cooperation, facilitate meaningful investment, and strengthen international partnerships.
Participants at these annual summits include Presidents/Heads of Governments, Community and Business Leaders, Academics, Thought Leaders, and Civil Society Organizations.
Past recipients in the national leadership category comprise His Excellency Uhuru Kenyatta, former President of Kenya; His Excellency the Rt Hon. Raila Amoo Odinga, former Prime Minister of Kenya; His Excellency Dr. Prof. Peter Arthur Mutharika, former President of Malawi; and His Excellency Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, the current president of Malawi.
This year’s LPSA recipients in other categories include the Rt Hon. Jonathan Michael Graham Ashworth (UK Parliamentarian of the Year 2023), Cllr. Michael Situ, The Worshipful Mayor of Southwark (London Borough Mayor of the Year 2023), and several other business and community leaders who have made a positive impact in Africa and/or in the UK.
His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio, the revered Chairperson of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) of Heads of State and Government of the African Union and the ZAWYA “African Person of the Year 2022,” continues to garner numerous national and international accolades, as he strives to place Sierra Leone on the best of impactful global maps. This latest recognition as “African President of the Year 2023”, from the LPSA, is a welcome addition to a distinguished collection which is set to grow!
Abdulai Braima
Information Attaché,
SLHC- London.
