By Politico Staff Writer
Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio has on Thursady 22nd April toured Old Fourah Bay College building at Cline town in the east end of Freetown and the National Railway Museum, two prominent sites and Monuments in Freetown
The visit is part of his ongoing drive to revitalize the country’s tourism sector and make Sierra Leone a tourist attraction center in the sub region and the world at large.
Built in 1827, the college building was one of the first efforts by the British Christian philanthropist group, the Church Missionary Society at introducing western education and ideas into West Africa. It would later move from its nascent stage to its chequered growth into the expansive university college, more popularly identified globally as the ‘Athens of West Africa’.
The Sierra Leone National Railway Museum was opened in 2005 in the old railway workshop in the Cline Town area of Freetown, by the late President Ahmed Tejan Kabba. Established in 1895, the old railway business started its first passenger train service to the provinces in 1898 but was closed in 1975.
Speaking during the tour, the Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Memunatu Pratt, said that Sierra Leone was known for important monuments in education, slave trade, colonialism and many more, adding that President Julius Maada Bio had revived the tourism sector not only by improving its beaches but also its monuments, thereby making tourism a backbone of economic diversification in the country.
“Today, this is going to change a big narrative in the tourism and cultural industry of the country. It will convince people that Sierra Leone is not only open for business, but it is also ready for tourism,” she observed.
She further disclosed that government had also allocated additional funds to restore the image of the old Fourah Bay College building.
“The Embassy of the United States of America has committed to providing funds through the World Memorial Day to refurbish this edifice,” she noted.
In his statement, President Bio described the occasion as a great day because it would bring back the attention of what made Sierra Leone the ‘Athens of West Africa’, adding that his government was leading the way to resuscitating and reenergizing the image of the country.
He further stated that Sierra Leoneans are resilient people coming from colonialism, war, ebola, mudslide and the ongoing coronavirus.
“With my leadership and with your resilience as a people, we are going to make Sierra Leone a nation that we will all be proud of,” he assured.
He said his government was focused on human capital development and that the greatest resource the nation had was its people, which was why he would continue to make education a priority. He said they would take advantage of the Fourth Industrial Revolution that would transform the narratives, the mindset of citizens, restore the glory of the cradle and symbol of education in Africa.
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online 26/04/21
