General
The First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Mrs. Sia Nyama Koroma, has said in Freetown that access to energy is an integral instrument in the empowerment of women in the Mano River Union and Africa as a whole.
The First Lady made this statement at the closing ceremony of a three-day conference held between 7th and 9th May 2013 at the Place Resort Conference Room on Tokeh Beach in Freetown, with the theme “Women Economic Empowerment through Energy Access in the MRU Sub-Region.”
Mrs. Koroma expressed delight not only to be part of the conference but also as a woman who is supporting gender empowerment in Sierra Leone.
She commended the Government of Sierra Leone, the Mano River Union, the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy Efficiency, the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation and the African Development Bank for jointly hosting the conference in Sierra Leone.
She further commended participants from Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone for their commitments and determinations in ensuring that they work on a formidable action plan.
“Women are crossing borders to access energy; where they do not only face language barriers but hostile attitude towards women and girls” said the First Lady.She described woman empowerment as a concern to the government and every other person, adding that herself, President Koroma and his government, have demonstrated high political commitment by adding their supports to the high level conference.
Mrs. Koroma assured the women that the commitment shown by the Government of Sierra Leone will be seen in all areas and that the action plan from the conference will not be left on the table to gather dust but will be implemented accordingly.
Head of the Liberian Team at the conference, Dr. Ruth Caesar described the conference as timely and important to women across MRU countries. She commended the Government of Sierra Leone for spearheading the conference, whilst maintaining that the conference is strategic to MRU countries. She said it will help them to come up with a strategic framework in addressing issues of women and energy.
Dr. Caesar assured her country’s commitment in ensuring the promotion of women and also in ensuring that they come up with a formidable action plan at the end of the conference.
A representative from the Ministry of Solidarity Family, Women and Children’s Affairs of Ivory Coast, Madam Tanau, said her country and president are committed in empowering women at all levels and the need to integrate gender in their governance system.
Secretary-General of the Mano River Union, Madam Ambassador Haja Dr. Saran Daraba Kaba commended President Koroma and First Lady Sia Koroma for active participation in making the conference a success.
Dr. Kaba used the forum to appeal to the First Lady of Sierra Leone to incorporate access to energy for women in her programmes, so as to give it the prominence it deserves.
The conference was climaxed with the signing of a Communiqué by the four MRU countries present.