Ambassador Philip Bob Jusu and senior Embassy colleagues on Wednesday 16 July held a productive inaugural meeting with the Honorary Consuls for Luxembourg, Ghent, and The Hague. Their discussions centred on strengthening partnerships and advancing collaborative initiatives.
Ambassador Jusu began by expressing his gratitude to the Consuls for attending this foundational meeting, which aims to chart a course for repositioning Sierra Leone in their various jurisdictions. He then reflected on Sierra Leone’s evolution since 2002, drawing attention to its consistent democratic transitions and a commendable progress since the civil war ended.
Ambassador Jusu noted that Sierra Leone possesses a wealth of forward-thinking leaders committed to transforming the country. He pinpointed several areas essential within the government’s Big 5 game changers for moving Sierra Leone forward, inviting the Honorary Consuls to join forces with him.
On the subject of the diaspora, the Ambassador expressed his keen desire to work closely with this community, recognising their contributions beyond financial remittances. He underlined how important it is to engage the diaspora and harness their skills and resources for Sierra Leone’s advancement. Ambassador Jusu also informed the Consuls about the establishment of the Diaspora Advisory Committee and a dedicated Diaspora ‘basket fund’ for Sierra Leonean interns at the Mission.
Deputy Ambassador Mrs Asmaa James underscored the necessity of teamwork, advising the Consuls not to work in isolation but to involve the embassy, particularly concerning trade and investment prospects for Sierra Leone. She emphasised the mutual support needed between the Embassy and the Consuls, asserting that as a new team, they are determined to succeed for the President and people of Sierra Leone.
The three Honorary Consuls—Ms Marianne Nati-Stoffel (Luxembourg), Ms Antonniette Mutusa (The Hague), and Mr Verbraekel Sebastien (East and West Flanders, Ghent)—expressed their appreciation to the Ambassador and his team for initiating the meeting.
They stressed the need to cultivate relationships and form alliances to back Sierra Leone’s progress. They further highlighted the need for clear communication and backing from the Embassy to endorse and facilitate diaspora-led initiatives.
Head of Chancery Jonathan Las-Lamin warmly welcomed the Consuls to this initial engagement and looks forward to many more interactions with them.
