Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. President Julius Maada Bio’s decision to miss Sierra Leone’s Independence Day celebration in order to attend the funeral of the late Pope Francis in Rome has drawn public concern.
Thomas Moore Conteh, a civil society and human rights advocate, has raised questions about the president’s choice and what it means for national priorities.
Conteh, who is Executive Director of the Citizens’ Advocacy Network, said while no law forces the president to attend Independence Day events, his absence on such a historic day sends a strong message.
“There’s no law that says the president must be present during Independence Day,” Conteh said. “But out of respect for the people when you’re celebrating your country’s independence, that’s one of the most historic days in any nation’s life.”
He explained that Independence Day is a time for leadership to reflect and connect with the people.
“The leadership and the government should be open to those moments,” he said. “These are days when leaders are expected to examine themselves whether they’ve been truthful to the people, whether the promises they made years ago have been achieved to a large extent, what challenges still exist, and what plans they have in place.”
Myk Berewa, Director of Communications at the Office of the President, said the president had to attend the funeral because the Pope was close to him someone who called and prayed for him.
The reason the president was not in the country for Sierra Leone’s Independence Day celebration is that he attended the Pope’s funeral.
In response, Conteh said, “It’s a matter of priority. The president considered the Pope’s funeral more important, even though it clashed with our country’s Independence Day.”
“Yes, the president hasn’t committed any offence and didn’t break any law,” he added. “But it’s about where his priorities lie.”
Conteh said that if he were in the president’s position, he would have chosen to remain in the country for the celebration.
“If I were president, I would have stayed for the country’s anniversary celebration,” he said. “It’s a very important event for rekindling the spirit of our poor citizens people who look up to their leaders to lift them from the doorsteps of underdevelopment to the hope they’ve been promised.”
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