Sierra Leone: President Koroma opens 51st Ahmadiyya Conference

In his keynote address and formal opening of the conference, President Koroma paid glowing tribute to the work of the Ahmadiyya Mission in Sierra Leone. He noted that over the years the Mission has intervened in the educational and health sectors of the country and the signs of their good work are visible for all to see.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | Int'l Desk
Source/Credit: Sierra Leone Express Media
By State House Communications | February 11, 2012

Bo, Southern Sierra Leone: In keeping with his policy of religious tolerance, President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma officially opened the 51st Jalsa Salana of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission in Bo on Friday 3rd February, 2012.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, which stands for the brotherhood of mankind and strives to establish peace on earth through love, persuasion and tolerance, was founded in 1889 in a small town Qadian, in Punjab, India. Its founder, Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835-1908) claimed to be the Promised Reformer of the age.

The Annual Conference of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at is aimed at not only promoting increasing knowledge and understanding of the teachings of Islam and gain all forms of blessings to enable Muslims to become better Ahmadi Muslims, but also infuse in them a new spirit of faith and Taqwa (fear of Allah) and are enabled to go forth and serve the Jama’at and the cause of Islam with renewed fervor and energy.


In his keynote address and formal opening of the conference, President Koroma paid glowing tribute to the work of the Ahmadiyya Mission in Sierra Leone. He noted that over the years the Mission has intervened in the educational and health sectors of the country and the signs of their good work are visible for all to see. In education, the Ahmadiyya Mission has built 187 primary schools and 53 secondary schools all across the country, the president disclosed and advised the Ahmadiyya Jama’at to send their children to school. He also noted that because of the intervention of the Ahmadiyyat in the health sector, many lives have been saved.

President Koroma informed the Jama’at that the recently concluded Conference on Development and Transformation focused on peace as the “palm oil with which development is eaten”. He thanked the Ahmadiyya Mission for their role in strengthening the peace and orderliness that the country so crave for to propel development and alleviating the lives of the people. He enjoined the Sierra Leonean people to unite and put aside hatredness, be tolerant, love and respect each other for development to move on.

Bishop J.C. Humper of the Sierra Leone Inter-Religious Council called on all Sierra Leoneans to be tolerant and peaceful, “Love for all, hatred for none,” he pleaded.

Another firebrand of the Inter-Religious Council, Alhaji U.N.S. Jah observed that Ahmadiyys are much disciplined, and “without discipline”, he said, “a nation cannot move”. Alhaji U.N.S. Jah said that the presence of President Koroma at the ceremony was a very good thing and noted that obeying the president is an edict of Allah.

President Koroma described the massive turn out as an indication that there is unity among the Muslim Umaah in Bo.

The president reaffirmed this commitment to continue to promote religious tolerance in Sierra Leone. He gave the parable of man whose brother was a surgeon but whenever he performs an operation, the patient will die, while another surgeon, although a stranger performs operations with dexterity and saves lives. “Will you continue to go along with your surgeon brother against the stranger? The mammoth crowd thunderously replied NOOOO!

  --Edited for space


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