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President
Yahya Jammeh of Gambia financially helped Sierra Leone at the height of the Ebola epidemic
in August last year ©Issouf Sanogo (AFP)
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Sierra Leone honoured the
Gambia's President Yahya Jammeh at an awards ceremony on Friday recognizing the
outstanding contribution of those at home and abroad who helped the country
defeat Ebola.
Gambia's
controversial leader, frequently the source of diplomatic spats on the
international stage, was awarded a gold medal for his financial support during
the outbreak by Sierra Leone's President Ernest Bai Koroma.
AFP report continues:
The
sum involved was not mentioned in the citation, although Jammeh's office
announced at the height of the epidemic in August last year it was handing over
US$500,000 (€380,000 euros).
Jammeh
did not attend the ceremony outside the State House in Freetown, instead
sending his health minister Umaru Sei to pick up the award.
It
was among 199 gold, silver and bronze medals handed to African and
international charities, British, Chinese and Cuban diplomatic officials, the
United Nations and aid workers.
The
World Health Organization declared on November 7 that Sierra Leone's Ebola
outbreak was over, after it had killed almost 4,000 citizens.
The
former British colony recorded half of the cases in an Ebola epidemic that has
infected a reported 28,600 people across the three hardest-hit nations, with
Guinea and Liberia still awaiting the all-clear.
"We
are delighted that the work done by people to fight the disease has been recognized
by the state," said Sally Koroma, a farmer from eastern Sierra Leone who
lost her husband, three children and 18 other relations.
The
smallest country in mainland Africa, flanked on both sides by Senegal, the
Gambia is frequently criticized for human rights abuses and has a chequered
recent diplomatic record.
In
2007 Jammeh booted out a United Nations envoy for questioning his supposed
herbal "cure" for AIDS.
Three
years later, the European Union -- the country's top aid donor -- cancelled 22
million euros (US$27 million) in budget support because of concerns over human
rights and governance issues.
In October 2013 Gambia
withdrew from the Commonwealth and then accused the United States and former
colonial power Britain of leading a "shameless campaign of lying"
about its rights record.
Meanwhile
Cocorioko reports that the Ebola Awards Ceremony which has just been concluded
at the forecourt of State House is aimed at recognizing deserving persons and organizations
for their invaluable contributions to the fight against the Ebola epidemic in
Sierra Leone.
There
are 199 awards in total, including 16 posthumous awards. The awards fall under
three categories – Gold, Silver and Bronze. President Koroma, the First Lady
Mrs. Sia Nyama Koroma, the Speaker of Parliament Sheku BB Dumbuya, the Deputy
Speaker Chernoh Bah, the Majority Leader of the House of Parliament Ibrahim
Bundu, cabinet ministers and senior government officials were in attendance.
A
host of other personalities who were in attendance include the Chief of Defence
Staff Major General S.O. Williams, the Inspector General of Police Francis A.
Munu, Representative of President Professor Yayah A JJ Jammeh of the Republic
of The Gambia, the Chairman and Leader of the Sierra Leone People’s Party Chief
Sumano Kapen and the Minority Whip of the House of Parliament Hon. Sidie Tunis.
Of the 16 posthumous awards
conferred, 11 were given to the doctors who succumbed to the Ebola virus,
including the late Dr. Sheik Humarr Khan, Dr. Olivette Miranda Buck, Dr.
Modupeh John Horatio Cole, Dr. Martin Salia, Dr. Victor R. Willoughby, Dr. Aiah
Solomon Konoyima, Dr. Sahr Jimmy Rogers, Dr. Godfrey Alexander George, Dr. T.
T. Rogers, Dr. Dauda A. B. Koroma, and Dr. Moses Michael Kargbo. A good number
of military and police officers received awards in recognition to the Ebola
fight. Congratulations to all.
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