On Friday, July 12, 2024, President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone welcomed Hajj pilgrims and observed the first Juma prayers at State House in Freetown. Chief Imam Shiek Kutubu Konneh delivered a sermon urging pilgrims to act as agents of peace and ambassadors of nation-building by practicing the good deeds they learned in Mecca. He also encouraged support for the government's "Feed Salone" initiative to ensure food sufficiency in the country.
Alhaji Murtada Sesay, head of the Hajj Presidential taskforce, expressed gratitude to President Bio for his support. He acknowledged the assistance from various government institutions such as the Ministry of Finance, Immigration Department, Sierra Leone Commercial Bank, and Airport Authority. Sesay reported that out of 640 pilgrims who traveled to Mecca, there was one death, reducing the number of returnees to 639.
In his address to the pilgrims, President Bio thanked the task force for ensuring a successful pilgrimage. He urged pilgrims to promote peace within their communities and highlighted the new law prohibiting child marriage. "I want to encourage you all to continue to pray for Sierra Leone and its leaders for Allah to continue to keep us in peace," he concluded.
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State House Media and Communications Unit
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