President Koroma of Sierra Leone Receives ‘Icon of democracy’ Award

By Elvis Iruh
President Koroma recieves his award from The Voice magazine
President Koroma recieves his award from The Voice magazine

Sierra Leone's President, H.E Ernest Bai Koroma has proudly received The Voice Magazine Achievers 'Icon of democracy' award in the Netherlands. President Koroma won the award in November 2013 but he could not attend the ceremony due to personal reasons. He therefore assured the organizers that he would personally receive his award and in April 2014 he officially received his award while visiting the Netherlands during a town hall meeting with Sierra Leoneans in the city of The Hague.
In his statement before handing over the award to His Excellency, President Koroma, the Voice Magazine's Editor-in-Chief, Nigeria-born, Pastor Elvis Ndubuisi Iruh said, 'whilst we've been searching for an icon in Africa, we made a thorough and effective research in the entire continent and the bulk falls on the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma'.
Giving a brief background of The Voice Magazine in Holland, Pastor Elvis informed that the magazine was established in 1999 at a time when there was practically nothing to refer to as a news medium for Africans in the Netherlands.
The Voice News Magazine he added became a relief to thousands of Africans. Pastor Iruh added “14 years ago with our formidable team, we have not only proved the cynics wrong, but have emerged as a media platform to be reckoned with”.
According to the Voice Magazine Editor-in-Chief, from the Voice Magazine's research, the President of Sierra Leone holds an unblemished and enviable public record and is a darling of democracy, the rule of law, human rights, good governance, probity, freedom of the Press, transparency and accountability.
Since being elected as President in 2007, H.E Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma has been keen on pushing legal and business reforms in Sierra Leone. As a result, he has seriously fought against corrupt officials. He was therefore described as the “hope for Sierra Leone”.
President Koroma commended the organizers for the unique honour bestowed on him. He promised to continue to work hard with his fellow Sierra Leoneans to make Africa proud.
President Koroma was in Europe to attend the EU/Africa Summit in Brussels, Belgium.