News
HRH attends a conference aimed at regenerating parts of Sierra Leone
18th November 2009
The Prince of Wales met the President of Sierra Leone today at a conference in London aimed at regenerating Freetown.
The Prince visited Sierra Leone in 2006 and saw first-hand how his Foundation for the Built Environment could help the capital city which has been ravaged by years of civil war. Soon afterwards, His Royal Highness launched an initiative through the Foundation to regenerate some of the most disadvantaged parts of Freetown.
The Prince’s Foundation for the Built Environment has been working with authorities in Freetown to help redevelop the city and next year hopes to launch an "Enquiry by Design" which is an consultation process to involve all concerned parties, a process created and spearheaded by The Prince's Foundation.
At a central London conference held to showcase the African country's potential for international investors, The Prince met the nation's President Dr Ernest Bai Koroma to discuss the next stage of the Foundation's work.
Many of the capital's main landmarks survived the civil war but a shanty town of slums had built up on the fringes of the coastal city.
It is hoped that as part of the Enquiry by Design next year, local communities, landowners, local authorities and other interested parties would be consulted on ways of regenerating their communities.
Former Prime Minister Tony Blair co-organised the Sierra Leone conference and his African Government Initiative charity has been working with President Koroma's administration for more than a year.
It has placed nine experts in key government departments to help the leader in his aim of reducing poverty and developing the economy.
Mr Blair said: "Investors are now prepared to think differently about Africa and there are a new generation of leaders who are rising to this challenge. A prime example is President Koroma. His administration in Sierra Leone is making enormous strides forward thanks to his determined leadership.
International Development Minister Gareth Thomas was also at the event and said: "This is an important and symbolic day for Sierra Leone and demonstrates just how far the country has come since peace was declared in 2002.
"Economic growth has been steady, in 2007 the country held peaceful and democratic elections, and just last year the World Bank named Sierra Leone the easiest place to do business in West Africa."