An idea born out of the need to Move Kono Forward after disappointing dismal failures of successive national political leaders and yes our local elected Kono political leaders.

An Idea carefully crafted by Diaspora Konos and friends of Kono, under the supervision and guidance of Kono District Development Association United Kingdom (KDDA UK), with strong contribution from Kono Progressive Union Nederland (KPU Nederland), Kono Union USA Inc (KUUSA Inc), Kono District Global Organization (KDGO) and scores of patriotic Kono individuals and friends of Kono globally.

This idea was meant to motivate and uplift the spirit of all Konos and friends of Kono, that hope is not lost and that their children in the diaspora have developed a formula that will help rebuild Kono and restore her respectful image once again.

After a second successful discussion in Washington DC in August 2017, at the Elliot school of Foreign Studies at George Washington University, the KC Idea was taken to Kono in December 2018, where the district host team led by P. C Torche Foyoh and our Council of chiefs mounted a phenomenal conference that is still talk of the district.

Recognition for this unparalleled 2018 KC success in Kono goes to the following to name a few: First our honourable Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh who contributed immensely towards the successful hosting of the home conference in 2018. Besides his substantial financial contribution, he successfully intervened and break the impasse between the diaspora and the host teams and finally for demonstrating leadership by physically attending as the keynote speaker accompanied by a retinue of government ministers and the National Press; second, the support of government officials in Kono, appointed and elected, was enormous and coupled with the flavour of traditional and women's groups participation, the 2018 meeting was made lively; third, all our diaspora organizations and individuals irrespective of our differences, fully came together to make it happen; and finally, the sensational splash of the 2018 Kono Conference would not have been possible without the successful fundraising effort by PC Paul G. Saquee, the assiduous leadership of Reverend Moses Komba as Conference Chairman and Mr Aiah David Moripeh as Conference Secretary. We thank them and their team for a job well done.

We equally thank our Council of Chiefs and all their subjects who willingly accepted the challenge to host and to take custody of this noble idea called Kono Conference. We look forward to working with the KC home team and all other Kono organizations in Sierra Leone to Move Kono Forward.

Going forward we invoke the same spirit in all of us to come together and make Kono proud.

On Sunday May 17, Mr. Komba Kellie, the Vice President of Kono Progressive Union Nederland and I, Sahr Kolachi Pombor, President of the Kono Union USA Inc were unanimously elected as Secretary General and Chairman of the KC Diaspora Secretariat respectively to continue with the effort to institute KC so that we can realize its full potential and benefits for ourselves and our people and establish a strong legacy for our future generation to thrive on.

In the light of the above dispensation, our primary task at hand is to take the KC message of collective effort for Paving the way to Moving Kono Forward to every Kono citizen and friends of Kono in the diaspora and to foster a stronger relationship between the diaspora and home based stakeholders.

We will initiate and embark on community building ventures which will facilitate our successful achievements of our stated goals above. We acknowledge that there will be challenges thrown at us by enemies of progress but we are equally resolved to overcome these challenges and bring KC to a new level of hope and transformation that will benefit all people of Kono.

We will commence our administration with the continuation of the Gbense Market Toilet Project initiated by the former interim Chairman Mr Aiah Yornie Sodengbe by involving all KC stakeholders in the diaspora and in Kono District.

The development of Kono is our primary goal in spheres of health, education, agriculture, the environment, provision of public services, growth of our local network and safety and happiness of our people shall be our primary concern while interfacing with the National government in Moving Kono Forward shall be our mantra!

Our objective is clear: Paving the way to draw up a common Kono Development Agenda from which all stakeholders can work and contribute to the rebuilding and Moving Kono Forward.

Sincerely yours,

Sahr Kolachi Pombor

Chairman

Komba Kellie

Secretary General