On the 23rd -25th April, 2025 , Mano River Union Member States concluded its first Annual General Meeting for the formation of the Mano River Deaf Sports Union with representatives from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, which was the host nation.
The momentous Annual General Meeting (AGM) was held at the Sightsavers’ Conference Room, Connaught Teaching Hospital Complex, on Wallace Johnson Street in Freetown.
On day one, all participants made self- introduction. Madam Theresa Ramatu Sesay voluntarily chaired the sessions which was supposed to be chaired by one Mr. Sheku A. Koroma but was unavoidably absent due to other busy schedules.
In her welcoming remarks as Chairperson of the event, Mrs. Theresa Ramatu Sesay informed participants that she is the National President of the Sierra Leone Deaf Football Federation whilst she also serves as the newly elected Interim Vice President II of the Mano River Deaf Sports Union. She said her organization had participated in most of the deaf tournament and even retained runners up position during the last West African Deaf Football Tournament in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, 2023.
She expressed thanks and appreciation, especially for those members who travelled from other sister’s countries like Guinea and Liberia whilst Ivory Coast failed to send representatives.
She emphasized that the meeting was organized in order to continue raising awareness on the importance of promoting deaf sports within the Mano River Union basin, and beyond.
Madam Sesay noted that the formation of the Mano River Deaf Sports Union is a step in the right path, as it will definitely succeed in bringing sustainable developments and improvements in deaf sports across Member States.
“To succeed as deaf people ,we need to firmly united in all our activities and the Mano River Deaf Sports Union is now serving as a perfect platform to always create unity amongst deaf colleagues in the Mano River Union Member States, which include Sierra Leone, Guinea , Liberia and Ivory Coast”, Vice President II remarked.
Mrs. Sesay used the opportunity to applaud one Unisa J.P.Kamara and Wife for being so supportive to the deaf community in Sierra Leone throughout these years despite the current global economic crisis.
She described the couple as “Redeemers” for deaf people in Sierra Leone and disclosed to the gathering that these two personalities have done extremely well in order to structure the formation of deaf sports in Sierra Leone.
In his keynote address as Interim President of the Mano River Deaf Sports Union, Octavius Bud Vorkpor, who also serves as the President of the Liberia National Deaf Football Federation, thanked all those present, especially the Secretary General of the Union, Solomon Sabondo for coordinating the entire exercise in good faith.
Mr. Bud Vorkpor said the meeting was convened in order to bring together all Mano River Union Member States to a roundtable dialogue with the aim of establishing a union that will cater for the sports development needs of deaf sportsmen and women.
” Deaf Sports will definitely help to unite us as one united family under the Mano River Deaf Sports Union and will also help to develop the God given talents of all deaf sportsmen and women, especially in deaf football, volleyball, handball and other exciting sporting disciplines,’’ Bud Vorkpor admitted.
He stated that issues relating to welfare conditions for deaf people were deliberated exclusively and the three days sessions actually brought about lot of exciting moments amongst deaf members as some opined that coming together as a union to promote sports in the Mano River Union will not only foster development, peace and social cohesion, but unity ,love and freedom as well.
Speaking on behalf of the Delegation, the Secretary General of the Mano River Deaf Sports Union, Solomon Sabondo who also doubles as the Secretary General of the West Africa Deaf Sports Union (WADSU) making a statement and submission of the constitution to the MRU Secretariat.
He noted that the three-day engagement was eventful and its outcomes inspired all participants in a future full of successes and breakthroughs for deaf sportsmen and women in the Mano River Union States.
“Our first and foremost goal is to get our union registered in Liberia and we will then go ahead to open a bank account in Sierra Leone, and Freetown,” WADSU Secretary General divulged.
“We also want the Sierra Leone National Sports Authority (SL/NSA) to fast track our request to participate in the 13th Edition of the West African Deaf Football Tournament which is scheduled to take place in Abuja, Nigeria between the 15th – 31st August,2025,”Mr.Sabondo disclosed.
He however took the opportunity to heartily applaud all Member States for participating in the 1st Annual General Meeting (AGM), whilst he called on the leadership of these Mano River Union Member States to prioritize deaf sports across the regions with strong policies in place.
