Your Excellency, the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone
Members of Parliament
Your Excellencies, Members of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps
Honourable Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education
Your Worship, the Mayor of Freetown
Vice Chairman of Council
Leaders of Delegation and Chief Government Nominees on Council
Members of Council
The Registrar to Council
Former Chairmen of Council
Former Registrars to Council
Former Heads of National Office
Distinguished Friends of Council
Staff of the Council
Students
Representatives of the Mass Media
Ladies and Gentlemen

Your Excellency, the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone
Members of Parliament
Your Excellencies, Members of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps
Honourable Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education
Chairman of Council
Your Worship, the Mayor of Freetown
Leaders of Delegation and Chief Government Nominees on Council
Members of Council
Former Chairmen of Council
Former Registrars to Council
Former Heads of National Office
Distinguished Friends of Council
Staff of the Council
Students
Media Representatives
Ladies and Gentlemen

My dear colleagues,

I most joyfully welcome you all into 2019. I glorify God Almighty for the abundance of His grace of good health, strength and divine guidance which saw us and our families through the past year. I convey to you hearty felicitations, as I congratulate us all on the successful execution of our mandate in the year 2018.

The 66th Annual Meeting of The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has ended in Banjul, The Gambia with the election of Mr. Baboucarr Bouy of The Gambia as the 19th Chairman of the sub-regional organisation.  His election is for a three-year tenure in line with the Council’s Convention.  He succeeds Dr. D. Evelyn S. Kandakai of Liberia, who was elected in March 2015.