As I get older I find my mind dwelling more and more on the past. Inevitably my thoughts wander back to the time when Sierra Leone became a Republic. At 1.13 p.m. on April 19th, 1971, I declared the State a Republic after a Republican Constitution had been approved by Parliament and passed into law with a majority of53 in favour and 10 against I can remember that as I spoke those fateful, all-important words there were tears in my eyes, for in my own lifetime I had seen my country come such a long way. I was proud to be associated with the struggle that had led to this moment, and that pride was swelled as I listened to the shouts and applause that followed my declaration that April day.

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