His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio, accompanied by First Lady Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, has officially opened the 9th Congress of the Regional Union of Priests of West Africa (RUPWA) in Sierra Leone’s Eastern City of Kenema.

In attendance were Catholic church priests from across West Africa. The theme of the conference this year is: “Elections in Sub-Sahara Africa, the Prophetic Role of Priests as Agents of Peace and Reconciliation”

President Bio assured the Priests that the upcoming elections in Sierra Leone will be peaceful. He also spoke of his successes over the last 5 years as “the first Catholic to be elected to serve as President”.

President Bio told his Catholic kin that he believes that he has done such a good job that he will be elected to a second term.

He said because of his performance as President, the country will never hesitate to elect another Catholic in the future.

President revealed that he almost became a Catholic Priest but that God wanted his destiny to instead be in the army.