Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio has announced that parts of the iconic cotton tree that was felled by a storm in the capital Freetown will be preserved in a museum.
He stated that the tree, which had stood for hundreds of years, was “a connection between the past, present, and future, and we must strive to immortalize it.”
The tourism and cultural affairs ministry will lead the preservation of the tree, he said, and it will serve as a reminder of the country’s shared heritage and history.
Mr. Bio spoke when he visited the location of the fallen tree in the city center.
Previously, the president described the tree as “a great loss for the nation” and said it was a symbol of liberty for early settlers. It’s also on Sierra Leone banknotes.
The 70m (230 ft) tall cotton tree was said to be the country’s oldest of its kind, with a government statement estimating it to be 400 years old.
The Freedom Steps are only 300 meters away, and they were climbed by newly arrived freed slaves who prayed at the tree before settling in Freetown.
