It wasn’t long ago that we lost Alh. S.M.B.Faye ( or Daa Faye to many) only to be greeted with yet another devastating news of the sudden passing of Alh. Sulayman Masanneh Ceesay, Whereas they both served in both the First Republic and he present Republic, it is their meritorious and distinguished service to the First Republic that they will be remembered, and their legacies rest.
I was privileged to have served with Sulayman at the then Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources before he was promoted Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health. It was only a few weeks ago that I was reminiscing with him on Facebook about our days at Agriculture, and also about the problems he faced setting up and staffing the Health Planning Unit which he eventually succeeded with the appointment of Miss. Dolly Nying (later Dolly Njing Joiner) to head it. She was later succeeded by Dr. Pap John Williams as Director of Health Planning. It was under Sulayman’s watch that the seeds of the celebrated (but later to be abandoned by the current regime) Primary Health Care program were sown.
Sulayman was among the select few who have served in all five Administrative Districts as Commissioner. Like many Commissioners before him, the post was to prepare him to be a good and effective manager of people when he eventually assumes the role of Permanent Secretary. He was promoted Permanent Secretary, Health in 1982 and he proceeded to serve at Local Government and Interior.
Neneh and the kids join me in extending our sincere condolences to Kolleh Ceesay (nee Njie), Fatoumata Jahumpa Ceesay, Tijan Masanneh Ceesayand their extended families. May Allah grant Sulayman Jannah.
Note: I inadvertently omitted Kolleh Ceesay, a wife to Sulayman Masanneh Ceesay. I thank the one who brought the omission to my attention. I should not have made the error because I know and have worked with Kolleh. My apologies to Kolleh and the family.
Source: Sidisannehblog
Editor’s note: In addition to the moving tribute above written by Hon Sidi Sanneh, Gainako reached out for comments on his brother’s passing, our colleague Tijan Masanneh Ceesay had this to say; ” I believe his contemporary Koto Sidi Sanneh has said it all. Saul was a very principled Man who would under no circumstances compromise his convictions. He believed people were the world’s most important resources and treating them justly was a cardinal principle of his.
No wonder during his brief stint as Interior Minister one which everyone who knew him attested was going to be briefed, he made an impromptu visit at the Central Prisons at Mile Two and requested to eat lunch with the Prisoners following which; he made it known that the food quality was poor. What followed is now history but Sulayman Massaneh Ceesay was a firm person. His service in Government is for a book as Uncle Sidi and Baboucar Sankanu rightly alluded to. He was an intellectual giant in his own right; very well versed in many areas and also very well read, a very serious hobby of his. He also loved family and watched over his younger siblings with pride. He will be greatly missed; He was the Patriach of the Masanneh Ceesay clang.”
May his Soul Rest in Peace.