In Recognition for Life-Saving Work in Gaza and Ukraine
London, UK – February 18, 2025.
In a moment of immense pride for Sierra Leone, Mr. Andrew Kai Bona has been awarded a prestigious Humanitarian Medal by His Majesty King Charles III in a special ceremony held at Buckingham Palace. This historic honor recognizes Mr. Bona’s outstanding contributions to humanitarian aid in conflict zones, with particular reference to his work with the British Medical Emergency Response Team (UK-MED) in Gaza and Ukraine.
Following the ceremony, Mr. Bona paid a courtesy visit to Sierra Leone’s High Commissioner to the UK, His Excellency Dr. Morie Komba Manyeh, at the Sierra Leone High Commission in London.
Born in Jaiama Nimikoro Chiefdom, Kono District, Sierra Leone, Mr. Bona has spent over a decade in humanitarian emergency response operations. His extensive career spans a professional life lived in multiple continents, including Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, where he has played a vital role in setting up new humanitarian offices, with expertise in developing strategic internal control systems, and managing logistics in conflict zones, making him an invaluable asset to the humanitarian sector in a crisis-ridden world.
Mr. Bona’s long journey began in Sierra Leone, where he laid the foundation for his career before traveling abroad in pursuit of a Postgraduate Diploma in Global Health Procurement and Supply Chain Management at the Empower School of Health in Switzerland. This qualification propelled him into the global humanitarian field, where he has dedicated his life to supporting vulnerable communities in crisis.
Currently stationed in Gaza, Mr. Bona has been on the ground for over 13 months, working tirelessly to provide life-saving assistance to those affected by the conflict. His work with UK-MED – the only UK-based humanitarian medical aid organization verified by the World Health Organization as an Emergency Medical Team – has made a tangible impact in some of the most war-torn and volatile regions of the world.
Despite his commendable global humanitarian work, Mr. Bona remains well-grounded and deeply connected to his homeland. He speaks with glowing pride about Sierra Leone’s progress under its current government headed by H.E. President Julius Maada Bio. While extolling the resilience of the people, he explained that he draws teachable inspiration from the nation’s history of overcoming adversity and rising above its challenges.
Reflecting on his journey, Mr. Bona states: “Coming from a country that has endured war and faced significant economic and health challenges for many years, I am continually inspired by the historic struggles of my countrymen. Their resilience encourages me to empathize with their struggles and associate with their triumphs, motivating me to do my best for humanity wherever I find myself”.
In telephone conversations with three senior executives at UK-MED—David Wightwick, Chief Executive; Adil Shah, Chief Operating Officer; and Catherine Smith, Operations Manager—they unanimously emphasized that Andrew Kai Bona is a courageous individual with exceptional talents and unwavering determination to assist those in need, regardless of the dangers his work entails.
As a proud emissary of Sierra Leone’s spirit of perseverance and service, Mr. Andrew Kai Bona’s recognition by King Charles III serves as a testament to his unwavering dedication to humanitarian work and his remarkable contributions to global emergency response efforts. Like so many good and worthy Sierra Leoneans, working in and out of the country, Mr. Andrew Kai Bona is one of many who continue to positively fly the Green White and Blue flag of Sierra Leone, and proudly so!