Late Comrade Ashmed Barrie
Born on May 8, 1957, in Kabala, he had his elementary education at the District Educational Council School, Kabala. After passing his selective entrance examination in 1968, he went on to attend the Magburaka Boys Secondary School. He later attended the Ahmadiyya Secondary school in Freetown, where he completed his high school education.
Graduating with a Diploma in Accounting from the Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM) in Freetown, he had his first job as an accountant in the Accountant General's office in Freetown. While working in the Ministry of Finance, he also served as Team Manager for the Mighty Blackpool.
Ashmed Barrie left the shores of Sierra Leone in 1989. Upon his arrival in the United States of America, he enrolled at Citone Institute, Edison, New Jersey, where he received a Diploma in Advanced Accounting. He was Director-Logistics, at Sabina Corporation, Piscataway, New Jersey, for many years.
Well-known in the Somerset New Brunswick area, Ashmed Barrie was a founding member of Sierra Stars of which he was financial secretary. A founding member and Financial Secretary of the Konadugu Descendants Organization, he was also founding member and president of Fulbe, a New Jersey-based organization that was founded to enhance and promote unity among Fulahs.
Deeply committed to the socio-economic and political development of Sierra Leone, Ashmed was a key player in the formation of the New Jersey Chapter of the All People's Congress. Meticulous and highly principled when it comes to bookkeeping, he was the first financial secretary of the New Jersey Chapter.
During the 2007 election campaign, he went to Freetown not only to make a presentation on behalf of the New Jersey Chapter, but also participated in the voter registration and campaign exercise that culminated in an APC victory. A top brass of the APC on hearing the sad news of his passing away, had this to say: "We've lost a real comrade in the North America branch."
A devout Muslim, he was very instrumental in the formation of Jamatul Haq, an Islamic organization formed to help in the propagation of Islam. At the time of his death, he was both vice president and financial secretary. "When it comes to financial discipline, Ashmed is unmatched. You'll never get him to do anything without sufficient proof. He'll be sorely missed by all those who over the years have come to love and respect him, "according to a very close friend who had the unique opportunity of working with Ashmed in many organizations.
The late Ashmed A. Barrie is survived by his wife Mariatu Barrie, and three children: Ashmed Barrie Jr., Fatima and Mariama Barrie, in North Brunswick, New Jersey. He also leaves behind a large extended family that includes the Barries, Jallohs, Bahs and Sowes of Kabala, Freetown, United States of America, Canada and Europe.
A Funeral Service is slated for Saturday, October 10, 2009; at Anderson Funeral Home in New Brunswick starting from 10:00 a.m. Burial will take place at the Oaklawn Cemetery on Route 130 South.
