The Ninth Report of the Committee on Appointments and Public Service, chaired by the Leader of Government Business, Honourable Sahr Mathew Nyuma, has on Thursday 27 March 2025 been debated and unanimously approved by Parliament.
The following presidential nominees were approved by Parliament:
1. Ambassador Mohamed Foday Yumkella, Ambassador of Sierra Leone Embassy,Conakry,Republic of Guinea
2. Dr. Abdul Rahim Jalloh,Deputy Minister 2, Ministry of Energy.
3. Mr. John Sumailah Chairman,Rokel Commercial Bank
4. Madam Mary Massah Katta, Member Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA)
5. Mr. Moses Tiffer Baio,Chief Immigration Officer.
Presenting the Ninth Report, the Majority and Leader of Government Business,Honourable Mathew Sahr Nyuma, said the Presidential Nominees were interviewed on oaths and under strict procedures on issues pertaining to their educational backgrounds. Probing questions covering a wide range of issues relating to track records pertinent to their declared assets, tax obligations, and vision for sustainable tenure. He assured the plenary that the report is the unanimous decision of the Committee on Appointments and Public Service.
Seconding the motion, the Whip of the Opposition, Honourable Abdul Karim Kamara from Kambia, described Ambassador Yumkella as a good personality from Kambia. He stated that Kambia has produced good citizens who have contributed to the growth of Sierra Leone. “Politics is not about appointing people but about appointing individuals who contribute to the progress and development of Sierra Leone”, he maintained. He mentioned that Ambassador Foday has always been with the people of Kambia. The opposition whip stated that the new Ambassador has a responsibility to settle the dispute and rebuild a positive bilateral relationship between Guinea and Sierra Leone. He encourages the appointee going to the energy sector to help the government transform the sector. He continued that the appointment of the CIO is a blessing and expressed hope that the latter would improve on the legacies left behind by his predecessor for the progress of the State.
The MP urged appointees to be result-oriented-minded. “As an opposition, we don’t have a problem with the appointments made by the President; what we want to see is for the appointees to work for the people of Sierra Leone,” he ended.
Adding his voice to the debate, Honourable Kekura Vandi from Bo District said that most of the times, appointees are no longer, even by the Members of Parliament after Parliamentary approval. He said that the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Energy is a technocrat and he believed that the nominee will perform to expectations. He continued that all countries have electricity liabilities, but tackling those liabilities should be the focus of every country.
In her debate, the Deputy Opposition Whip 1, Hon. Catherine Zainab Tarawalie from Bombali, expressed appreciation to President Bio for appointing capable Sierra Leoneans especially, Ambassador Foday Yumkella. She also commended the appointment of Dr. Jallloh. The MP expressed optimism that with the appointment of Dr. Jalloh, the issue of electricity challenge would be addressed in the next six months. Hon. Tarawalie also lauded the appointment of the New Immigration Officer and stated that, the former CIO, Hon. Alusine Kanneh did fantastic job in the Immigration Department and therefore, encouraged the New Immigration Boss to replicate the gains made. She also encouraged the Nominee going to the Sierra Leone Commercial Bank to work in the interest of the State.
Hon. Ibrahim Koroma from Kenema District, also thanked President Bio for appointing such experienced compatriots in various offices. He said the appointment of the New Immigration Officer is in conformity with the adage which says “Kenema for Kenema” meaning, the New Immigration Boss replaces another Kenema brother. He called on the Ambassador going to Guinea to work and ameliorate the bilateral relationship between Guinea and Sierra Leone. Hon. Ibrahim Koroma affirmed the the New Immigration Boss did tremendous job when he was at the Civil Aviation adding that, he would do even better at the Immigration Office. He described the New Immigration Boss as a redeemer as his name implies “Moses”. He concluded by assuring that the new Immigration Boss would transform the Immigration Department more than the outgoing Immigration Boss.
Hon. Daniel Koroma, Deputy Leader of the Opposition expressed concerns over gender disparity in the appointment. He encouraged the House to advocate for more women in the nomination and approval of Presidential Nominees. The MP commended Dr. Jalloh for being a deceptive character base on his humility. The Deputy Opposition Leader affirmed that Dr. Jalloh is a humble servant and expressed optimism that he would transform the Energy Sector. He called on Dr. Jalloh to take note of the longstanding transformer at “Banana Water”. He described the New Immigration Boss and a reformer adding that, the House of Parliament is ready to reform the laws of Immigration. He called on the Immigration Boss to produce a list of all foreign workers in Sierra Leone. He said the Parliamentary Labour Committee of which he is a Member, would Summon the New Immigration Boss to provide the aforesaid list. He also called on the Ambassador Designate to Guinea to provide permanent solution to the issue of Yenga.
Hon. Veronica Kadie Sesay, Deputy Whip 1of the Government Bench, predicated her debate on the Immigration and Energy sector and therefore, called on the both Nominees to live up to the expectation of the President. She was specific to admonish the New Immigration Boss of deceptive people in the Immigration. She said Hon. Alusine Kanneh did fantastically well in the Immigration Department and encouraged the successor to emulate. She commended the appointment of Ambassador Yumkella as the Ambassador Designate to Guinea. She called on the Deputy Minister of Energy Dr. Jalloh to change the trajectory in the sector. She concluded by wishing all the Nominees well.
Hon. Francis Amara Kaisamba from Kenema District, expressed appreciation to President Bio for appointing those fine nominees. He said since independence, Presidents had been appointing fine nominees, but there has been a perennial problems with delivery. He therefore, noted that the House of Parliament as the People’s Representative, have a responsibility to hold those Nominees accountable, if they failed in their duties. He highlighted key challenges in the Immigration Department ranging from porous border crossing, misplaced issuance of Sierra Leone Passport among others. He said since independence, Sierra Leone had not been able to address the energy challenges. He therefore, called on the Deputy Minister to put in more work to address the Energy Challenges the country is grappling with. He commended Amb. Fonday Yumkella on his appointment and wished all other Nominees well in their respective offices.
Hon. Bash Kamara from Karene District, thanked President Bio for appointing such fine Nominees especially Dr. Jalloh, Deputy Minister of Energy 1. He recalled that Dr. Jalloh was the man who installed Solar lights across the country. He expressed felicitations to all the other nominees and wished them well.
Hon. Charles Abdulai from Bo District commended the appointment of Dr. Jalloh for having the institutional memory of the energy sector. He zoomed in on the New Immigration Boss for his appointment. He encouraged all the nominess to serve well in their respective duties.
Hon. Mohamed Belor Sow from Falaba District, expressed elation to have seen Dr. Jalloh as Deputy Minister 1 of the Ministry of Energy. He admonished Dr. Jalloh that the Energy Sector is very challenged and therefore, called on Dr. Jalloh to help address same. He called on the New Immigration CIO to work beyond political lense. He reiterated that Hon. Alusine Kanneh did a very good job at the Immigration and called on the New Immigration Boss to protect the integrity of the State. He called on the New Immigration Boss to replicate the transformative stance of the outgoing Immigration Boss.
Hon. PC Togus Sheku from Falaba Districts, expressed kodus to President Bio for being a listening President for appointing Dr. Jalloh as Deputy Minister of Energy1.
Hon. Mohamed T. Fofanah from Kambia District thanked President Bio for always remembering the people of Kambia in terms of appointments. He specifically appreciated the appointment of Amb. Foday Yumkella. He said Amb. Yumkella had served in different capacities in governance and expressed optimism that, Amb. Yumkella would improve on the diplomatic ties between the two countries. He said there are many economic activities among Sierra Leoneans and Guineans adding that, the Ambassador Designate to Guinea should promote such through good diplomatic relationship with Guinea. He called on the New Immigration Boss to replicate the step of Hon. Alusine Kanneh to transom the Immigration Department.
Hon. Williams Lamin from Bo District expressed how determined the nominees are ready to deliver in their respective positions. He admonished the nominees to always prepared for their exit when it would have pleased the President to hire and fire. He wished all the Nominees well in their offices.
Rounding the Debate, the Opposition Leader, Hon. Abdul Kargbo, said they are not opponent of development, but rather proponent of development which is the more reason they always support government in approving nominees. He commended the appointment of the Ambassador to Guinea and cautioned that the Diplomatic damage made by the outgoing Ambassador to Guinea is not commensurate to mere recalling of the him. He therefore, called for an intensive investigation into the issue of the then Ambassador, adding that, what he did was a complete reputational damage to the imagine of Sierra Leone. He called on Amb. Mohamed Foday Yumkella, to serve the nation with all his heart and minds. He admonished Dr. Jalloh that he had been appointed to a ministry which is very challenged and used the opportunity to say he had seen over thirty videos of fire accidents caused by unregulated electricity supply. He advised the EDSA to upgrade their power infrastructure, install voltage regulators among others. He said EDSA had never be held accountable for such fire accidents cause by unregulated electricity supply. He decried the skyrocketed tariff on electricity supply. According to him people paid for service change even when they are not using the service. He called on Parliament to question EDSA as the people representatives. The MP added that people are paying more but having terrible supply. He zoomed in on the Immigration Department, affirming that, there had been steady transformation in the Immigration Department under Hon. Alusine Kanneh. He said reputational damage could be committed by anyone who is a holder of Sierra Leone Passport. He said foreigners go for Sierra Leone Passport surreptitiously to commit a crime that damages the image of the country. He suggested that one way government could vindicate itself from all the reputational damages is for government to take frantic stances on such crimes. The Leader of the Opposition called on the New Immigration Boss to protect the national Passport. He also suggested that whosoever does not want Sierra Leone to progress should be exposed, irrespective of their social satisfaction. He concluded by wishing all the nominees well in their respective duties. He also called on the House to expeditiously approve the Nominees.
The Acting Leader of Government Business, Hon. Bashiru Silikie, said the role of the nominees is very critical for the success of the State. He said if they failed to deliver, they would have not only failed the President, but also the People of Sierra Leone. He called on Nominees to treat Public Offices as transitional offices. She called on the Nominees going to the SLRSA to transform the institution to address road accidents. He also called on the Nominees to work with other Members of the SLRSA for effective service delivery. He zoomed in on the New Chief Immigration Officer as one of the key live oxygen to the SLPP. He said the New Immigration Boss transformed the Civil Aviation expressed hope that he would do better in the Immigration Office. He commended the outgoing Immigration Boss Hon. Alusine Kanneh For transforming the Immigration Department. He therefore, called on the New Immigration Boss to replicate the footstep of Hon. Alusine Kanneh. He recalled that one of the plans of Hon. Alusine Kanneh was to decentralized the Immigration Department, especially in the area of Passport processing services. He admonished the Nominee going to as Ambassador to Guinea to deepen the diplomatic relationd between Sierra Leone and Guinea. He called on the Ambassador to do his diplomatic experience to laud the diplomatic blunders between Sierra Leone and Guinea and address the Yenga issue. The Acting Leader also noted that electricity had also been an emergency power since independence. He called on Dr. Jalloh Deputy Minister Designte, to help address the electricity challenges across the country. He concluded by wishing all the other Nominees well in their respective office and called on the house to speedily approve the Nominees.
Credit: Parliamentary and Public Relations Department, Parliament of Sierra Leone
