The Fourth Report of the Committee on Appointments and Public Service, Chaired by the Leader of Government Business, Hon. Mathew Sahr Nyuma, has been debated and unanimously approved by the Parliament of Sierra Leone containing twenty-Six Presidential Nominees.
The following Presidential Nominees were approved by Parliament:
1. Mr. Philip Bob Jusu- Ambassador, Sierra Leone Embassy, Brussels, Belgium
2. Lieutenant General Rtd. Peter Kakowou Lavahun – High Commissioner to the Republic of Kenya
3. Dr. Mohamed Kanja Sesay – Ambassador, Sierra Leone Embassy, Paris, France
4. Retired Major General David Fred Alpha – Deputy High Commissioner Sierra Leone High Commission, Abuja, Nigeria
5. Madam Mamadi Gobeh Kamara – Deputy Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Paris France
6. Mr. Kalilu Ibrahim Totangi – Deputy Permanent Representative (Political), United Nations
7. Mr. John Abu – Resident Minister Southern Region
8. Mr. Raymond Katta – Chairman Produce Monitoring Board
9. Mr. Moses Lloyd Jonathan Williams – Chairman Statistics Sierra Leone Council
10. Joseph Munda Bindi – Chairman, National Council for Civic Education and Democracy (NaCCED)
11. Mrs. Lettitia Jah Mensurah – Member Sierra Leone Commercial
12. Joseph Jonathan Ndanema – Chairman Sierra Leone Water Company (SALWACO)
13. Dr. Wusu Sannoh – Chairman, National Monitoring and Evaluation Agency (NAMED)
14. Mr. Alusine Kargbo – Commissioner, Northern Region, Local Government Service Commission
15. Ing. Kenelm Walter Hughes – Board Member Electricity Generation and Transmission Company
16. Dr. John David Cooper – Member Electricity Generation and Transmission Company
17. .Mohamed E. K. Allie – Board of Directors, National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA)
18. Honourable Helen Kuyembeh – Chairman Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA)
19. Madam Khaday Mamie Zorokong – Chairman, Sierra Leone Housing Corporation
20. Ambassador Sheikh Mohammed Sowa – Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Washington DC, United States of America
21. P.C. Foday Musa – Member, Independent Commission for Peace and National cohesion
22. Mr. Ibrahim Njai Amara – Member, Board of Directors Sierra Leone Maritime Administration (SLMA)
23. Mrs. Olayinka Winifred Laggah – Member, Board of Directors Bank of Sierra Leone
24. P.C. Sadiq Mahmoud Kapuwa – Chairman National Insurance Company (SLICO)
25. Rtd. AIG Morie Lengor Esq – Minister, Ministry of Internal Affairs and
26. Mr. Emmanuel Koivaya Amara – Chairman Political Parties Regulatory Commission
Presenting the Report, the Leader of Government Business, Hon. Mathew Sahr Nyuma, told the Plenary that the Nominees were interviewed using strict procedures, including educational backgrounds, track records in pertinent work situations, asset declaration, tax obligations, and vision for productive tenures.
Seconding the motion, the Deputy Leader of Government Business, Hon. Bashiru Silikie from Bo, thanked the President for appointing the Nominees and reflected on their performance at the interview. He expressed concern over the attitudes of some approved nominees and differentiate their roles from Members of Parliament. The Deputy Leader emphasized that if the Nominees fail to perform it would affect Government and MPs during elections. He admonished the Nominees to support the President’s agenda and stated that they are responsible for taking Development to the people. The Deputy Leader encouraged the Nominees to open their doors to MPs in order to solicit support for their people.
The Deputy Leader reflected on the exemplary role of Alhaji Kanja Sesay and asked his son, Dr. Mohamed Kanja Sesay, to predicate on the same to deliver for the people. He described Mr. John Abu as a grassroots man and man of the people, who promote unity and happens to be a strong as “Paopa.” The Leader recalled and commended Hon. Helen Kuyembeh for her services in Parliament. He called on the attention of the Minister of Internal Affairs to curb drugs. He used the opportunity to admonish all nominees to treat others with respect and the thought of being in transition in those offices.
Hon. Quintin Salia-Konneh from Kailahun District advised Nominees to acknowledge that President Bio considers performance and hard work when making appointments. He also admonished them to embrace compatriots. The MP from Kailahun commended President Bio for appointing what he considered fine and qualified nominees to serve the nation. He urged the Nominees to perform in their duties and provide open-door policies for the people of Sierra Leone.
Whip of Opposition (1), Hon. Abdul Karim Kamara from Kambia, predicated his debate on the people’s expectations and noted that, if the Nominees fail, it may not only affect the President, but the appointees, their people and families. He reflected on the good works of Alhaji Kanja Sesay and asked his son to do more. The MP urged the Ambassador to perform and bring home opportunities that would transform the nation. While speaking on the current transformations of Immigration, he advised the Minister of Internal Affairs to collaborate with the Chief Immigration Officer and improve on the moribund institutions under his purview. He lavished Praises on the Chief Immigration Officer, Hon. Alusine Kanneh, for transforming the Immigration Office. He distinguished the role of PPRC, reflected on its role, and urged the Nominee to work hard. The Opposition Whip admonished the Nominee for SALWACO to ensure that sachet water sellers improve on the same.
Hon. Keikura C. Vandy from Bo District acknowledged the various positions of the Nominees and expressed the role of Government in economy management, relating to diplomacy. He commended Mr. Bindi for his human and political relationship. Mr. John Abu, he said is a political team player and deserves his position. The MP used the opportunity to advise the Nominees on economic management and improvement of electricity across the country. He reassured the House that Dr. Sesay and some Nominees would surely perform in their respective duties.
The Chief Whip (2), Hon. Neneh Lebbie from Bo, thanked President Bio on behalf of Bo District for appointing the Nominees. She reflected on Dr. Wusu Sannoh for his leadership, mentorship, and development. The MP encouraged Dr. Sesay to perform according to their expectations. “Let us serve Sierra Leone on the slogan of One County, One People,” she said. She described Morie Lengor as a household name and urged him to continue to serve well. The MP congratulated John Abu on his exemplary teamwork in the Bo District. She urged him to continue the teamwork and collaboration with MPs during activities. She reassured the House of the performance of Helen Kuyembeh and expressed optimism in the other nominees for service delivery.
The Deputy Leader of Opposition, Hon Daniel Koroma from Koinadugu used the opportunity to acknowledge some distinguished compatriots present and raised concern and feelings over gender equality on female representation among the Nominees, emphasizing that only four females are among the Nominees. “Female representation is below 15% among the Nominees,” he noted. He commended the President for appointing the first-time female as SLRA Board Chairperson. The MP used the opportunity to raise concerns over the regionalization of roads and development by governments emphatically decrying the regional divide. The MP drew Hon. Helen Kuyembeh’s attention to Bumbuna for bad roads.
The Deputy Leader raised concern over the privatization of OAU Village and urged the Nominee to take note and retrieve the government properties. The MP drew the attention of the Minister of Internal Affairs to commercial bike riding in the Central Business District of Freetown and advised the latter to halt it. He recalled his relationship and mentorship with Emmanuel Koivaya Amara at the University.
The Chief Whip, Hon. Dickson Rogers from Pujehun, denounced the Opposition APC and blamed them for the sale of OAU Villa. He added that during the APC tenure, they did not construct certain roads mentioned in the debate. He called on MPs to inculcate the notion of preaching unity. He commended the nominees for being very competent for the job. He singled out the proposed resident minister for his hard work. He also commended Dr. Kanja Sesay and expressed optimism that Dr. Kanja Sesay would make Sierra Leone proud on the International stage. He described the Minister of Internal Affairs as a disciplined policeman and urged him to work hard with the latter character to perform. He also reflected on the bravery of the High Commissioner to Kenya. He said the twenty-Six presidential nominees are the face of the 2028 elections.
Hon. PC Memi Fatmata Kajua from Moyamba District commended the President for appointing such fine nominees who she considered qualified for the jobs. The PCMP admonished the nominees to make the President and the people of Sierra Leone proud while serving in their respective positions. She urged them to work to the best of their ability. She concluded by expressing thanks to Mr. Speaker and the Committee for letting the Presidential nominees sailed through the interview.
The Female Caucus Leader, Hon. Wuyata Songa from Kailahun, appreciated the 30% representation among the twenty-Six Presidential Nominees. She called on women to serve in the best interest of the nation, adding that “what men can do, women can do better.” She also congratulated the nominees from Kailahu District and expressed optimism that they would serve well in their respective duties. The Female Caucus President also called on the female nominees to call on the parliamentary female caucus for assistance.
The Deputy Whip (1), Hon. Veronica Kadie Sesay expressed appreciation for the female nominees approved. She made a holistic commendation on all twenty-six nominees and called on them to make their deputies very relevant in the line of duties. She called on the Ambassador to France designate to advocate for French education for Sierra Leoneans. She lauded the inclusivity of the nominees, adding that the nominees cut across regional and tribal lines. She concluded by extending farewell to the nominees and urged them to serve their duties well.
The Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Abdul Kargbo from Port Loko, called on the House to be apolitical when debating nominees’s approval to serve the nation. He decried the Chief Whip’s statement as uncalled for, baseless, and unfounded. He added that at any given time when appointees come for approval, the ‘Oradicals Club is always dominant. He acknowledged the role of PPRC as a very strategic office and, therefore, thanked the former holder of that office for doing very well in ensuring that he provided a clear platform for all political parties. He therefore, called on the nominee going into that sector to replicate the role of his predecessor. He advised the new PPRC chairman to do the correct thing, adding that he let him work with his conscience as people would be calling him to influence decisions.
The Leader of the Opposition also considered the Ambassador Designate to France, a very fine nominee. He said the former Minister of Energy is a good man regardless of his political affiliation. He made a nationalistic call on the APC and the SLPP to be one Sierra Leonean. He called on the Ambassador Designate to France to embrace all Sierra Leoneans in France as one. Hon. Abdul Kargbo also zoomed in on the Nominee for SALWACO to address the issues affecting citizens’ insufficient water supply. He made it categorically lucid that the President did not only appoint nominees to Serve folks in the SLPP but the nation as a whole. The opposition Leader placed confidence in the new Minister of Internal Affairs and assured that he would serve well in the ministry. He however, called on the Minister of Internal Affairs to perform well in his office. The Leader also lavished praises on the Chief Immigration Officer for his transformative drive in the Immigration Office. The Leader assured that all the nominees are fit for the jobs and, therefore, called on the House to expeditiously approve them.
In concluding the debate, the Leader of Government Business, Hon. Mathew Sahr Nyuma from Kemema, commended MPs for their meaningful contributions to debate on the twenty-six Presidential Nominees. He dispelled the fears of the Deputy Opposition Leader that, indeed, women were hugely represented among the twenty-six Nominees. He referenced the promises made by President Bio when he was running for the Presidency in 2023, adding that the President had made an indelible legacy in women’s empowerment.
The Leader of Government Business made an analogous comparison between men and women, noting that some women could even perform better than men in top governance positions. The Leader acknowledged that if the country is to be successful, the nations need good policies, which is the more reason the Bio Administration is sending progressive Bills to Parliament for legislation. He called on the Nominees to deliver in the interest of the nation after they had taken their offices. He decried discrimination in the service and called on the Nominees to serve all and sundry irrespective of political affiliation. He said when they speak as Members of Parliament, they did not speak with malice and also called on the press to report objectively what happened in Parliament. He also mentioned that the Sixth Parliament had improved on the promotion of open Parliament and also deepened relations with Civil Society Organizations. He added that the Sixth Parliament would continue to enact progressive laws for the development of Sierra Leone. Hon. Nyuma called on the Nominees to help the nation through effective service delivery in their various duties. He referenced section 61 of the 1991 constitution which powers the President to establish offices for service delivery for the nation. He decried Nominees personalizing their offices and serving as an affront to the ‘King Makers’ of those offices. He commended the Nominees, especially for a mixed composition ranging from Lawyers, Paramount Chiefs, Engineers, among others. He concluded by calling on the Nominees to go and serve well. He moved the motion for the House to unanimously approve the Presidential Nominees presented in the House.
In his felicitation message, the Speaker of Parliament, the Rt. Hon. Speaker Segepoh Solomon Thomas congratulated the Nominees. He strongly warned the nominees to work indiscriminately to achieve for the nation. Speaker Thomas wished the nominees well in their respective offices.
Parliamentary and Public Relations Department, Sierra Leone Parliament.
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