The First Report of the Committee on Appointments and the Public Service, chaired by the Deputy Leader of Government Business, Hon. Bashiru Silike was on Friday 9 August 2024, debated and unanimously approved by the Sixth Parliament.
The following Pesidential Nominees were approved by Parliament:
1. Madaam Princess Nyahota Baby -Rose Jah Turay, Deputy Ambassador Sierra Leone Embassy Berlin, Germany and
2. Ing. Samuel Jusu.Alpha, Chairman Bard of Directors Electricity Generation and Transmission Company.
Presenting the Report, the Deputy Leader of Government Business, Hon. Bashiru Silikie told the Plenary that the Nominees were interviewed on strict procedures including educational backgrounds, track records in pertinent work situations, asset declaration, tax obligations, and vision for productive tenures among others. The Report he said reflects the unanimous view of the Committee.
Seconding the motion, Hon. Bernadette Wuyata Songa, President of Female Caucus in Parliament underscored the appointment of Presidential Nominees amidst their national responsibilities and advised them to do well in the various assignments. She zoomed in on the Deputy Ambassador to Germany and acknowledged her qualifications with reference to economic diplomacy. The MP asked the Deputy Ambassssdor to discipline her workers to work in tandem with financial diplomacy and to also attract investment. She strongly advised her to protect compatriots living in that part of the world.
Hon. Songa also admonished Ing. Samuel Jusu Alpha relative to the big task he has ahead and asked him to work hard to address the challenges facing the electricity sector. She informed the House about the negative impact of recent blackout in a her community and craved the indulgence of the Nominee to monitor electricity process across the country. She predicated her debate on the experience of the nominee and expressed optimism in his robust service delivery to stop perpetual blackout across the country. She used the opportunity to advise wicked compatriots to stop destroying electricity cables and transformers. She concluded by calling on the nominee to work hard in order to revamp the electricity work stations across the country.
Hon. Moses Edwin form Bonthe District lavished praises on the appointment of Madam Princess Nyahota Baby-Rose Jah Turay going as Deputy Ambassador to Berlin Germany. He confessed that he knew Mrs. Turay for a very long time and has no iota of doubt in her diplomatic delivery. He informed the House that madam Turay was appointed for her selfless service to the nation. He noted that the Nominee had previously served as Financial Attache to Sierra Leone Embassy in Liberia of which she served exceptionally well. Hon. Edwin advised the Nominee to go and represent the country well in the diplomatic world. The Member of Parliament from Bonthe District also pegged his debate on the Presidential Nominee going to serve as a Chairman of the Electricity Generation and Transmission Company. He called on the Chairman to explore all means to address the challenges of the Electricity Generation and Transmission Company. The Member of Parliament cautioned the Nominee to improve the electricity generation across the country.
Hon. Tamba Kelly from Kono District congratulated the Nominees and noted that their resume attested to their service delivery.
He recalled the selfless efforts of the Chairman EGTC in light of efficiency at the electricity sector, but expressed dismay over the moribund state of same. He therefore, advised Ing. Samuel Jusu Alpha to go and improve the operation of EGTC and also build strong relationship between the former and EDSA.
Hon. Emelia Lolloh Tongi from Kailahun District zoomed in on Mrs. Turay and explained the untold stories about Africans illegally migrating through the Mediterranean Sea. She asked the Deputy Ambassador to prevent and protect Africans that are involved in the saga.
For Ing. Samuel Jusu Alpha, Hon. Lolloh Tongi advised him to improve on the Local Content Policy to employ more graduates to solve the engineering problems in electricity and road construction sector.
Acting Leader of the Opposition Hon. Dr. Unpha Gbassay Koroma, admonished the Nominees not to personalize their designated positions or offices. He specifically told the Deputy Ambassador that Sierra Leone and Germany have had a long-standing bilateral relationship and also asked her to support Sierra Leoneans in that country.
Rounding up the debate the Acting Leader of the Opposition also spoke about the hindering aspect of life without electricity among some compatriots. He therefore, asked Ing. Alpha to go into the EGTC with new ideas and transform the sector with various alternatives energy strategies to address electricity supply in the country.
Concluding the debate, Acting Leader of Government Business who also doubles as the Chairman of the Energy Committee in Parliament, Hon. Keikura C. Vandy underscored the diplomatic representation in governance and assured the House that Mrs. Turay would perform well in her new diplomatic mission.
The Acting Leader of Government Business recalled his long-standing relationship with Ing. Alpha and spoke on global energy challenges with specific reference to Sierra Leone. The MP reminded the House about challenges of Bumbuna Hydro, Dodo, Charlotte, Bankasoka and Makott, in light of unusual reduction in their water level and subsequently reducing megawatt. He expressed unhappiness in that direction and also intimated that the issues between EDSA and EGCT in light of energy liability are affecting many countries. He however affirmed that other countries have managed it well except for Sierra Leone.
In his felicitation courtesy to the Nominees, the Speaker of Parliament Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas, congratulated the Nominees on their appointments and approval and wished them well in their respective roles.
Parliamentary and Public Relations Department, Parliament of Sierra Leone
