The Parliament of Sierra Leone has on Tuesday 04/06/2024 debated and unanimously approved the Sixteen Report of the Committee of Appointments and Public Service, Chaired by the Leader of Government Business, Hon.Mathew Nyuma.
The following Presidential Nominees were approved by Parliament:
1. Dr. Williette Princes Ransolina Oluwakemi James – Chairman Board of Trustee Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC)
2. Mr.Isaac Sowa – Member Board of Trustee Sierra Leone Broadcasting Cooperation
3. Madam Hawa Christina Bah- Member Board of Trustee Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation
4. Mr. Mustapha Theophilus -Member Board of Trustee Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation
5. Ing. Dr. Samba Sesay – member Board of Trustee Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation SLBC
6. Ms. Cecilia Tucker Esq. – Member Board of Trustee Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation SLBC
7. Mr.Moahmed Bundu Koroma -Member Board of Trustee Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation SLBC
8. Hon. Bintu Ndoella Mayers- Chair Board of Directors Sierra Leone Maritime Administration SLMA
9. Dr. Vandy Konneh- Chairman National Commission for Persons with Disability
10. Mr. Ibrahim Nyelenkeh – Chairman National Sport Authority of Sierra Leone and
11. Ing David Karim Fonnie- Chairman Board of Directors Guma Valley Water Company
Seconding the motion,the Deputy Majority and Leader of Government, Hon. Bashiru Silikie commended President Bio for norminating the appointees to various positions of trust.He commended the President for also norminating a person from the opposition APC to serve the country.
He warned appointees to serve in the interest of the nation. The Deputy Leader encouraged Nominees to open their doors to MPs and the general public, in order to support national development. Hon.Silikie also used the opportunity to highlight the importance of their services to the nation and went on to applaud Hon. Bintu Mayers for her extraordinary service to the nation.
The Leader encouraged the appointee for Guma to do the needful, in order to work with others to salvage the water crisis in the country. He concluded by calling on the Nominees to sever positively in their position designate.
On his part, Hon. Abdul Karim Kamara, Opposition Whip from Kambia District commended the former Minister of Sports, Mr.Nyelenkeh, for transforming sporting activities in the country. “He was a willing man to serve the sports discipline”, he revealed.
On the norminee for the water sector, the opposition Whip noted that serious budgetary allocation are needed for the water sector. “Let the Government allocate more funding to the water sector, in order to salvage the crisis in the country”, he said and went on to conclude by calling on the Government to lay more premium on the management of the water sector .
Hon.Dickson Rogers Chief Whip of Parliament made reference to Madam Hawa Bah as a modest woman who had serve diligently and assured the House that she can deliver well at the SLBC. The Whip encouraged them to work as team players and serve the nation well.
On her part, Hon. Veronica Kadie Sesay Chief Whip 2 of Parliament, appreciated President Bio for appointing fine nominees to serve.
On SLBC, Hon. Veronica said allocation of more funding was needed for the improvement of the broadcasting service. “Information is power and you trustee, you need to serve well for the interest of the nation”. She said.
Contributing, to the debate ,Hon Alpha Amadu Bah Esq. assured colleague MPs that, the Chairperson appointee for the SLBC, Madam James can deliver to the best of her ability. On the appointee for the sports’ authority ,he described him as development oriented with exceptional personality
In rounding up the debate the Opposition Leader, Hon Abdul Kargbo commended President Bio for the good appointments and encouraged all to be nationalistic in nominating Sierra Leoneans to serve.He said they have being too political in the governance process of the nation and advised that it was timely to stop it for good governance. The Leader highlighted the role of the Board of the SLBC and went on to do a comparative analyses in the subregion in terms of establishment and broadcasting. “Sierra Leone broadcasting has been the oldest in the west African subregion”, he affirmed. The opposition Leader called for more transformative ways of the SLBC form analog to digital and went on to highlight the effectiveness of the Ghana broadcasting system.
“When we have national responsibility we own it to the nation and we should serve to the best of our ability”, he noted. He concluded by appreciating the norminees ,and went on to called on them to serve well and serve for the interest of the nation.
In concluding the debate,the Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business Hon Mathew Shar Nyuma said the Government will not put square pegs in round holes and promised to actualize the piece of advice from the opposition Leader. The Leader acknowledged the work of the Board of the SLBC in transforming the service and went on to note that the challanges of SLBC is far too old. He said this Government would continue to transform SLBC and other sectors for development of the nation.
He said there was no budget line for SLBC but through this current Government there is now a budgetary line, though it is not enough, but he said the Government would continue to try and develop the sector. Leader called on the House to think loud for the support for more budgetary allocations for the SLBC during budget allocations and debate.
He also recalled his study visit to Ghana on digital transformation of that country broadcasting system from analog to digital and used the opportunity to promise that same would be replicated for the SLBC.
On the appointee of Guma Valley Water Company, the Leader called on him to protect the water catchment dam, forested surrounding, in order to avoid crisis and protection of the water sector.
On the ground of ethical reporting, the Leader called on the media to be responsible in their reporting and work with the Parliament.
“We have being working with the CSOs and we will also continue to work with the Parliamentary Press Gallery” ,he concluded .
In his congratulatory message , the Speaker of Parliament Hon.Segepoh Solomon Thomas advised the nominees to work inline with President Bio’s agenda.
By Parliamentary and Public Relations Department
Parliament of Sierra Leone
