The Eighth Report of the Committee on Appointments and Public Service, chaired by the Leader of Government Business, Hon. Matthew S. Nyuma, has on Thursday 13/02/2025 unanimously approved Six Presidential Nominees for various Offices for the development of the State.
The following Presidential Nominees were approved by the Parliament of Sierra Leone:
- Mr. Abu Bakarr Sapay Foray-Musa – Commissioner General National Lands Commission
- Hon. Solomon Emmanuel Bangalie – Member, Board of Directors, Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA)
- Ms. Ajaratu Marie Bomah – Member, Board of Directors, Electricity Distribution and Supply Agency (EDSA)
- Mr. Andrew Emerson Musa – Member, National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA)
- Mr. Mohamed Juma Bah – Member, Social Security Appellate Tribunal and
- Mr. Daniel Lamin Kamara, Member, Board of Directors Sierra Leone Housing Corporation.
Presenting the Report of the Appointments and Public Service Committee to Members of Parliament, the Acting Leader of Government Business, Hon. Bashiru Silikie said the Presidential Nominees were interviewed under oath and on live media coverage. He informed Members of Parliament that, the Presidential Nominees were also interviewed on issues pertaining to their educational background, proven track records in pertinent work situation and strict procedures amongst others.
Seconding the motion, the Whip of the Opposition, Hon. Abdul Karim Kamara from Kambia, said Sierra Leone do not have problem with qualifications, but Service delivery and zoomed in on the Commissioner of Lands with regards perpetual land issues and challenges. He painfully raised concern on land grabbing and its effects on investment and citizens. He also narrated a sad story when he became victim of same. He advised the New Land Commissioner to be vigilant in his service delivery. He drew the attention of the Nominee for SLRA to his district and opposed the bad state of the toll road and advised the authority to revisit the agreement on same. He said energy is a major component for the development of the State adding that, there are lot to be done. For NCRA Nominee, he requested the authority to decentralize the registration process and make it accessible. “We should not treat our people in that manner and we should not create bureaucracy for citizens to access documentation”, he stated and appealed for the roads linking to Parliament to be reconstructed. Finally, he encouraged the Nominees to be good citizens and make more friends.
Hon. Boston Munda from Kenema buttressed the position of the Opposition whip on the Nominees. He categorically zoomed in on the good character and positive performance of Mr. Abu Bakarr Sapay Foray-Musa. He also narrated his long time relationship with the Nominee and asked him to go and perform as usual and assured him of Parliamentary support. The MP used the opportunity and wished all the other Nominees well and asked SLRA Nominee to do due diligence.
While contributing to the debate, Hon. Mohamed T. Fofana from Kambia thanked President Bio for appointing the Presidential Nominees and particularly heaped praises on Mr. Sapay Foray-Musa for his outstanding performance. He encouraged Mr. Sapay Foray Musa to go and excell in the Lands Commission. He appealed to SLRA to do the needful on illegal parking of vehicles, garage and also to fix some of the roads. The MP alluded to the tremendous progress on EDSA and encouraged the Nominee to help.
Hon. Ibrahim Ben Mansaray from Moyamba District, reflected on the life journey of Sapay Foray-Musa and the Nominee trust in President Bio and his relation with Moyamba District. He spoke about the future challenges the Nominee would envisage in the land sector and encouraged him to collaborate with the Ministry of Lands for remedial action. He emphasized on the perpetual land grabbing and encouraged the Nominee to find solution to such perennial issue in the Land Administration Sector. The MP urged the NCRA Nominee to improve on the accessibility and technology. He also wished all the other nominees well in their respective offices.
Deputy Leader 2 of Government Business, Hon. Saa Emerson Lamina recalled on his recent experience gained from another country on land issues and emphasized on the great experience of Sapay Foray-Musa. He also recalled their student union political relationship in the university years ago. He encouraged the Nominee to improve on lands acquisition and planning for investors, compatriots and all. He assured the House of the Nominee’s performance in tandem with transformation. The Leader also spoke on guidance on the SLRA Board by Hon. Bangalie. He alluded the legacies of Late President Kabba,ongoing efforts of President Bio and the importance of the Kono-Guinea Highway and other developments. He used the opportunity to inform the House about the State of positive electricity in Koidu City and that the Country is now enjoying CLSG for EDSA Nominee. He also emphasized on the importance of decentralization and urged NCRA to do the needful. The Leader encouraged all the Nominees to go and perform in their respective positions.
Contributing to the debate, the Leader of the Opposition Hon. Abdul Kargbo, underscored the need and importance of Parliamentary vetting of Presidential Nominees. He raised concern over the performance of those approved by Parliament and their critical roles in tandem with service delivery. The MP lauded the appointments of young people among the Nominees. He zoomed in on Ajaratu and spoke good about her. He noted that it would be difficult for people to perform where the infrastructure is not available with specific reference to EDSA. The Opposition Leader used the opportunity to dilate on the equitable distribution of electricity. He emphasized that there are places even in the current government stronghold that lack electricity, adding that, such an important sector should not be politicized. Honourable Kargbo advised the government to look into the electricity tariffs and asked the Nominee to influence EDSA on same.
The Opposition Leader continued by asking the government to address the challenges holistically without politics and in the interest of the nation.
He recalled his university relationship with Sapay Foray-Musa and wished for young people to succeed, adding that, their failure would affect the nation. He emphatically predicated on the incessant land grabbing across the country and urged the Nominee to address same especially for the masses. “Sometimes people go in for money and not humanity” he stressed and went on to speak on rural-urban migration, deforestation and punitive measure for those constructing at disaster prone areas.
He called for an improved technology on land acquisition. He however expressed dissatisfaction over the alarming land grabbing issues across the Country.
Rounding up the debate, the Acting Majority Leader of Government Business, Hon. Bashiru Silikie encouraged the Lands Commissioner to deliver in tandem with his responsibilities to address the challenges. He used the opportunity to ask young people to deliver adding that, their appointment is a testament for deliverables. The Acting Majority Leader raised concern over electricity problems left behind by the past government and alluded the efforts of current government.
He used the opportunity to express dissatisfaction when people politicize Presidential appointments of nominees on electricity board. He made it lucid that President Bio has the good wisdom to appoint all citizens irrespective of their political ideology and urged all to deliver for the nation.
Hon. Silikie appealed to the Nominee going to the SLRA to deliver positively. He asked the Nominee of NCRA to replicate his good experience to enhance decentralization of services in order to provide National Identity cards for compatriots at chiefdom levels. He vented dismay on Housing sector and asked the Nominees to go and improve on deliverables.
In another development,
The Parliament of Sierra Leone has also debated and ratified the concession agreement for the construction of the Mabang -Moyamba Gbangbatoke Road project (86Km).
MPs who spoke to the debate appreciated the Agreement and went on to acknowledge the connectivity of the country.
Both Acting Leaders of the House applauded and praised the Minister of Works and Public Assets, Dr. Denis Sandi for presenting the agreement before the House for the development of the Nation.
The Minister of Works and Public Asset piloted the agreement.
In another development also, the Parliament of Sierra Leone has on Thursday 13/02/2025 passed into law with some amendments, the Bill entitled: ‘The Sierra Leone Railway Development and Regulatory Authority Act, 2025’.
The Bill seeks to provide for the establishment of the Sierra Leone Railway Development and Regulatory Authority with the responsibility to develop and regulate Railway and cable car transportation in Sierra Leone, to monitor and co-ordinate activities in the Railway and cable cars sector, to administer enactments on Railway and cable car transportation and to provide for other related matters.
The Deputy Minister of Transport and Aviation, Rex Phonapha piloted the Bill.
Parliamentary and Public Relations, Sierra Leone Parliament.
