A cabinet of women and youths!

The long awaited list of cabinet Ministers is finally out and we all now should come together in giving our support to those appointed, especially when they would have been approved by Parliament. This is the beauty of democracy; the President nominates and Parliament approves. How great! But that is not all, there are few factors we should look at, from the viewpoint of a President making commitment and meeting them. Remember in 2007 there were several commitments on the part of Ernest Bai Koroma; moving agriculture, infrastructure, fight against corruption, provision of energy and power etc and he met them. He even turned the country into a works yard. Today we are far ahead.

Few months ago, and especially for those of us that were with his campaign ship, we could recall his commitment and desire to getting youths and women into governance when reelected. During the State Opening of Parliament last December he dedicated an appreciable number of paragraphs to challenging the youths and women of the country on the need for them to come onboard and help develop the country. And truth be told, we have seen the naming of young people (men and women) this time round into cabinet positions. Do some comparative analysis between the former governments of President Kabba (h) and the present in terms of youth representation. You will appreciate the appointments made by President Koroma. There is no way we can deny the role that can be played by women and youths when it comes to a nation’s development. The youths, just as we saw with the women, played an integral role in the reelection of President Koroma. It therefore was encouraging seeing him living up to his commitment made during the campaign period that he will get them along the ship of national development.

The appointment of MS. DIANA KONOMANYI as Minister of Local Government, Mabinty Daramy as Deputy Finance Minister, MS. MIATTA KARGBO as Health & Sanitation, MARIE JALLOH Deputy minister of agriculture, plus EBUN JUSU at Foreign Affairs as Deputy has added more value to the fact that President Koroma holds women in high esteem and believes, with them in cabinet they can help in pushing the Agenda for Prosperity. A prosperous nation is one that has women in decision making. A nation that does not utilize the talents of her women is bound to fail and because President Koroma does not want Sierra Leone to fail, he brought a number of women into his governance make-up for the next couple of years. This is encouraging to say the least and very commendable. It is now hopeful they do their best to live up to the people’s expectation.

That youths have also today formed a major component of the country’s decision making process, as seen in the appointments of youths into ministerial positions by President Koroma is also another commendable decision. Sheka Tarawallie’s appointment into the Interior Ministry as Deputy was no mistake by the President. He has excelled himself at the Ministry of Information. He gave a very supportive hand to Kothor IB Kargbo. The successes of this government cannot be outlined completely without referring to the crucial but great role played by I B Kargbo and Sheka Tarawallie. Even as I say goodbye to them as they leave us in this great ministry, they should know Sierra Leone is grateful to them for having done well in rebranding Sierra Leone.

Alpha Kanu for sure is coming in at the right time, just as is the case of the Deputy, Theo Nicol, a brilliant and hardworking media practitioner with decades of experience in the field of journalism. Coupled with The Nicol’s fine art of writing and good skills of convincing people on issue of national interest, the appointment of Hon Alpha Kanu is also just a good blend with his deputy, given Alpha Kanu’s oratory skills and political readiness to article the views of his government those of his party. He is a great speaker and a good one for that matter. They both surely have the skills, qualities and the desire to move things. With AHMED SAYBOME KANU as Deputy at Lands, where he has always been, this is positive, given his youthful age. This should make the youths celebrates. He is unassuming but dedicated to moving things and believes in team work. I came to know him well during the campaign period and he is a man of action. They now need the support of Sierra Leone and Sierra Leoneans.

That Dr SAM Sesay retained his job, just as with Alimamy Petito Koroma, – FRANK KARGBO and VANDI CHIDI MINAH shows that they have also largely contributed to the success of the government. The development flagship of this government, in my view was infrastructure and agriculture, coupled with the tremendous achievements made in all other ministries. Dr. Richard Konteh as Chief of Staff in the Office of the President will bring in more youthful flavor and exuberance. Only yesterday or so, traders were commending him for his steps in addressing their challenges, little did they realize, he was moving out of them, to another great place.

Congratulations to you all and I am hopeful you will succeed AND MAY President Koroma succeed and transform this country into a paradise. But should I confess? There is sorrow in parting…gone! you are, Shekito, and gone indeed, but welcome to you Messer Alpha Kanu and Theo Nicol.

SEE LIST OF MINISTERS BELOW:
Finance – DR. KAIFALA MARAH (already approved)
Finance Ministers of State (2)
MOMODU KARGBO
ALHAJI FBL MANSARAY
Deputy Finance – MABINTY DARAMY
Foreign Affairs – DR. SAMURA KAMARA (already approved)
deputy – EBUN JUSU
Attorney General & Justice – FRANK KARGBO (already approved)
deputy Justice – ARROW BOCKARIE
Local Government – MS. DIANA KONOMANYI
deputy – IBRAHIM HADIRU KALOKO
Health & Sanitation – MS. MIATTA KARGBO
deputy – DR. A.B. FOFANA
deputy – FODAY SAWI
Internal Affairs – JB DAUDA
deputy – SHEKA TARAWALIE
Information – ALPHA B.S. KANU
deputy – THEO NICOL
Works – ALIMAMY PETITO KOROMA
deputy – BABAGALEH JALLOH
Education MINKAILU BAH
deputy OSMOND HANCILES
deputy – MAHMOUD TARAWALIE
Energy – OLUNIYI ROBBIN COKER
deputy – BASH KAMARA
Water RESOURCES – MOMODU MALIGIE
deputy – RANDOLPH FODAY BAYOH
Agriculture – DR. JOSEPH SAM SESAY
deputy – MARIE JALLOH
deputy – LOVELL THOMAS
Transport – VANDI CHIDI MINAH
deputy – IBRAHIM MANSARAY
LANDS, COUNTRY PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT – MUSA TARAWALIE
deputy – AHMED SAYBOME KANU
Defence – RTD. MAJOR PALOR CONTEH
Fisheries/Marine – CAPT. M.A. PAT SOWE
deputy – CHARLES ROGERS
Mines – ALHAJI MINKAILU MANSARAY
deputy – IGNOSI KOROMA
Social Welfare, Gender & Children’s Affairs – MOIJUE KAIKAI
deputy – MUSA BAI ATTILLA
Trade & Industry – Usman Boie-Kamara
deputy – ALIE B. MANSARAY
Resident Minister East – William Smith
Resident Minister South – Muctarr Conteh
Resident Minister North – Alie D. Kamara
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
E.B. Osho Coker – Secretary to President
Dr. Richard Konteh – Chief of Staff