Parliament Approves Nine

Nine presidential nominees were yesterday approved in the well of Parliament at Tower Hill, Freetown.

The nine presidential nominees approved were the proposed Deputy Minister of Transport and Aviation, Mohamed Alie Jalloh, proposed Minister of Information and Communications, Mohamed Bangura, proposed Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Elizabeth Mans, proposed Anti-Corruption Commissioner, Ady Macauley, proposed Deputy Minister of Health and Sanitation, Zulayatu Cooper, proposed Deputy Minister of Political and Public Affairs, Ahkmed Femi Mansaray, proposed Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Technology (MEST), James Morlai Kamara, proposed Deputy Minister of Information and Communications, Cornelius Deveaux, and proposed Deputy Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Dickson Bella Fofanah.

The approved Deputy Minister of Transport and Aviation, Mohamed Alie Jalloh, assured Parliament that he would work hand in glove with his superior to enhance security on air and sea ports.

The approved Minister of Information and Communications, Mohamed Bangura, pledged that the House of Parliament would go E-parliament during his tenure.

The approved Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Elizabeth Mans, expressed her intention to invest in agro-culture of tilapia fish to enable fish protein reach the nook and cranny of the country.

The ACC Commissioner designate, Ady Macauley, who was Chief Prosecutor of the ACC, vowed to review some sections of the ACC Act, 2008 especially in the area of confiscation of illegally obtained wealth as there is no provision for legal tracking of wealth which he said has made corruption a lottery rather than a deterrent.

The approved Deputy Minister of Health and Sanitation, Zulayatu Cooper, a registered nurse in the United State of America since 2004-2010, said they would ensure that the Ministry is capacitated with machines to carry out minor operations in the country instead of referring them to Ghana.

The approved Deputy Minister of Political and Public Affairs, Ahkmed Femi Mansaray, who before his nomination by the President was the Deputy Regional Assistant Secretary Northern Region and Project Secretary for the APC Northern Region Office in Makeni, promised to install political harmony among the various political parties in the country.

Femi is also an ex-serviceman who served the late former President Alhaji Dr. Ahmad Tejan Kabbah between 1999 -2001 before he left for the Diaspora.

The approved Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Technology, James Morlai Kamara, who taught from 1973 -1982 before his appointment as Education Secretary Sierra Leone Baptist Mission, assured Parliament that they would work to mitigate challenges facing the Ministry with specific priority to the girl-child education.

The approved Deputy Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Dickson Bella Fofanah, promised to work with his Minister to transform and rebrand the tourism sector, introduce culture in schools and improve on the Sierra Leone dance troop.

Hon. Hon Koedoyama Komba of Constituency 027 remarked that failure should not be an option for Ministers and their Deputies as the expectations of the commoners are extremely high.

Hon. Hannah Bendu Songowa of Constituency 61 said the appointment of women to serve in such positions is a positive shift on women’s issues, adding that President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma is looking for women who can compete with men and not those who sit back just to support the men.

In his contribution, Hon. Ibrahim Ben Kargbo of Constituency 030 said the President has always been careful of choosing people who are appreciated by the people.

The veteran journalist noted that the work in the Ministry of Information and Communications is very easy as it has a Presidential Spokesman and Outreach Coordinator, while he entreated the approved Minister and his Deputy to better concentrate on ITC components as information technology is part of Government’s effort to reduce abject poverty.

The Minority Leader in Parliament, Hon. Dr. Bernadette Lahai, said during the interviews, the Committee on Appointment and Public Service asked far-reaching probing questions.

She encouraged the approved Ministers and Deputies to go and serve their God, the country and conscience, asserting that in life, if one does not stand for something, you will stand for nothing.

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