April 6, 2016 By Jariatu Bangura
Members of Parliament yesterday approved nine individuals that had been appointed by President Ernest Bai Koroma to serve as ministers, deputies, ambassadors and judge of the Court of Appeal.
The motion to approve the nominees was moved by the House Majority Leader, Hon. Ibrahim R. Bundu, who stated that the Committee on Appointment and Public Service conducted the hearings within its set framework of procedures, as the nominees were interviewed on issues pertaining to their education, track record, tax obligation and declared assets, among others.
Those approved were Dr. Sylvia Olayinka Blyden as Minister of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs; Bai Mamoud Bangura, Minister of Youth Affairs; Nanette Thomas, Minister of Political and Public Affairs; Sidi Yayah Tunis, Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs; Ahmed Khanou, Minister of Sports; Mamoud Tarawalie, Deputy Minister of Lands, Country Planning and Environment; Captain (Rtd.) Abdul Rahman Kamara, as Deputy Minister of Defence; Alimamy P. Koroma, Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China; and Mr. Monfred M. Sesay, as Justice of the Court of Appeal.
During the plenary session to approve the nominees, lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition party cautioned especially the ministerial appointees not to emulate their predecessors, but to work in the interest of the country.
Hon. Komba Koedoyoma of the Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) commended new Tourism Minister, Sidi Yayah Tunis, for his good work during the Ebola outbreak, but urged him to change the current status of the ministry.
“It is my hope that you will go with the same initiative to your new office. It is no secret that we have so many attractive touristic areas than other countries and it is but fitting that we make good use of them,” he implored the youthful minister.
Hon. Foday Rado Yokie, also of the SLPP, urged the nominees to nurture good relationship with oversight committees in Parliament and involve them whenever they want to undertake any project in constituencies.
“No government will continue in existence without a sustainable participation,” he said and cautioned the new Youths Minister, Bai Mamoud Bangura, to be careful in his dealings with the youths.