By Nasratu Kargbo
Founder of Fifty-Fity Group Sierra Leone Nemata Majeks-Walker has expressed dissatisfaction over the number of women that have been appointed in President Julius Maada Bio’s first cabinet.
“We want 30% of women with full cabinet rank; we are not interested in having women deputy ministers,” Majeks-Walker said. She said that they cannot be fooled by appointing many deputies, noting that he has appointed many men with full cabinet rank and appointed only one woman in the same category.
Ten women were among twenty-five appointees announced by the Secretary to the President to fill- in various positions in public service. Five of the women are to serve as deputy ministers, four were appointed to parastatals, one as Minister, and another as Minister of State.
This according to Majeks-Walker is business as usual “As far as I am concerned, it seems like business as usual for me.”
Speaking on her expectations, the Founder said that she had thought that since the President had shown commitment to women and was the only one that has the power to appoint women to the cabinet, she thought he would have appointed more women in cabinet rank to demonstrate that commitment.
The Former Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs Manty Tarawalli has been moved to the Office of the Vice President as Minister of State, succeeding another woman Francess Paige Alghali who moves over to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation as Deputy.
The new Minister of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE) is Dr. Ramatulai Wurie and she replaces Dr. Alpha T. Wurie.
Both women Deputy Ministers One and Two in the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE), Emily K. Gogra and Mamusu Massaquoi respectively, retained their positions.
Former Deputy Commissioner General of National Revenue Authority (NRA) Jeneba Bangura has been appointed Deputy Minister of Finance one.
Former Deputy Minister of Mines Ann-Marie Harding is Deputy Commissioner of One National Revenue Authority whilst Mariama Koroma takes up duty as Deputy Commissioner of- General National Communications Authority.
Another woman Judith Kosseh is the new Deputy General Manager of the Sierra Leone Ports Authority.
In other positions occupied by men, the former Minister in the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, David Moinina Sengeh is the newly appointed Chief Minister, his former position is now occupied by the then Chairperson of the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) Conrad Sackey.
Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Mohamed Lamin Tarawally, and Minister of Finance Sheku Ahmed Fatamandy Bangura were retained in their respective ministries.
The Former Director General of the National Minerals Agency (NMA) Julius Mattai is the new Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, replacing predecessor Timothy Musa Kabba who is now the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
Former Minister of Trade and Industry Dr. Edward Hinga Sandy has been replaced with Ibrahim Alpha Sesay who was the Team Lead at the Project Fiduciary Management Unit (PFMU).
The then Deputy Minister of Justice Umaru Napoleon Koroma has been moved to the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources as deputy.
Sarjoh Aziz Kamara remained the Deputy Minister of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE).
The President made other appointments in government departments and agencies which included the replacement of the then Financial Secretary Sahr Jusu with Mathew Dingie.
Yankuba Askia Bio is promoted to General-Manager of Sierra Leone Ports Authority.
Brima Swarray is the new Commissioner-General of the National Revenue Authority (NRA); Gerald Ganda is now Deputy Commissioners two.
The National Communications Authority has a new Director General in the person of Amara Brewah. He was deputy and got elevated
Some of the major names dropped are the then Chief Minister, Jacob Jusu Saffa, Minister of Foreign Affairs Professor David Francis, and Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Professor Alpha Tejan Wurie.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (12/07/23)
