- President Koroma
By Our Political Editor
Some six weeks since he was reelected, Sierra Leone’s president Ernest Bai Koroma has named his cabinet.
Most of his ministers remain even if transferred to other areas.
Most notable though is the sacking of his Minister of Information and Communication veteran journalist Ibrahim Ben Kargbo who served him since he was first elected in 2007. It is not immediately clear why Kargbo, who was regarded as the most powerful minister in government has been sacked.
He is replaced by former Minister of Public and Political affairs, Alpha Kanu.
He has as his deputy a former journalist, Theo Nicol who left the Fourth Estate to run for Mayor of Freetown but failed to make it through the primaries.
The ministries of labour, tourism and youth and sports have not yet been announced.
Those sacked are ministers of local government Dawda Kamara, marine resources Soccoh Kabia and trade Dr Richard Konteh who now becomes Chief of Staff at the office of the president.
The controversial minister of internal affairs, Musa Tarawallie who a commission of inquiry had recommended should be banned from holding public office due to political
violence, has been moved to the ministry of lands, country planning and the environment with Ahmed Kanu staying on as deputy.
Minister of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs is Moijue Kaikai who is the current minister of state for the south of the country and had served as deputy minister of labour. His deputy is a blind musician and former broadcaster Mustapha Bai Atilla. He is the first visually impaired to be appointed as minister of deputy since independence in 1961.
Former foreign minister, Joseph Bandabla Dauda is new Minister of Internal Affairs. The former leadership aspirant of the main opposition SLPP party had served his former party as Minister of Finance. He has as his deputy Sheka Tarawallie, formerly deputy in the information ministry who is rated very highly to have acquitted himself very well in his former position.
Minister of Health & Sanitation is Miatta Kargbo who was a presidential adviser. She has 2 deputies in AB Fofana and Foday Sawi.
Minister of Local Government is another newcomer, Diana Konomanyi. She ran for parliament in 2007 in her native Kono district but lost. Many saw that as reason she was not made minister because the country’s constitution forbids that. Ms Konomanyi and vice president Samuel Sam-Sumana are staunch political rivals and their supporters 0have clashed at least once. She has as her deputy Ibrahim Hadiru Kaloko.
The ministry of energy and water resources has been separated with the incumbent, Oluneyi Robin-Coker retaining the energy ministry. His deputy is Bash Kamara.
The new Minister of Water Resources is Momodu Maligie and his deputy is Randolph Foday Baryoh.
Minister of Works, Alimamy Petito Koroma retains his post and his deputy is Babagalleh Jalloh. Koroma is believed to be nursing leadership ambitions of his party after his boss’s tenure. His retention seems to suggest that his planks are still in place.
Perhaps the most surprising survivor is minister of education Dr Minkailu Bah. He has been criticised by pupils and teachers, university students and lecturers and parents who blame the current deplorable educational system on him.
He has two deputies: Osmond Hanciles and Mahmoud Tarawallie, both deputies in other ministries.
Minister of Marine Resources is Pat Sowe, formerly Minister of Lands. He had also served as minister of transport. His deputy is Charles Rogers.
Dr Sam Sesay remains Minister of Agriculture and is seen as one of the most effective and efficient ministers in the first Koroma administration. He had also served in that position in 1996 under the military junta led by Brig Julius Maada Bio who lost the November election to president Kroma. He has two deputies: Marie Jalloh and Lovelle Thomas.
Minister of Defence, Alimamy Pallo Conteh is retained. So is Minister of Transport and Aviation Vandi Chidi Minah who has Ibrahim Mansaray as his deputy.
Minister of Trade is the former opposition presidential aspirant now converted ruling party member Usman Boie Kamara. The mines engineer was expelled from the SLPP after he had failed to secure the leadership and appeared to be working in league with the APC who took him in later. Many had seen him as a great contender for the mines ministry.
His deputy is Alie B Mansaray.
Minister of Mines is Minkailu Mansaray. He had served as labour minister and was the campaign manager for the relection of president Koroma. His deputy is Ignosi Koroma.
Minister of state for north is Alie D Kamara.
Minister of state, east, is William J Smith.
Minister of state, south, is Muctarr Conteh.
Earlier Dr Karefala Marrah, formerly Chief of Staff at State House, had been named Minister of Finance and approved by parliament. He has two ministers of state and one deputy: Momodu Kargbo,
Alhaji FBL Mansaray and Mabinty Daramy respectively. Ms Daramy was deputy trade minister.
Minister of foreign affairs is Dr Samoura Kamara who until his appointment was finance minister. And Ebun Jusu is retained as deputy.
Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Frank Kargbo is retained. So is his deputy Arrow Bockarie.
© Politico Online, 05/01/13
