The Parliament of Sierra Leone has approved 12 Presidential nominees, including the newly appointed Minister of Finance, Karefa Ansumana Francis Kargbo, following a debate and vote on Thursday, August 20, 2026.

The nominees were presented to Parliament by the Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business, Hon. Mathew Sahr Nyuma, who said they had been interviewed under oath by the Appointment Committee in Committee Room One of the Parliament Building at Tower Hill, Freetown.

According to Hon. Nyuma, the Committee assessed the nominees’ qualifications, professional experience, track records, tax obligations, asset declarations and vision for the positions for which they were nominated.

He said the report presented to Parliament reflected the unanimous views of the Committee.

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During the debate, Opposition Whip Hon. Abdul Karim Kamara described the nominee for Minister of Employment, Labour and Social Security, Umaru Napoleon Koroma, as hardworking and courageous. He also called on the incoming Finance Minister to work towards strengthening economic policies and improving domestic revenue mobilisation.

Deputy Leader of Government Business, Hon. Bashiru Silikie, urged the nominees to work assiduously and deliver on the expectations of the government and people of Sierra Leone.

Hon. Silikie described Prince Alex Harding as courageous and determined, while urging all the nominees to place performance above personal interests.

Hon. Mustapha Sellu of Moyamba District called on the incoming Finance Minister and the National Revenue Authority to prioritise domestic revenue generation.

“If NRA focuses on GST only, there will be improvements in Sierra Leone’s economy,” he said.

Deputy Leader 1 of the Opposition, Hon. Daniel Brima Koroma, expressed concern over what he described as the limited representation of women among the nominees. He also described Umaru Napoleon Koroma as diligent and stressed the need for revenue to exceed expenditure for the Ministry of Finance and the NRA to effectively deliver on their mandates.

Opposition Leader Hon. Abdul Kargbo endorsed Umaru Napoleon Koroma, describing him as competent, well-educated and composed. He further urged political leaders and public officials to place Sierra Leone’s national interests above personal and partisan considerations.

Concluding the debate, Hon. Mathew Sahr Nyuma highlighted the critical role of the Ministry of Finance and the National Revenue Authority in managing the country’s economy.

He also clarified the 30 percent women’s representation provision under the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act 2022, explaining the distinction between electoral representation and executive appointments.

Hon. Nyuma urged the newly approved officials to put the interests and welfare of Sierra Leoneans at the centre of their responsibilities.

Following the debate, Parliament approved all 12 Presidential nominees.

They are:

Karefa Ansumana Francis Kargbo – Minister of Finance

Umaru Napoleon Koroma Esq. – Minister of Employment, Labour and Social Security

Abu M. Kanneh – Commissioner General, National Revenue Authority

Jeneba J. Bangura – Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation

Foday Musa Fofana – Deputy Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources

Steven A. Jusu – Deputy Minister 2, Ministry of Energy

Professor Foday Moriba Jaward – Ambassador of Sierra Leone to Qatar

Prince Alex Harding – Chairman, State-Owned Enterprises Commission

Safura Bintu Rogers – Executive Secretary, State-Owned Enterprises Commission

Professor Gibrilla Fadlu Deen – Chairman, Board of Directors

Prince Bull Luseni – Executive Director, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)

Sartie Mohammed Kenneh – Chairman, National Public Health Agency

The approval clears the way for the nominees to formally take up their respective responsibilities, with Parliament urging them to deliver on their mandates and prioritise the national interest.