The Ninth Report of the Committee on Appointments and Public Service, Sierra Leone Parliament Approves 5 Presidential Nominees, chaired by the Leader of Government Business, Hon. Sahr Mathew Nyuma, was presented on Thursday, March 27, 2025.

Presenting the Ninth Report, Leader of Government Business, Honourable Mathew Sahr Nyuma, said the Presidential Nominees were interviewed on oaths and under strict procedures on issues about their educational backgrounds.

Probing questions covering a wide range of issues relating to track records pertinent to their declared assets, tax obligations, and vision for sustainable tenure.  He assured the plenary that the report is the unanimous decision of the Committee on Appointments and Public Service.

Seconding the motion was the Whip of the Opposition, Honourable Abdul Karim Kamara from Kambia, who described Ambassador Yumkella as a good personality from Kambia. He stated that Kambia has produced good citizens who have contributed to the growth of Sierra Leone.

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“Politics is not about appointing people but about appointing individuals who contribute to the progress and development of Sierra Leone”, he maintained.

He encourages the appointee to go to the energy sector to help the government transform the sector. He continued that the appointment of the CIO is a blessing and expressed hope that the latter would improve on the legacies left behind by his predecessor for the progress of the State.

The MP urged appointees to be result-oriented. “As an opposition, we don’t have a problem with the appointments made by the President; what we want to see is for the appointees to work for the people of Sierra Leone,” he ended.

In her debate, the Deputy Opposition Whip 1, Hon. Catherine Zainab Tarawalie from Bombali, expressed appreciation to President Bio for appointing capable Sierra Leoneans, especially Ambassador Foday Yumkella.

She also commended the appointment of Dr. Jallloh. She also encouraged the Nominee to go to the Sierra Leone Commercial Bank to work in the interest of the State.

Hon. Daniel Koroma, Deputy Leader of the Opposition expressed concerns over gender disparity in the appointment. He encouraged the House to advocate for more women in the nomination and approval of Presidential Nominees.

The Deputy Opposition Leader affirmed that Dr. Jalloh is a humble servant and expressed optimism that he would transform the Energy Sector. He called on Dr. Jalloh to take note of the longstanding transformer at “Banana Water”. He described the New Immigration Boss as a reformer, adding that the House of Parliament is ready to reform the laws of Immigration. He called on the Immigration Boss to produce a list of all foreign workers in Sierra Leone, He said.

Rounding the Debate, the Opposition Leader, Hon. Abdul Kargbo, said they are not opponents of development, but rather proponents of development, which is all the more reason they always support the government in approving nominees.

He called on Amb. Mohamed Foday Yumkella, to serve the nation with all his heart and mind. He admonished Dr. Jalloh that he had been appointed to a ministry that is very challenged and used the opportunity to say he had seen over thirty videos of fire accidents caused by unregulated electricity supply.

And finally advised the EDSA to upgrade their power infrastructure, install voltage regulators, among others. He said EDSA had never been held accountable for such fire accidents caused by unregulated electricity supply. He decried the skyrocketed tariff on electricity supply. According to him, people paid for the service change even when they are not using the service

The Acting Leader of Government Business, Hon. Bashiru Silikie, said the role of the nominees is very critical for the success of the State. He said if they failed to deliver, they would have not only failed the President, but also the People of Sierra Leone. He called on Nominees to treat Public Offices as transitional offices. She called on the Nominees going to the SLRSA to transform the institution to address road accidents. He also called on the Nominees to work with other Members of the SLRSA for effective service delivery.

The following presidential nominees were approved by Parliament:

  1. Ambassador Mohamed Foday Yumkella, Ambassador of the Sierra Leone Embassy, Republic of Guinea
  2. Dr. Abdul Rahim Jalloh, Deputy Minister 2, Ministry of Energy.
  3. Mr. John Sumailah, Chairman, Rokel Commercial Bank
  4. Madam Mary Massah Katta, Member Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA)
  5. Mr. Moses Tiffer Baio, Chief Immigration Officer.