By Ragan M. Conteh
Law makers have on Tuesday cleared Brigadier Retired Kellie Conteh as Defense Minister and thirteen other Presidential nominees to serve in various ministerial positions in President Bio’s Government.
Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Abass Bundu while admonishing the new Ministers of Government, noted that they will not be public officials for life.
He indicated that under the Constitution of Sierra Leone, no Minister or a public official is immuned from Parliamentary scrutiny.
Hon. Abass Bundu noted that Parliament has the right to declare a vote of no confidence on any public official that is not performing his duties diligently or defies Parliamentary proceedings.
Brigadier Rtd. Kellie Conteh, Dr. David Moinina Sengeh and 12 others serving both as Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Ambassadors and deputies passed through the House after a through debate and scrutiny of their educational experience and expertise to serve in the various positions.
Hon. Bashiru Silikie from the ruling SLPP stated that Brig. Kellie Conteh who has been approved as Minister of Defense is going to steer a very challenging Ministry which has very high ranking officials who, he noted, are languishing as a result of poor conditions of service, lack of accommodation among many other problems.
The Hon. MP pointed out that he has no doubt in the leadership of the newly approved Minister as he has over the years exhibited his love for the Military and Sierra Leone.
He cautioned the newly appointed Ministers that they should be steadfast in executing their duties.
Hon. Lahai Marah of the APC in his submission pointed out that Brig. Kellie Conteh is an obedient, hardworking, respectful and loyal military veteran whose character is unblemished.
The MP assured his colleagues that the newly appointed Minister of Defense and all the others will add more value and will contribute to the progress of the country.
Hon. Abdul Kargbo of Constituency 077 in his statement said people can only talk about development if there is adequate water supply, quality education and peace among citizens.
He admonished the appointees to make sure they work not for political interest but for the good of all and sundry.
Hon. Kaisamba of the SLPP while addressing the appointees especially the Minister of Basic and Secondary School, Dr. David Moinina Sengeh, noted that free education is an ambitious project for the new direction.
He added that the challenges in the free education are surmountable and appealed to him to use his expertise in the Ministry of Education to deliver the much needed goodies for the sector.
The newly approved appointees include Brigadier Kellie Conteh Minister of Defense, Dr. David Moinina Sengeh, Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary School, Dr. Abubakarr Karim, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Stephen S. James Jusu, Deputy Minister of Environment, Mr. Denis K. Vandi, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security, Mr. Paul Ansumana S. Minah, Deputy Ambassador to Turkey, Mr. Mohamed Hassan Kaisamba, Ambassador to Turkey, Professor Foday Jaward, Minister of Environment, Ms. Manti Tarawallie, Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Mr. Ansumana L.M. Swaray, Chairman Board of Directors, National Water Resources Management Agency, Mr. Philip K. Lansanah, Minister of Water Resources, Col, Rtd. Simeon N. Sheriff, Sierra Leone’s Representative to the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition in Saudi Arabia and Mr. Mohamed Abu Kemokai, Commissioner, Public Service Commission respectively.
Many MPs from both the opposition and ruling parties lauded the President for appointing technocrats in the various MDAs and cautioned them to work not for their selfish interest but for good of the nation.