BY MOHAMED M. SESAY
The Fourth Session of the Fifth Parliament of the Second Republic of Sierra Leone has on Tuesday the 12th of April 2022, approved Mr. Abu Bakarr Mamoud Koroma, as the Electoral Commissioner for the Northern Region of Sierra Leone.
Presenting the report of the committee on Appointment and the Public Service, the Chairman of the committee who also doubles as the Leader of Government Business Hon. Mathew S. Nyuma, affirmed that adequate consultations were made for the appointment of the Northern Region Electoral Commissioner as stipulated in the 19991 constitution. He made a particular reference to section (32) subsection (3) of the 19991 constitution being in conformity of the appointment of the Electoral Commissioner for the Norther Region.
He added that Abu Bakarr Mamoud Koroma is a seasoned academic and career professional with over eighteen years of credible experience in the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone. He added that Abu Bakarr Mamoud Koroma has served as Assistant District Electoral Officer for Tonkolili District from 2005-2007, served as Senior Electoral Officer for Bo District from 2007-2010, served as Regional Electoral Officer for the Southern Region from 2010-2014, served as Director of Administration, procurement logistic at the Electoral Commission from 2014-2021, and Director of Administration from 2021-2022.
The Leader of Government Business also disclosed that the Presidential nominee holds a double master’s degree in Agriculture and Public Administration and Management at the University of Sierra Leone, and Bachelor Degree in Law from the London University. The Leader of Government Business therefore, moved for the approval of the nominee after thorough vetting.
The Leader of the Main Opposition Hon. Chernor Bah however, expressed his dismay relating to the appointment of the presidential nominee. He added that due consultation was not made which was the more reason they as opposition members never participated in the interview process of the nominee. He added that they have no doubt in the capacity of the presidential nominee but what they are against is the absent of consultation during the appointment process. He concluded by stating his party’s position clear that they are not in support of the approval since consultation either by letter or by physical meetings was never done.
Before putting the question for the approval of the nominee, the Acting Speaker of Parliament Hon. Solomon Segepoh Thomas expressed that the issue of consultation has become a topical issue whenever it comes to approval of presidential nominees for Electoral Commission.
“This has become so funny because anytime we come to this Parliament and we have to approve nominees relating to the Electoral Commission we have serious debate about consultation. I think the only solution of the problem of consultation is for a citizen of the Republic of Sierra Leone to approach the Supreme Court and seek interpretation about consultation”, he said.
Hon. Segepoh Thomas also noted that citizens do not to really need to belong to a political party in seeking interpretation for the word consultation in the constitution. He added that what the Opposition Members of Parliament calls consultation is not as the same as the meaning of the Ruling Party. He disclosed that the same happened in the last Parliament when the Sierra Leone’s People’s Party was in opposition regarding consultation. After the approval of the nominee, the Acting Speaker of Parliament congratulated the newly approved Electoral Commissioner for the Northern Region. He pleaded to the Commissioner to make something different in that part of the country and make the Republic of Sierra Leone very proud.
