In order to declare their assets and determine their level of experience for the positions being appointed, Six Presidential Appointees have on Monday 23rd October 2023 faced the rigorous Parliamentary Committee interview and are set to sail through Parliament today.
The Presidential Nominees, faced the interview were Yankuna Askia Bio appointee as Director General for Sierra Leone Port Authority (SLPA), and Judith Joseph as first female Deputy Director General for (SLPA), Andrew Jaia Kaikai appointee as Executive Director for National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Henry Mustapha as Deputy Commissioner for National Commission for Children and Joseph Bobor Tucker and Alice Lansana as Board of Directors at National Mineral Agency.
Residing as key interviewer at the panel of the committee, the leader for Government Business Mathew Nyuma who painstakingly went through all their documents intimated the Nominees that the interview was to ensure square pegs in square holes and also serve as future reference, safeguarding the properties of the nominees.
Speaking at the interview, Yankuna Askia Bio appointee as Director General for Sierra Leone Port Authority (SLPA) expressed that he had a wealth of experience working at the port. “Before having the political appointment in 2018, I was working as country procurement director for the region. So I have wealth of experience working at the port. Before assuming the position as deputy General Manager I was part of the process, especially in the expansion of 270 meters’ length, 13.5 and other activities which transform the port to a smart port.
Highlighting some of the achievements that had taken place at the port, Yankuna Bio said that they vessels had started coming in Sierra Leone, offload containers and taken them to Conakry. He added that they had upgraded from transiting 200 containers to 1,300 containers which they do transit to Conakry and Liberia.
Judith Joseph who set to be the first female Deputy Director General for Sierra Leone Port Authority expressed that she was pleased with the President’s appointment, especially for appointing her as the first female Deputy Director General of the Sierra Leone Port Authority. After declaring her asset at the committee, she assured to do her best to give the maximum support to her Director General and impact positive change in the sector.
Adding his voice as panelist at the interview, the Deputy Leader Two for Government Business in Parliament disclosed that as it was rumored that the Kush was coming from the Port he admonished the prospective Director General of the Sierra Leone Port Authority to take note and ensure to curtail the importation of Kush in the country and relieve the future youths of the country. He expressed great trust for the nominee based on his background and congratulated him in advance.
Andrew Jaia Kaikai former Chief Immigration Officer and appointee as Executive Director for National Drug Law Enforcement Agency expressed great concern over drug abuse, especially that of the Kush and assured that when approved he would swiftly put remediation mechanisms in place to curtail the spread of Kush. He reinforced that those taking the substance, ignorantly damaging their health need not to be criminalized or prosecuted and further assured to take stringent measures for those selling the dangerous substance.
Henry Mustapha the appointee as Deputy Commissioner for National Commission for Children expressed that it was an honor for him to be appointed and assured to contribute greatly to the future of the country. As his priority he assured to strengthen families to ensure that they catch them young and mitigate street children. He further assured to bring in more partners including communities, local councils, international partners and more to ensure that they get it right.
