By: Thaimu Bai Sesay
On Thursday 17 August 2023, the Sixth Parliament of the Second Republic of Sierra Leone has approved the appointments of Umaru Napoleon Koroma as Deputy Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, Morieba S. Koroma (Agbao) as Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Osman Kanu as Director of Public Prosecutor and five others as advisers at the Anti-Corruption Commission.
The Honourable Speaker of Parliament Dr. Chernor Abass Bundu thanked His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio for what he described as fine nominees. After following the hon. Members of Parliament decisions on the appointments, he said the set of nominees in the Well have no question. After admonished them he congratulated and welcomed them in governance.
Hon. Mohamed Bangura, Opposition Leader in the well of Parliament expressed that Umaru Napoleon is a man that had always been appointed to serve in very sensitive positions and affirmed that he had equally been delivered diligently. Hon. Bangura also highlighted Osman Kanu, the appointee to serve as Director of Public Prospector and emphasized the tremendous roles he had played in diverse capacities.
Hon. Mohamed Bangura on behalf of his party, the All People’s Congress, approved all the President’s appointees including the advisers to the Anti-Corruption Commission. He emphasized the complex nature of the various positions and recalled the irregularities that had been happening, especially in the prosecuting sector.
“Always in both APC and SLPP days Police Offices dealing with political cases sometimes with feeble reasons would just bundle those cases and expected them to be signed and charged to court,” he said.
However, Hon. Bangura expressed hope and confidence that the new appointed Director of Public Prosecutor would do different. He admonished him to carefully review files of cases and do the right thing. He congratulated all appointees and wished them well in the discharge of their various functions.
Honourable Mathew Nyuma, Leader for Government Business in the well of Parliament expressed that it is always good to have young and responsible people in every midst. He thanked the President for his appointments and assured that it is a right step in the right direction. Recalling the roles and responsibilities played in the previous portfolios of Umaru Napoleon, Hon. Nyuma fully assured that the mining sector would experience a proper reform.
Hon. Nyuma described Morieba well known as ‘Agbao’, the appointee for the position of Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, as one of the most popular persons in the length and breadth of Kenema. He said his disposition and simplicity had made even the least person in Kenema to recognize him. Hon Nyuma admitted that Morieba had sacrificed a lot for the progression of the SLPP party and as well described his nomination as a right step in the right direction.
Hon. Nyuma emphasized the great contributions of other appointees and on behalf of his party approved all other nominees brought before them in the well of Parliament. Responding to Mohamed Bangura’s statement, hon. Nyuma applauded him for always making use of the constitution in his statements. He called on hon. Members of Parliament in the well to criticize them, adding that they would accept positive criticisms and challenge the negative ones.