By: Mohamed M. Sesay
Honorable Members of the Fifth Session of the Fifth Parliament of the Second Republic of Sierra Leone have on Tuesday the 17th May 2022, unanimously approved the Chief Executive Officer Paul Joseph Amara to superintend President Bio’s Student’s Loan Scheme which was introduced sometimes last year.
Presenting the Report on the Committee on Appointment and the Public Service, the Leader of Government Business Hon. Mathew S. Nyuma, disclosed that Paul Joseph Amara is a resourceful and result oriented administrator with over a decade proven skills and ability to illustrate and transform ideas into practical result. He added that the newly approved Chief Executive Officer has held several appointments both home and abroad.
Hon. Nyuma also revealed that in July 2020 to December 2021, Paul Joseph Amara served as a consultant and focal person that worked with the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education to build a framework which was later formulated into the current Sierra Leone Student’s Loan Scheme form Act 2021. He added that the formulation of such policy is in line with President Bio’s 2018 vision in enhancing quality tertiary education in the midst of challenging economic situation for majority of Sierra Leoneans.
The Leader of Government Business also intimated that the newly approved presidential nominee holds an advanced Master’s Degree in Social Services and Administration in 2007 from Howard University Washington DC, United States of America. He added that the approved Chief Executive Officer has also worked intensively in related field managing both Human and Financial Resources.
“Mr. Speaker Honorable Members, the committee was very meticulous in soliciting technical details from the nominee relating to the beneficiaries, value for money, and sustainability of the scheme among others. The Committee therefore deemed the presidential nominees to be adequately qualified for the proposed appointment and thereby, recommended him to the house for approval”, said Hon. Nyuma.
On his Part, the Leader of the opposition Hon. Chernor Maju Bah also affirmed that he was part of those who interviewed the Presidential Nominees adding that, Paul Joseph Amara is a person that he has known for honesty and integrity for over twenty years. The Leader of the opposition also disclosed that he was in university together with the Presidential Nominee. He reiterated that he knows Paul Joseph Amara as a discipline individual and therefore, expressed hope that Paul Joseph Amara will bring such discipline background into his new office. Hon. Bah also advised the Nominee that sustainability is very key adding that; they don’t want to start a scheme and is collapsed as time progresses. He concluded by also advising Paul Joseph Amara to be fair, just, and ensures that the funds are properly managed.
