Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698844796737.pdf (Sierra Leone)
PARLIAMENT OF SIERRA LEONE PARLIAMENT BUILDING O.A.U DRIVE, TOWER HILL FREETOWN Tel: 232-22-223140- FAX: 232-22-222483 Website: www.parliament.gov.sl FIRST SESSION OF THE FOURTH PARLIAMENT OF THE SECOND REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LEONE FOURTEENTH REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON APPOINTMENTS AND THE PUBLIC SERVICE ON PARLIAMENTARY VETTING OF PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATIONS 1.
INTRODUCTION Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, the Committee on Appointments and the Public Service met on Tuesday 11th and Thursday 13th June, 2013 and interviewed eight (8) Presidential nominees for appointments to the following positions: i.

Board Chairman, Managing Director and Board Members, Sierra Leone Cable Limited Board Members, Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority ii.

iii.

High Court Judge iv.

Minister of Transport and Aviation 2.


PROCEDURE The Committee consistently followed its established procedures and put inquiring questions to the nominees pertaining to their educational backgrounds, track records in relevant work situations, declared assets, tax obligations and their plans and visions for a successful tenure.

3.
3.

NINETEENTH SITTING OF THE COMMITTEE ON TUESDAY 11TH JUNE 2013 3:1 The following nominees were interviewed: i. Mr. Saa Kpulun - Proposed Board Member- Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority, Representing the Ministry of Transport and Aviation Mr. Saa Kpulun is a renowned Civil Servant with many years of experience.
As part of his contribution to the Sierra Leone civil service and national development, he has served in the following capacities: 2010 – Date: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport and Aviation 2 2009 – 2010: 1998 – 2008: 1994 – 1998: 1977 – 1993: Deputy Secretary Secretary, Professor Gbamanja Commission of Enquiry Executive Secretary, National Commission for Social Action Permanent Secretary in various MDAs Served in many administrative capacities including that of Responding to probing questions on his views about the Civil Aviation Authority Mr. Kpulun said that the Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority was established by an Act of Parliament in 2002 with the mandate to serve as a regulatory body for the safety of airline industry, make rules and issue out licenses to aircrafts operating in the country.
Answering to further questions on the safety of helicopter operations in the country, he assured Members that the Authority has trained personnel to inspect and certify any aircraft before its operation in the country.

“We ensure that there is certified air worthiness inspection and assurance that all necessary safety gadgets are on board before any aircraft is registered and licensed”, he added.

ii.

Mr. David G. Thompson - Proposed High Court Judge Hon.
Justice Thompson is a legal professional who commenced his legal career as State Counsel in the Law Officers Department in 1990.

In 1993, he went into private practice as Associate Partner in the Law Firm of Betts & Berewa Solicitors and later established his own chambers.

In 2006, he was appointed Notary Public.

From 1994 to 2012, Hon.

Justice Thompson combined his legal practice with part-time lecturing in the Department of Law, Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone.
Responding to probing questions as to how he became “Acting Judge”, the nominee said that when Justice Wellington who was Resident Judge in Bo died, there was the need for a Judge to take his place and he was appointed a Judge on contract for a year to become “Acting Judge on Contract” to fill the vacancy.
Questioned on what would be his contribution to the Justice Sector, he responded that he would try to administer the law to the best of his ability; adding, “I would be a happy man dispensing the law and that was why I initially accepted to be a Contract Judge”.

He promised to do his best not to delay cases brought before him.

iii.
iii.

Mr. Mohamed Sheriff- Proposed Managing Director, Sierra Leone Cable Limited Mr. Mohamed Sheriff is an accomplished Information Communications Technology Management Professional with over 12 years of combined experience in managing, designing and implementing Information and Communication Technology (ICT) systems for emerging technologies in Telephony, Broadband, Billing, Submarine Cable and Satellite Solutions for the telecommunications industry in the United States of America (USA) and Sierra Leone.
He has served in the following capacities: 3 2009 – Date: 2007 – 2009: 2005 – 2007: 1998 – 2004: Information Technology Manager, SIERRATEL System Integration and Technology Consultant, Accenture LLC, USA Senior Systems Engineer, Amdocs Inc. California, USA Served various ICT outfits in USA as Software Engineer and Lab Assistant Responding to questions as to his views on the Fibre Optic Cable and Information Technology (IT) in the country, Mr. Sheriff disposed to the Committee that he had been with Government from the day the Sierra Leone Cable Ltd Project was launched and noted that he had played a major role in it.
“We started the concept of having a Fibre Optic Cable Landing Station or Point in Sierra Leone because I believe it is very important to the development of the country”, he said.

The nominee promised to do two things if the Committee approved his nomination: “Firstly, he said, “I would like to harmonize the total ICT infrastructure in the country” which in his opinion, is in a state of what he called “silos”.
“Secondly” he said “I would propose that Sierra Leone Cable Ltd be taken as a public institution, capable of selling shares to ordinary Sierra Leoneans.

We should allow the ordinary Sierra Leonean to benefit from the shares”.

Adding, “this is in line with the President’s Agenda for Prosperity”.

iv.
iv.

Mr. Idrissa Yilla - Proposed Board Chairman, Sierra Leone Cable Limited Mr. Idrissa Yilla is an Accountant of no mean standing who has for the past years held executive positions in many reputable companies, including but not limited to the under-mentioned: 2005 – Date: 1990 – 2005: 1989 – 1990: Managing Partner, Maze Insurance Brokerage Business and Financial Services Managing Director, Sierra Leone Insurance Company (SLICO) Deputy Managing Director, Sierra Leone Insurance Company Limited, etc.
In addition to the above, Mr. Yilla has a wealth of experience serving Boards and has worked on the following: 4 2005 - 2008: 2002 – 2004: Member, Board of Trustees – National Social Security and Board Chairman, National Public Procurement Authority Insurance Trust (NASSIT) Responding to the question as to how relevant would he be to the Sierra Leone Cable Ltd with an insurance background, Mr. Yilla asserted “I know I am relevant”, adding that he would bring 30 years of managerial experience and skills into the board.
He further noted that as Chairman his role would mainly be setting policy frameworks and management decision making process.
v. Mr. Lahai Momoh Farmah - Proposed Board Member Sierra Representing the Law Officers Department Civil Aviation Authority, Mr. Lahai Momoh Farmah is a well-known legal professional in the Law Officers Department and has held the following positions in that Establishment: 1991 - 1996 - 2004 - 2006 - 2007 - State Counsel Senior State Counsel Principal State Counsel Head, Civil and Commercial Division Notary Public Responding to the question as to what he would bring to the Civil Aviation Authority, he noted that it is a requirement that his Department gets a Member to the board and stated that his role would be providing legal advice in the various activities of the Authority within its powers and authority.
Responding to further questions as to whether the Civil Aviation Act requires amendments, the nominee responded in the affirmative, adding that the Civil Aviation Act of 2008 emerged as a way of devolving the Aviation Sector from the Ministry of Transport and Aviation and not much was done at that moment.

He added that certain portions of the Act need consideration for amendment.

vi.
vi.

Mr. Unisa Sahid Kamara - Proposed Board Member, Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority Representing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation 5 Mr. Kamara joined the Civil Service in 1993 and after a brief sojourn in the Ministries of Health and Information, was posted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2000 as Assistant Secretary and has worked in that Ministry to date.

He is currently the Director of Administration and Finance.
Responding to probing questions, Mr. Kamara noted that as an institutional representative on the board, he was capable of adequately representing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and would do his best to meet the Ministry’s trust and that of the Committee.

vii.

Mr. Roland A. Nylander - Proposed Board Member, Sierra Leone Cable Limited Mr. Nylander has been a private legal practitioner since 2007 to date.
In between that period, he served as a Lecturer in Business Law at the Milton Margai College of Education and Technology, Congo Cross Campus, and a Legal Consultant at the Defense Office of the Special Court for Sierra Leone.
Responding to the questions as to what he would take to the new office if approved, Mr. Nylander noted that he was pleased with the level of legal experience that he had gained over the years and promised to tap from that experience to help the institution on socio-economic and legal issues and guide them to further the established objectives of the company.
In response to further questioning as to whether he had any knowledge on “Cable Business”, the nominee noted that he is not technically minded in that but that he had a general view of what it was about.

He added that his profession is built in a way that they do not stop learning and that he was ready to continue in that direction.

He considered his nomination as an opportunity to service the nation and promised to regulate his personal legal practice to work on the board.

4.
4.

FIFTEENTH REPORT OF THE TWENTIETHTH SITTING OF THE COMMITTEE ON TUESDAY 13TH JUNE 2013 4:1 The under-mentioned nominee was interviewed: i. Mr. Leonard Balogun Koroma - Proposed Minister, Ministry of Transport and Aviation Mr. Leonard Balogun Koroma is a prominent and astute political figure and served in the Sierra Leone Civil Service for over eighteen (18) years.
He commenced his Civil Service career in 1976 immediately after completing his undergraduate studies at Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone.
He worked with various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) across the country, including but not limited to the following: 2007 – 2009: Minister of State, Office of the Vice President 1991 – 1992: Chief Elections Officer, Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone 6 1989 - 1991: Deputy Secretary and Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources, Fisheries and Forestry 1978 – 1988: Senior Assistant Secretary, Ministry of Energy and Power and Ministry of Transport and Communications 1976 – 1978: Assistant Secretary, Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, and Provincial Secretary’s Office, Bo.
He also served as Press Secretary to Late President Siaka Stevens within this period In addition to his Civil Service career, Mr. Koroma during his sojourn at the United States of America (USA) from 1994 to 2006, worked with the America Airlines in Virginia and the Aerolink Transportation at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
More recently in Sierra Leone, he was the National Coordinator of the 50th Independence Anniversary Celebration and the All Peoples Congress National Elections Coordinator for the 2012 elections.

Responding to the question as why he should be approved by the Committee, Mr. Koroma opined that he was before the Committee as a nominee of His Excellency the President.

He added that he had worked for Sierra Leone and had served the country and people.
In response to further questions as to what value he would add to the Executive Arm of Government, the nominee said that the Executive executes policies and having a President that is development oriented, he needs people who can implement, and “I have a record of implementation” he asserted.
Reacting to the question on theft and negative perceptions of activities at the Lungi International Airport, Mr. Koroma said that the airport in any country is a gate way to that country and that security is paramount to every airport in the world.

He considered the incidents at the Lungi International Airport as a security breach which has a negative effect on the country and that strong action must be taken following the investigations.
He considered such issues uncompromising, adding, “heads must roll if need be”.

Mr. Koroma said, “no country has developed without a robust transportation system, if I am confirmed as Minister of Transport and Aviation, I would ensure that my Ministry puts measures in place to revolutionize transportation system in this country, starting with the road network”.
He told the Committee that he was quite aware of constraints people faced in going to places of work including university students and school children and that Government had to find a way to get enough buses for university students and school children to avoid the hustle of using “okadas”.
He considered this a priority and proposed what he called “a rush hour” transportation service in the morning and evening hours to ease the plight of people once confirmed, adding that public-private partnership could help in this area.

He assured the Committee that he would collaborate with the Maritime Administration and other stakeholders to ratify the African Charter on Maritime Transportation which would be treated as a priority, agreeing with the Committee that Sierra Leone has a lot to benefit.
He concluded that he was cognizant of the fact that if he failed to deliver he could be summoned back to the House to answer.

5.

RECOMMENDATION 7 Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, the Committee adjudged the following Presidential nominees to be suitably qualified for their proposed appointments and are recommended to the House for approval: i. Mr. Saa Kpulun - Proposed Board Member- Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority, Representing the Ministry of Transport and Aviation ii.

iii.

iv.
iii.

iv.

v. Mr. David G. Thompson - Proposed High Court Judge Mr. Mohamed Sheriff- Proposed Managing Director, Sierra Leone Cable Limited Mr. Idrissa Yilla - Proposed Board Chairman, Sierra Leone Cable Limited Mr. Lahai Momoh Farmah - Proposed Board Member Sierra Civil Aviation Authority, Representing the Law Officers Department vi.

Mr. Unisa Sahid Kamara - Proposed Board Member, Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority, Representing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation vii.
Mr. Roland A. Nylander - Proposed Board Member, Sierra Leone Cable Limited viii.

Mr. Leonard Balogun Koroma - Proposed Minister, Ministry of Transport and Aviation Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Reports portray the collective view of the Committee.

I therefore move that the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Reports of the First Session of the Committee on Appointments and the Public Service be adopted by the House and that the recommendations contained therein be approved.

Hon.
Hon.

S. B.

B. Dumbuya Chairman Date………………… 8 FIRST SESSION OF THE FOURTH PARLIAMENT OF THE SECOND REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LEONE MINUTES OF THE NINETEENTH SITTING OF THE COMMITTEE ON APPOINTMENTS AND THE PUBLIC SERVICE IN COMMITTEE ROOM NO.1 PARLIAMENT BUILDING ON TUESDAY 11TH JUNE 2013 AT 11:00 A. M. 1.

Prayers - Members prayed in silence 2.

Attendance 2.1 The following Members of the Committee were present.

1.

Hon.

S. B.

B. Dumbuya 2.

Hon.

Chernor R. M. Bah 3.

Hon.

Dr. Bernadette Lahai 4.

Hon.


Ibrahim Bundu 5.

Hon.

Bliss Osho-Williams 6.

Hon.

Augustine B. Torto 7.

Hon.

E. K. Koedoyoma 8.

Hon.

Veronica Sesay 2.2 The following Members were absent: 9.

Hon.

Alhaji Ansumana Jaia Kaikai 10.

Hon.

Mabinty Funna 11.

Hon.

Amadu Kanu 12.

Hon.

Benneh Bangura 13.

Hon.

Alice Foyah 14.

Hon.

Brimah Conteh 16.

Hon.

P. C. V.B.S.

Kebbie 3.

PUBLIC HEARING - Hearing was open to the public and the press.

4.
4.

Consideration of Presidential nomination for appointment as High Court Judge and Board Members as listed: 9 4:1The following nominee were interviewed on oath: i. Mr. Saa Kpulun - Proposed Board Member- Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority, Representing the Ministry of Transport and Aviation ii.

iii.

iv.

v. vi.
iii.

iv.

v. vi.

Mr. David G. Thompson - Proposed High Court Judge Mr. Mohamed Sheriff- Proposed Managing Director, Sierra Leone Cable Limited Mr. Idrissa Yilla - Proposed Board Chairman, Sierra Leone Cable Limited Mr. Lahai Momoh Farmah - Proposed Board Member Sierra Civil Aviation, Representing the Attorney General Mr. Unisa Sahid Kamara - Proposed Board Member, Sierra Leone Civil Aviation, Representing Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation vii.
Mr. Roland A. Nylander - Proposed Board Member, Sierra Leone Cable Limited 5.

CLOSED SESSION 5.1 The Committee unanimously accepted the nomination of all the candidates interviewed.

The Committee rose at 2: 30 p.m. 10 FIRST SESSION OF THE FOURTH PARLIAMENT OF THE SECOND REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LEONE MINUTES OF THE TWENTIETH SITTING OF THE COMMITTEE ON APPOINTMENTS AND THE PUBLIC SERVICE IN COMMITTEE ROOM NO.1 PARLIAMENT BUILDING ON THURSDAY 13TH JUNE 2013 AT 2:00 P. M. 1.
Prayers - Members prayed in silence 2.

Attendance 2.2 The following Members of the Committee were present.

1.

Hon.

S. B.

B. Dumbuya 2.

Hon.

Chernor R. M. Bah 3.

Hon.

Dr. Bernadette Lahai 4.

Hon.

Alhaji Ansumana Jaia Kaikai 5.

Hon.

Bliss Osho-Williams 6.

Hon.

Mabinty Funna 7.

Hon.

Augustine B. Torto 8.

Hon.

E. K. Koedoyoma 9.

Hon.

Veronica Sesay 2.2 The following Members were absent: 10.

Hon.

Ibrahim Bundu 11.

Hon.

Amadu Kanu 12.

Hon.

Benneh Bangura 13.

Hon.

Alice Foyah 14.

Hon.


Brimah Conteh 16.

Hon.

P. C. V.B.S.

Kebbie 3.

PUBLIC HEARING - Hearing was open to the public and the press.

4.

Consideration of Presidential nomination for appointment as Minister of State as listed: 4:1 The under-mentioned nominee was interviewed on oath: 11 i. Mr. Leonard Balogun Koroma - Proposed Minister, Transport and Aviation 5.

CLOSED SESSION 5.1 The Committee unanimously accepted the nomination of the candidate interviewed.
The Committee rose at 3: 30 p.m.