The Parliament of Sierra Leone has on Tuesday 2nd February 2021 approved with unanimity the Ninth Report of its Committee on Appointments and Public Service, chaired by the Leader of Government Business, Hon. Mathew Sahr Nyuma.

The following presidential nominees were approved by Parliament:

1. Dr. Turad Senesie, Minister, Ministry of Lands and Country Planning

2. Rev. Dr. Jonathan Titus Williams-Deputy Minister, Ministry of Planning and Economic Development

3. Dr. Sao-kpato Hannah Isata Max-Kyne – Commissioner, National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA)

4. Jimmy Batilo Songa- Deputy Commissioner, National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA) and

5. Pa. Komrabai Maylie Kamara-Member Board of Directors, Sierra Leone Airport Authority (SLAA)

Seconding the motion, the Opposition Whip, Hon. Hassan Sesay said the approval of presidential nominees is a national duty and spoke well of a lady in respect of gender balance. The Opposition Whip said he had no doubt in the competence of the NaCSA Commissioner. “Let us always give women the support they require”, and went on to remind her of serving the nation sincerely by doing the needful relating to market projects. He also advised the Deputy NaCSA Commissioner to give unreserved support to the female Commissioner for the national good.

The Opposition Whip asked the Lands Minister to stand up and assured him of their support in respect of attaining a positive agenda.

The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas alluded to the good work of the Committee on Appointments; adding that all the nominees are laced with outstanding performances. The Deputy Speaker also used the occasion to recommend two nominees because of good performance. However, he expressed disappointment over the country’s lagging behind in lieu of decades of appointments without realizing the desirable outcomes. “I know Dr. Turad Senesie as a perfectionist”. “I am pretty sure that he will heal the wounds of that Ministry”. He went on to speak on dubious activities relative to land grabbing in the country.

Rev. Dr. Titus Williams, he said had a wealth of experience in planning and empathized that he had no doubt in him. “The two people are the best for the positions”, he vehemently concluded.

The Committee Chairman for NaCSA, Hon. Dr. Roland Kargbo commended President Bio for appointing the nominees. However, he decried the outputs of some previous nominees in respect of deliverables. He also urged the nominees to change the drive in light of better performance. Hon. Dr. Kargbo highlighted the development projects of NaCSA in light of monitoring. He was pleased with the appointment of NaCSA’s new Commissioners and Minister of Lands.

Hon. P.C. Bai Kurr Kanagbaro Sanka III, representing Tonkolili District buttressed the position of the Deputy Speaker regarding dubious attitude by the citizenry relating to land. “I am appealing to the nominees to think Sierra Leone”; adding that every compatriot has right to your designated offices and urged them to work in their best interest.

The PC passionately appealed to the Minister of Lands to put stringent measures in place to curb rampant wildfire in the country.

He also commended the Minister of Lands for his good attributes and competence. He advised the Minister to work with Parliament in order to succeed. He also heaped praises on the Deputy Commissioner of NaCSA and admonished all the nominees to respect MPs in the course of executing their duties.

Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Chernor R. M. Bah said the nominees have good CVs but they would not rely on that; adding that performance in new offices matters. He also admonished the nominees to serve best in the national interest.
“All of them are competent on papers”.

The Opposition Leader asked colleague MPs to support and protect the Minister of Lands to deliver on his new appointment.

Leader of Government Business, Hon. Mathew Sahr Nyuma thanked all MPs for their brilliant contributions in light of team work. He re-echoed the incompetence demonstrated by some previous nominees; thus affected the progress of the country.
The Leader of Government Business also commended the new NaCSA Commissioner for astute leadership in national service; and advised her to put the records straight with regards policy and transformational team work. He asked the Deputy Commissioner of NaCSA to work collaboratively with the Commissioner.

For the Ministry of Lands, he alluded to the positive response by way of lecture they had from the new Minister during the course of his interview. He called on MPs to embark on effective and efficient oversight in that regard. He empathized on performance by the nominees in light of the New Direction’s Manifesto or stand to be fired by President Bio if they failed to deliver on their appointments.

The Rt. Hon. Speaker of Parliament, Dr. Abass Chernor Bundu extended congratulatory messages to the nominees and advised them to work in accordance with the confidence reposed on them by the President and the Parliament of Sierra Leone.

Department of Public Relations
Parliament of Sierra Leone
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Sierra Leone have produced six(6) official first Ladies in our history, Remove the political Len’s read through this piece and make your Judgement objectively.

H.E Fatima Maada Bio Top the List as the best in terms of Project initiatives & achievement in the office of first lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone ..

Written by Fofana-Fofana & edited By Dr. Paul Belley Khanu in US)

1, Her Excellency Madam Rebbeca Steven’s as a first lady From 21st April 1971 to 28th November 1985

2, Her Excellency Madam Hannah Momoh as a first lady from 28th December 1985 to 29th April 1992 .

3, Her Excellency Madam Patricia Kabbah as a first lady from 29th March 1996 to 1998 .

4, Her Excellency Madam Isata J Kabbah as a first lady from 1998 to 17th September 2007 .

5, Her Excellency Madam Sia Nyuma Koroma as a first lady from 17th September 2007 to 4th April, 2018 .

6, Her Excellency Madam Fatima Maada Bio as a first lady from 4th April 2018 to current date ..

Top three(3) First Ladies and educational Background ..

Her Excellency Madam Fatima Maada Bio born on 27th November 1980 in Kono district, Attended the Ansarul Islamic Primary School, later moved to St. Joseph’s Senior Secondary School in Freetown, She holds Bachelor of Arts with Hons degree in Performing Art in London .

Her Excellence Madam Sia Nyuma Koroma Born in Kono district on March 19th, 1958. attended the Annie Walsh Memorial Senior Secondary school Freetown, She holds Degree in Biochemistry, Master of science degree in Synthetic organic chemistry in UK .

Her Excellency Madam Patricia Kabbah Born in Bonthe district on March 17th 1933, Attended St. Joseph’s Senior Secondary school Freetown, She holds Bachelor Degree in English in Toledo Ohio, Master Degree in French Language in Chicago USA ..

All the above first Ladies are rated based on their Performance and Achievement as first Ladies during their term of office as first Ladies of the Republic of Sierra. The current first lady Fatima Maada Bio is the youngest and most popular first lady base on her projects initiatives with implementation ..

The title first lady held by female spouse of the president of Sierra Leone, the first lady is a Representative of the people of Sierra Leone both home and abroad..
The office of the first lady is an extension of STATE HOUSE and is responsible for the social events and ceremonies at State house-Lodge..

Since 1971 Sierra Leone has had Six(6) first Ladies,

the first was Rebbeca Steven’s , wife of former President Siaka Steven’s, who remained at her family’s private residence at King Harmar Road while her husband lived at state House and Kabasa Lodge. Madam Rebbeca Siaka Steven’s normally accompanied her husband to few ceremonies events and preferred to keep low profile.

The Second firs Lady
H.E Madam Hannah Monmoh wife of former President Joseph Saidu Momoh was a low key figure who never under takes any development activities true out her tenured in office as a first lady. During Madam Hannah Momoh tenured as first lady she stayed with her Husband Joseph Saidu Momoh at Wilberforce road. However, when the extent of her husbands infidelities came to light, she left him and moved to London in 1989.

Sierra Leone’s third(3rd) first lady was one of the country’s foremost Lawyers Madam PATRICIA KABBAH.
Madam Lawyer Kabbah had been the chairperson of the committee that restored Sierra Leone to civilian rule and she helped redraft country’s constitution in 1995 when her late husband Dr. Ahmed Tejan Kabba won the election, she sought to set up the first office of the first lady in history of Sierra Leone. Her husband pushed into pressured from Stalwarts in the SLPP party and denied her request. Later in 1998 Patricia Kabbah died of Cancer.
Shortly, after her death her husband Late Dr. Ahmad T Kabba married Madam Isata J. Kabbah.

The 4th first Lady was H.E Isata Jabbie Kabbah took over late Patricia Kabbah who died in London from cancer until she occupied the office of the first Lady till 2007, yet still the office of the first lady was completely dormant with know developmental initiative activities.. Isata Jabbie Kabbah forced herself into the internal politics of the SLPP and created so many enemies, which sh later joined the NGC ahead of 2018 elections when the SLPP regained power…

In 2007, Madam Sia Koroma, a Biochemist and Psychiatric Nurse became the 5th First lady of Sierra Leone. Madam Koroma successfully established the office of the first lady and completely redefined the role, Her husband former president Dr. Ernest Bia Koroma never gave her the full support to make the office of the first lady useful. Madma Koroma worked on three (3) initiatives, the WISH to support mother’s and children, FLAXIX to provide training, and the DANKE Koroma foundation, her husband Ernest Bia Koroma refused to support and grants her request to implement her development agenda for the office of the first lady, which left the office of the first lady less important and unpopular to majority of Sierra Leoneans..

Two years to the national election Former first lady Madam Sia Nyuma Koroma was know were to be seen with her Husband Former president Dr Ernest Bia Koroma in official events as first lady, She later decided to keep low profile because her husband failed to creates the platform for her to implement most of its pending projects.

The current first lady of Sierra Leone Madam Fatima Bio, wife of President Julius Maada Bio who took over office 4th April 2018,
Madam Fatima Maada Bio clearly established the office of the first lady and made it very popular and useful with plenty developments activities which captured the eyes of so many Sierra Leoneans about the important of the office of the first lady…

On December 8th 2020, First lady Fatima Maada Bio officially opens the Newly constructed Rainbow Center of Excellence in Bo District, Giving and over view of the rainbo center and its activities, the Director of the institution Daniel Kettor expressed their deepest appreciation to Madam First lady for her timely Intervention and unwavering support and commitment to the fight against Rape in Sierra Leone..

In 2018 at the Commonwealth head of Government meeting in London, the Queen of England was excited to meet with the Newest first lady. The Queen was expressed with her tenacity in helping to change the perception of the role of women in politics.

On September 25th 2019, First Lady Madam Fatima Maada Bio Launched the Hands off our Girls campaign at a High Level meeting on the margin of the 74th United Nation General Assembly (UNGA)

Sierra Leoneans let me list down the achievement of H.E Fatima Bio 2years in office as First Lady…

1, LUNCHING OF THE HAND’S OFF OUR GIRLS PROGRAM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY..

2, ESTABLISHED RAPE/SEXUAL ABUSED COURT FOR THE UNDER AGE/MINOR..

3, LUNCHING OF SANITY PAD FOR SCHOOL GOING PUPILS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY…

4, NATION WIDE FOOD BASKET DONATIONS.

5, EXTENSION OF CHILDREN’S WARD KOIDU GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL..

6, DONATION OF SCHOOL CHAIRS TO FOUR(4) PRIMARY SCHOOLS INCLUDING HER FORMER SCHOOL ANSARUL ISLAMIC SECONDARY SCHOOL KOIDU..

7, DONATES ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY MILLION LEONES TO THE NATIONAL POLICE WIFE DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION FUND..

8, DONATES LARGE QUALITY OF MEDICAL EQUIPMENTS TO THE 34MILITARY HOSPITAL.

9, FEED THE ENTIRE SCHOOL GOING PUPILS AT SAINT LUCK’S PRIMARY SCHOOL WILBERFORCE..

10, CONSTRUCTION OF SIX(6) CLASS ROOM PRIMARY SCHOOL IN SWEGBEMA.

11, CONSTRUCTION OF 100BED @34 MILITARY HOSPITAL.