By Shadrach Aziz Kamara
Leader of the Opposition 2 in the Sierra Leone Parliament, Hon. Aaron Koroma, has expressed strong support for the latest presidential nominees, praising their competence and integrity while urging them to deliver tangible results in key sectors, particularly youth empowerment, fiscal discipline, and institutional efficiency. Speaking during parliamentary deliberations on the approval of appointments to various ministries, commissions, and state institutions, Hon. Koroma offered a detailed evaluation of the nominees’ capabilities and the expectations of the public.
Highlighting the proposed Deputy Minister of Finance, Hon. Koroma commended her three decades of experience in the Bank of Sierra Leone and described her transition from the monetary to the fiscal sector as “a seamless move” that positions her to strengthen resource allocation and expenditure management. He emphasized the importance of timely disbursement of funds to critical service ministries like Health, Education, Water, and Agriculture, insisting that “citizens expect hospitals to have drugs, motivated doctors, and functioning services – and this depends on timely financial management.”
On the appointment of the new Ombudsman, he noted that the office has historically lacked visibility and enforcement powers. He called on the nominee to champion reforms that would align the Ombudsman’s mandate with emerging issues of administrative injustice and ensure that recommendations become more impactful. He also urged a national awareness drive to help citizens understand and access the services of the Ombudsman’s office.
Hon. Koroma praised long-serving public servant Madam Haja Kadie Johnson, recently appointed to the Roads Authority Board, citing her patriotic service and past recognition by former and current presidents. He stressed that her role is vital to ensuring nationwide road connectivity, which drives economic growth, eases trade, and improves the social well-being of citizens. He specifically called for prioritizing key road networks that link the South, North, and economic corridors of the country.
The Minority Leader also lauded the proposed Commissioner for the National Youth Commission, highlighting his extensive background in youth-related governance and NGO work. He urged him to prioritize skills training, technical education, and middle-level manpower development to address unemployment and drug abuse among the youth. “Our young people must be empowered to create sustainable livelihoods, not just rely on temporary handouts,” he said, warning that uncoordinated youth interventions across government and NGOs have reduced overall impact.
In addition, he expressed confidence in the nominees for the National Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NPRA) and the newly established National Security Agency (NSA), urging them to focus on sector liberalization, fair competition, and strategic institutional reforms. He emphasized that stable petroleum pricing and transparent market practices have direct impacts on transportation costs, economic stability, and household livelihoods.
Concluding his remarks, Hon. Aaron Koroma affirmed that the appointees are capable and patriotic Sierra Leoneans, but he reminded them that parliamentary approval comes with high expectations. “The public is clapping because they are expecting results,” he said, charging the nominees to deliver meaningful change in service delivery, youth engagement, and institutional performance for the good of the nation.
