Sierra Leones President Julius Maada Bio has appointed 27 ministers, four of whom are women and simultaneously created a new super-ministry headed by a Chief Minister.
Appointed to run the super ministry is Professor David Francis, Maada Bios former teacher at Bradford University in UK and chairman of the transition committee.
As explained in a statement by the Presidents office on Tuesday, Professor Francis role combines that of the chief of staff in the previous regime. He is like the prime minister, the man who will run the government.
According to the statement, Francis will ensure that the government
He is expected to provide competent leadership for the day-to-day operational co-ordination, oversight, monitoring and evaluation of government business.
He will serve as the central hub responsible for the overall co-ordination and facilitates the implementation of the Governments Strategic Priorities.
He will work with all Government ministers andco-ordinate the implementation of government policies across all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
As directed by the Executive President, the Chief Minister chairs the 3 cross-cutting sectoral ministries for inter-governmental co-ordination including: Education and Social Development Sector Ministries; Finance and Economic Development Sector Ministries, and the Peace, Security and Justice Sector Ministries, government explained.
The Office of the Chief Minister will also supervise the Directorate of Presidential Infrastructural Projects and Service Delivery (DPIPSD); Directorate of Strategy, Policy and Planning (DSPP); Directorate of Performance Management, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPMME); Millennium Challenge Coordinating Unit (MCCU); and Directorate of Institute for Science and Technology (DIST). A Permanent Secretary will provide the administrative leadership for the Office of the Chief Minister.
Women advocates have criticised the new government for appointing only four women into the 27-man full cabinet positions . One of the women appointed is Nabeela Tunis, wife of the Parliamentary Leader of the governing SLPP party.
The head of the 50/50 gender parity group,Dr Fatu Taqi said. While we congratulate the women, we are a little bit disappointed that only four of the 27 full cabinet positions went to women.
She urged the president to put on the gender lens in appointing people to ambassadorial and Parastatal positions.
Most of the nominees are from the southeastern stronghold of the presidents party, although there are northerners in senior positions such as education, health, trade and youth affairs.
President Maada Bio also gave ministerial slots to members of other political parties, excluding the former ruling APC. The presidential running-mate of the ADP party, which did not support Bio in the runoff poll, Haja Isata Abdulai-Kamara was appointed as non-cabinet minister (Resident Minister, Northwest).
Charles Margai, Presidential candidate of of PMDC party, which backed Bio is Attorney General.
Another non-SLP member appointed is Peter Bayuku Konteh. He heads the NGC party and was a former APC cabinet minister. He is the new Minister of Trade-designate.
*Full list of cabinet and non-cabinet ministers:
Chief Minister Professor David Francis
Finance Minister Jacob Saffa
Attorney General and Minister of Justice Charles Margai Attorney General
Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Alpha Timbo
Minister of Health Dr Alpha Wurie
Minister of Energy Kanja Sesay
Minister of Information and Communications Mohamed Swarray
Minister of Marine Resources Emma Kowa
Minister of Labour Adekunle King
Minister of Water Resources Dr Jonathan Tengbe
Minister of Social Welfare, Gender