GENDER AFFAIRS The Sing Song Of Women’s Inclusion in President Koroma’s Government Posted by on Oct 24, 2007, 04:34

Without doubt, women’s participation in any political dispensation is a matter of must.  The nomination of Ministers by the newly elected President, Ernest Bai Koroma has ushered in a new national issue in Sierra Leone.This issue firmly rests on the insignificant inclusion of our women folks in public offices especially ministerial positions.  As such, a random sample survey has been conducted amongst men and women of various spheres to ascertain their stance on this very sensitive issue.  As expected, varying postulations have been advanced to support and debunk the appointment of some Sierra Leonean women into public offices.  An attempt would now be made to critically evaluate some of those samplings for a position to probably be taken, by President Ernest Bai Koroma and those advocates that are now very critical of the issue.

So far, it is only three women that have been nominated to serve in substantive ministerial positions but the nominees for the deputy ministerial positions are yet to be announced.  Fortunately, the selected few that have been nominated by President Ernest Bai Koroma are expected to serve in very senior ministries.

Despite this positive gesture of the President to nominate for the very first time a woman in the Foreign Affairs Ministry certain over ambitious, women, are never supportive of the president’s gesture.  The advocacy for the inclusion of more women in the government of President Ernest Bai Koroma is honestly in place but it is the monotony and individuals that have championed its promulgation that is another issue entirely.  Besides, it is not an acceptable principle to just appoint any woman because we want to include women in governance but rather, we must take certain variable into consideration before nominating some of them.  This does not mean that there are no competent women to be nominated into the government.  Simply, it either means that some of the competent and seemingly educated women that have made it their national anthem to ask for their inclusion in this new dispensation have not satisfied the set out criteria. It is necessary to echo at this point, to let those vociferous women know that specific conditions must be met before both men and women are appointed into public positions by President Ernest Bai Koroma.  The women that have now been ratified by parliament, whom were nominated by President Koroma were never heard making endless speeches mandating the president to appoint them. Instead they allowed the President to use his wisdom to make a decision that would be reflective of national interest.

Importantly, the appointment of public officials, men or women is based on diverse criteria.  Firstly, the individual must be a party loyalist. This is important because a leader is not expected to separate with strangers and disloyal people around him.  If this is attempt is made, then sabotage would surely come in and the leadership would fail.  So, are those women that are now clamouring to work in President Koroma’s Government ready to revoke their original allegiance in their other places and sincerely work with the new man?  Of course they will say yes because they are very desperate to occupy ministerial positions. Also, an individual would only be appointed to a public office when he/she possesses the requisite educational criteria and moral competence to undertake such task.  Certainly, we have lots of individuals that have the educational competence to serve in various public offices but their integrity and moral foundations have been battered very seriously, and an educated person whose integrity and reputation are questionable should not be allowed to occupy public offices.  Those women who are so desperate to be appointed by President Ernest Bai Koroma should begin to search their cupboards now before somebody does it for them. Sierra Leoneans are aufait with most of the names of the women and the activities they have been involved in that are now practically begging to be named deputy ministers.  It would be very embarrassing, for some of them to fight and be nominated and later rejected by parliament for other reasons.  These women need to be mindful. Interestingly, the same women that are all over media institutions pressing this government to include their names for public offices are also heads of important institutions.  Some of them have done badly, whilst others have been doing fine.  The fact still remains that they occupy non-state institutions that have direct dealings with members of the public.  It is better for them to continue the management of these institutions than to abandon them with a view of bringing disrepute to the nation.  Frankly, women can serve in other positions that may not have any direct correlation with being very political and would do even better.

Walking down the most recent historical lane of this nation, the women of Sierra Leone would unequivocally agree with this writer that the very first move of President Ernest Bai Koroma to appointment three women in very senior positions of government at one go and for a start was unprecedented.  Even before the demise of the former administration of ex-president Kabbah, there were two women (Shirley Gbujama and Kadie Sesay) that served as substantive ministers. The question that is being asked by political scholars and think-tanks is why the agitation to work in the new dispensation?  The answer(s) to this question might be many, but most of them would be very selfish.  Whatever answers that may be submitted by these ambitious women that are agitating to be considered must be thoroughly scrutinized to avoid the looming failure.

As a matter of national concern, Sierra Leoneans are not out rightly dissociating themselves from the moves made by some women, although most of which are selfish but are of the view that President Ernest Bai Koroma has started on a fine direction and must be given the needed support and time to critically examine the limited good women that might be considered for public offices. The President must not bow to any form of pressure be it domestic, societal or national that would bring embarrassment to his administration.