NEWS In Sierra Leone State House Appoints Dr. Kaifala Marah as New Chief Of Staff Posted by Sorie Sudan Sesay, London on Jul 8, 2010, 10:38

Dr. Kaifala Marah.....The New Chief Of Staff

For the first time in Sierra Leone, the position of Chief of Staff is being established and the individually recently appointed to that enviable new office is also new to the centre of decision-making. But from his background and experience in addition to his enduring spirit, resilience and passion with which he works will make the difference. Kaifala Marah’s appointment as Chief of Staff at the Office of the President at State House means the abolition of the Ministry of Presidential and Public Affairs, according to a press release issued from State House, is a strategic move by the leadership.

The release also confirms that Dr. Marah “will among other functions ensure execution of the President’s Agenda for Change by providing the necessary collaborative links and support for the Ministries, Departments and Agencies to meet their various targets.”

In London, where he worked as Adviser Public Expenditure Management at the Commonwealth, Dr. Marah described his appointment in the following words “It is a humble opportunity to serve my country and I am thankful to President Koroma and the Commonwealth Secretariat for providing this unique window of opportunity to be able to play my part in nation-building. I have learnt that no one can know it all, do it all or do it alone – so, I will be relying mostly on those on the ground – together, we can all make a difference”. He said. Meanwhile, there have been positive responses both within Sierra Leone and the international community following Dr. Marah’s appointment and many have commended the President for what they described as ‘an appropriate and timely action.’

Dr. Marah has made great strides in the Commonwealth and his blueprint included series of in-country exchanges, the provision of technical advice and capacity building under the project, Building Pyramids in the Valleys, through which the Secretariat transferred skills and enhances knowledge sharing within the Commonwealth countries. This was executed through a community of practitioners known as Thematic Fellows who have been leading country reform programmes. Dr. Marah also introduced the Commonwealth Public Procurement Network (CPPN) – a forum of heads of procurement regulatory bodies and central boards within the Commonwealth.

His untiring efforts in assisting Commonwealth countries spans into all regions: Africa, Asia, Caribbean, and the Pacific; for example, Botswana, which is the shining reference for good governance and economic recovery on the African continent, is at current receiving technical assistance from Sierra Leone, to enhance risk management and internal audit in the whole of government.

He once said at his graduation ceremony (PhD), “Yes, we may be a small post-conflict country busy with consolidating our democracy and rebuilding our economy, but we do have some good stuff to offer to the rest of the world.”

“Honestly, there is no better way of rebuilding our country-image after being battered by the western media because of the civil conflict than through the difference our compatriots are making in every corner of the world. They have been busy reinventing our image. Indeed we have got something to offer, and it must be celebrated,” he said.

Dr. Marah has also recently developed a government self-assessment toolkit on financial management for member countries. He is also a public sector expert in change management, strategic thinking, local government administration, as well as legislative development.

He is responsible for operationalising the Commonwealth Heads of Government Mandate on public expenditure management through the provision of advisory services, training and policy development.

Before joining the Commonwealth Secretariat, Dr.Marah worked as a Budget Analyst at the State Senate of New York and as a Graduate Fellow at the Centre for International Development in New York.

Whilst working out of Sierra Leone, Dr Kaifala Marah has not forgotten his root. He has made tremendous contribution towards the socio-economic development of Sierra Leone.

He single-handedly sponsored the rehabilitation of the Kabala-Koinadugu road in 2009 – which was abandoned since the 1960s - in collaboration with the youths and local authorities.