IN PARLIAMENT
APC Chairs 16 Parliamentary Oversight Committees,SLPP 7 And PMDC 1
By Saidu Kamara 033-744-898
Oct 4, 2007, 03:12

A total of 24 Parliamentary Oversight Committees and 6 In-House Committees have been announced last Tuesday, in Parliament. The Parliamentary Oversight Committees are charged with the task of supervising Government Ministries and Departments.

Out of those committees, the majority All People’s Congress Party is chairing 16 Parliamentary Oversight Committees, the SLPP which serves as the main opposition party in Parliament is heading five committees and the People’s Movement for Democratic Change is chairing a Committee, while the speaker serves as chairman of three very important Committees. Those Committees are the Select, the Standing Order and the Supervising Committees.

The Select Committee comprises of the entire parliamentary leader in parliaments.

With the formation of the Parliamentary Oversight Committees, the third Parliament, of the Second Republic of Sierra Leone, is now set for performing their parliamentary duties. The Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Appointment and Public Service, which is chaired by, Hon. Edward Turay, will be responsible for screening presidential nominees, for various cabinet positions. The Majority Leader in Parliament, Hon. Edward Turay, of the APC, is also the Leader of Government Business Committee. The Hon. Kemoh Sesay, one of the oldest parliamentarians, heads the Committee on Energy and Power. APC’s Hon. Alimamy P. Koroma, Former Secretary General of the CCSL, heads the Committee on Development and Economic Planning whilst the APC’s Chief Whip, Hon. Ibrahim Bundu serves as, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Transport and Communications.

Hon. Dr. Moses Sesay of Bombali District is chairing the Finance Committee; Hon. Chernor M. Bah is heading the Legislative Committee in Parliament;

Hon. Abdul F. Serry Kamal is the chairman of the Committee on Privileges; Hon Minkailu Mansaray heads the Marine Resources Committee; Hon. S.B.B. Dumbuya of the APC is heading the Committee on Works, Housing, Lands and the Environment; the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Victor Chukuma Johnson, of the APC is chairman of the Public Accounts Committee; Hon. Augustine B. Torto, former SLPP Member of Parliament, who cross carpeted to the APC when he realized that the SLPP had failed the people, is now the new chairman of the Parliamentary Oversight Committee, on Mineral Resources; Hon. Ali Salieu Sankoh, of Tonkolili District, Deputy Whip of the APC in Parliament is the new chairman on Education Science and Technology; Hon. Rev.  Marie Yansaneh, Hon. Philipson Kamara, Hon. Mani Betts Priddy, Hon. Mohamed S. Kargbo and Hon. (Rtd) Capt. Abdul R. Kamara are heading the following committees, Social Services, Gender and Children Affairs, Local Government and Community Development, Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Agriculture and Food Security and Defence, Internal Affairs and Presidential Affairs respectively.

The committee on Health and Sanitation is chaired by Hon. Bintu Myers of Kenema District; Hon Tamba E. Kaibanje of Kono District is in charge of the Parliamentary Committee on Youth and Sport. For the Deputy Speaker in the last parliament, Hon. Elizabeth Alpha Lavalie is the chairperson of the Committee on Human Rights.

Hon. Veronica Kadie Sesay of the SLPP is heading the Committee on Information and Broadcasting; Hon. Emmanuel W. Tommy of Kono District is now the new chairman on Trade and Tourism Committee. Hon. PC Jeremiah Sinnah Yovonie Kangova II of Moyamba District is the only honorable paramount chief that is heading a committee in parliament. While the new political party in parliament the PMDC is heading one committee, which is the National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA) and is being led by, Hon. Legacy K. Sankoh of Bo district.

After announcing members in their respective committees the Speaker of Parliament Hon Justice Abel Nathaniel Bankole Strong said the Oversight Committees have been charged with the responsibility by parliament to serve as a check on the various government ministries and commissions and department. He therefore urged the newly composed parliamentary committee numbers to ensure that they make themselves available whenever the committees meet and on time. Hon. Justice Abel Strong congratulated the MPs for accepting to serve on the various committees.

In an interviewed with one of the chairman of the Defence Committee Hon (Rtd) Capt A.R. Kamara said his committee comprises senior retire army and police officers that have a wealth of experiences.

He said he has no doubt with the experiences of these men they will leave no stone inturn to ensure that our security apparatus are up to the task. He said Hon. (Rtd) Brigadier KES Boyah and Hon. (Rtd) Col, Charles H. Kalawa, on the police officer Hon (Rtd) ASP Patrick Lahai Kamara of the APC and Hon. (Rtd) Chief Supt. T.M. Borboh Sawayer of the SLPP. He said these are discipline men whom, he said will help me to move the committee forward.

Earlier the leader of the Majority Party and Leader of the Government Business Hon. Edward Turay tabled the report and account statement of Public Accounts (Consolidated Fund), for the Financial Year ended 31^st December 2002.

Report and amount statement of Public Accounts (consolidated Fund) for the Financial year edged 31st December 2003; report and annual statement of Public Accounts (consolidated fund) for the financial year ended 31st December 2004: and the Auditor General’s Report on the Accounts of Sierra Leone for the year 2002, 2003, and 2004 volume 11, to the House of Parliament on Tuesday at their first session for the period 2007 to 2008.