His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio has administered the oath of office to newly appointed Ministers and Deputy Ministers, urging them to serve with integrity, discipline, honesty and a strong commitment to delivering results for the people of Sierra Leone.
The newly appointed officials sworn into office include, Karefa Kargbo (Minister of Finance), Umaru Napoleon Koroma (Minister of Employment, Labour and Social Security), Jeneba Bangura (Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation) Dr. Steven Jusu (Deputy Minister of Energy II) and Foday Musa Fofana (Deputy Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources)
Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, the newly appointed Minister of Finance, Karefa Kargbo, expressed profound appreciation to President Bio for the confidence reposed in them through their appointments.
He assured the President that they accepted the responsibilities entrusted to them with humility and a clear understanding of the weight of their respective offices, pledging to serve with integrity, discipline and a strong focus on results.
Mr Kargbo noted that the Ministry of Finance occupies a critical position in the Government’s ability to deliver on its development priorities and expressed appreciation to his predecessor, Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura, for his service and contribution to the management of the country’s economy and public finances.
He also acknowledged the technical and administrative teams within the Ministry of Finance and across Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, noting that significant work was already underway.
“My intention is to build on that work, strengthen what is working, address the challenges that remain and ensure greater consistency in delivery,” he stated.
The Minister of Finance pledged to work closely with the Bank of Sierra Leone, National Revenue Authority, Ministries, Departments and Agencies, the private sector and other stakeholders, noting that effective economic management requires coordination, timely information and collective responsibility.
In his remarks, President Julius Maada Bio congratulated the newly appointed Ministers and Deputy Ministers, describing their new responsibilities as a “heavy task” that requires the best support, commitment and strength to enable Government to deliver for the people.
The President explained that the appointments were based on merit and urged the new officials to approach their responsibilities with firmness, dignity, integrity and honesty.
President Bio also reminded the newly sworn-in officials of the sacred nature of the oath they had taken, noting that they had each sworn their allegiance using either the Bible or the Quran.
He encouraged them to take their oaths seriously and conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the responsibilities entrusted to them.
“I took my oath of office with the Bible, and I took it seriously because of the sacredness of the book I used,” President Bio stated, urging the new appointees to similarly honour the commitments they had made to the nation.
The President wished the Ministers and Deputy Ministers success in their respective assignments and called on them to work collectively towards advancing the Government’s development agenda and delivering meaningful results for the people of Sierra Leone.
