Aaron Koroma Backs Nominees, Urges Youth Jobs and Fiscal Reforms
By Shadrach Aziz Kamara
Leader of the Opposition 2 in the Sierra Leone Parliament, Hon. Aaron Koroma, has thrown his support behind the latest batch of presidential nominees, commending their qualifications and track records. He, however, urged them to quickly translate competence into concrete results
especially in youth empowerment, prudent financial management, and institutional reforms.
Speaking during parliamentary deliberations on appointments to ministries, commissions, and state institutions, Hon. Koroma gave a pointed assessment of each nominee, outlining both the opportunities and the pressing demands of their respective offices.
On the proposed Deputy Minister of Finance, he highlighted her three decades of experience at the Bank of Sierra Leone and described her shift from the monetary to the fiscal sector as “a seamless move” that could strengthen resource allocation and expenditure oversight. He stressed the urgency of timely disbursement to critical service ministries Health, Education, Water, and Agriculture linking financial discipline directly to better service delivery.
Turning to the Ombudsman’s office, Hon. Koroma lamented its past lack of visibility and enforcement capacity. He called on the nominee to spearhead reforms, boost public awareness, and ensure that the office’s recommendations translate into tangible change in tackling administrative injustices.
He praised Madam Haja Kadie Johnson’s appointment to the Roads Authority Board, citing her patriotic service and national recognition from past and current presidents. He urged her to focus on strategic road networks connecting the South, North, and key economic corridors, describing infrastructure as a driver of trade, growth, and social well-being.
The Minority Leader also welcomed the proposed Commissioner for the National Youth Commission, urging a pivot towards skills training, technical education, and middle-level manpower development. He warned against fragmented youth initiatives that dilute impact, stressing that young people need sustainable livelihood opportunities, not short-term handouts.
For the National Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NPRA) and the new National Security Agency (NSA), Hon. Koroma called for sector liberalization, fair competition, and transparent market practices linking stable petroleum pricing to economic stability and household livelihoods.
Concluding, Hon. Koroma affirmed his confidence in the nominees but cautioned that parliamentary approval carries public expectations. “The people are clapping because they are expecting results,” he reminded, urging them to deliver on service delivery, youth empowerment, and institutional performance for the good of the nation.
