Sierraeye Salone recently published a rebuttal to the claims made by Yusuf Keketoma Sandi, the government Press Secretary, regarding the number of women appointed to the Cabinet by the president in the initial round of appointments. In their publication, Sierraeye highlighted a disparity between the Press Secretary's statement and the actual appointments made.
Here is the full publication:
"In Section 59 (1) of the constitution, it is clearly stated that 'there shall be a Cabinet whose functions shall be to advise the President in the government of Sierra Leone and which shall consist of the President, the Vice-President, and such Ministers as the President may from time to time appoint' (emphasis added).
On Monday, July 10, 2023, President Bio presented a list of nine ministers and eight deputy ministers. Among them, two women were appointed: Dr. Ramatulai Wurie (Haja), Minister of Technical and Higher Education, and Manty Tarawalli, Minister of State in the Vice President's Office. However, based on the provisions of Section 59 (1) and historical precedent, only one of these female ministers, the Minister of Technical and Higher Education, will be part of the Cabinet meetings.
There exists a discrepancy between the claim made by the government press secretary, @Keketoma_Sandi, stating that 41% of women were appointed to the Cabinet in the first round of appointments and the actual representation. This assertion is incorrect, as only one out of the nine ministers announced thus far will be sitting in the Cabinet, accounting for approximately 11% of the total. The remaining eight ministers who will serve in the Cabinet are all men. It is important to note that the other women appointed as deputy ministers will not be part of the Cabinet since deputy ministers do not serve in that capacity.
When President Bio discloses his complete list of ministers and deputy ministers, it is crucial to accurately count the number of individuals who will serve in the Cabinet and share this information transparently with the public. It is essential to prioritize the promotion of women to high-ranking positions, ensuring their meaningful participation in government decision-making processes."