The new Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier Alfred Nelson Williams, Deputy Bank Governor, Adrina Coker and the National Assets and Government Property Commissioner Unisa Alim Sesay were yesterday approved by Parliament.
They were interviewed by the Appointments and Public Service Committee of Parliament on Friday 19th September and were later presented to MPs by the majority leader Hon Edward Turay for confirmation. He said the committee maintained strict consistency with its established procedures as they probed into their educational background, track records in public office and declared assets.He presented the new Chief of Defence Staff, Brig- Gen Alfred Nelson Williams whom he said the committee found out to be a professional soldier who have held several positions in the Sierra Leone Army. From 1991, he was deputy military chief with ECOMOG to 1992 when he was appointed Battalion Commanding Officer until 1994 when he became Neobatt 2 and 3 for the Sierra Leone contingent in ECOMOG operations in Liberia. In 1994-5 he became Staff Officer 1 and in 1995 Principle Staff Officer, Chief of Defence staff Defence Headquarters. He became Battalion Commanding Officer from 1995-7 and later attached to Benguema Training Center.In 2002-03 he was Assistant Chief of Defence Staff Operations and Planning and Deputy Chief of Defence Staff. In 2006-08 he was appointed Deputy Chief of Defence Staff Ministry of Defence. The CDS was the first officer who captured the Mano- River Bridge during the rebel war.Following the approval of the CDS, the Deputy Bank Governor, Adrina Coker was also presented before the Appointments Committee. She was described as an eminent economist who spent her entire life working at the Bank of Sierra Leone since 1976. From 1976-1988 she worked in the research department as statistician grade three and later became Division Head Monitoring and Financial Analyst. In 1989-93 she became Assistant Director and Deputy Director and Head of Foreign Division, supervising corporation, reconciliation and investigation.From 1993-98 the new Deputy Bank Governor worked at the International Financial Department where she became Director responsible for the management of all staff whilst developing and implementing policies on foreign operations, external debts and foreign exchange. In 1998-2007 she worked at the Research Department where she was Director responsible for management for all staff of the department and also monitored developments in the financial system, economic research and policy formulation.Alhaji Unisa Alim Sesay was also presented for the position of Chairman National Assets and Government Property Commission. He is a popular businessman and consultant and also a licensed auctioneer and real estate manager as well as the current Chairman for Universal Group of Businesses, Managing Director First Foreign Exchange Bureau and Chairman Western Area Football Association.Seconding the motion, Hon Komba Koedoyoma of the SLPP reminded the nominees of the importance of Parliament and their responsibilities, whilst reminding the CDS that the country needs a better army. Both Hon Marie Jalloh of APC and Hon Binneh Conteh of APC urged the nominees to put the interest of the country first.Two retired soldiers, Hon, Brigadier (rtd) K.E.S Boyah and Hon Capt. (rtd) Abdurrahman Kamara informed the CDS to take cognizance of the living conditions of the officers and men of the RSLAF and also the operation PEBU.Other nominees approved were Rev C.J Conteh as Board Member Public Procurement, Fatu B.Bangura, Judicial and Service Commission and Rashid Bundu, Board member National Insurance Company (NIC).
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