Parliament yesterday approved Mrs Hannah Abigail Kewely and Mrs Florence Kula as electoral commissioners for the National Electoral Commission (NEC).
Presenting the nominees to MPs for approval, Hon Edward Turay, the majority leader of the All People’s Congress said the committee on appointments and public service met Friday 7 to interview the two presidential nominees.
He said the committee adhered strictly to its established standard procedures by not only questioning them but looking at their educational backgrounds, assets declaration and their obligation and vision for a successful and nationally productive tenure of office.
He informed MPs that during the interview of Mrs Hannah Abigail Kewely, she told them she would draw on her enormous wealth of experience in administering and discipline for the success of the commission.
Mr Turay said the nominee categorically stated that she would not bow to pressure from any quarter and would not fear anyone in the discharge of her duty.
Mrs Kewely is a veteran educationist who spent most of her working life as a teacher. In 1971-1985, she was a teacher at the West African Methodist Collegiate School and in 1985-2000, Principal Methodist Girls’ High School and in 2000 she was the registrar/head of administration Sierra Leone Theological College and Church Training Centre.
The other nominee, Mrs Florence Kula Kebbie, according to Hon Eddie Turay told the appointments committee that she would maintain her neutrality thus promising to work without fear or favour and to dispense justice to all for the good of the country.
Mrs Kebbie has a wealth of experience spanning over ten years in planning, management, directing and supervising elections both in Sierra Leone and East Timor.
Already, four commissioners have been approved. Sylvanus Torto and Edna Caulker were to serve as Electoral Commissioners East and South respectively. It was not specified where these other two will be serving but it is likely that one of them will be replacing the Electoral Commissioner for Western Area Urban, Mrs Daphne Olu Williams who has been appointed as Board Chairman National Insurance Company.