The Chief Minister of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Jacob JusuSaffa, has stated that he is committed to supporting Ministries deliver on their sector plans and annual work programs so as to fulfill President Bio’s New Direction Agenda; by coordinating government efforts, facilitating government processes and following-up on the mandates of the Ministries.
He made this statement during his Ministerial Tour to the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED) to explain his role as Chief Minister (CM) and to familiarize himself with the Ministry, as they work with a shared goal in achieving President Bio’s New Direction Agenda.
Welcoming the CM, the Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Dr. Francis Kai-Kai, expressed his delight at receiving the CM and his team; noting that his presence signified his ‘home coming’ to the Ministry, since the Chief Minister started his career at the Planning Ministry, before the merger of the Planning Ministry and the Ministry of Finance, in the last political dispensation.
He said the CM’s visit was part of a wider approach to visit all Ministries for him to elucidate his role, familiarize further and to explain how the Presidency comes to support Ministries in helping them fulfill their respective mandates.
In his statement, the Chief Minister said his role was not to be a supervisor, but to be seen as supportive to all Ministries; by coordinating government efforts, facilitating government processes and following-up on the mandates of the Ministries, presidential decisions and pronouncements and to also monitor the implementation of progress.
He said the New Direction government was committed to instituting a delivery culture in government that would improve on service delivery in the country.
“I strongly believe that if this country would have institutionalized a delivery culture, Sierra Leone would not have been where it is today. This New Direction Government is firmly committed to instituting a delivery culture that would enhance the facilitation of development processes within government”, said JJ Saffa.
The Chief Minister said his office was going to focus on every Ministry’s annual work program, which would be uploaded on a delivery tracking tool that would enable the Presidency to see development interventions implemented in all parts of the country.
He said, as the Delivery Police, he was committed to effectively collaborate with Ministries at different levels on governance issues with the aim of achieving President Julius Maada Bio’s New Direction Agenda.
A comprehensive presentation to the Chief Minister was done by the Minister, Dr. Francis Kai-Kai, showcasing the work of MoPED, as well as the agencies the Ministry provides oversight for including Statistics Sierra Leone (Stats SL), National Authorizing Office (NAO) and the National Council for Civic Education and Development (NaCCED).
