Sierra Leone’s new President, Julius Maada Bio, has started appointing members of his cabinet. As promised, Mama Salone is paying close attention to the gender mix of this administration. The Press Release indicates that more appointments will be following soon.
Meanwhile, out of 14 appointments, only 2 are women, so far. Since this is just the beginning, we are hoping that Mr. Bio will do better than his predecessor, Mr. Koroma of the opposition APC party, whose first full cabinet of 21 members consisted of only 3 women.
Even though this is just the beginning for President Bio, and we do want to remain positive, we cannot help but feel that 2 out of 14 is not an impressive start.
President Ahmed Tejan Kabba of the SLPP, who was replaced by the APC President Koroma, was not much of a friend to women in his appointments either. His first full cabinet of 25 members consisted of only 2 women. Pathetic!
Is President Bio heading down the same path as his predecessors of both parties in his cabinet appointments? Is he going to change this misogynistic trend in the cabinet and administrative appointments by Sierra Leone presidents?
Time will tel!
MAMA SALONE ~ Lioness of the West Coast 