NAO JOINS MoPED TO WELCOME INCOMING MINISTER OF PLANNING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND BIDS FAREWELL TO OUTGONE MINISTER

The National authorising Office (NAO) joined the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED) in welcoming Madam Kenyen Ballay the newly appointed Minister of Planning and Economic Development by His Excellency Dr. Julius Maada Bio and bade farewell to the outgone minister Dr. Francis Kai-Kai at a well organised ceremony at the NAO Conference Hall yesterday 31^st August, 2023.

Making his farewell statement to the outgone minister, NAO Director Ambrose James thanked Dr. Francis Kai-Kai for his high professionalism, experience and demonstration of leadership at a time the ministry was separated from ministry of Finance and needed someone who can handle that pressure. Ambrose James went further to welcome the new minster who has now automatically becomes the National Authorising Officer of the 11^th European Development Fund (EDF) Madam Kenyen Ballay whom he said her appointment was done based on her wealth of experience in development work. Ambrose James assured the minister of NAO’s full support and cooperation in the furtherance of the EU and Government of Sierra Leone development cooperation.

Various speakers were also drawn from the different departments/units in the ministry and from other affiliated agencies such as Statistic Sierra Leone and National Council for Civic Education and Democracy (NaCCED) who read out testimonies of influences that Dr. Francis Kai-Kai has made in their respective mandates.

Handing over his notes to his successor, Dr. Francis Kai-Kai highlighted successes, challenges and areas for the attention of Madam Kenyen Ballay. He thanked and expressed deep appreciation to all staff at MoPED and affiliated agencies for their respective roles in planning for the development of Sierra Leone.

Accepting the handing over notes from her predecessor, the new Minister of Planning and Economic Development who doubles as the National Authorising Officer of the 11^th EDF, Madam Kenyen Ballay thanked Dr. Francis Kai-Kai and the various units at MoPED for the marvellous job, especially with the Medium-term National Development Plan (MTNDP).   

Madam Kenyen Ballay promised to build on all the good work carried out by her predecessor and promised to introduce new ideas to expand on the impact of the ministry in terms of determining the development trajectory of Sierra Leone.