BY THOMAS DIXON
232NEWS, FREETOWN
Sierra Leoneans were not informed about the creation of a brand-new position in the Office of the President at State House.
A group of senior journalists who were invited for coverage on the abuse of drugs were shocked when one Abdul Sheku Kargbo introduced himself as the new Chief of Staff in the office of the President.
Before President Bio came into Office, there was a position of Chief of Staff in the Office of the President under the Presidency of Ernest Bai Koroma.
It was believed that President Koroma was advised by development partners to drop the former Ministry of Presidential Affairs which had existed under former President Kabbah to create the Office of Chief of Staff.
The whole idea of Office of Chief of Staff in the Offices of Presidents is a western concept that started in the United States of America (USA).
In the United States, it is believed that Chief of Staff is the President’s gatekeeper, the javelin catcher and he is at nerve center of the President’s Office.
“The chief of staff controls access to the president and is charged with turning the administration’s ambitions into reality. The president’s top aide is part of the Cabinet and must maintain good relationships with the heads of other agencies to ensure they are all on the same page. The job means juggling countless competing constituencies and often being the person who has to say “no” to them,” the Associated Press explained the role of Chief of Staff in the United States.
It is also believed that the Chief of Staff normally exerts soft or quiet power on government and that he is someone with whom the President has long time relationship.
In the United Kingdom, the Chief of Staff was third most important position in the UK government before now and the office is responsible for Operation of the Prime Minister’s officer and closely involved in government policy formulation and implementation.
In Sierra Leone when the Office was created, the Chief of Staff normally handled the operation in the Office of President, Close Confidant of the President, formulate and follow up on implementation of the government and handled the performance contract of government.
Sierra Leoneans don’t know the role of the Chief of Staff and many believed that it is just another job for the boys as it will duplicate the function of the Chief Minister and added to and add to an already bloated government.
Press Secretary Solomon Jamiru promised to get back to SALONE TIMES but did not get on to us before press time.
