The search for a new Chief Executive Officer (C.E.O.) for the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development (M.W.C.S.D.) is underway with the Minister confirming that interviews will take place next week. 

Mulipola Anarosa Ale-Molio'o said they have shortlisted the most eligible candidates and they would be interviewed in the coming week. 

However, she could not disclose how many people had applied for the top job and how many were shortlisted. 

The top position became vacant following the resignation of the former C.E.O., Dr. Mema Motusaga in September of this year. 

The former C.E.O., Dr. Motusaga tendered her resignation on the back of an investigation by the Public Service Commission (P.S.C.) into "government processes" and allegations of not adhering to a 2017 Cabinet directive that banned the use of the ministry's local budget to fund capacity-building workshops for government agencies. 

She was appointed to the C.E.O. position at the ministry in March 2022.  

Her resignation was confirmed by the former Minister for M.W.C.S.D., Leota Laki Sio in a previous interview with this newspaper. 

“The outcome of the investigation [by the P.S.C.] was not discussed given the resignation supersedes it and we have accepted the decision by the Chief Executive Officer,” said Leota in an interview. “She has other plans in the future…I had conveyed to her [the acceptance of resignation by Cabinet] and she’s quite happy.” 

Mulipola also confirmed that there are currently over 100 employees within the ministry and they are hoping for the Public Service Commission (P.S.C.) review so they can fill some of the vacancies within the ministry. 

She admitted that they are also in need of manpower to carry out their roles and responsibilities, especially being tasked with the supervision of the $1 million tala District Development Projects initiated by the government. 

Mulipola said that aside from the different roles the employees have within the ministry, they are also looking after and supervising the roles of village representatives from the different villages across the country, the advisory council members as well as the officials employed within the 51 districts across Samoa.