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52-675: As of 2004, the chiefdom had a population of 41,186. Sylvanus Koroma, father of President Ernest Bai Koroma , came from the village of Yoni in Makari Gbanti. This Sierra Leone location article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Ernest Bai Koroma Ernest Bai Koroma (born 2 October 1953) is a Sierra Leonean politician who served as the fourth President of Sierra Leone from 17 September 2007 to 4 April 2018. Born and raised in Makeni in northern Sierra Leone, Koroma spent more than 24 years working in

104-445: A ceremony attended by seven other African leaders. On this occasion, he promised to fight corruption and emphasized the importance of changing people's attitudes towards corruption. Koroma promised zero tolerance on corruption, to fight against the mismanagement of the country's resources and that he "would run Sierra Leone like a business concern", emphasising agriculture and tourism. He further promised his government will increase

156-497: A free healthcare program for children, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers. However, many experts and critics say most of the money meant to fund the program has been mismanaged and misused by senior government officials due to corruption. The Koroma presidency still faces major challenges in fighting corruption , extreme poverty , unemployment , poor housing conditions, poor healthcare, poor energy and water supplies. The president maintains improvements have been made in all of

208-649: A full investigation into the incident who is the overall head of the Sierra. The British government has continued to provide large scale aid and advice, with former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Tony Blair continuing to work closely with the Sierra Leone government and speak out for investment in Sierra Leone. At Koroma's request, Blair created a nine-person board to advise the government on foreign investment. The UK continues to be

260-521: A large drug bust of an aircraft loaded with cocaine at the national airport . Alice Koroma Alice Rosalyn Koroma (June 27, 1932 – July 6, 2012 ) was the mother of Sierra Leone 's president , Ernest Bai Koroma , and a longtime primary school teacher in Makeni . She was a longtime member of the Wesleyan Church congregation in Makeni, and in the 1960s she was a member of

312-619: A master's in biochemistry . She is also a psychiatric nurse trained and qualified in Great Britain. Koroma and his wife Sia Koroma were married on October 18, 1986, at the King Memorial UMC Church in Freetown. Together they have 3 adult daughters: Alice (named after Koroma's mother) and Dankay (named after his wife's mother) and mary koroma and one Son Yunis koroma. Alice Koroma is a lawyer, having graduated from

364-539: A notably long time to name his Cabinet ministers, doing so in stages. The first group of 10 ministers was named on 8 October, and another 10 were named on 12 October. According to Koroma, he was willing to take additional time to find the right people; others, however, speculated that the delay was due to maneuvering within the APC for Cabinet positions. Koroma was formally inaugurated in Freetown on 15 November 2007 at

416-516: A series of court cases against his youthful leadership and executive and the 2002 APC Constitution, Koroma was eventually stripped of his de jure leadership of the APC by the Supreme Court of Sierra Leone on 22 June 2005. He was, however, again unanimously elected as Leader and presidential candidate of the APC ahead of the 2007 Sierra Leone presidential and parliamentary elections at APC National Delegates Convention held on 3 September 2005 in

468-486: A significant number of seats in parliament and had lost trust among Sierra Leoneans, even in its traditional stronghold in Northern Sierra Leone. Koroma said the party will continue to lose even more support unless the party moves to a new direction that will care more about the interest of Sierra Leoneans. The APC was thought to be divided between the old guards wing of the party leady by Edward Turay, and

520-676: A strong working relationship. Koroma formed a positive relationship with British Prime Minister David Cameron. When the Ebola epidemic broke out in 2014, Koroma told David Cameron the scale of the disaster was such that it would cost at least £80 million, Cameron responded by pledging that much to help Sierra Leone. As the crisis unfolded, British aid to Sierra Leone grew, also at the request of Sierra Leone's government. Under Koroma, three consecutive British Prime Ministers had very positive relations with Sierra Leone, Tony Blair , Gordon Brown and David Cameron , all three of whom proved to rank among

572-468: Is Sierra Leone's president Ernest Bai Koroma . Koroma, who was reportedly not suffering from any illness, died unexpectedly on July 6, 2012, in her home in the northern city of Makeni. Her death was a shocking news across Sierra Leone and many Sierra Leoneans, including politicians, civil servants , religious leaders, journalists and the general population express condolences and sympathy to President Koroma and his family. Alice Koroma funeral

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624-478: Is often seen waving to the people in his presidential motorcade . Several Sierra Leonean journalists critical of President Koroma, including Jonathan Leigh and Bai Bai Sesay of the Independent Observer newspaper and radio journalist who compare the president to a rat , and David Tam Baryoh who criticized the president Ebola response, have been arrested and detained on seditious libel charges by

676-774: The GDP per capita ; reduce poverty and increase jobs; pledged the provision of electricity not only in the urban areas , but to all parts of Sierra Leone. The inauguration ceremony was attended by several African Head of State and representatives of other world leaders and organisations, including Nigerian president Umaru Yar'Adua , Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf , Senegalese president Abdoulaye Wade , Gambian president Yahya Jammeh , Burkina Faso 's president Blaise Compaoré , Malian president Amadou Toumani Touré , Guinean Prime Minister Lansana Kouyaté and United States Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer . The Koroma presidency has focused upon rebuilding

728-517: The Northern Province of British Sierra Leone to ethnic Limba parents. She was raised in a deeply religious Christian household. She later moved to Makeni to further her education. Koroma was married to a deeply religious Christian preacher , Sylvanus Koroma, a native of Makeni. The couple had seven children and resided in Makeni. She and her husband where longtime members of the Wesleyan Church congregation in Makeni. Their oldest son

780-732: The Sierra Leone Anti-corruption Commission and signed into law the country's new Anti-Corruption Bill of 2008 at the State House in Freetown. Under the new law, it is compulsory for the president and other government officials to declare their assets and update them annually. Koroma has given the country's anti-corruption commission more powers to investigate and prosecute corrupt officials. Since coming to power in 2007, Koroma has dismissed several government ministers associated with corruption, including two of his ministers indicted on corruption charges by

832-579: The Sierra Leone Police but they were later released from jail . The oppositions, the Sierra Leone Bar Association of journalists and critic of the government, alleged the journalists were arrested because of their fierce and outspoken critic of president Koroma, an allegation again denied by the presidency. President Koroma was criticized after several people were shot dead by Sierra Leone Police officers in

884-620: The University of East Anglia in 2010. In 2002 it was announced that the All People's Congress (APC) would hold their convention to elect a new leader that would challenge president Ahmad Tejan Kabbah of the SLPP who faced re-election for a second five-year term. Ernest Bai Koroma, then an Insurance broker from the northern district of Bombali who was virtually unknown by the general population in Sierra Leone announced his candidacy for

936-664: The Wesleyan Church in Makeni. Koroma's mother, Alice Koroma (27 June 1932 – 6 July 2012), was an ethnic Biriwa Limba from the small rural town of Kamabai , also in Bombali District. She entered local politics in the 1960s, and was elected as a member of the All People's Congress (APC) to the Makeni city council . Alice Koroma was women's leader of the APC Bombali District branch. She

988-497: The Wesleyan Church of Sierra Leone, Koroma married Sia Nyama Koroma , the daughter of attorney and politician Abu Aiah Koroma . He served as former Attorney General of Sierra Leone, and also held several other government ministry positions under presidents Joseph Saidu Momoh and Ahmad Tejan Kabbah . An ethnic Kono from Kono District , Sia Koroma is a biochemist, holding Bachelor of Science with Honours in Chemistry and

1040-428: The northern city of Makeni. Her death was a shocking news across Sierra Leone and many Sierra Leoneans, including politicians regardless of political parties , civil servants , religious leaders, journalists and the general population express condolences and sympathy to President Koroma and his family. Koroma was born on June 27, 1932, in the village of Kamabai , Biriwa Chiefdom , Bombali District in

1092-430: The APC candidate in the 2002 presidential election but was defeated in a free and fair election by incumbent President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah , who won 70.3% of the vote, to Koroma's 22.35%. Koroma conceded defeat. Koroma was later elected to Parliament , representing his home District of Bombali from 2002 to 2007. In 2005, he was elected the minority leader of Parliament and remained in that position until his election to

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1144-691: The Eastern city of Koidu Town in 2007 and again in 2012 at protests rallies against poor living conditions and against the mining companies in Kono District . Several officers of the Sierra Leone Police Force were heavily criticized for using too much force and firing live bullets on protesters. The Sierra Leone Police opened an internal investigation on the 2007 incident and 2012 incidents in Koidu Town. President Koroma

1196-554: The Makeni city council from the All People's Congress (APC) party. Koroma, whose political career stems back to the 1960s, "was a strong supporter" and "advocate of women's rights". She was very active in the political scene of Sierra Leone and was a former leader of the All People's Congress (APC) Women's Congress in Bombali District in the later half of the 1960s. Koroma, who was reportedly not suffering from any illness, died unexpectedly on June 6, 2012, in her home in

1248-454: The SLPP), when, according to the APC, a group of armed men led by Tom Nyuma , who was a participant in the 1992 coup that ousted the APC from power, attempted to enter Koroma's hotel room to kill him. Nyuma was severely beaten by Koroma's guards, and he was hospitalized as a result. In the first round of the 2007 presidential election in Sierra Leone, held on 11 August, Koroma garnered 44.3% of

1300-517: The Sierra Leone National Electoral Commission declared Koroma to be the winner of the election with 54.6% of the vote, although the SLPP disputed the results. He was sworn in later on the same day at a ceremony attended by Berewa and Kabbah. On 21 September, Koroma left Sierra Leone for a diplomatic visit to neighboring Guinea and Liberia , his first trip outside the country as President. Koroma took

1352-498: The Sierra Leone anti-corruption commission. The Koroma presidency has focused on road constructions across the country, which has significantly improved Sierra Leone's infrastructure . The Koroma presidency has focused on encouraging investments, which has led to investment in the country's mining industry, mostly by Chinese companies. The Koroma presidency, with the financial help of the United Nations , has implemented

1404-486: The allegation, and some senior government officials linked to the Ebola funds were fired and suspended. President Koroma who won reelection with 58% of the votes, is still very popular particularly in the north and Western Area of Sierra Leone. His presidential staff and cabinet ministers are very diverse and are made up of members of about all of Sierra Leone's ethnic groups. President Koroma has often made unannounced visit to several poor Sierra Leonean neighborhood, and he

1456-407: The areas above, but critics and many experts say the government is behind in improving these conditions. In president Koroma inauguration speech, he promised zero tolerance of corruptions, and during the early years of his presidency, several senior government officials allied to the president were arrested and prosecuted for corruption by the country's Anti Corruption commission. However, most of

1508-770: The capital Freetown to attend Fourah Bay College , from where he graduated in 1976 with a degree in Business Management . Soon after graduating from Fourah Bay College, Koroma became a teacher at St. Francis Secondary School in Makeni (1976–78). Koroma joined the Sierra Leone National Insurance Company in 1978. In 1985, he joined the Reliance Insurance Trust Corporation (Ritcorp), and in 1988, he became managing director of Ritcorp, remaining in that position for 14 years. A longtime member of

1560-472: The country's national infrastructure after the Civil War , fighting corruption and improving the country's health care system . In April 2010, Koroma signed into law the country's free health care program for pregnant women, nursing mothers and children under the age of five. Koroma has focused on free-market solutions, attracting more private investment. On 4 September 2008, Koroma declared his assets to

1612-399: The largest donor to Sierra Leone, giving more money per person than to any other nation, and promising to raise aid by a further 50 million pounds sterling in 2010. In a 2009 BBC report by Humphrey Hawksley , some British diplomats and aid workers raised concerns about the slow pace of development in the country stressing on the problem of corruption, and asking whether almost a decade after

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1664-413: The leadership of the All People's Congress (APC) ahead of the 2002 Sierra Leone presidential and parliamentary elections. He was one of seven candidates for the APC leadership. Koroma was a clear underdog to longtime APC leader Edward Turay who was the favourite and was expected to easily win the APC leadership yet again. Koroma stressed that under the APC leadership of Edward Turay, the party had lost

1716-490: The main opposition Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP) John Oponjo Benjamin , leader of the PMDC Party Charles Francis Margai , defense minister , and former deputy defense minister Joe Blell [4] . Also in attendance at the funeral in the Wesleyan Church in Makeni included Christians and Muslims religious leaders, senior Sierra Leone Police officers, including Inspector General of

1768-416: The most well-known and most popular foreign leaders in Sierra Leone between 1998 and 2016. Koroma pushed through arrest and prosecution authority for the Sierra Leone Anti-corruption Commission , and naming former Human Rights lawyer Abdul Tejan-Cole its head immediately after his election. The government has spoken of transitioning from large scale aid to private investment in the nation, sought to boost

1820-418: The nascent tourist industry , signed deals for more extensive mobile phone service, began a widescale public sector reform program aimed at cutting government waste, and gave greater powers to the government Ombudsman. At the same time, Koroma inaugurated a large new national park at Gola Forest , and banned exports by logging companies, singling out Chinese-owned companies, which he accused of "plundering"

1872-606: The nation's forests. President Koroma has also controversially been one of the few African leaders to criticise Zimbabwe's former President, Robert Mugabe . At the African Union summit held at the Egyptian resort of Sharm El Sheikh in 2008, he was quoted saying, "The people of Zimbabwe have been denied their democratic rights. We should in no uncertain terms condemn what has happened." In July 2008, Koroma pledged to crack down on cocaine trafficking in Sierra Leone, after

1924-402: The new generation wing of the party led by Ernest Bai Koroma. Koroma was elected leader of the All People's Congress (APC) on 24 March 2002, at a national convention of the party held in the northern town of Kabala , Koinadugu District ahead of the 2002 Sierra Leone Presidential and Parliamentary Elections. Koroma received 370 votes from APC delegates, while 12 delegates voted against him and

1976-520: The northern town of Port Loko . The internal party dispute was said to be resolved in April 2007, mainly between Koroma and Edward Turay, with Koroma being accepted by APC dissidents as the party's leader ahead of the 2007 general election. Under his leadership, the APC swept virtually all the seats in the Western Area and the Northern Province during the local government elections of 2004. This

2028-519: The predominantly Muslim north. Koroma was raised in a predominantly ethnic Temne household and is a fluent speaker of the Temne and Limba languages, his parents' mother tongues. His father, Sylvanus Koroma , was of Temne and Loko heritage and grew up in a Temne household. He was born in the Makari Gbanti chiefdom , Bombali District . He worked for years as a bible school teacher at

2080-496: The presidency in 2007. In the 2007 presidential election run-off , Koroma received 54.6% of the vote and defeated incumbent Vice-President Solomon Berewa of the ruling SLPP. Berewa conceded defeat, and Koroma was sworn in as President on 17 September 2007, at the State House in the capital Freetown . International and local observers declared the election free and fair. Koroma succeeded President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, who

2132-487: The private insurance industry before entering politics in 2002. From 1988 to 2002, he was the managing director of the Reliance Insurance Trust Corporation (Ritcorp). Koroma earned a bachelor's degree from Fourah Bay College in 1976; and is an insurance agent by profession . Koroma was elected as leader of the All People's Congress (APC), Sierra Leone's main opposition party, on 24 March 2002, after defeating then-incumbent APC leader Edward Turay . Koroma stood as

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2184-498: The remainder abstained. In the 2002 Sierra Leone presidential election Koroma received 22.3% of the vote as the APC presidential candidate, losing in a landslide to incumbent President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah of the Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP), who received 70.3% and was shortly sworn in for a new five-year term. In the parliamentary election, Koroma was elected to a seat from Bombali District. Embattled by

2236-453: The senior government official allied to the president were acquitted of corruption charges in court . Critics alleged they were acquitted by the court because they were close allies of president Koroma, an allegation denied by the presidency. The Sierra Leone Auditor General report said millions of dollars of the money meant for Ebola patients were missing in government emergency ebola account. President Koroma named experts to investigate

2288-411: The votes, ahead of Solomon Berewa of the ruling SLPP, who received 38.3%. This was not enough to win outright, and a run-off election was held on 8 September. In an interview with Reuters on 13 September, Koroma said that he wanted to run the country "like a business concern", with a focus on agriculture and tourism rather than mining , and fight firmly against corruption . On 17 September,

2340-572: The war – British military and post-war aid assistance has gone in vain as the country still struggle with poverty and massive unemployment. President Koroma also worked closely with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown , who increased the United Kingdom's aid to and cooperation with Sierra Leone even further. While Brown was serving as Prime Minister, the United Kingdom encouraged investment in Sierra Leone's two state-owned banks. Brown became popular in Sierra Leone, and both he and Koroma formed

2392-560: Was again heavily criticized after at least two people were shot dead by police officers of the Sierra Leone Police Force at a protest in the northern city of Kabala against the living conditions and against the mining companies on August 16, 2016. The head of the Sierra Leone Police Force, Inspector General Francis Munu, suspended two senior Sierra Leone police officers, local unit commander Almammy Bangura and Koinadugu District Police Commissioner Foday Fofanah, pending

2444-707: Was also a strong supporter of President Siaka Stevens ' administration, when the APC leader was elected. Alice Koroma later worked for most of her career as a primary school teacher in Makeni. Koroma attended the Sierra Leone Church Primary School in Makeni. For higher education, he went to the Magburaka Government Secondary School for Boys in Magburaka , Tonkolili District (about 25 miles from his hometown of Makeni). He graduated in 1973. He moved to

2496-578: Was constitutionally ineligible to run for the presidency again after serving the maximum two five-year term limit . In the November 2012 presidential election, Koroma was re-elected as President for a second term, receiving 58.7%, against his main opponent, SLPP candidate Julius Maada Bio , who received 37.4%. International observers deemed the election to be free and fair. Koroma was succeeded by Julius Maada Bio following his victory in run-off elections held on 31 March 2018. In December 2023, Koroma

2548-451: Was held at the Wesleyan Church in Makeni [2] and was attended by many senior Sierra Leonean politicians regardless of political parties, including her son President Ernest Bai Koroma , First Lady Sia Koroma , Vice President Alhaji Samuel Sam-Sumana , former President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah former Vice President Solomon Ekuma Berewa [3] , speaker of Parliament Abel Nathaniel Stronge , Chief Justice Haja Umu Hawa Tejan Jalloh , leader of

2600-542: Was in spite of the fact that some of the old guard of the APC dismissed his leadership as a matter of child's play. Koroma has been charged with four offences including treason for his alleged role in failed military attempt coup to topple the West African country's government in November. Koroma was the APC presidential candidate in the August 2007 general election . His main rival for the presidency of Sierra Leone

2652-470: Was incumbent Vice-President of Sierra Leone Solomon Berewa of the SLPP. Koroma stronghold was in Northern Sierra Leone, and in the Western Area of Sierra Leone. Berewa, on the other hand, maintained strong support in south-eastern Sierra Leone. Koroma was allegedly the target of an assassination attempt in the early hours of 23 July 2007 in Bo , Sierra Leone's second largest city (a traditional stronghold of

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2704-402: Was placed under house arrest after two days of interrogation following an attempted coup d'état on 26 November 2023 during demonstrations. He was charged with four counts of treason in relation to the coup on 3 January 2024. Ernest Bai Koroma was born on 2 October 1953 in Makeni , Bombali District in the Northern Province of British Sierra Leone . He was born into a Christian family in

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