The Ghost, National Affairs Columnist, Business & Political Strategy Analyst
In the dusky heat of Sierra Leone’s unfolding democracy, a reckoning looms. Not of swords or slogans, but of substance and soul. The 2028 presidential election will be no ordinary vote—it will be the ultimate test of who truly deserves to steer the country from fatigue and frustration to fortitude and fulfillment.
This is not just a question of replacing a government. It is a national crossroads—a defining moment where Sierra Leone must choose between being trapped in a cycle of political survivalism or embracing transformative leadership. The next president must not simply be a party flag bearer. He or she must be a unifier, a restorer, a healer, and above all, a builder of what has been broken.
Following two controversial elections marred by electoral distrust, a cost-of-living crisis, and widespread political fatigue, the country’s electorate is wide awake—and watching. The appetite for real change is no longer a whisper. It’s a roar.
The APC: Between Legacy and Leap
From within the opposition All People’s Congress (APC), the political battleground is fierce—and full of ambition.
Dr. Samura Kamara, having twice stood on the brink of the presidency, remains the enduring face of statesmanship. Calm, composed, and calculating, he still commands wide national appeal. But he must now lead not with nostalgia, but with a new narrative that energizes the youth and widens his base.
Lining up alongside him is a firepower of contenders, each promising to redefine the red movement:
Chief Sam Sumana, enigmatic and unpredictable, is positioning himself as a possible kingmaker—or king.
Dr. Kaifala Marah, the technocratic former finance minister, holds the keys to fiscal credibility.
Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara (JFK), legal scholar and anti-corruption figure, offers the voice of reason and reform.
Ady Macauley, legal tactician and youth mobilizer, channels populist zeal with courtroom finesse.
Bai Mahmoud Bangura, battle-hardened and grassroots-driven, brings local legitimacy and bold resilience.
Dr. Richard Konteh, administrative architect, is known for backroom strategic mastery.
Mohamed “Jagaban” Kamara, the businessman with a philanthropic charm, is making quiet waves across the country.
Hon. Chernoh Bah (Chericoco), steady and deliberate, could be the consensus builder.
Diana Konomanyi, the formidable “Iron Lady” from Kono, is gathering both respect and reach.
Dr. Ibrahim Bangura, the intellectual disruptor, is capturing imaginations with his bottom-up generational vision.
And then comes the breakout wildcard: Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, the Freetown Mayor whose technocratic approach and bold city governance have made her a star at home and abroad. Her declared intent to run for APC flagbearer has redefined the race—and reawakened the hopes of women and youth across the country.
While the APC boasts depth, the danger lies in fragmentation. If egos collide, the party risks self-destruction. But if unity prevails, the red tide may surge with renewed force.
The SLPP: Grooming the Post-Bio Generation
The ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) is equally in flux. With President Bio’s term coming to a close, the green camp is internally debating: loyalty or reform?
Front-running technocrats include:
Dr. David Moinina Sengeh, the data-driven Chief Minister and poster child for next-gen governance.
Dr. Kandeh Yumkella, the global statesman whose return to SLPP could reshape the race.
Dr. Alie Kabba, revolutionary diplomat with a fiery tongue and Pan-African leanings.
Hon. Mohamed Sidi Tunis, former ECOWAS Speaker with regional gravitas.
Francis Ben Kaifala, the ACC Commissioner known for both admiration and controversy.
First Lady Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, though unofficial, commands attention with her social influence and inner-circle proximity.
Not forgetting Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, the Vice President, remains the natural heir. With calm temperament and Fulani regional balance, he is expected to assert himself, though many question whether he can step out of Bio’s long shadow.
But the new class is rising fast:
Hon. Paran Tarawalli, the Parliament’s power whisperer
Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh, youthful and confrontational, with urban street credibility.
Hon. Bashiru Silikie, the legislative firebrand with populist flair.
Hon. Sengepoh Thomas, the steady hand many see as a sleeper candidate.
These names, once considered peripheral, are now commanding attention. The SLPP faces a pivotal question: will it be bold enough to pass the torch or fall into the trap of continuity cloaked in new robes?
What Should Sierra Leoneans Look For?
This election must not be about popularity contests on social media, regional allegiances, or party propaganda. It must be about capacity, character, and courage.
The country is bleeding from:
Skyrocketing inflation
Youth unemployment and despair
Tribal tensions
Corruption fatigue
Widespread voter apathy and disillusionment
Sierra Leone needs a leader with a vision for the future , a plan for the present , and the humility to learn from the past.
A leader who can reach across tribal, regional, and generational divides. One who can rebuild battered institutions and restore belief in justice. One who can tell the international community: “Sierra Leone is no longer begging. We are building.”
The Verdict
The players are ready. The dice are rolling. The nation is watching.
2028 must be the year Sierra Leone does not just change faces, but changes direction.
Whether it is Dr. Samura Kamara, Dr. David Sengeh, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, Dr. Kandeh Yumkella, Kaifala Marah, Chericoco, Iron Lady Diana, Dr. Ibrahim Bangura, or a complete surprise, the voters must demand substance over slogans, action over ambition, and unity over self-preservation.
Because Sierra Leone no longer needs survivors. It needs statesmen.
