By Hassan Osman Kargbo
Haja Yainkain Bangura, a long-serving and dedicated member of the All People’s Congress (APC), has officially declared her intention to contest for the position of Women’s Leader of the APC North America Region.
Speaking with passion and conviction, Madam Bangura described herself as a proud daughter of Sierra Leone raised in an APC household, and currently residing in the state of Ohio, USA. She emphasized that her candidacy is rooted in years of loyalty, service, and commitment to the party at both grassroots and national levels.
“I stand before you not only as a woman but as a servant leader—one who has faithfully and selflessly served the APC in various capacities,” she said. “With the experiences I bring and the unwavering dedication I offer, I am ready to be a pillar of unity, resilience, and transformation.”
Bangura’s political journey spans decades, beginning with her active involvement in the Presidential campaigns of former President Ernest Bai Koroma in 2002, 2007, and 2012. She has held several leadership roles within the party, including Deputy Vice Chairlady for Constituency 105, Deputy Organising Secretary in the National Women’s Wing under the leadership of Madam Fatmata Koroma, and her current position as Women’s Leader of the APC Ohio Chapter.
After the 2012 General Elections, Madam Bangura’s dedication was recognized when she was selected as the youngest party member to perform the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. Between 2013 and 2017, she also worked alongside Dr. Zainab H. Bangura, former Minister of Health and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, gaining valuable leadership and advocacy experience on both national and international platforms.
Declaring her candidacy, Bangura positioned herself as the right leader for a critical moment in the party’s history. With the 2028 presidential elections on the horizon, she stressed the need for leaders with deep grassroots connections, political experience, and the ability to unite the party’s base for victory.
“The APC Women’s Wing in North America will not just be a structure—it will be a movement,” she said. “A movement that builds bridges, not walls. That uplifts every voice. That rises not just as women, but as agents of change, committed to returning our beloved APC to State House in 2028.”
She pledged to create an inclusive platform where all women’s voices are heard, ensure that the wing is actively involved in party decision-making, and strengthen the ties between the diaspora and the party’s grassroots structures in Sierra Leone.
Madam Haja Yainkain Bangura appealed to APC members across North America for trust and partnership in her journey toward leadership. She promised to bring energy, dedication, and vision to the role, working to inspire and mobilize women at every level of the party.
“We stand today at a critical juncture in our party’s history—a time that demands leaders with a deep understanding of grassroots politics, a passion for progress, and the strength to unify our base,” she said. “I humbly ask for your trust, your support, and your partnership in this journey.”
Her declaration marks the beginning of what is expected to be a competitive race for the APC North America Women’s Leader position, with party members watching closely to see how her campaign resonates across the region.
