By Ngor Rogers
Political scientists and authors on politics from various schools of thought have generally agreed that it takes dexterity to maintain power. In fact, what makes it complex in the context of the ruling Sierra Leone people’s Party (SLPP) is that it is facing a transition election in 2028 with its grassroots and members generally disillusioned if urgent actions are not taken quickly.
High level of disparities is observed in the politicking of the SLPP. As political competition intensifies in Sierra Leone, a recurring debate has emerged around the role of party executives when its party wins an election. In particular, genuine questions have been ongoing at the corridors of the SLPP and to some concerned pundits.
Upon this consideration, the analytical skills are used to draw reference to other political parties in Africa including the All People’s Congress (APC) in Sierra Leone as a case study. In South Africa, the African National Congress (ANC) executives eventually serve in different capacities because of their loyalty to the party and the grassroots.
What compounds the problem is that when in power, it is difficult to be faced with the truth and therefore sycophancy mainly through wrong information and dishonest briefings become natural.
In this article, the writer seeks to bring out a comparative analysis of how political power is shared among party executives, stakeholders, and the grassroots when a party is in governance.
The ANC in South Africa, the National Democratic Convention (NDC) in Ghana, and the APC in Sierra Leone have been used as a basis of a comparative analysis of how Presidents select their cabinet ministers to maintain a grip on political power, dialectically in contrast with the ruling SLPP in Sierra Leone.
The writer employs desk research and observation methods to elicit the relevant information.
The NDC recently won elections in Ghana and prior to making political appointments, the President sent out a memorandum to the party to suggest names for possible appointments in government. This was not only a mark of esteemed regard for the structures of the party but a sign of gratitude for the commitment and loyalty of those who supported him. The ANC is structured in a rainbow nation, which seeks to attain national cohesion at all times. Even where it lost its majority to form a government those eventually appointed from the party side were either party executives or stakeholders of the party.
Without question, the list of former President Ernest Bai Koroma’s second term cabinet where largely drawn from the executive unlike President Julius Maada Bio’s second term executive. Below are the executive of former President Ernest Bai Koroma and the new executives of President Bio who majority see not employed:
President Julius Maada Bio: SLPP National Executives Members-
- Party Leader: HE. Julius Maada Bio- President
- Deputy Leader: Dr. Juldeh Jalloh: Vice President
- National Chairman- No Job
- Deputy National Chairman.: -No job
- National Secretary General: No Job
- Deputy Secretary General-No job
- PRO-No job
- National Organizing- Appointed
- National Treasurer –Appointed
- Young Generations –Appointed
- National Women’s Leader- No Job
- National Imam-No job
- National Financial Secretary –Appointed
- Deputy National Organizing- Appointed
- Regional Chairmen’s- No job
Former President Ernest Bai Koroma: APC National Executives Members –
- Party Leader & Chairman: Ernest Bai Koroma- President of Sierra Leone
- Vice President- Member of NAC
- Administrative Chairman APC – Bash Mamoudu Conteh
- Deputy National Chairman and Leader Hon. Minkailu Mansaray – Labour Ministry/ Mines and Mineral Resources.
- National Secretary General – Victor Bockarie Foh – Ambassador China
- Deputy Secretary General- Frank Obai Kargbo (Ag. /Minister of Justice)
- National Organizing Secretary- Alhaji MS Kargbo Political Adviser to the President. Musa Tarawallie- Minister of Internal Affairs
- Deputy Organizing Secretary- Tamba Sandy (Board Member)
- National Publicity Secretary – Ibrahim Ben Kargbo- Communications Minister
- National Treasurer- Sani Sesay (Board Chair Water Quay)
- National Youth Leader- Hon. Alimamy Kamara Youth Affairs Minister Bai Mahmoud Bangura- Youth Aide / Minister
- National Women’s Leader- Madam Elizabeth Mans – Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resource
- Regional Chairman -North- Alie D Kamara – Resident Minister
- Regional Chairman – South -William Juana Smith- Resident Minister
- Regional Chairman- Eastern –Resident Minister
- Koinadugu District Chairman – Momoh Konte- Chairman NATCOM
- Kono District Chairman- Raymond Beckey- CEO SLIPA
- Karene District Chairman- Wurror Jalloh- Executive Director – Sierra Leone Maritime Administration
In concluding, it is therefore clear that President Bio has not followed the conventional rules in politics to empower the executives, stakeholders, and, by extension, the grassroots of the party. There are sensitive parastatetals, ministerial, and Ambassadorial appointments given to his close relatives not within the struggles and executives of the party. Also, there are major contracts that need to be reviewed and economic resources evenly distributed across regions and among party members and other Sierra Leoneans.
At the end of the day, those who face the political battles are mostly the party executives whose loyalty has not been rewarded.
The Jimmy Songa executive now should face the reality that the 2028 elections will certainly not be won when most of the appointees are not people ready to sacrifice their resources for the party.
