By Mahmud Tim Kargbo
Freetown, first light. The Atlantic exhales a salt heavy breeze that drifts inland, carrying the faint aroma of charcoal fires from roadside braziers and the promise of another humid day. The capital stirs slowly, but inside the Sierra Leone People’s Party headquarters the machinery of politics is already engaged. The light is harsh against the curtained windows; Umaru Napoleon Koroma bends over a desk crowded with budget reports, provincial dispatches and annotated policy briefs. His jacket is slung carelessly over his chair, sleeves rolled as though the day were already in full swing. Outside, a kettle clinks in a street stall. Inside, the soundscape is sharper: clipped exchanges in hallways, the metallic trill of telephones, the deliberate pace of footsteps that speak to strategy, not haste.
Koroma is accustomed to these hours, when the city’s stillness is mirrored only in the foreign exchange markets to which Sierra Leone’s fortunes are tethered. Before the day’s skirmishes begin, he balances calls from rural chiefs with updates on international development grants, aware that the ripples of each decision can unsettle a fragile political economy. “Every decision we make,” he once observed, “etches a line in the history of our party. Some lines will fade. Others will outlast us.” It is a maxim that sits as comfortably in the corridors of State House as it would in a donor boardroom in Brussels.
In Sierra Leone’s often polarised political climate, Koroma stands out as a rare figure whose leadership record and personal ethos transcend party colours, tribal affiliations and regional divides. Serving as Secretary General of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) from September 2017 until handing over to a newly elected executive at the Bintumani Conference Hall on 30 and 31 July 2025, his tenure was defined by openness, humility, and an unwavering commitment to the national interest.
From the outset, Koroma demonstrated an ability to work effectively with diverse constituencies. Whether at youth forums in Koinadugu, policy discussions in Freetown, or community dialogues in Kailahun, he listened with respect and engaged without prejudice. This earned him credibility even among political opponents, reflecting the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung principle of “leadership without exclusion,” which emphasises that a leader must be “the servant of all, not just the representative of some” (FES, 2006).
Calming the Regions and Expanding the Base
When Koroma took office, the SLPP was in opposition, riven by internal divisions, and without a president at its helm. His election, despite competition from seasoned contenders, was a testament to his growing credibility. He credited President Julius Maada Bio for entrusting him with the party’s political destiny and worked closely with him during the transition to government, a handover that coincided with Sierra Leone’s efforts to stabilise its macroeconomic framework under an IMF Extended Credit Facility.
One of the most telling measures of Koroma’s administrative capacity was his ability to maintain stability across the SLPP’s seven regions. In a political landscape where tension often escalates along regional and ethnic lines, he kept the party’s structures strong and its regional politics calm, insulating it from the volatility that can deter foreign direct investment and disrupt aid disbursement schedules. Membership grew steadily under his stewardship, suggesting a durable voter base ahead of the 2028 electoral cycle.
His grassroots mobilisation and sustained diaspora outreach culminated in a landmark decision on 30 June 2025, when the National Executive Council formally endorsed the SLPP Canada branch as the party’s eighth official region. This strategic expansion not only consolidated overseas support but also mirrored global migration trends in which diaspora communities act as both remittance providers and political stakeholders, a dynamic central to Sierra Leone’s balance of payments and diplomatic leverage.
A Politically Versatile Bridge-Builder
Koroma’s political versatility was rooted in more than rhetoric. In Kambia, he personally engaged with supporters of the opposition All People’s Congress (APC) to resolve community disputes, an approach that aligned with the African Union’s emphasis on subnational conflict mediation as a stabilising tool for fragile democracies. In Moyamba, he worked with traditional elders to identify development priorities that could dovetail with central government infrastructure projects funded through concessional loans. Across Sierra Leone’s North, South, East and West, his collaborative style lowered political tensions, creating the predictability prized by both domestic investors and development partners.
By placing the national interest above partisan advantage, he earned trust across the political spectrum. The phrase “If you want to get results, go to Napoleon” became common currency in both rural towns and urban centres. Heard in Bo’s market stalls and Freetown’s taxi ranks alike, the refrain reflected his reputation for resolving disputes, unblocking stalled projects, and delivering outcomes regardless of political affiliation.
This bridge building recalls Bai Bureh, the nineteenth century Sierra Leonean leader who united diverse ethnic groups in resisting colonial domination. Like Bureh, Koroma recognised that effective leadership demands transcending narrow identities to serve the collective good,a philosophy equally relevant to modern coalition politics and to regional blocs such as ECOWAS.
Humility as a Leadership Asset
In a society where many in power distance themselves from the people they serve, Koroma’s humility set him apart. Whether visiting remote villages in Pujehun or attending youth meetings in Tonkolili, he travelled without ostentation, listened before speaking, and ensured people felt valued. This style served not just as a moral choice but as a political asset, reinforcing the perception of the SLPP as a party responsive to local concerns rather than one captured by elite urban interests.
He refused to cultivate a personality cult or surround himself with unnecessary ceremony. Small gestures, such as handshakes with street vendors, greetings to schoolchildren, respect for religious leaders and respect for elders, reinforced his image as a leader among the people, not above them. In policy terms, this aligned with the “servant leadership” model advocated in governance training by the UNDP, which links citizen trust to lower political transaction costs and smoother policy implementation.
The Human Connection in Governance
Koroma’s effectiveness was rooted in his deeply relational approach. He remembered names, enquired about family members, and followed up on issues raised in earlier meetings. This was no political theatre; it was a core leadership trait that strengthened SLPP’s grassroots base and maintained trust beyond party loyalists.
His friendships crossed party lines, supported by an open door policy that recognised Sierra Leone’s democratic stability depends on mutual respect even amidst competition. In politically sensitive areas, this helped defuse tensions and create opportunities for cooperation, conditions necessary for sustaining foreign partnerships and keeping fragile reform agendas on track.
Stewardship Amidst Loss
Koroma’s time in office saw the passing of several prominent SLPP members, including former Vice Presidential Candidate Dr Kadi Sesay and Constituency 122 Chairman Alusine Dumbuya. His leadership in these moments was solemn and unifying, calling members to rise for a minute’s silent prayer and reinforcing the bonds of solidarity that sustain political organisations in difficult times, bonds that, in Sierra Leone’s case, also underpin the stability donors often cite when allocating multi year aid packages.
A Strategic Administrator and Visionary
Under Koroma’s stewardship, administrative processes improved markedly. Regional reporting became structured, membership expanded, and the SLPP’s influence grew domestically and in the diaspora. His reforms addressed a chronic weakness in many African political parties, identified by Gyimah-Boadi and Prempeh in 2012, of overreliance on personality driven politics, a trait that often deters institutional resilience when leadership changes occur.
He also ensured that the party’s institutional memory was strengthened, its regional structures professionalised, and its engagement with the diaspora transformed from symbolic outreach to structured participation. This shift mirrored wider West African trends in diaspora enfranchisement, now seen as both a democratic right and an economic opportunity.
Farewell at Bintumani: Gratitude and a Call to Duty
At the Bintumani Conference Hall in July 2025, Koroma delivered a farewell rich in gratitude and strategic counsel. He reminded delegates of their serious power to shape whether free education, anti-corruption measures, and Sierra Leone’s international standing would endure. His remarks came at a time when the country’s debt to GDP ratio and IMF programme compliance remain key watchpoints for both domestic policymakers and foreign investors.
He urged them not to betray the trust of ordinary members, but to elect leaders capable of securing victory in 2028, thereby preserving President Bio’s legacy. He noted how far the party had come since 2017, contrasting that with the prestige of handing over to a governing party, a reminder that political capital, once squandered, is rarely recovered in the short term.
Koroma paid an emotional tribute to his wife, Mrs Hawa B Koroma, for her unwavering support during his constant travels across Sierra Leone’s most challenging terrains. He thanked his brothers, Foday Manso, Babadie, Hindowa, BZ, and his sister Tuma for their steadfast backing.
He acknowledged the SLPP grassroots, media team, bloggers, and “the women and men on the ground” for their tireless work. He recalled the chants of “Sen Gen! Sen Gen!” that marked his tenure, asked forgiveness for any wrongs committed, and extended his own forgiveness to others.
As he stepped down, he saluted the conference with the SLPP’s mantra:
One country! One people! SLPP: The Only Way Out, The Only Way Forward, The Only Way Through. Power To The People.
A Legacy of Service-Oriented Leadership
Koroma’s career challenges the notion that Sierra Leone politics must be fractious and exclusionary. His blend of strategic skill, humility, and inclusive governance has strengthened both the SLPP and the broader democratic culture of Sierra Leone.
He leaves behind a party in government, administratively mature, regionally stable, and better connected to its members. His legacy underscores a truth too often forgotten in politics: leadership is most effective when grounded in genuine care for all, and in a global era of shifting aid priorities and competitive foreign investment, that care is not merely sentimental, but strategic.
References:
Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Leadership Without Exclusion, 2006, http://www.fes.de/leadership-without-exclusion
International Organisation for Migration, Sierra Leone Diaspora Engagement Strategy, 2023, http://www.iom.int/sierra-leone-diaspora-strategy
Gyimah-Boadi, E. & Prempeh, H.K., Institutional Weakness and Personality Politics in Africa, 2012,http://www.africanpoliticalreview.org/personality-politics
UNDP, Servant Leadership and Governance Training Modules, 2021, http://www.undp.org/servant-leadership
IMF, Sierra Leone: Extended Credit Facility Review, 2024, http://www.imf.org/sierra-leone-ecf-review
