The main opposition, the All People’s Congress (APC), needs someone who is fresh and does not belong to any cabal to unify and steer the party to ultimate electoral victory in 2023.

Despite he is yet to officially declare his candidacy, Abdul Kareem Kalokoh, the former Chief Executive Officer of the Road Maintenance Fund Administration (RMFA), has been holding consultations with APC stakeholders across the board with the intension of vying for the National Chairmanship of the party. He has made tremendous financial contributions to the APC since 2002.

A native of Koya Chiefdom in Port Loko District, in North-west province, Abdul Kalokoh has acquired rich and varied experience in corporate processes and good corporate governance. He has also demonstrated leadership in his accomplishments and responsibilities. And he has a keen sense of appreciation of Sierra Leone’s development context and partnerships building.

Mr Kalokoh has had a successful and distinguished career. Between 1993 to 2001, he worked for various investment banks in the United Kingdom including Barings Asset Management Ltd., and Schroders Salomon Smith Barney (part of Citi Group). At both Barings and Schroders, he worked in the Global Operations and Control Departments as part of a team responsible for the daily and periodic review of the bank’s global operations.

From 2022 to 2005, Abdul Kalokoh joined Guaranty Trust Bank (SL) Ltd as General Manager responsible for Credit and Marketing. During this period, he provided leadership and direction required to develop and manage the bank’s customers’ relationships in targeted industry segments with minimum costs and risks to the bank.

And from 2002 to 2009, he was Head of Secretariat for the World Bank funded Sierra Leone Ports Authority (SLPA) reform under the infrastructural Development Project (IDP). Together with his team, Mr Kalokoh provided strategic support to the chairman of the National Commission for Privatisation and members of the Project Management Committee in the reform of the seaport and its management. In 2010, he returned briefly to the UK and was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the RMFA in May 2011.