Why I Want to Be President of Sierra Leone – Francis Ben Kaifala Speaks on Leadership Dreams

The Commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Francis Ben Kaifala Esq., has revealed that his childhood aspiration to one day become President of Sierra Leone remains unchanged, even as he insists that his current focus is firmly on delivering his mandate as head of the country’s anti-graft body.

Speaking on AYV’s Wake Up Salone programme, Kaifala said the ambition to lead the nation was shaped early in his life. He recalled that as a child, whenever he was asked what he wanted to become, his response was consistent: he wanted to be like Joseph Saidu Momoh, a former President of Sierra Leone. That desire, he said, has not changed over the years.

“To be a president involves a lot of factors and considerations,” Kaifala explained, stressing that leadership is not a single decision but a product of timing, circumstance, and broader national interests. He clarified that while the aspiration remains, he is presently the Anti-Corruption Commissioner and is fully committed to that responsibility.

According to him, whatever comes next will be determined by several factors, including the prevailing political dispensation, access to power within that context, and his own personal circumstances and decision-making.

However, he was emphatic that his long-held position has remained the same since childhood-not merely a vague desire, but a clear ambition to one day be President of Sierra Leone.

Kaifala also referenced remarks previously made by President Julius Maada Bio, noting that the President has expressed a desire for a young, vibrant leader who has received the necessary training and preparation to take the country forward. In that context, Kaifala said the President is not simply grooming aspirants, but preparing future presidents.

Describing himself as a young man who “ticks every box” in that conversation, the ACC boss maintained that his immediate priority is his work at the Commission. He assured the public that his role as Anti-Corruption Commissioner would not be compromised by personal ambition.

“I am focused on my role as commissioner,” he said, adding that when the time comes, he is ready to put himself forward to the President. He emphasized that many Sierra Leoneans share a collective interest in changing the country’s story for the better, and that commitment continues to guide his public service.

Kaifala’s remarks have already sparked discussion in political circles, as they offer a rare personal reflection from one of the country’s most prominent public officials, balancing long-term ambition with present responsibility.