Jagaban Opens Up About His Life

Sierra Leonean philanthropist and politician, Alhaji Mohamed Kamara popularly known as Jagaban has shed light on his past.

Speaking to Wi Yard Programme, he said that he was born in Blama to Hawa Kargbo and Alhaji Amara Kamara and that he also did his primary education there in Blama before leaving for Freetown to complete his education.l

He said his philanthropic character emanated from his father, Alhaji Amara who he said was one of the richest men in Blama Town when he was alive. He said that his father even had a lot of foster children he was caring for and was very philanthropic. He stated that his old man later ran out of cash but prodded them never to beg but instead took them to the farm to fend for their living.

“I’ve sold all sorts of measured cereals or vegetables,” he said.

He said that he used to trek long distances from one village to another in Kenema District to trade.

The politician said after schooling in Freetown at age 17 he started trading in fuel. “I used to purchase fuel in Freetown to sell in Blama,” he said.

He added that his startup was provided for by his father because he was a man that trusted in the business.

Kamara said he also used to buy palm oil in Blama for sale in Freetown. The man said he used parts of his business returns to care for his family while living on Fourah Bay Road in his early 20s.

Kamara said that he decided to leave for the UK but faced some protests from his father at first but finally left at age 24. He said he was fortunate to get a job at the Royal Scot Hotel which enabled him to help other Sierra Leonean immigrants in the UK for jobs.

He said he left the UK in 1997 for the US. He said he left because he was satisfied with what he did in London and left even though his boss offered to raise his wage.

Kamara stated that he arrived in the US with 7 thousand British Pounds which he used to settle down.

He said his first job was at the Reagan Building in downtown Washington DC at the Banquet Department serving food to guests. He said he was promoted to Supervisor soon after because of his diligent service.

He stated that he soon landed a second job and used his earnings to return to school where he graduated as a computer engineer.

Kamara stated that he landed a job as a software tester for the US government a few years later in 2003. He said he felt bored because he couldn’t interact with the co-staff. He said he quit the job although he was being paid 10,000 US Dollars per month.

He said he opted to work for an office that took care of mentally disabled people. Kamara said that he was happy with his new job because he felt good helping disabled people.

Kamara noted that he was motivated to open a similar enterprise after he landed an employee of the year award for the entire county in 2013.

He said he soon after founded his company caring for mentally disabled people.

Kamara is said to be one of Sierra Leone’s philanthropists and late last year announced his ambition to run for the vice presidency of the All People’s Congress (APC).

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Kamara, however, is believed to face stiff competition from the APC Parliamentary leader, Chernoh Maju Bah, former Minister, Madina Rahman, and former vice President, Samuel Sam-Sumana.