Fmr Pres. Koroma Recalls Inclusive Leadership, Says he Included Opposition Leaders In ECOWAS & UK Trips
Former President Ernest Bai Koroma has recalled how he prioritised national unity and political inclusiveness during his presidency, disclosing that his first official trip outside Sierra Leone involved members of the opposition Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP).
Speaking about his experience in office, Koroma said that shortly after assuming the presidency, he deliberately included prominent opposition figures, including Prince Harding, Julius Maada Bio and Charles Margai, in a delegation that travelled to meet ECOWAS Heads of State.
He disclosed that the decision attracted criticism from some members of his own party, who questioned why opposition politicians should be included in a presidential delegation. However, Koroma said he remained committed to the idea, insisting that national interest should take precedence over party political differences.
He explained that the experience strengthened his resolve to ensure that members of the opposition, particularly the SLPP, were represented in subsequent official foreign trips.
Koroma further recalled that during one of his visits to the United Kingdom, he travelled with Momoh Pujeh, an SLPP Member of Parliament, as part of his delegation.
According to the former President, when Momoh Pujeh was introduced to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the British official was reportedly taken by surprise upon learning that the President had included an opposition MP in his delegation.
Koroma said the Chancellor was particularly astonished to discover that the leader of the opposition was part of the President’s delegation, prompting him to question whether the President was travelling alongside his political opponent.
Through these examples, Koroma highlighted his approach to governance, arguing that political differences should not prevent leaders from working together or representing their country collectively on the international stage.
