By VOS Writer
President Julius Maada Bio appointed Baluwa Koroma as Executive Director of the Petroleum Regulatory Agency (PRA) shortly after assuming office in 2018. Baluwa went on to serve two full terms. When his tenure officially ended, he was granted a one-year contract extension, with a mandate to transform the PRA into the National Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NPRA).
In the middle of that transition period, Baluwa was appointed as the first Director General of the newly reformed NPRA.
According to credible sources, this appointment came after intense lobbying efforts directed at the then Secretary to the President—allegedly to secure his continued grip on power.
Critics argue that Baluwa’s motivation for clinging to leadership at NPRA is not driven by a commitment to reform but rather by personal gain. Despite his stated commitment to creating a level playing field in the downstream sector, Baluwa was accused of aiding and abetting the corporate Gangster, enabling them to dominate the sector and amass significant power.
When oil marketers took the initiative to reduce pump prices, Baluwa reportedly remained silent and failed to issue any official communication or public notice about the price review. This inaction has led many observers to believe that he is being manipulated, acting as a mere figurehead — a “stooge” or puppet — serving the interests of private players rather than the public.
