Sierra Leone: Koroma sworn in as President – to name cabinet after parliament is reconstituted

Newly re-elected Sierra Leone President., Ernest Koroma

Newly re-elected Sierra Leone president, Ernest Koroma, has hinted that he will be naming his new cabinet immediatley after parliament is reconstituted following the just concluded general and presidential elections.

In a press release, Koroma reiterated that the time for politicking is over, and work on the agenda for prosperity will now commence. Koroma won a decisive victory with an overwhelming 58.7 percent of the vote.

Mr. Koroma’s All People’s Congress (APC) cemented its poll victory by taking 67 seats in the legislature, while the opposition Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) came in second with 42 seats, according to the National Election Commission.

The Koroma administration has been credited in boosting rapid growth in Sierra Leone – a country recovering from a long and brutal civil war which ended in 2012.

African Union chairman and Benin’s leader Boni Yayi visited Sierra Leone on Tuesday to congratulate the nation on a successful election.

“The election has been acclaimed by local and international observers as transparent and credible and if there are any grievances, the judicial process should be sought.”

“Sierra Leone is part of the new Africa and there is need to strengthen peace and good governance in the continent.”

Mr. Koroma, who has promised to boost jobs and growth in the mineral-rich nation in his second and final term, said he would “continue to extend the olive branch to all political parties.”