Kaifala Marah
Kaifala Marah | |
|---|---|
| Born | Koidu Town, Sierra Leone |
| Occupation(s) | Politician, accountant |
| Known for | Governor of the Bank of Sierra Leone (2016–2017), Minister of Finance (2013–2016) |
Kaifala Marah (originating from Koidu Town, Sierra Leone) is a distinguished Sierra Leonean politician and accountant who held the position of Governor of the Bank of Sierra Leone between 2016 and 2017, as well as serving as the Minister of Finance from 2013 to 2016. On 7 March 2017, Dr. Marah stepped down from his role as governor to seek the All People's Congress (APC) nomination for the 2018 presidential race.
Between 2010 and his appointment as finance minister in 2013, he acted as State House chief of staff and senior economic advisor to President Ernest Bai Koroma.
Marah's academic credentials include a bachelor's degree in international relations from Fourah Bay College, a master's degree in public policy earned at the State University of New York, and a PhD in political finance from the University of Hull. His early professional experience features positions such as deputy town clerk at the Koidu-New Sembehun city council and budget analyst for the New York State Senate. Prior to joining Koroma’s government, he served as a public expenditure management adviser at the Commonwealth Secretariat based in London.
Raised in Koidu Town, located in Eastern Sierra Leone, Marah’s family roots trace back to the Koinadugu District in Northern Sierra Leone. He practices Islam and belongs to the Kuranko ethnic group.
Early life and education
Kaifala Marah was born in Koidu Town, within Sierra Leone’s Kono District in the Eastern Province, to parents of the Kuranko ethnic background originating from Koinadugu District. His secondary education took place at Ansarul Islamic Boys Secondary School in Koidu. He obtained his bachelor's degree in international relations at Fourah Bay College, followed by a master's degree in public policy from the State University of New York. He completed his doctoral studies in political finance (political economy) at the University of Hull.
Career
Marah’s career began as deputy town clerk for the Koidu-New Sembehun city council, after which he worked as a budget analyst within the New York State Senate. Before entering public office under President Koroma, he was engaged as a public expenditure management adviser at the Commonwealth Secretariat headquartered in London. Subsequently, he was appointed chief of staff to President Ernest Bai Koroma.
Political career
From 2010 until December 2012, Marah served as chief of staff and senior economic advisor under President Koroma before assuming the role of Minister of Finance of Sierra Leone.
SLPP's commission of inquiry
In 2018, under President Julius Maada Bio, Commissions of Inquiry (COI) were launched targeting former APC government officials spanning November 2007 through April 2018. More than 300 high-ranking individuals, including Marah, faced allegations. The head of Commission Number 2, Justice John Rosolu Bankole Thompson, publicly criticized Bio’s administration for extending the COI beyond its authorized scope.
APC party leadership campaign
In 2020, the All People's Congress (APC) announced plans for a convention aimed at selecting new leadership to contest President Julius Maada Bio and his SLPP party during the 2023 presidential and parliamentary elections. Kaifala Marah, previously Minister of Finance and Chief Minister, declared his bid for APC leadership. He is among seven contenders competing for this position.
Compared with former APC leader Samura Kamara—who was appointed by outgoing president and APC chairman Ernest Koroma in 2018 rather than elected—Marah is seen as an underdog. Kamara’s selection was unpopular among APC members, contributing to the party’s defeat by the SLPP in subsequent elections.