Freetown, Sierra Leone – Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella, a prominent figure in Sierra Leone’s political scene, officially rejoined the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) in a declaration ceremony held at the party’s headquarters in Freetown on Saturday 14 October 2023.
Esteemed members of the SLPP’s National Executive, including Chairman Dr. Prince Alex Harding, Secretary General Umaru Napoleon Koroma, Hon. Mathew Nyuma, Hon. Manso Dumbuya, and other influential stakeholders, gathered to witness this significant moment.
Dr. Yumkella’s return to his political roots is being seen as a strategic move aligning him with the party’s core values and principles that first drew him into politics. Party members enthusiastically welcomed his decision, viewing it as a powerful endorsement of the SLPP’s fundamental beliefs.
Notable figures such as Sierra Leone’s First Lady, Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, and the national secretary general Umaru Napoleon Koroma, joined the welcoming ceremony, emphasizing the importance of unity and collaboration to achieve the party’s shared goals.
In his statement, Hon. Yumkella expressed his desire to return home to contribute to national development and support President Julius Maada Bio in his efforts to develop Sierra Leone.
He underlined his intention to work with President Bio’s flagship programs during his second term.
Looking forward to the 2028 elections, First Lady Fatima called on party members to start preparations for future campaigns, stressing the significance of a united SLPP working tirelessly to secure a brighter future for Sierra Leone.
This move marks a significant transition for Dr. Yumkella, who, once recognized as one of Sierra Leone’s principled politicians, returns to the SLPP led by President Bio, where he had previously vied for party leadership and a presidential candidacy in 2015.
Dr. Yumkella’s previous affiliation with the SLPP had ended before the 2018 elections due to difficulties accessing party offices and non-recognition of his membership by the party executive. Subsequently, he founded the NGC in 2017 and contested the presidency in the following year.
Prior to the recent general elections, the NGC and SLPP had forged a strategic alliance aimed at forming an inclusive government, with ministerial and other appointments for NGC members if President Bio won the election. As a result, President Bio appointed Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella as Chairman of the Special Initiative for Climate Change, Renewable Energy, and Food Security in Sierra Leone.
In preparation for his return to the SLPP, Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella officially stepped down from his leadership role within the National Grand Coalition (NGC) party.
