State House, Freetown – Thursday, 22 May 2025 – President Dr. Julius Maada Bio has appointed Dr. Emmanuel A.R. Gaima as the Principal Executive Adviser to the President on the Public Service and Head of the Public Sector Reform Unit.
The new position, which carries Cabinet rank, has been established as part of the President’s broader agenda to overhaul the country’s public service.
This move aligns with the President’s 2023 election manifesto, which identified the revitalization of the public service architecture as one of the “Big Five Game Changers.”
Recognizing the importance of a competent and efficient public sector, President Bio has introduced this new advisory role to provide additional technical support for the ongoing reform efforts.
Dr. Gaima will operate from the Office of the President and report directly to President Bio.
Dr. Gaima has held several high-profile positions within the Sierra Leonean government. In July 2024, he was appointed Secretary to the President by President Julius Maada Bio, a role in which he provided strategic leadership and coordinated institutional reforms across various government agencies. In this capacity, he convened the inaugural meeting of institutional heads under the Office of the President to enhance service delivery, strengthen coordination, and improve operational efficiency.
Prior to this, Dr. Gaima served as the Co-Chair of the Independent Cross-Party Committee on Electoral Systems and Management Bodies Review, established in November 2023. This committee was tasked with reviewing Sierra Leone’s electoral systems and management bodies to enhance transparency and effectiveness.
Dr. Gaima’s expertise in governance is well-recognized. He has served as a lead consultant and facilitator on governance for various institutions, including the Sierra Leone Information Commission, where he guided staff through strategic planning and operational efficiency exercises .
His commitment to democratic principles was evident when he facilitated a Democracy Round Table Discussion Forum organized by the National Commission for Democracy in 2019. During this event, he emphasized the importance of inclusive and purposeful participation in governance processes .
