October 26, 2021
Albert Baron Ansu
In early August, 2021, former President Ernest Bai Koroma led an AU Elections Observation Mission in Zambia. Following that assignment, APC media began to propagate news that former President Ernest Bai Koroma had been appointed as an Advisory Board member of a so-called Think Tank; the Brenthurst Foundation.
On his visit to Sierra Leone in early October, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for West Africa and the Sahel Mehemet Saleh Annadit had a meeting with former President Ernest Bai Koroma; accompanied by the UN Resident Coordinator Dr. Babatunde Ahonsi. Later in the month the new UK High Commissioner to Sierra Leone Ms Lisa Chesney, also, paid a visit to former President Ernest Bai Koroma. Among other dignitaries that have paid courtesy calls on former President Ernest Bai Koroma are former President of Liberia Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, and the United States Ambassador to Sierra Leone.
Pro-APC newspapers and sympathisers online have been trumpeting these courtesy calls and visits as international endorsement of former President Ernest Bai Koroma as a respectable figure. It is understandable why pro-APC newspapers and sympathisers online are in such celebratory mood. Which follower of Jesus at the time did not celebrate Saul’s conversion to Paul? No ex-APC President has ever become a statesman after leaving office. If Ernest Koroma is practicing to become a statesman, APC have all the right to celebrate.
Pro-APC newspapers and sympathisers online however, have the wrong notion that they are the only ones celebrating former President Ernest Koroma’s attempt to become a statesman. The ruling SLPP is equally celebrating former President Ernest Koroma’s attempt to become a statesman.
As the Minister of Information puts it, Sierra Leone is better-off with an ex-President that spends his time on his hobby, with family, or projecting the good image of our democracy abroad; as the late Ahmed Tejan-Kabbah did. “If former President Ernest Koroma wants to stop spending his time with Dondodo or Abu Omolay strategizing APC politics, or sending veiled messages to youth to engage in violence, that is welcome news to all including the SLPP”.
According to sources close to former Ernest Koroma and within the ruling SLPP government, the visits by international dignitaries to the former President have all focused on persuading him to take up a role as a statesman and leave active politics. Sources within the ruling SLPP government say President Bio is fully supporting former Ernest Bai Koroma transition from being the owner of the APC to becoming a statesman.