Samura Kamara
Samura Kamara | |
---|---|
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sierra Leone | |
Assumed office 2012 | |
Preceded by | Joseph Bandabla Dauda |
Minister of Finance of Sierra Leone | |
In office 2009–2012 | |
Preceded by | David Carew |
Succeeded by | Kaifala Marah |
Governor of the Bank of Sierra Leone | |
In office 2007–2009 | |
Preceded by | James Rogers |
Succeeded by | Sheku Sambadeen Sesay |
Personal details | |
Born |
Samura Mathew Wilson Kamara 15 December 1963 Kamalo, Bombali District, Sierra Leone |
Nationality | Sierra Leonean |
Political party | All People's Congress (APC) |
Residence | Freetown, Sierra Leone, |
Alma mater | Fourah Bay College |
Profession | economist |
Religion | Christianity |
Samura Mathew Wilson Kamara (born December 15, 1963) is a Sierra Leonean economist who has been Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sierra Leone since 2012.[1][2]
A native of Kamalo, Bombali District, Samura Kamara spent some time as Financial Secretary in the Ministry of Finance during President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah's administration.[3] He was the Governor of the Bank of Sierra Leone from 2007 until March 2009, when he was appointed by President Ernest Bai Koroma as Minister of Finance.[4] In December 2012, he became the Minister of Foreign Affairs.[5] Samura Kamara is a member of the Limba ethnic group.
Early life
Samura Kamara was born in the village of Kamalo, Bombali District in the Northern Province of Sierra Leone to ethnic Limba parents.[6]
Career
Kamara served from at least autumn 2005 as Financial Secretary at Sierra Leone's Ministry of Finance.[7] He left the post some time before 2007 to work as an executive for the International Monetary Fund in Washington, D.C.[8] He was in December 2007 appointed governor of Sierra Leone's central bank, a decision which local papers reported had the backing of Sierra Leone's international donors and supporters of the Bretton Woods system.[9] In late February 2009 Kamara was appointed by President Ernest Koroma to succeed David Carew as Sierra Leone's Minister of Finance.[10] Kamara dismissed suggestions that his new role represented a demotion.[11] He forecast that, as the country endured the late-2000s global recession, Sierra Leone would experience a contraction in economic growth during 2009 to 5.5-6%, down from 7-7.5% the previous year. He also, however, projected slowing inflation, and the country's foreign reserve holdings remained within limits set by its major donor, the IMF.[12]
References
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- ↑ Kandeh, Mariama (10 September 2008). "Sierra Leone: Amidst Hard Work, Poverty Still Rules Country's Interior". Concord Times (Freetown). Retrieved 22 June 2009.
- ↑ Munu, Abu Bakarr (Oct 26, 2007). "Sierra Leone Government now on full PRSP". Awareness Times. Retrieved 22 June 2009.
- ↑ "Sierra Leone's Bank Governor to be sacked by new President". Awareness Times. 16 October 2007. Retrieved 22 June 2009.
- ↑ Fofana, Sorie (7 December 2007). "Welcoming the new Bank Governor of Sierra Leone". Awareness Times.
- ↑ "Koroma names new finance minister". iol.co.za. 28 February 2009. Retrieved 22 June 2009.
- ↑ Pratt, Regina (12 March 2009). "Sierra Leone: Ex-Bank Governor Dismisses Demotion Claims". Concord Times (Freetown). Retrieved 22 June 2009.
- ↑ Woollcombe, Alexander (4 March 2009). "INTERVIEW-Mining slump seen cutting S.Leone 2009 growth". Reuters. Retrieved 22 June 2009.