Question 1

Resignation and aspiration: Why transition from National Organising Secretary to contesting party leadership?

Accepted Answer

“The APC Party urgently needs functional political and operational leadership that can win elections. Such leadership requires sacrifices. I resigned in compliance with the APC Constitution to present myself for the next level of national service. My record demonstrates the capacity to organise, unite, and win.”

Question 2

Leadership mission: What will BMB leadership offer to APC and Sierra Leone?

Accepted Answer

“The public deserves leaders who restore hope and systems. When entrusted with APC leadership, I will lead the work tirelessly to deliver that change for every Sierra Leonean. “My ambition is to serve Sierra Leone, to unify, not to divide. I have spent my life building bridges across party and community lines.”

Question 3

Fitness for APC: Why BMB for APC Leadership?

Accepted Answer

“Unlike others, BMB is the candidate who combines proven organisational mastery with authentic grassroots credibility and a forward‑looking policy agenda.”
“He has contributed to building the party machinery from ward to diaspora, delivered large youth programmes as a minister, and commanded loyalty across party generations. He speaks the language of the majority demographic, young Sierra Leoneans, and commands respect from the elders and the veterans of our party. More than rhetoric, his leadership offers demonstrable delivery: institution building, national youth initiatives, scholarship and exchange links, and a campaign platform geared toward economic diversification, job creation and national cohesion. In short: unity, mobilisation, competence and a strategic vision for reclaiming governance.”

Question 4

Record of Service in the APC: How long has BMB served the APC Party?

Accepted Answer

“BMB has been active in APC politics for over 22 years, a lifetime of party engagement that moved from student politics and youth leadership through senior party administration to national office-holding. His record reflects continuous service at the grassroots, regional, national, and international levels.”

Question 5

Sphere of Influence in the APC and Sierra Leone: How connected is BMB to the APC and across Sierra Leone?

Accepted Answer

“BMB is strategically connected to the APC and across Sierra Leone. My network spans ward executives, constituency leaders, district and regional committees, MPs, councillors, mayors, party veterans, and the diaspora. He has maintained mentorship ties with senior APC figures, including former President Ernest Bai Koroma and the current party leadership. This breadth of relationships gives him immediate reach into every layer of the party and significant influence across Sierra Leone’s political and civic landscape.”

Question 6

Qualification to lead APC: Is BMB legally qualified to lead the APC and to be President of Sierra Leone?

Accepted Answer

“Yes, BMB has complied with the APC’s 2022 Constitution (resigned as National Organising Secretary to contest for the party leadership). Based on my public record, I meet the statutory and party prerequisites for the candidacy. There are no legal barriers to his eligibility to lead the party or run for the presidency.”

Question 7

Criminal conviction record: Has BMB ever been convicted of any crime that would bar him from holding any public office in Sierra Leone?

Accepted Answer

No. BMB was subject to investigation and legal proceedings following the events of 26 November 2023; he was subsequently vindicated by the High Court (Hon. Justice Komba Kamanda). He has not been convicted of an offence that would legally disqualify him from holding public office. He emphasises respect for due process and the rule of law in the country.

Question 8

Experience and competence to lead: Does BMB have the experience to govern Sierra Leone?

Accepted Answer

Yes, he does! Experience is not measured only in years but in results and one's ability to succeed in unconventional situations. BMB has successfully managed both conventional and unconventional entities, including youth mobilisation, party organisation, ministerial programmes, and national campaigns. He served in both the government and the opposition. He had built institutions and delivered programmes; that is the preparation required to govern.
“I have served at multiple levels: grassroots, ministerial, national party office, and as Presidential Youth Aide; delivering programmes and building institutions. I am prepared to lead.”

Question 9

Corruption allegations and eligibility for President: Critics accuse BMB of corruption and, therefore, may be disqualified from running for President. How does BMB respond to such allegations?

Accepted Answer

The qualifications for election as the President of Sierra Leone are enshrined in Section 41 of the Constitution of Sierra Leone, 1991, Act No. 6 of 1991. 
BMB is a Sierra Leonean by birth, a member of the APC Party, above the age of forty years, and qualified to be elected as a Member of Parliament. In fact, BMB was elected as the National Organising Secretary of the APC Party in 2023, a position he would only be qualified to hold if he was qualified to be elected as a Member of Parliament pursuant to Section 29(1) of the Political Parties Act of 2022. 
BMB has been targeted, investigated, and cleared. He has neither been charged in court on allegations of corruption nor has he ever been convicted of any crime by any court in and out of Sierra Leone. “My record in public life is one of transparency and youth service.”

Question 10

Potential benefits: What will the BMB leadership offer to Sierra Leone?

Accepted Answer

Under BMB’s leadership, Sierra Leone will enjoy the following:
 •  People-centred functional political and strategic leadership 
 • Reconciliation and unity across party, regional, and ethnic lines to restore cohesion.
 • Youth‑centred national renewal with targeted SME support to create jobs and close the opportunity gap.
 • Economic renaissance through pragmatic diversification, responsible mining, valued agriculture and fisheries, tourism, entertainment, and monetised technology. 
 • Good governance, democratic integrity, and accountability through purposeful and deliberate public service reforms.
 • Increased investment and accountability in our country’s human resources through need-based and skill-aligned education reforms, healthcare professionalism, maternal and child health priorities, and enforcement of professional accountability in service delivery in both the public and private sectors of our economy.
 • Increased and responsible investment in infrastructure and digital transformation with cost-effective road networks, regional connectivity, and a national broadband push to facilitate trade, commerce, and inclusion.
 • Inclusive representation through deliberate advancement of women, youth, and persons with disabilities in decision-making processes at all levels.

Question 11

Implication of November 26th a coup d'état: There are concerns from November 26th. 2023 events regarding your involvement. How does BMB address such public concerns?

Accepted Answer

"I respect the legal processes of our country. I was investigated, tried in court, and the High Court presided over by the Hon. Justice Komba Kamanda vindicated me of all the charges. The judgment is a public record. I will not dwell on persecution; I will invest my energies in reconciliation, transparency, and service to our people. My focus now is service, not recrimination.”

Question 12

Governance innovation, anti-corruption, and accountability: How will BMB make governance accountable?

Accepted Answer

“My leadership will institutionalise transparency, cost-effective and responsible procurement, independent audits, stronger parliamentary oversight, and digital public services. We will capacitate, rebrand, and empower the anti-corruption commission and other accountability institutions to strengthen safeguards and prevention, improve pay and conditions of service for frontline public servants to reduce incentives for misconduct, and make civil society and the media genuine non-partisan partners in accountability.”

Question 13

Youth unemployment: What immediate actions will BMB take for youth empowerment and employment?

Accepted Answer

“Start with a National Youth Empowerment Compact: rebrand, restructure, and scale-up skills-based education and vocational training tied to private sector and industrial demands; seed-fund SMEs for well-structured business incubation programmes; launch national service placements in agriculture, fisheries, and infrastructure projects; and create a youth entrepreneurship fund administered transparently. And will ensure mainstream youth participation in every aspect of our national development.”

Question 14

Sierra Leone’s extractive industry: How will BMB tackle extractive sector problems?

Accepted Answer

The BMB Leadership will pursue just mining, enforce environmental safeguards, renegotiate unfair terms where necessary, ensure benefits to local communities, invest royalties into infrastructure and human resource development, and support onward processing and value addition at home.

Question 15

Tribal, ethnic, and regional division politics: In Sierra Leone, politics have been too tribal and regional. How will BMB change this?

Accepted Answer

“My leadership record is one of building bridges. To me, politics is about competence and common purpose, not tribe. We will strengthen the multicultural and ethnic plurality foundation of the APC Party to the admiration of all Sierra Leoneans, institutionalise inclusive representation, and enforce policies that reduce regional disparities in every aspect of our nation’s development because unity grows from equity.

Question 16

Sierra Leone’s Energy crisis: Sierra Leone currently ranks among the world’s “darkest” cities by access to reliable electricity. What is BMB’s approach to addressing the current energy crisis?

Accepted Answer

My leadership will revolutionise the energy sector with pragmatic, immediate, and strategic responses. Starting with rapid relief for communities, to structural and institutional reforms to deliver affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy for the long term. Energy will be treated as a development priority that underpins jobs, health, education, and national security.
My leadership will ensure the expansion of our hydropower and renewable energy potential through fast‑track rehabilitation and smart development of the Bumbua hydro project and other existing national grid projects, while scaling utility‑grade solar, wind, hydrothermal, and biogas energy where viable.
Rural electrification will be prioritised through rural mini-grids and support local management of renewable energy infrastructure, building on APC initiatives where rural communities are empowered with the requisite skills.
I will encourage and facilitate public-private partnerships to mobilise concessional finance, diaspora capital, and private sector investment with people-centred, clear, time-bound contracts and transparent governance in the energy sector.

Question 17

Governance trust deficit: How will you restore trust in governance?

Accepted Answer

My leadership will ensure transparent reforms, independent anti-corruption mechanisms, institutionalised audits, merit-based appointments, and consistent engagement with civil society and the media.

Question 18

Cost of Living: The cost of food items is a major issue in Sierra Leone. What will BMB do to tackle the high cost of living, food shortages and the hunger crisis in Sierra Leone

Accepted Answer

My leadership treats the current hike in food prices as both an economic and humanitarian crisis. My plan combines immediate relief with structural reforms to protect households and ensure that food security is self-sustaining in the medium term.

This will include immediate measures to support and protect the most vulnerable households, including lifeline food vouchers for pregnant women, children under five, elderly citizens, and persons with disabilities.  
Review and scale-up smallholders' commercialisation with prioritised distribution of agricultural inputs to farmers, seeds, fertilisers, and improved crop varieties, together with accountable fast-track grants to farming cooperatives for the appropriate planting seasons.
Ensure a well-structured expansion of community food banks and the national school feeding programme through partnerships to keep children in school and reduce immediate household pressure.

In the medium term, we will ensure a localised agricultural renaissance that increases productivity and climate resilience through purposeful investment in irrigation, extension services, storage, and cold chain facilities to reduce post-harvest losses and stabilise the supply chain across seasons.
We will ensure diversified production through value chains for rice, cassava, vegetables, fisheries, and aquaculture. We will make agro-processing attractive and fashionable to retain value domestically and reduce import dependence.
We will support small and medium-sized enterprises in agribusiness with a dedicated BMB SME Fund for processing, packaging, and market access, with special priority for women and youth entrepreneurs.
We will work with local and global partners, including institutions of higher learning, to strengthen market infrastructure and logistics with improved rural road networks, market hubs, and digital price platforms so farmers can reach buyers and consumers can access competitive and stable prices of food commodities. 
We will revive and expand the scope of the National Youth Farm as a model agricultural, vocational, and entrepreneurial training centre for rural youth with placements in agri-tech and extension services through the National Youth Service Scheme.

Question 19

Drug crimes: Sierra Leone is currently an epicentre for drugs and narcotics. What will BMB do to address such a crisis in Sierra Leone?

Accepted Answer

My leadership considers the current drug epidemic crisis a threat to public health, national identity, security, and development. My approach combines law enforcement, prevention, rehabilitation, and regional cooperation.

My approach to strengthening drug law enforcement institutions will ensure the following: 
 •  We capacitate specialised units within the Sierra Leone Police and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency with training, equipment, and forensic capabilities.
 • Enhance border and maritime surveillance in collaboration with coast guard partners and regional security frameworks to disrupt trafficking routes.
 • Establish a central intelligence fusion cell to coordinate anti-narcotics operations with customs, immigration, and partner states.
 • We protect investigations from political interference and ensure that judicial processes are swift and transparent to deter organised networks, effectively tackling corruption as an enabling factor for trafficking by strengthening oversight of customs and port authorities and by prosecuting complicit actors, irrespective of their status.
 • We deepen our regional and international cooperation with ECOWAS, Mano River Union partners, and other international agencies to share intelligence, coordinate interdictions, and pursue cross-border criminal networks.
 • We negotiate advanced capacity-building partnerships with international law enforcement and forensic agencies to achieve this.

My community prevention mobilisation strategy will include launching a national prevention campaign focusing on schools and youth centres to raise awareness of the harms of drugs and promote alternatives such as skills training and entrepreneurship.
Integrating drug awareness and counselling into the National Youth Service programme will help young recruits become community ambassadors for prevention.

We will ensure adequate treatment and rehabilitation of victims affected by the drug crisis, expand community-based rehabilitation services, and provide medically assisted treatment for dependent persons, with reintegration pathways including vocational training and micro-enterprise support.
We will partner with NGOs, faith groups, and international donors to scale up low-cost, evidence-based treatment in regional centres.

Question 20

Youth and the illegal migration crisis: What will BMB do to address youth migration to Europe and other countries?

Accepted Answer

My leadership views the emigration of my compatriots as an indication of domestic failure. Therefore, our strategy seeks to reduce irregular migration by creating viable local alternatives and offering safe, legal pathways and reintegration options.
When necessary, we will negotiate favourable bilateral labour mobility agreements with host countries that respect workers' rights and provide regulated, temporary, or permanent employment schemes for Sierra Leoneans with standard pre‑departure training and certification to protect migrants from exploitation.

Question 21

Foreign Policy priorities: Sierra Leone is a global partner amid growing Pan-African Sentiments. What are the BMB’s foreign policy priorities?

Accepted Answer

“My foreign policy will be guided by the philosophy of the APC Party: constructive nationalism. Under my leadership, Sierra Leone will be outward-looking and proudly national at the same time. Our priorities will be economic diplomacy, regional security and integration, harnessing diaspora dividend, environment and climate resilience, and principled multilateralism”.

Our economic diplomacy and investment priorities will ensure that:
 •  We mobilise foreign direct investment for infrastructure, value-added industries, and renewable energy. Target strategic partnerships with traditional and new partners for mutually beneficial projects.
 •  We promote Sierra Leone’s export potential and integration into the African Continental Free Trade Area to expand markets for Sierra Leonean goods and services.
 • Strengthen Sierra Leone’s engagement with ECOWAS and the Mano River Union to advance our sovereignty, border security, conflict prevention, and economic integration.
 •  Lead regional initiatives on maritime security, anti‑trafficking, and cross‑border youth employment programmes.

Our approach to harnessing the diaspora dividend as soft power will institutionalise our Sierra Leonean diaspora as the sixth estate of the state and a formal strategic partner for investment, skills transfer, and advocacy.
          
We will position Sierra Leone as a partner for green energy investment and regional renewable projects and prioritise climate finance and adaptation projects for flood mitigation and protection of coastal communities.

Our principled multilateralism policy seeks to defend democratic governance, human rights, and the rule of law through pragmatic cooperation with key partners. Use international fora to attract technical and other forms of assistance for governance, health, and education reforms.

We will strengthen cooperation with the United Kingdom, the United States, the European Union, China, Gulf partners, African states, and South-South cooperation for infrastructure, skills, and market access.

BAI MAHMOUD BANGURA (BMB) FOR APC NATIONAL LEADER AND PRESIDENT 2028
''OurProject-OurHope”

About BMB: Who is BMB?

BAI MAHMOUD BANGURA (BMB) FOR APC NATIONAL LEADER AND PRESIDENT 2028 ''OurProject-OurHope”

About BMB: Who is BMB?

BAI MAHMOUD BANGURA (BMB) FOR APC NATIONAL LEADER AND PRESIDENT 2028
''OurProject-OurHope”