Prime Minister of Sierra Leone | |
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Appointer | Governor-General of Sierra Leone (1961–1971) President of Sierra Leone (1971–1978) |
Formation | 27 April 1961 |
First holder | Milton Margai |
Final holder | Christian Alusine Kamara-Taylor |
Abolished | 15 June 1978 |
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This is a list of heads of government of Sierra Leone, from the establishment of the office of Chief Minister in 1954 until the present day. The office of Prime Minister was abolished after the constitutional referendum in 1978, and reinstated in as Chief Minister.
On 27 April 1961, Sierra Leone gained independence.[1]
In 1962 general elections were won by the Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP). The All People's Congress (APC) emerged as the most organised opposition.[1]
In March 1964 Njala University opened. On 28 April 1964, Prime Minister Sir Milton Margai died. His brother, Sir Albert Margai, was appointed as new prime minister. On 4 August 1964, Sierra Leone's decimal currency, the Sierra Leonean leone, was established.[2]
In 1967, general elections were held in Sierra Leone. The APC won by a narrow margin. Brigadier John Lansana, head of the military, seized control of government immediately after swearing in of the new APC prime minister, Siaka Stevens. Lansana was ousted a few days later by junior military officers who invited Andrew Juxon-Smith, a senior officer on leave, to return and head a provisional government, the National Reformation Council (NRC).[2]
In 1968, the NRC was overthrown by warrant officers of the army. John Bangura, a formerly dismissed senior officer, invited to head the army. Bangura turned over government to the APC, led by Siaka Stevens.[2]
In 1969, the University of Sierra Leone was set up, comprising Fourah Bay College and Njala University.[2]
On 19 April 1971 Sierra Leone became a republic with Siaka Stevens as executive president.[2]
Main article: List of heads of government of Sierra Leone |
No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Term of office | Political party | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Took office | Left office | Time in office | ||||
1 | ![]() |
Sir Milton Margai (1895–1964) |
9 July 1954 | 14 August 1958 | 4 years, 36 days | Sierra Leone People's Party |
No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Term of office | Political party | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Took office | Left office | Time in office | ||||
1 | ![]() |
Sir Milton Margai (1895–1964) |
14 August 1958 | 27 April 1961 | 2 years, 256 days | Sierra Leone People's Party |
The Prime Ministers (and heads of government) of Sierra Leone during this period were:
a. As Chairman of the National Reform Council.
b. As Chairman of the National Interim Council.
No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Term of office | Political party | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Took office | Left office | Time in office | ||||
1 | ![]() |
Sorie Ibrahim Koroma (1927–1994) |
21 April 1971 | 8 July 1975 | 4 years, 78 days | All People's Congress |
2 | ![]() |
Christian Alusine Kamara-Taylor (1917–1985) |
8 July 1975 | 15 June 1978 | 2 years, 342 days | All People's Congress |
The position of Chief Minister is the present-day successor to that of Prime Minister, but the President of Sierra Leone remains both head of state and head of government though.