President of Sierra Leone facts for kids
Quick facts for kids President of the Republic of Sierra Leone |
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|---|---|
Presidential standard
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 Julius Maada Wonie Bio since 4 April 2018 |
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| Style | His/Her Excellency |
| Residence | State House (official workplace) State Lodge (official residence) |
| Term length | Five years
(renewable once)
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| Constituting instrument | Constitution of Sierra Leone |
| Precursor | Queen of Sierra Leone |
| Formation | 19 April 1971 |
| First holder | Christopher Okoro Cole (acting) |
| Deputy | Vice President of Sierra Leone |
| Salary | 12,220 USD annually |
| Website | http://www.statehouse.gov.sl/ |
The President of the Republic of Sierra Leone is a very important leader. They are the head of state and the head of government for Sierra Leone. This means they are the main representative of the country. They are also the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces. This makes them the top leader of the country's military.
The president leads the executive branch of the Sierra Leone government. This branch makes sure that laws passed by the Parliament are put into action. The president has a lot of influence, especially over members of their own political party in the Parliament. The president also chooses judges for the Sierra Leone Judicial branch. This includes judges for the high court, the court of appeals, and the Supreme Court.
The president leads a group of important people called the Cabinet of ministers. These ministers help the president run the country. The Parliament must approve these ministers. The president is the most powerful and influential person in the Government of Sierra Leone. People formally address the president as His Excellency.
Contents
Becoming President: What You Need to Know
To become the President of Sierra Leone, a person must meet certain requirements. These rules ensure that the president is ready for such a big job.
Who Can Be President?
- Be older than 32 years of age.
- Be a citizen of Sierra Leone.
- Be an active member of a political party.
- Meet all other requirements to serve in Parliament.
When the President's Job Becomes Open
The President's Office can become empty for a few reasons:
- If the president serves more than two five-year terms.
- If the president passes away or decides to retire.
- If the president is unable to do their job due to health or other reasons.
During times of war, a president's term might be extended. This can only happen for half a year at a time. If a president wants to resign or retire, they must write a letter. This letter goes to the Chief Justice. Copies are also sent to the Speaker of Parliament and the Chief Electoral Commissioner.
If the president's job becomes open, the Vice President steps in. The Vice President takes over and finishes the rest of the president's term. Before starting, the Vice President must take a special oath. This oath is explained in the Constitution of Sierra Leone.
The President of Sierra Leone automatically holds several key roles:
- Head of state.
- Head of the Executive branch.
- Head of the Armed Forces.
- Head of the Cabinet, with Parliament's approval.
How the President is Chosen
The president is elected every five years. The election process has a few steps to make sure the best person is chosen.
The Election Process
- The candidate must be chosen by their own political party.
- All voters and candidates must be registered in Sierra Leone.
- Voting happens secretly on a specific date and time set by Parliament.
- Only one person is nominated for president.
- If a nominee is approved, party organizers have seven days to nominate a runner-up.
- The winning candidate must get at least 55% of the votes.
- If no one gets 55%, a second election round happens within fourteen days.
The president's election must take place while the current president is still in office. The new president's term begins three months after the former president's term ends. Since 2021, the Constitution of Sierra Leone limits a president to two terms. This rule first applied to President Kabbah in 2007.
President's Pay and Benefits
The Sierra Leone Constitution explains what the president receives for their important work.
What the President Gets
- A salary and allowance set by Parliament. This money comes from a special fund.
- The president's salary and allowances cannot be changed to their disadvantage or advantage while they are in office.
- The president does not have to pay personal taxes while in office.
- The president cannot face criminal charges while in office.
- After leaving office, the president receives a pension and retirement benefits. These are also set by Parliament.
President's Powers and Responsibilities
The president has many important powers to lead the government and make decisions for the country.
Appointing Key Officials
- The president can appoint members of the Judicature. This includes the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. They do this with advice from the Judicial and Legal Service Commission.
- The president also chooses the Ministers of State who form the Cabinet. However, Parliament must approve these ministers before they can start their jobs.
Where the President Lives and Works
The President of Sierra Leone has special places to work and live.
Official Workplaces and Homes
The president's main workplace is State House. It is located in Tower Hill in central Freetown, which is the capital city of Sierra Leone.
The president has two official residences, which are official homes.
- The first is State Lodge, found in the fancy neighborhood of Hill Station in the west end of Freetown.
- The second is Kabassa Lodge, located in the wealthy area of Juba Hill, also in the west end of Freetown.
The current president, Julius Maada Wonie Bio, uses State Lodge at Hill Station as his official home. Former President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah also used State Lodge. Past presidents Joseph Saidu Momoh and Siaka Stevens used Kabassa Lodge at Juba Hill as their official residence.
Protecting the President
The President of Sierra Leone is always kept safe.
Presidential Security
The president is heavily guarded by the Presidential Guard. This special unit includes soldiers from the Sierra Leone Armed Forces. It also includes police officers from the Operational Support Division of the Sierra Leone Police Force.
History of the Presidency
The way Sierra Leone is governed has changed over time.
From Prime Minister to President
Siaka Stevens was part of the All People's Congress (APC) party. In 1967, he won the general elections and became the Prime Minister. In 1971, Sierra Leone changed its system of government. They stopped having a parliamentary system and started a presidential system. This change made Siaka Stevens the first executive President of Sierra Leone.
Later, the APC became the only political party allowed in the country. In 1978, a new constitution was approved by the people. This constitution ended the multi-party system and created a single-party state. It also gave the president more power. The presidential term limit increased from four to seven years.
In October 1990, President Momoh created a group called the National Constitutional Review Commission. This happened because many people wanted to end the one-party system. The commission suggested changes to the constitution. These changes offered different ways to govern the country instead of just one party.
List of Presidents
See also
- List of colonial governors of Sierra Leone
- List of heads of state of Sierra Leone
- List of heads of government of Sierra Leone
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