Meet
Dr. Richard Konteh
Hello,
Welcome to my campaign website, and thank you for your interest and support. It's a humbling experience for me to contest for the leadership of our mighty APC Party, and eventually, our nation Sierra Leone. What matters the most to me is how I can help my fellow Sierra Leoneans. That is why I travel around the country, listening to people share their experiences, stories, and ideas on how we can make our country a better place.
Let’s find common ground through our stories. Together, let's do something different. I look forward to getting to know you more.
About Him
Humble Beginnings
Like most Sierra Leoneans, Richard Konteh's early life was poor and problematic.
He was born in Gbendembu Ngowahun Chiefdom to a primary school teacher and an entrepreneurial housewife. His parents struggled very hard to make ends meet and ensure their kids attained formal education.
Richard graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education and a Master of Arts Degree in Education from Njala University (University of Sierra Leone). He also holds a Master of Science Degree in Development Planning and Management, Jointly Offered by the University of Dortmund, Germany, and the University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
Richard furthered his studies at the University of Dortmund in Germany, where he graduated with a Ph.D. degree in Spatial Planning and Development Coordination.
To Dr. Richard Konteh, character always matters, hard work is in his bones, doing what’s right is a way of life, and making good on his debt of gratitude to Sierra Leone is a lifelong commitment.
A Caring Family Man
Dr. Richard Konteh is a loving, kind and caring family man who inspires all around him. Showing immense support towards his family – he encouraged them to be the best people they could be. He believes in the principle that a man is called to be a servant-leader—to take responsibility for his wife and children and to put their needs ahead of his own. He is called to demonstrate selfless, sacrificial love—the type of love we see in God toward His children.
This is the same principle he holds toward every human being - young and old.
A Public Servant
The Chief of Staff:
Office of the President of Sierra Leone
As the Chief of Staff to the President, Dr. Richard Konteh coordinated the successful implementation of the President’s Agenda for Change and the Agenda for Prosperity. He facilitated the implementation of key government and Cabinet decisions and provided technical and managerial oversight over critical activities of Ministries, Departments and Agencies. Achieved Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Compliance. He facilitated the fulfillment of all criteria to achieve Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact.
He successfully established the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Programme, Performance Management and Service Delivery (PMSD) Directorate, and the Right to Access Information Commission.
The Minister:
Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Development;
Minister of Trade and Industry
At the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Dr. Richard Konteh led the development and implementation of the Trade Policy and provided policy guidance and supervision to affiliated institutions. He established the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Fund that provided affordable loans to SMEs. He developed and domesticated the Local Content Policy (now Local Content Law) of Sierra Leone. He registered marked improvements in Sierra Leone’s Ease of Doing Business rankings, achieving the 6th most improved country in the world for Ease of Doing Business.
He rebranded Sierra Leone around the world and attracted more investors to Sierra Leone than ever in the history of this country. He hosted the first-ever investment forum in Sierra Leone, attracting over 300 reputable investors.
The Executive
General Secretary:
West Africa Civil Society Forum (WACSOF)
At WACSOF, Dr. Richard Konteh designed and directed the programmatic thrust of WACSOF, including resource mobilization and management of the WACSOF Secretariat.
He organized the annual WACSOF fora that brought together civil society organizations and partners from the 15 member states of ECOWAS and the diaspora. Dr. Konteh cultivated strong partnerships between WACSOF and several international donor agencies. He led the preparation of WACSOF’s 5-year strategic plan. He led most of WACSOF’s elections observation missions to ECOWAS member states.
During his tenure, Dr. Konteh, WACSOF, was recognized as the civil society arm of the ECOWAS Commission that complimented the work of the Commission and member states in promoting regional peace, integration and economic development.
Programme Manager, Lecturer, Teacher
Richard Konteh served many capacities as:
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Programme Manager for ECOWAS/UNDP Regional Programme In Peace building and Post Conflict Reconstruction in West Africa.
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Programme Manager, Monitoring and Evaluation; and Justice and Peace for the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Sierra Leone.
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Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist for the Adventist Development and Relief Agency.
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Executive Director for GEKO – Sierra Leone.
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Lecturer at Njala University.
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Associate Director of Planning and Development for the Wesleyan Church of Sierra Leone.
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A teacher at the Wesleyan Secondary School, Kamakwie.
He is Fearless!
"When people try to knock him down, he always bounces back, stands up and continues his fight for the most vulnerable, and to celebrate the diversity of the APC Party and Sierra Leone."
