PROFILE: The 7 candidates Akinwunmi Adesina must defeat to become AfDB president

SAMURA KAMARA, SIERRA LEONE

Born on December 15, 1963 in Kamalo, Bombali District, Sierra Leone, Kamara is an economist and the current minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Sierra Leone.

He was appointed governor of Sierra Leone’s Central Bank between 2007 and 2009, a decision that local papers said had the backing of Sierra Leone’s international donors.

In late February 2009, Kamara was appointed by Prime Minister Ernest Koroma to succeed David Carew as finance minister, a position he held from 2009 to 2012.

Trained at the University of North Wales, UK, he knows the workings of international institutions, having been an executive for the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Washington, from 2006 to 2007.

As an economist, he is reputed to have forecast that as the country endured the late-2000’s 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 projected slowing inflation, and the country’s foreign reserve holdings remained within limits set by its major donor, the IMF.