Richard Konteh

Dr. Richard Konteh
Chief of Staff to President Ernest Bai Koroma
In office
December 2012 – June 2014
Preceded byKaifala Marah
Succeeded bySaidu Conton-Sesay
Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Development
In office
November 2007 – November 2010
Preceded byDr. James D. Rogers
Succeeded byMabinty Daramy
Minister of Trade and Industry
In office
November 2010 – December 2012
Preceded byDavid Carew
Succeeded byUsman Boie Kamara
Personal details
Born (1963-02-04) 4 February 1963 (age 61)
Gbendembu Village, Sierra Leone
Political partyAll People's Congress
Spouse
  • Isatu Zama Konteh
    (m. 1992)
ChildrenIyerich
Richard Jr.
Residence(s)Freetown, Sierra Leone
Alma materNjala University
ReligionChristianity (Wesleyan)
WebsiteAPC party Flagbearer website

Richard Konteh (born February 4, 1963) is a Sierra Leonean educator, public servant, and businessman.

Born in Gbendembu Village in the Gbendembu Ngowahun Chiefdom, Bombali District, Northern Province. He married his wife Isatu Zama Konteh (née Sankoh) in 1992. Together they have two children: Iyerich and Richard Jr. Richard has a bachelor's degree, a post-graduate diploma and a master's degree from Njala University, as well as a master's degree, a post-graduate diploma, and a doctoral degree from the University of Dortmund in Germany. He taught English and Geography at the Wesleyan Secondary School in Kamakwie for 2 years and lectured at Njala University College from 1993 to 2003. He also worked as Programme Manager, Monitoring and Evaluation for the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Sierra Leone between 2000 and 2003, and later worked as Programme Manager for ECOWAS/UNDP Regional Programme from 2003 to 2005 in Peacebuilding and Post Conflict Reconstruction in West Africa.

Konteh was first appointed to Cabinet as Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Development by President Ernest Bai Koroma shortly after his election on 17 September 2007.[1] He was later appointed Minister of Trade and Industry[2][3][4] in 2010, and Chief of Staff in the Office of the President[5][6] in 2013.

Konteh is currently a candidate for the leadership of the All People's Congress (APC party) ahead of the 2023 Sierra Leone presidential and parliamentary elections. He is one of several candidates contesting for the APC leadership. Konteh is campaigning under the platform of unity, hence nicknamed "D-Unifier."

  1. ^ "President Koroma's Second Cabinet". The Sierra Leone Web. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  2. ^ "Interview with Dr. Richard Konteh". The European Times. The European Times. The European Times. 2012. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  3. ^ "President Koroma's Third Cabinet". The Sierra Leone Web. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  4. ^ DeCapua, Joe (17 November 2011). "Sierra Leone Seeks Investors in Agriculture, Electricity". VOA News. VOA. Voice of America (VOA). Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  5. ^ "Green Growth: The Future for Africa". African Development Bank Group. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  6. ^ "India-Sierra Leone Relations Political relations" (PDF). Ministry of State for External Affairs of India. Ministry of State for External Affairs of India. Retrieved 18 May 2021.