Samura Kamara
Encyclopedia
Samura Kamara is a Sierra Leonean economist
and the finance minister
of Sierra Leone. He was the governor of the Bank of Sierra Leone
until March 2009, when he was appointed by president Ernest Bai Koroma
to replace David Carew
as Finance Minister.
, Bombali District
in the Northern Province
of Sierra Leone to ethnic Limba
parents.
in Washington, D.C. He was in December 2007 appointed governor of Sierra Leone's central bank, a decision which local papers reported had the backing of Sierra Leone's international donors and supporters of the Bretton Woods system
. In late February 2009 Kamara was appointed, by Prime Minister Ernest Koroma, to succeed David Carew as Sierra Leone's finance minister. Kamara dismissed suggestions that his new role represented a demotion. He forecast that, as the country endured the late-2000s 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, however, projected slowing inflation, and the country's foreign reserve holdings remained within limits set by its major donor, the IMF.
Economist
An economist is a professional in the social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy...
and the finance minister
Finance minister
The finance minister is a cabinet position in a government.A minister of finance has many different jobs in a government. He or she helps form the government budget, stimulate the economy, and control finances...
of Sierra Leone. He was the governor of the Bank of Sierra Leone
Bank of Sierra Leone
The Bank of Sierra Leone is the central bank of Sierra Leone. It issues the country's currency, known as the Leone. The bank formulates and implements monetary policy, including foreign exchange....
until March 2009, when he was appointed by president Ernest Bai Koroma
Ernest Bai Koroma
Ernest Bai Koroma is the fourth and current President of Sierra Leone. He was sworn in as President on 17 September 2007 at the State House in the capital Freetown, shortly after being declared the winner of a tense run-off in the 2007 Sierra Leone presidential election with 54.6% of the vote over...
to replace David Carew
David Carew
David Omashola Carew is a Sierra Leonean economist and politician. He is currently Sierra Leone's Minister of Trade and Industry. He had also served as Sierra Leone Minister of Finance from October 2007 to February 2009...
as Finance Minister.
Early life
Samura Kamara was born in the village of KamaloKamalo, Sierra Leone
Kamalo is a small town and seat of the chiefdom of Sanda Loko in Bombali District in the Northern Province of Sierra Leone....
, Bombali District
Bombali District
Bombali District is district in the Northern Province of Sierra Leone. It's capital and largest city is Makeni, which is also the fifth largest city in Sierra Leone and the largest city in the north. The other major towns in the district include Kamakwie, Kamabai, Masingbi and Binkolo...
in the Northern Province
Northern Province, Sierra Leone
The Northern Province is one of the four provincial divisions of Sierra Leone. It comprises five Districts and covers an area of 35,936 km² and with a population of 1,718,240 . Its administrative and economic center is Makeni...
of Sierra Leone to ethnic Limba
Limba people
Limba people may refer to:* Limba people * Limba people...
parents.
career
Kamara served from at least autumn 2005 as Financial Secretary at Sierra Leone's ministry of finance. He left the post some time before 2007 to work as an executive for the International Monetary FundInternational Monetary Fund
The International Monetary Fund is an organization of 187 countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world...
in Washington, D.C. He was in December 2007 appointed governor of Sierra Leone's central bank, a decision which local papers reported had the backing of Sierra Leone's international donors and supporters of the Bretton Woods system
Bretton Woods II
The 2008 G-20 Washington Summit on Financial Markets and the World Economy took place on November 14–15, 2008, in Washington, D.C., United States. It achieved general agreement amongst the G-20 on how to cooperate in key areas so as to strengthen economic growth, deal with the financial...
. In late February 2009 Kamara was appointed, by Prime Minister Ernest Koroma, to succeed David Carew as Sierra Leone's finance minister. Kamara dismissed suggestions that his new role represented a demotion. He forecast that, as the country endured the late-2000s 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, however, projected slowing inflation, and the country's foreign reserve holdings remained within limits set by its major donor, the IMF.