By Emmanuel Bangura
In a colourful and historic ceremony held on October 31, 2025, at Kambia Town, Kambia District, Northern Sierra Leone, His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio officially recognized and conferred paramount chieftaincy titles on seventeen newly elected Paramount Chiefs, among them a retired police officer, PC Brima Sanda Jim Abu Saidu Kinthor V.
The event, attended by senior Government officials, traditional leaders and thousands of jubilant residents, was marked by rich cultural performances showcasing the country’s deep-rooted traditions and communal pride.
President Bio, while officially presenting the staff of office, commended the newly crowned Paramount Chief Kinthor for his long and distinguished record of public service, particularly his contribution to law enforcement and peacebuilding during his years in the Sierra Leone Police Force. The President described his new appointment as “a well-deserved recognition of service, discipline and leadership,” urging him to continue to serve with humility and fairness.
In his acceptance speech, Paramount Chief Brima Sanda Jim Abu Saidu Kinthor V expressed deep gratitude to President Bio and the people of Sanda Magbolontor Chiefdom for the confidence reposed in him. He pledged to promote peace, unity and development in his chiefdom, vowing to “serve with the same dedication and discipline that guided my years in the police service.”
A proud son of the soil, PC Kinthor’s election was widely seen as a unifying moment for Sanda Magbolontor Chiefdom. His ascendancy also fulfills the unrealized dream of his late father, Pa Saidu Kinthor, a respected community figure who had once aspired to lead the chiefdom but did not live to achieve that ambition. Many community members described the new chief’s success as a continuation of his father’s legacy of service and integrity.
Abu Kargbo, a prominent resident of Sanda Magbolontor Chiefdom, expressed profound appreciation to President Bio for officially recognizing the newly elected chief. “We have suffered for years without a Paramount Chief,” he said. “Today, we celebrate a leader who understands our struggles and is committed to restoring peace, love and respect in the chiefdom.”
He added that the recognition of PC Kinthor marks a new era of progress and reconciliation for the people of Sanda Magbolontor, calling on all sons and daughters of the chiefdom to remain peaceful, law-abiding and development-oriented regardless of political or regional affiliations.
The conferment of paramount chieftaincy titles on the seventeen newly elected chiefs underscores President Bio’s commitment to strengthening traditional governance structures as vital pillars of peace, unity and local development across Sierra Leone.
The Calabash Newspaper is Sierra Leone’s leading English‑language news platform—established in 2017 to deliver trusted coverage of politics, culture, health, and more to audiences both at home and abroad.
