KADIJA STANLEY BANGURA DECLARED UNOPPOSED AS FIRST WOMAN VICE PRESIDENT OF SLeTU
By Ishmail S Bangura
In a historic and unopposed victory, Mrs. Kadija Stanley Bangura has been declared as the First Woman Vice President of the Sierra Leone Traders Union (SLeTU).
Madam Bangura was declared unopposed during the Union’s National Delegates Conference held on Thursday, 29th October, 2026, at the Kenema City Council Hall.
The elections were presided over by Mr. Emanuel Morlai Conteh, Director of Education, Sierra Leone Labour Congress, who oversaw a peaceful and transparent process.
Delegates were drawn from the 16 districts, the 4 regions and Freetown, representing the full membership of the traders union across the country.
Her declaration marks the first time in the history of SLeTU that a woman has been elected to the second highest office in the organization.
The announcement was met with jubilation by petty traders who had converged in Kenema from across the country.
Expressing appreciation on behalf of women traders, the Chairperson of Koinadugu District, Madam Neneh Umu Mackie, described the moment as a victory for all women.
“We are very happy and grateful. For the first time, a woman has been allowed to occupy this high office. It shows that SLeTU believes in women and we thank the leadership for this,” Madam Mackie said.
Women’s rights campaigners have also applauded the move, describing SLeTU’s decision to allow women to contest and hold the second highest office as a bold step towards gender equality and economic inclusion.
In her acceptance statement, Madam Bangura expressed gratitude to the delegates and pledged to serve with dedication.
“I am deeply humbled to be declared as Vice President. I did not expect to be unopposed and I thank everyone for the trust. This is not just for me, but for every woman trader in Sierra Leone. I pledge to work in the best interest of traders across the country, especially women, to ensure our welfare, our businesses and our voices are protected and promoted,” she said.
The atmosphere at the Kenema City Council Hall turned carnival-like immediately after the declaration, as petty traders sang, danced and celebrated what they described as a new dawn for the Union.
Madam Bangura is expected to be sworn in alongside other elected executive members in the coming days.
