Yusuf Keketoma Sandi
Yusuf Keketoma Sandi is arguably the youngest Press Secretary in the world and the first Sierra Leonean to serve in the double positions of Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman in Sierra Leone. He graduated with a First Class in Linguistics at the Fourah Bay College and later proceeded to London where he graduated with a Honours’ Degree in Law from the University of London.
Yusuf’s history of being President of the Literary and Debating Society at the Albert Academy nurtured him as a literary genius. He is a speech writer, poet and renown for many thought-provoking articles on national issues over the past five years. With his commercial and corporate law background, Yusuf worked for one of the FTSE 100 companies in London as a senior manager while providing pro bono support to Sierra Leoneans.
However, his strong passion for accountability, good governance, transparency and lifting ordinary people out of poverty inspired him to actively participate in politics. In 2004, he represented Sierra Leone at the Youth, Development and Peace Conference in Bosnia and Herzegovina organised by the World Bank where he delivered a powerful message on post-conflict challenges for young people. Yusuf is also a recipient of several trainings on human rights, accountability and governance.
As a brilliant young man with a strong character, Yusuf was at the heart of the election campaign machine of Retired Brigadier Julius Maada Bio, current President of Sierra Leone. He served as Head of the Julius Maada Bio Media and Communications Team leading to the resounding victory of Julius Maada Bio as Presidential Candidate of the Sierra Leone People’s Party for the 2018 Presidential Election.
Following the election of Julius Maada Bio as Presidential Candidate, Yusuf was then appointed by the National Executive Council of the Sierra Leone People’s Party as the National Deputy Chairman, Media and Communications Committee for the 2018 elections. With his meticulous, focused and organisational skills, Yusuf was later appointed as the Personal Assistant to the then SLPP Presidential Candidate, Retired Brigadier Julius Maada Bio.
As the current Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman, Yusuf has completely transformed the media and communications unit around the Presidency with high quality output. He is the first Press Secretary to organise the traditional Media Cocktail between the President and the Press. His hubbies are football, reading and writing. Many of his peers respect him for his humility and great intellect. Yusuf was born in Freetown but hailed from Kenema District. He is married with two children – Aleeza and Ammaar.
