Koroma, Ernest Bai [key], 1953–, Sierra Leonean political, grad. Fourah Bay College, Univ. of Sierra Leone (1976). An insurance company executive (1978–2001), he retired to enter politics full time. He was elected leader of the All Peoples Congress (APC) in 2002, defeating members of the party's old guard in the process. In 2002 he placed a distant second in the presidential election, was elected to parliament, and became opposition leader. In the election of 2007, Koroma won a runoff contest with Vice President Solomon Berewa and became president; he was handily reelected in 2012. His tenure was marked by a devastating Ebola outbreak and allegations of corruption. He also dismissed (2015) Vice President Samuel Sam-Sumana, who had gone into hiding and sought political asylum out of fear for his safety.
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