By Amin Kef (Ranger)
Sierra Leone’s Vice President, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, on Friday, January 23, 2026, joined residents of Bakeloko Chiefdom in Port Loko District to formally welcome the newly installed Paramount Chief, PC Adikaili Mellah (OPAPA) III, using the occasion to underscore the central role of unity, peace and responsible leadership in driving grassroots development.
The Vice President attended the official home-calling ceremony, a traditional event that marks the return of a newly elected Paramount Chief to his people following the successful conclusion of the chieftaincy election process. The ceremony attracted traditional authorities, elders, youth groups, women’s organisations, local council representatives and community stakeholders from across Bakeloko Chiefdom and neighbouring areas.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh praised the people of Bakeloko and the wider Port Loko District for the calm, inclusive and peaceful manner in which the chieftaincy elections were conducted. He described the process as a strong demonstration of maturity and collective responsibility, noting that peace at the community level remains the foundation upon which national stability and development are built.
The Vice President urged all sections of the chiefdom to continue working together as one family, cautioning that division and prolonged disputes could undermine progress. He encouraged residents to rally behind the new Paramount Chief and support him in promoting reconciliation, dialogue and cooperation among all clans and interest groups within the chiefdom.
Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh noted that the installation of a young and forward-looking Paramount Chief presents Bakeloko Chiefdom with a unique opportunity to reposition itself for accelerated development. According to him, effective and visionary traditional leadership can strengthen local governance, improve coordination with Government institutions and attract development partners to the area.
Speaking on the role of traditional authorities, the Vice President emphasized that Paramount Chiefs are expected to remain apolitical and serve the interests of all their people without discrimination. He stressed that chiefs must act as custodians of peace, arbiters of justice and champions of development, rather than align themselves with partisan politics.
“Traditional leadership carries a sacred responsibility,” Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh said, adding that chiefs must always put the welfare, unity and progress of their people above personal or political considerations.
Highlighting Government investments in Port Loko District, the Vice President outlined several infrastructure and social development projects currently underway. These include the construction of new public office complexes, the establishment of a girls’ secondary school, improvements in healthcare facilities and the provision of other essential social services that were previously lacking in some communities within the district.
He explained that those interventions reflect the Government’s commitment to inclusive development and its determination to ensure that rural and semi-urban communities benefit from national growth initiatives. Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh assured residents that additional projects are in the pipeline, aimed at improving livelihoods, expanding access to education and healthcare and creating economic opportunities, particularly for young people and women.
The Vice President reiterated that development efforts must be people-centred and guided by the real needs and priorities of local communities. He pledged his continued support to Bakeloko Chiefdom and expressed readiness to work closely with Paramount Chief Adikaili Mellah (OPAPA) III, the local council and development partners to deliver sustainable and impactful projects.
Congratulating PC Adikaili Mellah (OPAPA) III on his installation, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh encouraged him to lead with humility, integrity and a strong sense of service. He described the Paramount Chief as a critical link between the people and the central Government, whose leadership would be instrumental in maintaining peace and fostering development in the chiefdom.
The ceremony concluded with a renewed call for unity and cooperation, as the Vice President commended Port Loko District for preserving peace throughout the chieftaincy process. He urged all stakeholders to remain committed to dialogue, mutual respect and collective action in order to secure lasting peace, progress and development in Bakeloko Chiefdom.
The installation of PC Adikaili Mellah (OPAPA) III marks the sixth chieftaincy event across the country witnessed by Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, reflecting his continued engagement with traditional institutions as key partners in Sierra Leone’s development agenda.
