By John Kelly Marah
The Director General of the National Petroleum Regulatory Agency (NPRA), Mr. Baluwa Koroma, has on Tuesday July 1st, 2025, reflected on six years of the Authority’s transformation, progress, expanded national presence, and a renewed commitment to sector reform during an event held at its Tower Hill Headquarters in Freetown.
“We used to have just 10 to 12 staff. Today, we have over 100,” the Director General said. “The British Council was once our only office. Now, we have locations in Bo, Kenema, and Makeni. The numbers speak for itself.”
According to DG Baluwa Koroma, NPRA has deployed District Monitoring Officers and Regional Managers nationwide. He said the Authority’s mandate has remained focused on creating a competitive environment to attract investment and increase employment opportunities.
Reflecting on a personal journey marked by international experience, the Director General thanked God for His grace, compassion, and divine protection. He recalled that prior to assuming his leadership at NPRA, he had worked at the Bank of Hong Kong, National Bank of China, Raleigh International Bank, Safecon, adding also that he served as Vice Chairman of the World Petroleum Council.
The Director General was recently nominated for Africa Regulator of the Year in a selection process led by Dr. Alan Dallow of the World Petroleum Council, competing with countries such as Kenya and Ghana.
He expressed gratitude to President Bio for appointing him as the first Director General of the National Regulatory Petroleum Authority, a role he described as an honor and added responsibility to reform Sierra Leone’s petroleum industry.
Acknowledging the global volatility of the petroleum sector, the NPRA boss outlined strategic priorities including industry reform, stronger regulatory compliance, and positioning Sierra Leone to attract both local and foreign investments.
He also recounted attending a recent Commonwealth Conference in Namibia focused on removing trade bottlenecks. “There is a growing attack on trade liberalization and competition. We must resist these threats,” he said.
The DG called for open, non-discriminatory markets that prioritize public interest, improve the consumer experience, and leverage technology to ensure accountability.
While acknowledging that criticism of the NPRA is common, he urged stakeholders, including the media and public to consult the Authority’s public documents. “They outline one of the most transformative journeys in this sector’s history,” he said.
The NPRA’s mandate includes ensuring the sustainable availability of petroleum products nationwide and attracting long-term investment across the petroleum value chain.
