Samuel Kallon 
By Ragan M. Conteh
The former Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament whom many Sierra Leoneans perceive as Pujehun District hero is seen as the most influential personality in 2024.
Hon. Dr. Sidie Mohamed Tunis is ranked as the second most honoured personality from Pujehun District for 2024/2025; an acknowledgement of his powerful influence and unwavering commitment to national leadership, regional diplomacy, and grassroots development.
This distinction places him among the most outstanding sons of Pujehun District, whose legacy cut across districts and beyond international borders.
Dr. Tunis is widely respected as one of Sierra Leone’s most experienced and distinguished parliamentarians.
He made history by becoming the second Sierra Leonean ever to attain the position of Leader of Government Business in Parliament, a role he performed with distinction.
This title positioned him as the chief spokesperson of the ruling party in Parliament, where he coordinated the legislative agenda, managed debates, and ensured smooth relations between the executive and legislative branches of government.
He currently holds the record as the longest-serving member of Parliament for the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), representing his people in Pujehun District with consistency and loyalty since 2002.
His tenure in parliament saw him rose through various leadership positions, culminating in his election in 2020 as Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament; the highest regional legislative body in West Africa.
He was the first Sierra Leonean to assume that office, earning a continental recognition for his diplomatic leadership.
In 2024, Dr. Tunis was named Pujehun District’s Hero and Most Influential Personality after launching several landmark development projects aimed at uplifting education, youth, and women.
Most notably, he pledged 10 billion Leones to support tertiary education for deserving students across the country, including the distribution of laptops and scholarships.
He also donated $10,000 to Fourah Bay College to assist with infrastructure and student welfare, particularly for financially vulnerable students.
In Pujehun, his contributions to local empowerment have been far-reaching. Through the Women’s Development Initiative, Dr. Tunis provided 1 billion Leones in microfinance support to market women and community-based traders.
He also established a modern Youth Resource Center equipped with an ICT hub and vocational training programs, giving thousands of young people access to critical digital and life skills. These acts of service demonstrate his strong belief in inclusive development and social equity.
Dr. Tunis’s achievements have earned him both national and international recognition. He holds the Commander of the Order of the Republic of Sierra Leone (CORSL); the second-highest civilian honour in the country; and was awarded a Doctor of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa Cuttington University in Liberia.
His leadership on the West African stage was praised for promoting peace, democratic cooperation, and parliamentary diplomacy across ECOWAS member states.
As the second most honoured and decorated personality from Pujehun District in 2024/2025. His service continues to uplift his people and redefine statesmanship in Sierra Leone. His legacy is not only one of political achievement but it is one of a true patriotic with commitment to the people of Pujehun and Sierra Leone as a whole.
