The role of Paramount Chiefs in Sierra Leone
The view of the People
The Paramount Chieftaincy system was introduced
during the colonial era in Sierra Leone, giving
rise to an alternative governance structure to that
of the ‘kings and queens system’, which was in
place prior to colonialism. Before the system of
Paramount Chieftaincy was introduced leadership
was acquired through wisdom, conquest and
the finding of new settlements. As such, those
community leaders were not voted for but were
respected and honoured as kings and queens,
given the right to lead through a social contract