Kaifala Marah

Kaifala Marah (born in Koidu Town, Sierra Leone) is a Sierra Leonean politician, accountant, Governor of the Bank of Sierra Leone (2016–2017), and Minister of Finance (2013–2016). On 7 March 2017, Dr. Marah resigned as governor to seek the nomination of the All People's Congress (APC) for the presidential election of 2018.

He served as State House chief of staff and senior economic advisor to Sierra Leone's president Ernest Bai Koroma from 2010 until his appointment as finance minister in 2013.

Marah holds a bachelor's degree in international relations from Fourah Bay College, a master's degree in public policy from State University of New York; and a doctorate degree in political finance from the University of Hull. Marah served as a deputy town clerk at the Koidu-New Sembehun city council. He later served as a budget analyst at the New York State Senate. Marah was the public expenditure management adviser at the commonwealth secretariat in London, before he was appointed as chief of staff to president Ernest Bai Koroma.

Marah was born and raised in Koidu Town, Kono District, in Eastern Sierra Leone. His family is originally from Koinadugu District in Northern Sierra Leone. Marah is a Muslim and a member of the Kuranko ethnic group.