Alhassan Gbessay Kanu officially declared his intention to contest the presidency in Sierra Leone’s 2028 general elections during a live media-focused event titled “Sip and Talk” held at Grassfield, 115 Bai Bureh Road, in the eastern part of Freetown.
The event brought together journalists and community members for a candid conversation on leadership, national hardship, and Kanu’s vision for a united Sierra Leone.
Speaking with conviction, Kanu said his decision to run for the APC flagbearership was fueled by growing frustration with the country’s current trajectory and the everyday struggles of ordinary citizens.
“I don’t like what I see,” he told the press. “This is not about power—it’s about duty. I’m here to change the system and restore hope.”
Kanu recounted emotional memories of the 1992 military crackdown, during which his father, former Finance Minister Hassan Gbessay Kanu, was arrested and detained—forcing the family into exile. He later sought asylum in the United States, where he worked his way through college selling CDs and DVDs, eventually building a 25-year career in public service in New York.
He served as a district director and political strategist, gaining hands-on experience in governance, community development, and legislative affairs.
“I opened this house to the media because transparency is key,” Kanu said. “The media must help us build a Sierra Leone that works.”
He emphasized that he is not a career politician, but a trained public servant shaped by real-world leadership and hardship.
As the APC prepares to fill its leadership vacuum in the post-election era, Kanu positioned himself as a unifying figure—committed to working with both former and current leaders, regardless of political affiliation.
He pledged to build a new Sierra Leone that prioritizes every citizen, across tribe, region, and class.
In his closing remarks, Kanu issued a call for national cooperation:
“We are not enemies—we are one Sierra Leone. The mission ahead is bigger than politics. It’s a mission to rescue our future.”
