State House (Sierra Leone)

The State House
General information
Address State Avenue, Tower Hill, Freetown, Sierra Leone
Coordinates 8°29′12.21″N 13°14′2.1″W / 8.4867250°N 13.233917°W / 8.4867250; -13.233917
Current tenants Ernest Bai Koroma, President of Sierra Leone, First Lady Sia Koroma, and their family
Completed 1895
Owner Government of Sierra Leone

The State House is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of Sierra Leone. The official office of the President of Sierra Leone is at State House. The State House is located at State Avenue, Tower Hill, in central Freetown, Sierra Leone.

The State house is often locally referred to as the seat of power, or the seat of government.

Official receptions, cabinet meeting, meetings with visiting foreign heads of state and international delegations are held at the State House.

The State House is a short distance from the Sierra Leone House of Parliament, just a few blocks from the Sierra Leone Ministry of Defence building, the Sierra Leone National Electoral Commission (NEC) building, and just a few miles from the Bank of Sierra Leone building.

Security

The State House is heavily guarded by the Presidential Guard, that is made up of a special unit of soldiers of the Sierra Leone Armed Forces, and a special unit of police officers of the Sierra Leone Police Force.

The entrance to the State House compound is closed to the public and only authorized persons or vehicles are permitted to enter the compound.

Staff

The president senior staff have their offices inside the State House, including the office of the Chief of Staff to the President, the office of the press secretary to the president, the office of the presidential advisers, The office of the Sierra Leone Ministry of Political and Public Affairs, and the Aide de camp to the president.

History

The State House was built in 1895 and was initially referred to as Fort Thornton. In the colonial days it was the residence of the Governor of Sierra Leone. It became the official residence of the Prime Minister of Sierra Leone from 1961-1971. Since 1971, the State House has served as the official residence and principal workplace of the President of Sierra Leone.

Coordinates: 8°29′12.21″N 13°14′2.1″W / 8.4867250°N 13.233917°W / 8.4867250; -13.233917

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