DEPUTY SECRETARY POLICY AND PROCUREMENT OF MINISTRY OF DEFENCE...
Mr James Freeman
Deputy Secretary, Policy and Procurement
Mr. James Freeman was born in Freetown. He attended the St. Augustine Agricultural Secondary School, Lungi from 1986-1991; and the
St. Edwards Secondary School, Freetown from 1992-1994. He graduated with a BA (Hons.) in Political Science from Fourah Bay College,
University of Sierra Leone in 2000; and earned an MA in Peace and Development Studies from Njala University in 2010. He holds a diploma in
Christian Studies; and a number of certificates in several disciplines including Public Policy Formu ation and Management; Trade Policy Formulation
and Trade Negotiation Techniques; Comparative Regional Integration; European Development Fund (EDF) Procedures; and Project Cycle Management. He has
attended several seminars and workshops both in and out of Sierra Leone including the following: Seminar on the Draft Framework Law Against Terrorism
Financing for ECOWAS; Electoral Focus Seminar on Civil-Military Relations; Regional Workshop on New Financing Strategy; Training of Trainers Workshop in the
Identification, Assessment and Analysis of Risks, Shocks and Vulnerability to Poverty; Gender Mainstreaming of the Sierra Leone PRSP; ECOWAS E-Business Initiative
Review; Regional Symposium on West Africa Development Perspectives, etc.
He joined the Civil Service as Administrative Officer (Cadet) in 2001. In 2002 he was posted to the Ministry of Development and Economic Planning as
Assistant Secretary. From January to December 2003, he was attached to the National Recovery Committee Technical Committee Secretariat. Between 2004 and
2005 he served as the Focal Point for the preparation of Sierra Leone’s First Millennium Development Goals Report.
From 2005 to 2007 he assumed the role of Assistant Head of the ECOWAS National unit in the Ministry of Development and Economic Planning. In January 2007 he was promoted to
the position of Senior Assistant Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development. From 2007 to 2011 he was the Head/Focal Point of the ECOWAS National Unit in
the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development. In 2011 he was transferred to the Ministry of Trade and Industry, where he served as the Special Assistant to the Senior
Permanent Secretary. In 2013 he was elevated to act as Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Defence, where he was serving as the Deputy Secretary Finance and Administration.
Mr. Freeman’s favourite pastimes include sports, music, travelling and adventure. He is a writer, poet and songwriter. He is simply unassuming, coolheaded, friendly but firm.
