Permanent Secretary - Mr. Prince E. O Cole
Mr. Prince E. O Cole, a distinguished civil servant, brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of leadership to his current role as the Senior Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health. His remarkable journey through various high-level positions within the civil service has shaped him into an exemplary public servant. With a career spanning over three decades, Mr. Cole has consistently demonstrated his commitment to public service excellence. His tenure as the Senior Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health since July 2022 is the latest chapter in a long and eminent career. He was the first Director of Human
Resources for Health thirteen years ago.
Mr. Cole’s extensive experience includes serving as the Director General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation from July 2021 to July 2022. During this time, he acted as the principal adviser to the Minister and oversaw critical functions such as the appointment of Ambassadors, management of international resolutions, and the preparation of Sierra Leone’s UN Security Council Bid.
Prior to this, he held the position of Senior Permanent Secretary at the Office of the Chief Minister in the Office of the President, where he played a pivotal role in coordinating and managing presidential advisers, conducting mid-term reviews of government performance, and assisting in the implementation of presidential decisions and policies.
Mr. Cole’s commitment to public service also led him to serve as the Senior Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Works & Public Assets from August 2018 to March 2020, where he provided crucial support and advice to the Minister, supervised construction and maintenance of infrastructure, and managed government assets.
His expertise extends to the financial sector, where he served as the Senior Deputy Financial Secretary in the Fiscal Operations Department of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development from March 2016 to September 2018. In this role, he provided valuable advice on fiscal operations, supervised important projects, and played a central role in the Public Financial Management Integrated Project.
Mr. Cole’s earlier roles include Senior Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, where he played a pivotal role in policy formulation, financial management, and sectoral planning. He also served as Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, overseeing crucial national agencies such as the Police Force, Immigration Department, and Prisons Department.
With a commitment to lifelong learning, Mr. Cole pursued Masters (MSc) qualifications at esteemed institutions such as the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration and a MSc from Njala University College. His diverse and extensive training has equipped him with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in the complex world of civil service.
In addition to his formal qualifications, Mr. Cole has undertaken numerous short courses and training programmes, further enhancing his expertise in areas such as public administration, project management, strategic change management and human resources management.
Mr. Prince E.O Cole’s dedication to public service and his impressive career trajectory make him a true exemplar of a seasoned civil servant, poised to contribute significantly to the betterment of Sierra Leone through his leadership at the Ministry of Health.