Ahmad left the Catholic school in Sierra Leone with distinction, then studied at the Cardiff College of Technology and Commerce and University College Aberystwyth, Wales, in the United Kingdom, with a Bachelor's degree in Economics in 1959.
Ahmad Kabbah worked in the colonial administration for a while. In 1961when Sierra Leone got independence he took the position of deputy minister and later minister of Social Security in Milton Morgai’s democratic government. Until 1967 Ahmad Kabbah took similar positions in Board of Education, commerce and industrial development department.
In 1968 Ahmad Kabbah quitted government service and left fot Great Britain to teach at school, and later did private practice.
The 1971 war crucial in the future president’s life as he was hired to the United Nations Development Programme.
Firstly he was a deputy of African countries and later deputy Chief of the West Africa Division. Holding this position he visited Africa with different UN missions. Particularly, in 1973 Kabbah headed the program in Lesotho, missions in Tanzania and Uganda. Also before Zimbabwe got independence, he was there to coordinate dialog between local authorities and UN leaders. His duties were to support liberation movements recognized by the Organization of African Unity (OAU), such as the African National Congress (ANC) of South Africa, and the South West African People's Organization (SWAPO) of Namibia.
The president is a persistent person; he is used to achieve his goals. He is known by his intelligence, refinement and religiosity. As devoted Muslim he observes all the religious customs and wants his children to do it either. His wife Patricia Tucker died in 1998 leaving him with 4 children and 2 grandsons.
