Background
Ali was born on July 1, 1918, in the family of Paramount Chief Bai Sekka Bundu of Gbinti.
Ali was born on July 1, 1918, in the family of Paramount Chief Bai Sekka Bundu of Gbinti.
Educated at Bo Government School, he started work with the Sierra Leone Development Company at the age of 16, working his way up to personnel manager in 1949.
He joined the United Africa Company from 1951 to 1960, serving as manager of Kings-way stores both in Accra and Lagos during this period. He returned in 1961 to become a director of SLDC and resident director in 1964. He was a city councillor for the Freetown East ward between 1962 and 1964, when he became an alderman.
But it was in business that his real talents lay and he was elected chairman of the Sierra Leone Employers’ Federation in 1965 and vice-president of the SL Chamber of Mines in the same year, finally becoming president in 1970, reelected 1971.
Serving once as president of the then Sierra Leone Football Association, in 1962, he was elected first national president of the re-constituted Sierra Leone Amateur Football Association in August 1967.
A hearty, extroverted captain of industry with a long career with DELCO and the United Africa Company behind him, holding posts with the Employers’ Federation and Chamber of Mines that were the preserve of expatriates in other African countries. This robust, energetic figure was awarded the MBE and CBE and brings his confidence and organising ability to a host of national organisations, including Sierra Leone football, which was one of his principal diversions.