David W. S. Banya is a seasoned career public servant with over 35 years of distinguished service in education, the civil service, and the wider public sector of Sierra Leone. He is currently the Chief Executive Officer of the Wages and Compensation Commission (WCC), having been appointed by His Excellency Dr. Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone.

Mr. Banya has served at the highest administrative levels of government, holding several Permanent Secretary and Senior Permanent Secretary positions across key ministries. His leadership roles include the Ministries of Health and Sanitation; Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs; Basic and Senior Secondary Education; Trade and Industry; and Internal Affairs. Through these roles, he has provided strategic oversight in policy formulation, financial management, public sector reform, and institutional governance.

Notably, Mr. Banya was the first Director (Permanent Secretary) of Performance Management at the Human Resource Management Office (2011–2014), where he led the development of the civil service performance appraisal system currently in use in Sierra Leone. Earlier in his career, he also served in senior roles at the Ministry of Defence and the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces, becoming the first civilian civil servant to hold the position of Deputy Secretary (Administration and Finance) for the Ministry and the Armed Forces combined.

His extensive public service career began in the former Department of Finance, Development and Economic Planning, where he rose through the ranks from Administrative Officer Cadet to Senior Assistant Secretary. He also served as Deputy Secretary at the Ministry of Transport and Aviation.

Mr. Banya holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Political Science from Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone, and a Master of Arts degree in International Development Management from the University of Bradford, United Kingdom. He has undertaken numerous professional trainings and executive courses in performance management, governance, leadership, financial management, civil–military relations, and public administration in countries including the United Kingdom, Sweden, Kenya, Mali, South Africa, and China.

He has represented Sierra Leone internationally on several high-level assignments and conferences, including the World Health Assembly in Geneva, ECOWAS ministerial and security forums, and multiple official seminars and study tours in the People’s Republic of China, focusing on economic development, public sector reform, and institutional strengthening.

With deep expertise in administration, development policy, financial management, and public sector reform, Mr. Banya brings a strong record of leadership, integrity, and institutional knowledge to his role as Chief Executive Officer of the Wages and Compensation Commission.