In a furious response, Sierra Leone's former President Ernest Bai Koroma has said that allegations of corruption made against him are "without merit and are a politically motivated charade calculated to impugn my hard-earned reputation".

A report looking into corruption in the country under President Koroma identified 111 individuals consisting of former heads of parastatals, bankers, and businessmen as "people of interest".

As a consequence, the government has imposed a travel ban on the ex-president and several other officials.

In a statement, Mr Koroma called the report a "witch hunt" and said the government was hostile to him.

He added that he had served the country "diligently, fairly and with honour and integrity" saying that he was known for his fight against corruption.