Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy International (CHRDI), Abdul Fatoma, has raised concerns over what he described as weaknesses in Sierra Leone’s democratic institutions and the protection of citizens’ constitutional rights.
Speaking on AYV’s Wake Up Sierra Leone, Fatoma referenced Section 5(2)(A) of Sierra Leone’s 1991 Constitution, which provides that sovereignty belongs to the people, arguing that the principle is not being sufficiently reflected in practice.
“Instead of democracy protecting people, we see democracy protecting power in our own context,” Fatoma said.
He also raised concerns about the conduct of security personnel, referring to an amateur video that he said appeared to show a police officer boasting about killing people.
Fatoma argued that such conduct, if established, could undermine public confidence in institutions mandated to protect lives and property and raise broader questions about accountability within the security sector.
Turning to Parliament, Fatoma criticised what he described as a disconnect between the laws enacted by Parliament and compliance with those laws by some lawmakers.
“You have Parliament, which passes laws, and Parliamentarians who blatantly disrespect the laws that are passed through Parliament,” he stated.
Fatoma further expressed concern about the funding of institutions responsible for safeguarding constitutional rights and democratic governance.
According to him, inadequate funding limits the ability of such institutions to effectively carry out their mandates and provide meaningful protection for citizens’ rights under Sierra Leone’s Constitution and international instruments to which the country is a signatory.
He maintained that without adequately resourced and functional institutions capable of enforcing rights and promoting accountability, constitutional guarantees risk remaining largely theoretical.
Fatoma’s remarks have added to the ongoing public conversation around constitutional accountability, institutional independence, police conduct, parliamentary responsibility and the effectiveness of democratic governance in Sierra Leone.
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