AYV News, January 27, 2026
The Parliament of Sierra Leone has held a public stakeholder consultation on the proposed Constitutional Amendment Bill, bringing together lawmakers and key stakeholders from across the political divide, including representatives of civil society.
The consultation was aimed at eliciting views and comments on the bill, which seeks to amend provisions of Sierra Leone’s 1991 Constitution.
Speaking at the opening session, Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Abdul Kargbo, welcomed the initiative, describing the consultation as a necessary step given the significance of the Constitution as the country’s supreme law. He cautioned, however, that Members of Parliament should avoid micromanaging the process, stressing that constitutional amendments must strictly follow laid-down procedures.
Hon. Kargbo warned that any attempt to circumvent constitutional requirements—whether deliberate or otherwise—could amount to treason. While reaffirming the All People’s Congress (APC) party’s willingness to engage constructively, he said the opposition would be uncompromising in defending constitutional processes.
“We will be very strict and unapologetic in ensuring that processes and procedures are followed,” he said. “We will fully support the process if it is done in compliance with the Constitution.”
Leader of Government Business, Hon. Sahr Matthew Nyuma, said the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) government has a track record of enacting progressive legislation. He cited the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act of 2019, the repeal of criminal libel laws in 2020, and the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Act, among others.
“Our similarities are far greater than our differences,” Hon. Nyuma noted, urging lawmakers to approach the constitutional review process with unity of purpose.
Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Alpha Sesay, assured stakeholders of the government’s openness to broad-based consultations, emphasizing President Julius Maada Bio’s commitment to concluding the constitutional review process, which has spanned more than two decades.
He explained that the provisions in the bill are largely drawn from the reports of the Constitutional Review Committee chaired by the late Justice Cowan and the Tripartite Committee, although government has made modifications to some of the recommendations.
“If anyone tells you that the provisions in this bill are the sole creation of government, they have lied to you,” the Attorney-General said.
He added that constitutions are designed to endure beyond generations and must therefore reflect the collective will and aspirations of the people of Sierra Leone.
