AYV News, June 12, 2024
Speaker of the House of Parliament in Sierra Leone, Hon. Solomon Segepoh Thomas, has called upon the opposition (All People’s Congress – APC) leader, Hon. Abdul Kargbo, to revisit his party’s decision to abstain from parliamentary proceedings.
The Speaker stated that he has received a letter from the members of the All People’s Congress party and is currently in discussions with his party regarding this issue. He committed to delivering a decision within a week and reiterated his belief that the APC should reconsider its position.
Sierra Leone’s opposition, the All People’s Congress (APC), Members of Parliament, suspended all parliamentary sessions.
In a letter signed by Hon. Abdul Kargbo, Leader of Opposition in the Parliament of Sierra Leone, addressed to the Speaker of Parliament, the MPs said their action is due to the Speaker’s failure to address their concerns regarding the Clerk of Parliament within the two-week period he had promised.
The MPs said the decision follows their letter to the Honourable Speaker, in which they raised serious concerns about the continued role of the Clerk of Parliament, who is currently contesting for an executive position within his political party.
Hon. Abdul Kargbo said, “We believe this development undermines the neutrality and integrity of the Clerk’s office, which is expected to be strictly nonpartisan in its service to Parliament. We have called for the resignation or dismissal of the Clerk, as his open involvement in partisan politics is incompatible with the impartial and administrative responsibilities of his office”.
He said Parliament is a national institution that must be protected from political bias at all administrative levels, and the Clerk’s conduct threatens public confidence in the institution’s independence and credibility.
Opposition Leader, Hon. Abdul Kargbo, reminded the Speaker that he had initially requested two weeks, which the opposition granted without delay. He assured the Speaker that their suspension was already in effect, but they would return after receiving the response.
Hon. Kargbo concluded, saying, “We remain fully committed to the rule of law, institutional integrity, and the national interest. Once we receive the Speaker’s response, we will return to the Well of Parliament to engage the matter formally and determine the appropriate next steps in defence of democratic accountability.
