AYV News, April 11, 2025
A delegation from the World Bank and the Sierra Leone Digital Transformation Project (SLDTP) has given a comprehensive update to the Rt. Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas on the digitalization of the Parliament of Sierra Leone. The delegation told the Speaker of Sierra Leone Parliament that they have completed the procurement process, signed a contract for the commencement of work for the digitalization of Sierra Leone Parliament Project funded by the World Bank.
According to the team of experts, after fruitful implementation, the e-Parliament solution will digitize and transform the core functions of Sierra Leone Parliament into paperless approach and to move the Businesses of the House from traditional manual system to a digital operation, reduce parliamentary administrative running cost such as stationeries, toners, fuel consumptions etc, save time, reduce excessive Human Resource energy and will produce accurate and easily accessible parliamentary documents for MP’s.
The delegation informed the Speaker that the e-Parliament will also make Parliament more open, transparent, accessible,and cater for citizens’ participation.
Addressing the World Bank Team and the Digital Transformation Team in his Chamber, the Rt. Hon. Speaker, Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas affirmed that the Leadership of the Sixth Parliament is extremely elated about the Digital Transformation Project, particularly in actualizing the e-Parliament for Sierra Leone. He added that the Sixth Parliament, especially under his leadership, is very grateful for all the efforts of the World Bank and the Sierra Leone Digital Transformation Team are putting in to ensure that the implementation of the project becomes fruitful.
Speaker Segepoh Solomon Thomas called on the World Bank to be expeditious in the implementation of the project while underscoring the relevant studies that have to be done before commencement of the project implementation. He requested the World Bank to shorten the time for the implementation of the project.
Speaker Segepoh Solomon Thomas informed the World Bank Task Team Lead that Members of Parliament are in a worry to see the actualization of the e-Parliament and to see the House of Parliament going digital. He assured the Team that the Sierra Leone Parliament under his leadership would not take such laudable investment from World Bank for granted adding that, his administration would ensure that Parliament makes the best use of the digital infrastructure.
Madam Kaoru Kimura, the Technical Task Team Lead of the World Bank, assured Speaker Thomas that she was part of the team that supported the digitalization of the Ghana Parliament, which she said had aided the smooth work of the Ghanaian Parliament. She commended Speaker Thomas for providing the enabling atmosphere to conduct such a study on the Sierra Leone Parliament.
She expressed the importance of a feasibility study on the project, adding that the project had a timeline for its implementation. She expressed optimism to hear the wish list from the Rt. Hon. Speaker regarding time management of the implementation of the project.
Giving an update as to where the project was, the Project Coordination Kumba Musa said they had concluded the procurement process, and they are now at the stage of contract signing. She continued that the contract had been signed by the Ministry of Communications, Technology and Innovation.
She assured Speaker Thomas of the commencement of the implementation of the project, adding that it would start anytime from now.
The speaker expressed regard for the time management of the implementation of the project.
