By Alpha Abu
President Julius Maada Bio has asserted that no entrenched clause in the reviewed Constitution of Sierra Leone would be rushed through Parliament, ahead of the country’s General Elections. He made the statement whilst launching the Government White Paper on the Constitutional Review Process at State House on Wednesday 13 January 2022.
The president’s assurances would help assuage the concerns expressed by critics that his government might attempt to have laws passed by Parliament that would disadvantage the opposition.
But he said he would ensure those non-entrenched areas of the constitution are implemented immediately.
Addressing government and opposition leaders, diplomats, and international partners, President Bio said it was now time for Sierra Leoneans to understand the reforms contained in the reviewed document. The Government White Paper generally looked at the Technical Committee’s recommendations endorsing its support for some areas in the constitution needing change or asserting its support for the retention of other existing clauses.
President Bio explained how there would now have to be an Attorney General of no Cabinet rank who would serve an expert and advisory role, whilst there would have to be a Minister of Justice. He said the situation wherein the Vice President in the previous government was sacked would no longer obtain as loss of party membership would no more be used as a pretext to take such an action. Parliament would have to approve by a two-thirds majority, the removal of the Vice President.
“Further, my Government accepts that members of parliament shall be elected in accordance with a system of proportional representation. This, in Government’s view, will spare the nation the acrimony, costs, and insecurity associated with bye-elections. Also, the period for public officers and members of the armed forces who wish to vie for parliamentary seats to resign from public service shall now be reduced from twelve months to six months”, he said.
The president also mentioned how people unlawfully detained, would now have to be compensated or offered a public apology.
“We promised. We worked diligently. Today, we have delivered. Where the former APC Government shilly-shallied, we acted decisively because a review and amendment of our 1991 constitution, though long overdue, is urgently needed and is in the very best interest of the people of Sierra Leone”, the president pointed out.
He said the government will have to promote national culture and citizens' respect for the country’s national currency.
He recalled how the country experienced the bitterness of war and believed the governance reforms are in the best interest of the country.
The president paid reverence to the Late Justice Edmond Cowan and 80 other individuals that served in the CRC reconstituted by former President Ernest Bai Koroma.
Paying tribute also to the technical committee that examined the recommendations of the CRC and the accompanying White Paper he stated: “Your work is done today but you give Sierra Leoneans a bigger task to understand, speak to one another with honesty about why these reforms matter, and work together to make this nation even better. As I have always said, the ties that bind us together as a nation have and will always be stronger than the fear-mongering and selfish interests of bad politicians that blind us”.
The UN Resident Coordinator Babatunde Ahonsi recalled the extensive nature of the CRC process that saw the participation of some ten thousand people and 80 expert engagements. He said the process has been remarkable and used the occasion to commend President Bio for what he said are his reforms in the judicial systems and the media.
Representing the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), the Executive Director of the Society for Democratic Initiatives, Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai described the event as an important milestone and suggested that government, CSOs, and international partners turn their attention in popularising the reviewed constitutional document.
Speaker of Parliament Abass Bundu in his statement said it’s a momentous event. He however said the past government conducted what he called cherry-picking in addressing the constitutional review process.
The President of the Sierra Leone Bar Association, Michaela Eddinia Swallow on behalf of her body of legal practitioners expressed the hope that the contents of the CRC white paper will be reflective of the aspirations of the people of Sierra Leone.
Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Anthony Brewah thanked members of the technical committee for what he said was their selfless service.
Reviewing of Sierra Leone’s 1991 constitution was among the recommendations by the post-war Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). Former President Ahmad Teja Kabba ensured the setting up of the Constitutional Review Commission in 2006. President Ernest Bai Koroma’s government viewed the report is received on the reviewed constitution in 2008 as not consultative enough and set up another commission headed by Justice Cowan. The full CRC report was presented to President Koroma in January 2017.
Upon taking up office president Bio in 2018 approved the establishment of the technical committee to review the report of the CRC.
Copyright © 2022 Politico Online (14/01/22)
