By Mohamed Jaward Nyallay
Paramount Chiefs from across the country have renewed their call for a special house of representatives to be set up comprising their membership.
Paramount Chief Alhaji Konoh Bundoh II of Gurama-Kono Chiefdom in Kono District made the latest call on behalf of his colleagues on the final day of the peace and national cohesion conference held at the Bintumani Conference Center in Freetown.
PC Bundoh II told Politico on the sidelines of the sessions that there was a need to separate Paramount Chiefs from elected representatives in the House of Parliament so that they could participate less in direct political processes.
“Political interference affects us too much, that is why we are advocating to be removed out of parliament and get our own house,” he said.
“We raised this issue during the constitutional review process. We are hoping that this time around they will pay more attention to it,” he added in an interview.
The Paramount Chief had raised the issue earlier during the fifth session of the three days conference while speaking on the topic: “Promoting Social Cohesion, Culture of Peace and Democracy.”
Sierra Leone was divided into 149 chiefdoms, each headed by a Paramount Chief. A boundary delimitation process conducted by the National Electoral Commission in 2017 saw the addition of 51 more chiefdoms, which now means the country is divided in to 190 chiefdoms.
Sierra Leone is also divided into 16 districts. And 14 of these districts outside the Western Are (Freetown and its environs) are represented each by a Paramount Chief in the House of Parliament.
Chieftaincy is one of the oldest governance institutions in the country, with their functions ranging from protecting, ruling and adjudicating.
The head the National Grand Coalition in Parliament, Dr Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella, supports their idea of a special chamber for the tradition ruler.
“I think we should give this serious consideration. But we should not only have chamber of chiefs, but we should do like what the UK did, where they have the House of Lords,” he told Politico in between sessions on the final day of the conference.
It is not clear how this house will actually work or where it will fit in Sierra Leone’s governance structure.
But PC BundohII said the plan is for them to perform some oversight role as legislators.
“It could serve like an advisory council. We can even have distinguished retired members from public service join us in the future,” he said.
On what the house will do, the Chief added: “With this house, before parliament pass some bills, we will review it. We are a permanent structure in this country.”
Dr Yumkella also said the Chamber of Chiefs will be important in maintaining independence, especially when it comes to legislating bills.
“We have spoken on how important the chiefs are to peace, maybe we need a thing like this to be part of our governance, so any law that comes they will not be worried to support any party over the other,” he said.
Paramount Chiefs, like every other member in the House of Parliament, are entitled to a vote on any voting decision in the house. In exercising that responsibility, they have mostly supported the government of the day, despite the fact that they are not representatives of political parties.
Dr Yumkella highlighted the consequence of such positions.
“Because we are putting the chiefs in a funny position now by saying they should support the government of the day. Off course their vote can tilt anything in parliament.”
Getting to Parliament has also been another reason for conflict between the chiefs. According to law, each of the 14 districts across the country either selects or elect a Paramount Chief from their district to represent them in the House of Parliament. This is something PC Bundoh II is also frustrated about.
“They are confusing us. This has even brought misunderstanding among chiefs. Because during election they ask for one chief to represent the district. That in itself have caused separation among us,” he said.
The chiefs have not decided to move on this option and do the necessary follow up. They say they are hoping that the possibility of having a Chamber of Chiefs will be looked in to once the constitutional review process is reactivated.
Whiles they wait, PC Bundoh II says the consequence of political interference in their work has even affected their authority as chiefs.
“Politics makes us become impotent. It puts us in variance with our subjects. Because they see us align with the party in power and your subjects who are in the opposition see you as an enemy.”
(c) 2019 Politico Online
