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Basita Michael, former President of the Sierra Leone Bar Association (SLBA), has criticised statements made by Chief Minister David Moinina Sengeh regarding the constitutional review process, calling them “deeply problematic,” particularly given Sengeh’s status as a presidential aspirant.
Speaking in a live television interview, Michael said:
“I find this statement deeply problematic, especially coming from someone aspiring to be President of Sierra Leone.”
Sengeh had previously stated that, through the Tripartite framework, constitutional review is not merely a legal exercise but a form of governance reform, designed to align institutions, restore public confidence, and place the will of the people at the centre of national decision-making.
Michael challenged this claim, arguing that the constitutional review has not reflected the will of the people. She pointed to the Tripartite Framework’s recommendation for a national dialogue on the choice of electoral system. Following consultations, technical deliberations, and civil society input including votes from community-based organisations, trade unions, the Inter-Religious Council, professional bodies, and the media 57.9% preferred First-Past-The-Post, 31.6% a mixed system, and only 10.5% Proportional Representation, according to the NEW press release of 17 July 2025.
“Yet the constitutional bill adopts Proportional Representation the least preferred option. When the most rejected choice becomes the final constitutional proposal, confidence evaporates. It becomes clear that it is not the will of the people at work, but the will of power,” Michael said.
Her comments underscore ongoing public debate over the transparency, legitimacy, and inclusiveness of Sierra Leone’s constitutional review process.
