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Hon. Daniel Brima Koroma, Deputy Opposition Leader and member of the All People’s Congress (APC), has asserted that the contentious Safe Motherhood Bill will not pass in Parliament while MPs who uphold Christian values are in office.
Speaking at a consultative forum organized by the Civil Society Network Sierra Leone and the Christian Society, Koroma declared, “The Safe Motherhood Bill will not be passed in Parliament for the next three years.”
Addressing a gathering of civil society representatives and fellow parliamentarians, Koroma emphasized that any legislation concerning motherhood must align with Sierra Leone’s cultural, traditional, and religious context.
“Don’t expect this bill to come out anytime soon,” he warned, indicating that it would require significant modifications before it could be considered for approval.
Koroma also criticized the invitation process for the meeting, suggesting that had it been conducted properly, he could have better articulated the perceived flaws in the bill. He reiterated his firm stance, arguing that life begins at conception and questioning the bill’s premise of prioritizing maternal health at the potential expense of unborn children. “The title of the bill is biased—unless it includes child welfare, it cannot be brought before Parliament,” he insisted.
As a member of the Business Committee, Koroma hinted at his intent to impede the bill’s progress. “I am a Christian MP,” he stated, “and under my watch, this bill will not be passed.” He expressed frustration over the health sector’s focus, claiming that critical issues like malaria, which claims more lives, are being overlooked. “We are majoring in minors,” he lamented, asking, “What about the pregnant women dying from malaria?”
Koroma revealed that the Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Sengepoh Solomon Thomas, had vowed never to allow the bill to pass under his leadership, stating, “The Speaker said he would rather resign than see this bill become law.”
Legislative Committee Chairman Hon. Marray Conteh acknowledged the bill’s controversial nature and emphasized the need for deep reflection on its implications. He urged lawmakers to remain grounded in national values while adapting to modern societal shifts. “Every proposed bill deserves a hearing in Parliament,” he stated, regardless of its nature.
Rabbi Emrick M’bayoh, representing the Pentecostal Fellowship of Sierra Leone, reaffirmed the Christian community’s long-standing opposition to what was previously known as the Safe Abortion Bill. He declared, “Abortion is a sin,” and pointed out that abortion ranks fifth among causes of maternal mortality, questioning why focus is placed on this issue when more pressing health concerns remain unaddressed.
Richard Augustine, a Ugandan consultant involved in the dialogue, described the Safe Motherhood Bill as part of a broader agenda of “modern colonization,” warning that it targets unborn babies under the guise of health interventions.
Kudos to you all for that are standing firm for this bill not to be pass in parliament
That’s a very good intervention by the government. We were thinking that parliamentarians in sierra Leone are not God_fearing . We thought they are not religious people. Thank God for the intervention of other stakeholders.