Post a comment 
Sierra Leone’s Parliament has cancelled a crucial session to deliberate on the recommendations of the Tripartite Committee, just hours before it was scheduled to begin on Wednesday.
The highly anticipated consultative engagement, which was to be held at the Country Lodge Hotel, was intended to kickstart pre-legislative discussions on the 78 proposed electoral and democratic reforms.
The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Alpha Sesay, was expected to formally present the recommendations to Members of Parliament for their consideration.
However, a terse public notice issued by the Office of the Clerk of Parliament announced the cancellation “until further notice,” offering no reason for the last-minute decision. The notice merely urged MPs to “accommodate any inconvenience caused.”
The abrupt cancellation has raised significant concerns among political observers and stakeholders. The Tripartite Committee’s report, a product of cross-party collaboration between the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), the opposition All Peoples Congress (APC), and international partners, is seen as a cornerstone of the Agreement for National Unity. Its recommendations are critical for shaping the country’s political landscape ahead of the 2028 elections.
Key proposals awaiting parliamentary scrutiny include measures to enhance the independence of the Electoral Commission, introduce fixed election dates, and reform campaign finance laws.
The failure to convene this first, symbolic step in the legislative process casts uncertainty on the government’s commitment to implementing the reforms. All eyes are now on Parliament to reschedule the session and provide clarity on the way forward for these vital national reforms.
