The Parliament of Sierra Leone has on Wednesday 12th April, 2023 debated and ratified a bilateral agreement for a sustainable development of the State. 

According to the Parliamentary and Public Relations Department the ratified agreement include; Cooperation agreement between the Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone and the International Airport Association (IATA).

Deputy Minister of Transport and Aviation, Rex Bonapha, presenting the agreement before ratification, said the agreement is a non-profit organization.

The Parliamentary Chairperson on Transport and Aviation Hon. Maada  Ambrose Lebby said the agreement is non-controversial and went on to highlight its benefits of the international aviation industry. Hon. Dr. Mark Mahmoud Kalokoh said they as opposition would also support good agreement and went on to support the agreement for the development of the industry.

The Acting Leader of the opposition, Hon. Hassan Sesay said the agreement is non-controversial and requested the Deputy Minister to make sure that Sierra Leone becomes a beneficiary of the agreement.

The Leader of Government Business, Hon. Mathew Sahr Nyuma said the agreement is in the right place and called for proper monitoring of its implementation mechanism and referred to it as “A good agreement”.

The Speaker of Parliament the Rt. Hon. Dr. Abass Chernor Bundu requested the Deputy Minister to bring all aviation related agreements for ratification.

The Parliament of Sierra Leone on the same date enacted the Bill entitled “The Civil Aviation Act 2023”, for the development of the aviation industry. The Bill is seeking to provide for the repeal and replacement of the Civil Aviation Act, 2019 (Act No. 7 of 2019), to provide for an effective aviation safety and security oversight system; provide for the incorporation of the requirements of the Chicago, and Montreal Convention into the domestic law and to provide for other related matters.

Hon. Ambrose Maada  Lebby said the Bill is to address the many deficiencies that are in the Parent Act and also said the Bill is related to the IATA agreement. He said the Bill would transform the international airport from black-listing 18% to an excellent point of  80%, in terms of international rating or classification.

The Acting Leader of the Opposition, Hon.Hassan Sesay said the Deputy Minister has done a lot of work and called on MPs for the Bill to be committed to the Legislative committee for further deliberations.

In concluding on the debate, the Leader of Government Business Hon Mathew Sahr Nyuma said the Bill has been in front of the House for far too long and it is non-controversial and that in lieu of its passage,  no controversy would be introduced.