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The Speaker of Parliament, Sengepoh Solomon Thomas, has suspended a motion seeking to establish a parliamentary committee to investigate National Elections Watch (NEW).
Ruling on the matter, the Speaker cited its sensitivity and emphasized the need for careful consideration and sound judgment before any further action is taken.
The motion, moved by Mustapha Sellu, called on Parliament to examine and scrutinize the financial flows, funding sources, expenditures, and accountability mechanisms of NEW from January 2016 to date. It also proposed that the appropriate parliamentary committee be mandated to conduct a comprehensive investigation and report its findings within a specified timeframe, in the interest of transparency, accountability, and good governance.
Presenting the motion, Hon. Sellu informed the House that the initiative was based on a letter from the National Consortium on Public Accountability, which urged Parliament to investigate the operations of NEW, particularly regarding the management of donor funds. He stressed that the motion was not related to electoral processes, but rather focused on financial accountability and transparency.
Seconding the motion, Maada Lebby described the proposed investigation as timely and necessary, noting that it falls within Parliament’s oversight responsibilities. He also clarified that the intent was not to examine electoral matters, but to promote accountability within civil society organizations.
The Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business, Mathew Nyuma, echoed similar sentiments, stating that the call for investigation originated from a consortium of civil society organizations. He referenced past instances where Parliament itself had faced allegations of corruption from civil society groups, noting that such claims were later addressed and dismissed following parliamentary engagement.
In his final ruling, Speaker Thomas stated that, given the public sensitivity and potential perceptions surrounding the issue, the proposed committee has been put on hold until further notice.
