APC MPs Commend 2025 Social Workers Regulatory Council Act
By Desmond Isaac Macauley
The Minister of Social Welfare, Melrose Karminty presented a bill in Parliament that seeks for the establishment of a Professional Social Workers Regulatory Council.
During the debate, Hon. Abdul Karim Kargbo from Port Loko spoke on the bill and emphasized the need to have professional social workers in Sierra Leone. This bill, if enacted into law, will make provision for the establishment of the Professional Social Workers Regulatory Council which will have the responsibility of regulating professional social workers. It will also facilitate organizations and institutions in Sierra Leone, including licensing, registration, and discipline, and provide for other related matters.
Hon. Member of Parliament from Kambia, Abdul Karim Kamara noted the effect of mental health, adding that there is no better time to talk about the issue of social work than now. He said that the victims of drug abuse are on the increase and therefore, it is important to get professional Social Workers Council and emphasized the importance of social workers and the value they have in society.
“When you want to educate people about their rights and responsibilities, you need social workers” he mentioned.
The bill is divided into several parts, which include part I, containing interpretation by defining words used throughout the bill. Part II, deals with the establishment of the professional social worker’s regulatory council, a corporate body having a council as its government body. Part III, Stimulates the functions of the council that is responsible for the regulation of professional social workers and the practice of professional social workers in Sierra Leone.
Leader of the opposition, Hon. Abdul Kargbo believed that, social workers are needed to deal with the aged and to work at orphanage to help children and people in need. “I am sure if social work was effective in our country before now, most Members of Parliament would have spent more than five terms in this Well, ” he stated.
According to him, even though social workers are important in society, it is equally important to regulate them, “We have cases in Sierra Leone and other parts of the World where caregivers end up impregnating girls in those centers,” he pointed out.
He stressed the importance of the integrity of social workers and the need to provide licenses for them.
However, with the registration, there would be responsible social work practitioners in the country and would be able to give dignity to people who are sacrificing their lives. He added that counselling is needed in every work of life, including those taking drugs, and especially Kush.
“You have chosen the path to serve humanity and advocate for the less privileged,” he said to students who were in the gallery to witness the hearing.
