ALL EYES ON PARLIAMENT AS CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM DEBATE CONTINUES TOMORROW

By Desmond Isaac Macauley
Parliament has adjourned debate on the Constitution of Sierra Leone Amendment Bill, 2025, with lawmakers expected to resume deliberations on Friday, 31 July 2026, at 10:00 a.m.
The debate began at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, 28 July, and continued until at around 1:00 a.m. on Wednesday after lengthy exchanges between Members of Parliament from both the ruling party and the opposition.
Attorney General and Minister of Justice Alpha Sesay, who presented the Bill, said the proposed amendments are based on recommendations from the Justice Edmond Cowan Constitutional Review Committee and the Tripartite Committee.
He told Parliament that the reforms are intended to strengthen Sierra Leone’s democracy, insisting that the Bill is “not partisan, but generational” and reflects recommendations made over many years.
One of the key proposals is to replace the current 55 per cent threshold for presidential elections with a simple majority, while requiring a candidate to secure at least 20 percent of votes in two thirds of the country’s districts.
The Bill also proposes changes to the electoral system, including district block proportional representation, fixed election dates, recognition of independent presidential candidates, and a 30 percent quota for women nominees
The constitutional review process dates back to recommendations in the 1999 Lome Peace Agreement and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report.
The debate is expected to continue on Friday as Parliament considers the remaining provisions of the Bill.