Parliament Enacts The National Early Warning & Response Mechanism Act 2025

By Desmond Issac Macauley
The Parliament of Sierra Leone has debated and passed into law, with some amendments, the Bill entitled: The National Early Warning and Response Mechanism Centre Act 2025 for the development of Sierra Leone.
The Bill seeks to establish a National Early Warning and Response Mechanism Centre, that will be responsible to provide early warnings on issues relating to human security and peace in Sierra Leone and to provide for other related matters.
Presenting the Bill, the Minister of Planning and Economic Development Madam Kenyeh Barlay said an early warning would provide means to ensure peace and security in the country.
The Minister furthered that the mechanism centre would provide a comprehensive centre to ensure problem solving in the sector.
Minister Barlay informed Members of Parliament that the center would generate data to handle issues regarding disaster in the country.
She assured Members of Parliament that the centre would also improve early warning and strengthen technical management to ensure effectiveness in the early warning system.
She continued that the enactment would benefit the government and people of Sierra Leone through the establishment of legal frameworks. “It will mitigate crisis situation for the people of Sierra Leone,” she said.
Contributing to the debate, Chairman for the Committee on Planning and Economic Development in Parliament, Hon. Musa Fofanah from Kono District, affirmed that the Bill is timely and that the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development should be appreciated for their tireless efforts in improving the sector. He continued that the creation of Early Warning Centre is good to ensure potential disasters are handled before they escalate.
Deputy Opposition Whip 1 Hon. Catherine Zainab Tarawallie from Bombali District, said the Bill is not political but for the benefit of all Sierra Leoneans. Referencing Clause 4 of the Bill, Hon. Catherine Zainab Tarawallie said the Legislative Committee should further look at certain areas in the Bill for the benefit of Sierra Leone. “The Bill is not hurting anyone, but the Bill is to provide for every Sierra Leonean,” she said.
The Acting Leader of Opposition, Hon. Daniel Brima Koroma added that, the Bill is not controversial and it is for the good of Sierra Leone. “The opposition party in Parliament is in support of the Bill because the it is good for the country,” he said.
Concluding the debate, Leader of Government Business Hon. Mathew Sahr Nyuma extended appreciation to the opposition for supporting the Bill. The Leader added that the purpose of the Bill is to provide early warning for potential futuristic disasters in the country. He furthered that early Warning Mechanism Centre is important because it would provide early warning on issues that have damning effect on the state and citizens.