By: Mohamed M. Sesay
In its maiden quarterly report on Sierra Leone by Tracking Parliamentary Attendance and Debate from October-December 2021, the Institute for Governance Reform (IGR) has on Tuesday the 24th of May 2022, unveiled to galaxy of journalists twenty best performing Members of Parliament in terms of Parliamentary attendance, and twenty regular debaters in the well from October-December 2021 with the exclusion of the leadership of Parliament.
The twenty best performing Members of Parliament are as follow; Hon. PC Bai Kurr K. Sanka III in Tonkolili, Hon. Zainab K. Brima of SLPP Kailahun, Hon. Dr. Mark M. Kalokoh of APC from Bombali, Hon. Hassan Sankoh of APC from Tonkolili, Hon. Bai S. Kamara of NGC Kambia, Hon. James O. Tholley of APC Tonkolili, Hon. Aaron A. Koroma of APC Tonkolili, Hon. Alusine B. Kamara of APC Karene, Hon. Joseph Williams-Lamin of SLPP Bo, Hon. Dr. Ibrahim B. Kamara of APC Portloko District, Hon. Abdul T. Kamara of NGC Kambia. Hon. Neneh Lebbie of SLPP Bo, Hon. PCFasalie K. Marah III of Falaba, Hon. PC Sheriff A. Badara III of Bonthe, Hon. Tennison H.Sandy of SLPP Western Urban, Hon. Alex M. Rogers of SLPP Pujehun, Hon. Alieu I. Kamara of SLPP Western Area, Hon. PC Bai S.S Gbereg III of Portloko, Hon.Emmanuel A. Koroma of APC Bombali and Hon. Abdul Kargboof APC Portloko.
According to the IGR Report, the twenty regular debaters for the period October-December 2021 are as follows; Hon. PC Bai Kurr K. Sanka III, Hon. Abdul Karim Kamara of APC Kambia, Hon. Joseph Williams-Lamin of SLPP Bo, Hon. Dr. Mark M. Kalokoh of APC Bombali District, Hon. Hafiju Maada Kanja of SLPP Kenema, Hon. Lahai Marah of APC Falaba District, Hon. Francis A. Kaisamba of SLPP Kenema, Hon. Abdul Kargbo of APC Portloko, Hon. Quintin S. Konneh an Independent Member from Kailahun Hon. Hindolo M. Gavao of SLPP from Kailahun, Hon. Daniel B. Koroma of APC Koinadugu, Hon. Rebecca Y. Kamara of C4C Kono, Hon. Mustapha M. Sellu of SLPP Moyamba District, Hon. Emilia L. Tongi Independent Member from Kailahun, Hon. Sahr Charles of C4C Kono, Hon. James O. Tholley of APC Tonkolili District, Hon. Mohamed Bangura of APC Karene, Hon. Ishmail S. Sandy of SLPP Bo, Hon. Neneh Lebbie of SLPP Bo and Hon. Veronica K. Sesay of SLPP Moyamba District.
In his presentation, the Chief Executive Officers of IGR Andrew Lavali, disclosed that about one fifth of Sierra Leone MPs did not attend half of the sittings in the last quarter of 2021. He reminded that their maiden edition of Sierra Leone’s Parliamentary scorecard presents a monitoring report on the performance of Members of Parliament in the area of attendance and participation in debates for the period October-December 2021. He added that the purpose of tracking Members of Parliament is to increase legislators’ commitment to their representative duties and to strengthen the legislative process.
IGR Lavali also intimated that in total, 20 parliamentary sittings were held during the period as recorded in the official parliamentary attendance register which is commonly known as Votes and Proceedings.
“By attendance, we mean MPs who were recorded as present in the parliamentary votes and proceedings but not necessarily taking part in the business of the day”.
Giving an overall statistics, Andrew Lavali also revealed that MP attendance is encouraging because 75% of MPs attended at least 50% of the 20 sittings. He said about 20% of MPs did not attend half of the 20 sittings.
He added that a total of 92 MPs (representing 64% of Parliament) attended more than 70% of the sittings, while 27 MPs (19%) attended between 10 and 13 sittings, and another 27 members (19%) attended less than half (below nine) of the sittings.
“This tracking does not cover the Parliamentary leadership which includes Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and party leaders in Parliament. The Parliamentary leadership determines the calendar of Parliament and the structure of debate. Their inclusion will create an undue advantage to ordinary members”, he said.
He continued that 76 Members of Parliament debated bills, agreements, appointments, reports etc., during the period. He added that the aforementioned number represents 52% of MPs that spoke in the Well during the debate period. He furthered that just under half of attending MPs (47%) did not speak (debate) in Parliament during the last quarter (October-December) of 2021.
“We note that punctuality is a perennial challenge facing parliament. Party whips and leadership should enforce existing procedures to increase punctuality. We strongly recommend that the vote and proceedings begin to record MP punctuality. Given that the Parliament of Sierra Leone is going digital, steps should be taken to automate MP attendance”, he concluded with the following recommendations.
