By: Thaimu Bai Sesay
In the highest dispensation of democracy in the Sierra Leone House of Parliament, a total of 100 Members of Parliament from both sides, Opposition and Ruling, have on Friday 20th December 2024 unanimously voted to remove Lara Taylor Pearce, former Auditor General and Tamba Momoh, Deputy Auditor General of the Audit Service Sierra Leone from office.
This unified decision from the House of Representatives marks the final regarding the controversial matter of the former Auditor General and Deputy. This legislative decision is a follow-up on the initial decision taken by His Excellency Rt. Brig. Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic for the removal of the said officials from office based on allegations of misconduct.
Following democratic processes, it could be recalled that a tribunal to investigate the former Auditor General and Deputy Auditor General of the Audit Service Sierra Leone (ASSL) was set up by His Excellency President Bio under the provisions of Subsection (9) of Section 119, together with Subsections (5), (6) and (7) of Section 137 of the Constitution of Sierra Leone 1991 (Act No. 6) of 1991 (as Amended).
According to the findings of the tribunal report dated May 2024, the former Auditor General Taylor Pearce and her Deputy were found guilty of the allegations. It was then required a Parliamentary decision for the final removal of these officials from office.
And in a display of unified force in the well of Parliament on Friday, the decision received massive supports from Members of Parliament from both spectrum, as 100 solid votes were casted in favour of the decision.
On this day in Parliament prior to the voting, a special statement from the Office of the President was first read out by the Clerk. In that statement the President maintained his stance for the removal of the Auditor General and Deputy, subject to the unanimous approval of Parliament.
This was followed by a motion moved by the Majority Leader in Parliament which was also in support of the President decision based on the need to restore integrity and fairness in public offices.
The Minority Leader in Parliament however moved an opposite motion which was not in support of the decision, questioning the integrity of the tribunal, and henced the Speaker announced a division, calling for an election.
Commencing the election process, the Rt. Hon. Speaker of Parliament Segepoh Solomon Thomas passed a ruling which was in accordance with the relevant laws guiding their functions. As the election was based on Two-thirds majority, Speaker Thomas announced that only Members of Parliament present in the well would vote.
This ruling was somehow challenged by the Minority Leader but with clarifications from Speaker Thomas the situation was brought to order and the election immediately commenced.
In a total of 137 Members of Parliament present in the well, there were 100 “Ayes’ vote or in favour of the decision, 36 ‘Neys’ vote or not in favour of the decision and 1 void vote were casted in a transparent and democratic electioneering process, leaving no room for accusations.
The 100 votes casted in favour of the decision were more than the 90 votes needed for the Two-thirds Majority. This speaks louder to the unanimous decision made by the people’s representatives in the House of Parliament, as the 100 votes constituted votes casted by both the APC and SLPP MPs.