The Rt. Hon. Speaker of Parliament, Segepoh Solomon Thomas, on Tuesday, 31st March 2026, delivered a ruling on a Private Member’s Motion moved by Hon. Mustapha M. Sellu, calling for a parliamentary investigation into the operations of the National Elections Watch (NEW).
The motion was brought pursuant to Section 93(4) of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone, which empowers Parliament to establish committees to investigate matters of public interest, and in line with Standing Order 25(2) governing motions for debate.
Hon. Mustapha M. Sellu proposed that Parliament should examine and scrutinize the financial flows, funding sources, expenditures, and accountability mechanisms of NEW from January 2016 to the present; mandate the appropriate parliamentary committee to conduct a thorough investigation and present findings within a specified timeframe. Ensure that the investigation is conducted in the public interest, with emphasis on transparency, accountability, and the integrity of democratic governance.
In presenting the motion, Hon. Sellu explained that it was prompted by a letter from the National Consortium on Public Accountability, which urged Parliament to investigate NEW, particularly regarding the management of donor funds.
He stressed that the motion is not related to electoral processes but strictly concerns financial accountability and transparency.
The motion was seconded by Hon. Maada Lebby, who underscored its relevance and timeliness as part of Parliament’s oversight function. He also clarified that the proposed investigation is not election-related but focused on accountability within civil society organizations.
Similarly, the Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business, Hon. Mathew Nyuma, reiterated that the motion addresses concerns raised by civil society actors regarding transparency in NEW’s operations.
He further recalled that the Fifth Parliament had previously faced allegations of corruption from a civil society organization, which were later dismissed after parliamentary review.
Hon. Mohamed Bangura of the Opposition expressed reservations about the proposed investigation. He argued that it could be perceived as focusing on election-related matters and suggested that the Speaker delay proceedings to allow for further consultation.
Following a voice vote that showed strong support for the motion, Speaker Segepoh Solomon Thomas affirmed that it is a fundamental principle of parliamentary democracy to respect Private Members’ Motions and the rights of Members of Parliament to present them.
However, citing the sensitivity of the matter and potential public perceptions, he ruled that the establishment of the investigative committee be put on hold until further notice.