The Rt. Hon. Speaker of Parliament, Segepoh Solomon Thomas, has told Members of Parliament that no law should be made to limit the executive powers of the President, stressing that any political party in Sierra Leone has the potential to assume governance and benefit from the ongoing Constitutional Amendment Bill 2025.
Speaking during the debate on the Bill at the Committee Stage on Wednesday 5th July 2026, Speaker Thomas said the President remains the supreme head of state and government, and that the Constitution must reflect the full authority of that office.
“Nobody should make law to limit the powers of the President,” Speaker Thomas told the House. “The President is the Supreme Head of State in any country, and therefore, his constitutional executive powers should not be limited in any form.”
The Speaker urged lawmakers to approach the amendments with a national interest perspective rather than partisan considerations. He noted that Sierra Leone’s democracy is competitive, and that political fortunes can change through elections.
“Any political party in Sierra Leone has the potential to assume power and benefit from the ongoing Constitutional Amendment Bill,” he said. “What we do today will apply to whoever is in office tomorrow. We must legislate for the institution, not for individuals.”
He made it categorically clear that he would not support, nor allow, any proposal from a Member of Parliament seeking to curtail presidential powers through the current amendment process.
The Constitutional Amendment Bill 2025 is currently before Parliament for detailed scrutiny and clause-by-clause consideration. The Bill proposes several changes aimed at strengthening governance, improving electoral processes, and aligning the 1991 Constitution with current trends.
The Speaker’s intervention comes as MPs seek to balance the need for effective governance with accountability mechanisms.
Speaker Thomas reminded the House that the framers of the Constitution vested significant powers in the Presidency to enable decisive leadership, especially in times of national development and crisis. He argued that weakening those powers could create governance gaps and undermine the ability of any future government to deliver on its mandate.
Speaker Thomas called on Members to focus on amendments that promote stability, transparency, and the public good. He emphasized that Parliament’s role is to improve laws that serve all Sierra Leoneans, regardless of which party forms government.