By: Aminata Sesay
The Parliament of Sierra Leone has concluded a three-and-a-half-day Management Retreat aimed at strengthening institutional performance and aligning administrative reforms with its long-term strategic objectives.
The retreat, held from 28 to 31 January 2026 at Mozza Resort in York Village, brought together parliamentary leadership, senior management, and development partners to reflect on ways to improve service delivery, operational efficiency, and public trust. The exercise was supported by Parliament, the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Setting the tone for the discussions, the Director General of Parliament, Finda Fraser, said the retreat provided an opportunity to critically review and validate Parliament’s Strategic Plan while strengthening the administrative systems that support legislative work. She emphasized that improving internal structures is essential for Parliament to effectively fulfil its constitutional mandate.
Development partners echoed this focus on institutional reform. Acting Country Representative of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, Wurie Bah, commended Parliament for taking ownership of its reform agenda and reaffirmed his organization’s commitment to supporting initiatives that enhance parliamentary operations.
Country Representative of International IDEA, Dr. Idriss Mamoud Tarawallie, highlighted the reallocation of resources to support the retreat and stressed the importance of aligning donor interventions with Parliament’s Strategic Plan to ensure sustainable impact.
Addressing participants, the Clerk of Parliament, Karmoh K. Conteh, underscored the need for clearer job segmentation within the institution. He noted that well-defined roles and responsibilities are critical to improving efficiency, strengthening service delivery, and building public confidence in Parliament’s work.
Speaking on behalf of the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament and Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh, urged staff to strengthen their work culture and professionalism. He called on the administration to provide a more conducive working environment while emphasizing productivity, institutional growth, and fair rewards based on performance.
The retreat concluded with a renewed commitment to reviewing and validating Parliament’s Strategic Plan, alongside the introduction of structural and administrative reforms aimed at enhancing the overall effectiveness of the institution.