By: Mohamed M. Sesay
The Fifth and final Session of the Fifth Parliament of the Second Republic of Sierra Leone, has yesterday the 24th November 2022, unanimously enacted into law the Political Parties Act of 2022.
The Bill seeks to provide for the continuation of the Political Parties Registration Commission as the Political Parties Regulation Commission, to provide for the regulation, including the registration of political parties by sections 34 and 35 of the constitution, and to provide for other related matters.
Earlier when Presenting the Bill for seconding reading, Attorney General and Minister of Justice Mohamed Lamin Tarawaley said the bill is timely and necessary. He underscored the need for the continuation of a body’s cooperates by the bill. He said the Board of the commission would regulate, and supervise all registered political parties in line with the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone. He assured that the bill seeks to regulate accountability and transparency of political parties, and also transmits mediation amongst political parties
Hon. Sulaiman Marray Conteh Chairman Legislative Committee said this bill is geared toward structural change, political inclusion, and mediation on the activities of Political parties.
Hon. Aaron Aurora Koroma commended the PPRC and requested for the enactment of the bill into law. He said the bill should expand the landscape of political parties and not narrow them and went on to question the form of registration of political parties and the cancellation of the registration of Political Parties.
Hon. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella Leader NGC said the Bill before the House is important for the development of the state.
He said the proposed bill outlines several sincerity in it, relative to the registration of political parties. He welcomed the mediation aspect of the election violence. He supported the clause which states that a political party should have eight hundred registered members before registration. He said stronger laws be made for the deregistration of political parties. He commended the PPRC for bringing the Bill before the House
Hon. Emerson Saa Lamina Leader C4C said the bill is not controversial and endorsed the enactment of the bill and welcomes the recommendation made by the EU election observer team into the Bill.
He said the bill preaches tolerance and non-violence. He said the bill recognizes an independent candidate “the Bill is a progressive one “, and went on to call on his colleague MPs to enact the bill into law
Rounding up the debate, Hon. Chernor RM Bah Leader of Opposition thanked PPRC and said they are many good things in the bill and it is a progressive one.
He said the PPRC should be given the powers to do the needful relative to mediation, tribalism, and regionalism “It is a very good bill, we should support it for its enactment into law”, he concluded.
In concluding the debate, the Acting Leader of Government Business Hon. Bashiru Silikie said the bill would strengthen the work of PPRC. He said 2% of the vote should not be a yardstick to deregister a political party; the court should be the answer. He said the bill addresses security checks in the country.
