By: Parliamentary and Public Relations Department
A delegation from the World Bank and the Sierra Leone Digital Transformation Project (SLDTP) provided a comprehensive update to Rt. Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas, Speaker of the Sierra Leone Parliament, on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. They announced that the procurement process has been completed, and contracts have been signed to begin work on the digitalization of Sierra Leone’s Parliament, funded by the World Bank.
Once implemented, the e-Parliament solution will digitize and transform the core functions of Sierra Leone’s Parliament, transitioning the House from a traditional manual system to a paperless digital operation. This shift is expected to reduce administrative costs associated with items like stationery, toner, and fuel, save time, and minimize human resource energy. The system will also produce accurate and easily accessible parliamentary documents for Members of Parliament (MPs). Additionally, the e-Parliament will enhance Parliament’s transparency, accessibility, and citizen participation.
Addressing the World Bank and Digital Transformation teams in his chamber, Speaker Thomas expressed the leadership of the Sixth Parliament’s strong enthusiasm for the Digital Transformation Project, particularly the realization of the e-Parliament for Sierra Leone. He expressed gratitude for the efforts of both the World Bank and the Sierra Leone Digital Transformation Team in ensuring the successful implementation of the project.
Speaker Thomas urged the World Bank to expedite the implementation of the project, while emphasizing the need for the necessary feasibility studies to be completed before commencement. He requested that the timeline for the project’s implementation be shortened to ensure a timely rollout.
Speaker Thomas also informed the World Bank Task Team Lead that Members of Parliament are eager to see the e-Parliament come to life and transform the way the House operates. He assured the team that under his leadership, Sierra Leone’s Parliament would not take the World Bank’s investment for granted, and his administration would ensure that the digital infrastructure is fully utilized.
Madam Kaoru Kimura, the World Bank’s Technical Task Team Lead, assured Speaker Thomas that she had supported the digitalization of Ghana’s Parliament, which had significantly improved its operations. She commended Speaker Thomas for creating an enabling environment for the study of Sierra Leone’s Parliament and stressed the importance of conducting thorough feasibility studies. She also expressed optimism regarding the timely implementation of the project, noting that the project has a set timeline for completion.
Project Coordinator Madam Kumba Musa provided an update, stating that the procurement process had been completed, and the contracts had been signed by the Ministry of Communications, Technology, and Innovation. She assured Speaker Thomas that the implementation of the project would commence shortly.