By Sulaiman Jalloh
In a major development within Sierra Leone’s Parliament, Speaker Rt. Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas has officially informed the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Abdul Kargbo, that President Julius Maada Bio has intervened in the ongoing controversy involving the Clerk of Parliament, Hon. Umar Paran Tarawally.
In a letter dated June 1, 2025, the Speaker conveyed that President Bio had directed Hon. Tarawally to proceed on leave effective June 20, 2025, pending further deliberations concerning the future of the Office of the Clerk of Parliament.
This action follows a formal complaint submitted by Hon. Kargbo on May 5, 2025, accusing the Clerk of engaging in partisan political activities, including publicly seeking a senior position within the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP). The Opposition Leader argued that these actions contravene the expected non-partisan nature of the Clerk’s role, constituting professional misconduct and a breach of parliamentary ethics. He called for the Clerk’s immediate resignation.
In response to this development, members of the All People’s Congress (APC), who had been boycotting parliamentary sessions in protest, resumed active participation in legislative proceedings on Thursday, July 3, 2025.
The Speaker acknowledged the gravity of the concerns raised and urged the Opposition to continue fulfilling its legislative responsibilities in the national interest. “In light of the foregoing, I hereby urge your political party in Parliament, through you, to continue to serve the House of Parliament and the people of the Republic of Sierra Leone,” he stated.
The APC’s decision to return has been widely welcomed, including by critics of the party, who view this as a positive step toward restoring democratic engagement and accountability in Parliament. The incident has also sparked broader debates over institutional neutrality and accountability within Sierra Leone’s governance structures.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Friday,4th July, 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
