By Sulaiman Jalloh
Hon. Abdul Kargbo, Leader of the opposition in the parliament of Sierra Leone, Tuesday, June 10, 2025 has announced the All People’s Congress (APC) parliamentary group’s decision to suspend participation in all parliamentary sittings and committee activities, the announcement was made during the 53rd plenary session of the sixth parliament, following weeks of silence from the speaker on a formal complaint lodged by the opposition.
In a statement delivered in the, well of parliament, Hon. Kargbo cited serious concerns regarding the conduct of the clerk of parliament, Hon. Paran Tarawally, who has declared his intention to contest for the position of National Secretary-General in the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), the APC contends that such a political move compromises the neutrality and integrity expected of the Clerk’s administrative role.
The office of the clerk of parliament is a critical administrative role that must remain non-partisan in both appearance and conduct, said Hon. Kargbo. His open participation in party politics is incompatible with his responsibilities and undermines public confidence in the independence of parliament.
According to the opposition leader, the APC formally submitted a letter to the speaker on May 5, 2025, outlining their concerns and requesting immediate action, while the speaker acknowledged receipt of the letter and promised a formal response within one week, more than a month has passed without any substantive reply, citing section 26(2) of the constitution of Sierra Leone, Hon. Kargbo accused the speaker of violating constitutional provisions by failing to respond within the promised timeframe.
Mr. speaker, Honourable members, I rise to express our deep disappointment over the continued silence on our letter dated 5th May 2025, Hon. Kargbo stated, this delay in response is not only unacceptable, but a direct affront to the constitutional responsibilities of this house, despite appeals from speaker of parliament Hon. Solomon Segepoh Thomas for the APC to reconsider their decision, Hon. Kargbo insisted the suspension was already in effect.
In his response, speaker Thomas confirmed receiving the APC’s letter and said discussions are ongoing with SLPP leadership regarding the matter. He assured the opposition that a response would be delivered within a week and urged them not to suspend their duties in the meantime.
However, Hon. Kargbo reminded the speaker that he had already been granted two weeks to respond and that the APC had been patient, he reaffirmed the opposition’s position, emphasizing that their action was not to obstruct governance but to defend ethical standards and parliamentary credibility, we remain committed to the rule of law, national interest, and the institutional integrity of parliament, once we receive a formal response from the Speaker, we will return to the House and engage through proper parliamentary channels.
This political standoff has sparked significant public debate, observers note that following the 2023 elections, the opposition had initially planned to boycott parliamentary proceedings entirely but returned to the house after a three-day mediation facilitated by international partners, the current suspension raises fresh concerns about political cooperation and the independence of key parliamentary offices.
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Copy right –Printed in the Expo Times News on Friday, June 13TH, 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
