By Sulaiman Jalloh
The Parliament of Sierra Leone during its 29th plenary sittings on Tuesday, January 21, 2025 unanimously rarified three national and international water courses conventions. The conventions include; Convention on the protection and use of trans boundary water courses and international lakes, 17, March1992. Convention on the protection and use of trans boundary water course and international lakes as amended along with decision V1/3 clarifying the accession procedure dated 17, March, 1992. Convention on the law of the non-navigational uses of international water courses, New York, dated 21, May 1997.
According to the deputy minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Madam Francess Piagie Alghali, the ratifications would enable Sierra Leone to manage trans-border water resources and leverage international law in terms of water resources, noting the county is geographically placed that share with Guinea and Liberia were their common rivers. “The implementation of these conventions would also be monitored by the UN convention itself and that would enable us to have and other independent body monitoring the use of this water and Sierra Leone will be in the position to leverage that” she stated.
Hon. Ing. Fallah Kenawag Tengeh of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party representing the people of Kailahun district, eastern part of Sierra Leone said the agreements are gateway in the protection of water especially in trans boundary, adding, the 1992 convention, talks about laws in protecting lakes within and outside Sierra Leone while explaining the effect of violating international laws. He said the ratification of international conventions agreement is a sign in the movement in the right direction.
Hon. Musa Fofanah, Kono District, focused his debate on prevention, noting the ratification of these agreements will help the water resource committee on their oversight.
Hon. Daniel Brima Koroma acting leader of the opposition said the conventions were not controversial while raising concern over the delay on the ratifications, noting the details of the conventions were explicit. “Mr. Speaker honorable members, upon ratification os these agreements it will allow us to share information between member state, member state of the agreement. It is not compulsory but it is encouraging to assist each other especially in terms of military defence” he underscored emphasizing the importance of the conventions.
According to him, marine pollution is unaccepted by any Member state, adding in terms of emergency, the country would benefit from other member countries, vice-vasa.
In his summary debate, Hon. Bashiru Silike deputy leader of government business said if an agreement is taken to Parliament and the opposition supported, it means the government of President Bio is doing justice to the people they serve and that the agreements were ‘extremely’ important.
In her response, the Minister thanked Members of Parliament for their positive contributions, saying the importance of the conventions cannot be overemphasized while promising to collaborate with line ministries and the human right commission to bring forth other conventions to Parliament.