By Nasratu Kargbo
The Communication and Advocacy Consultant for the Tobacco and Nicotine Control Act 2022 Sulaiman Storm Koroma said they are in a state of confusion about the whereabouts of the Act, explaining that neither Parliament nor State House has claimed to be in possession of the bill, which since enacted six months ago is yet to get the President’s assent.
In an event held by the lead advocates Focus 1000 to engage CSOs on the 30th March 2022, He said “Where is the bill, we are left in oblivion?” asked Koroma. He said that they have made inquiries about the status of the bill, explaining that they went to parliament and were told that the bill has been taken to the president, whilst from the state house, they were informed that the bill has not reached State House.
Koroma stated that at some point they were informed that the president had signed the bill, however, when they went to get a gazette copy of the Act, they found out that it was not there.
He added that when they went to the Government Printing Press charged with the responsibility of printing such documents, workers there said they’d never seen such an Act.
“We went again to parliament and engaged the Clerk of Parliament and he told us that he can tell us categorically clear that he sent the bill to the president,” said Korma.
He explained that when the bill was enacted by parliament, there were protesters who are retailers who told them they will ensure the president does not sign the bill.
Acting Head of Programmes at FoRUT Alhassan Jalloh recommended that they as CSOs should do a request to the president for a meeting, stating that during the meeting they will get to know whether the Act is with him and if it is with him they will request that he signs it.
Jalloh spoke on the popularization of the Act, noting that it is their responsibility to educate the families and communities on all they’ve learned about the Act, especially its implication.
Founder and Executive Director of Global Youth Network, Musa Khalili Koroma said: “We call on you Mr. President to sign the Tobacco and Nicotine Control Act of 2022, tobacco kills human capital development”.
Responding to CSOs, Parliamentary Counsel and Legislative Drafter Lynton Jones said if there is the will, the Minister of Health and Sanitation Dr. Austin Demby who sits in Cabinet every Wednesday with President Julius Maada Bio should have taken the message to him for his assent.
According to the Director of Non-communicable Diseases in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Santigie Sesay three thousand three hundred and thirty tobacco and nicotine-related deaths are recorded in the country annually.
He also stated that between 2016to 2018, the country recorded four thousand, one hundred and twenty-five new cancer cases in the country, adding that three thousand and two have died.
Just like the CSOs the Interreligious Council of Sierra Leone had also called on President J Bio to sign the Act, stating that the substance has destroyed and continues to destroy the lives of Sierra Leoneans.
The Tobacco and Nicotine Control Act was enacted in parliament eight months ago on the 3rd of August 2023 and is yet to be signed by the President.
The law seeks to protect smokers and non-smokers, it prohibits public smoking, sending children to purchase the substance, make sales to children amongst others. Penalties are also set to be levied on law breaks.
Sierra Leone is the 38th country in the WHO African region to have enacted a bill into law to protect its population against the harmful effects of tobacco and nicotine products.
Copyright (c) 2023 (31/03/23)
