By Mabinty M. Kamara and Nasratu Kargbo
After several controversies around the credibility of the June 24 General Elections in Sierra Leone, 96 elected Members of Parliament and Paramount Chief Members of parliament out of a total of 149 (one hundred and forty-nine) yesterday subscribed to the oath of office.
The swearing-in ceremony and the election of the Speaker of the house attracted many ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party supporters who in a jam-packed Well of parliament and it precincts celebrated with drumbeats and whistles as they chanted solidarity and songs of praise for the various parliamentarians and sitting President Julius Maada Bio.
The Clerk of parliament systematically called on the MPs by district as they subscribed to the oath of office in the jam-packed well.
Unique in this sixth parliament is the representation of more women and young people generally. Out of the 96 who subscribed to the oath yesterday 27 were women as well as a Paramount Chief MP. This, according to analysts, is a record-breaking moment in the history of women’s representation in the Sierra Leone’ parliament.
However, elected MPs of the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) did not show up for the ceremony due to a decision to boycott all governance activities earlier announced by the leadership of the party. The decision affected 16 women who had been elected members of parliament from attending the ceremony which was described by the Clerk as important.
That notwithstanding, one among the 54 elected APC MPs Mohamed Bangura defied his party’s order by showing up for the swearing in and the election of the Speaker of the house.
Speaking to Politico, the Women’s leader of the SLPP, Hawa Foray called on her counterparts in the APC to engage her party leadership so that the women who have already been elected by their people can be allowed to serve them.
“Yes, it is good to have allegiance to your party but the interest of the people should come first. They are the ones that elected their people to represent them. So it will be unfair to fail them due to personal dissatisfactions,” she said.
Whiles applauding the two Political parties who have seats in parliament and the Proportional Representation District Block system of voting that created more space for female representation, the former women’s leader of the SLPP, Fatmata Yansanneh called on the elected female MPs to come out and serve their people.
She committed her support to the women of her party and others to succeed in their advocacies. “We are excited that we have more women here today. It makes the place more colourful than usual. This is the Sierra Leone that was envisioned by President Bio,” she said.
In addition to calls by many actors across the country, the United States of America’s Ambassador to Sierra Leone, David Dale Remier on Wednesday urged the APC to honour their election by the electorate. “I urge APC not to boycott the government. A vibrant democracy needs a strong opposition; those who voted for the opposition need to have their voices heard”, it reads.
Of the Eighty-two ordinaty MPs who took the oath of office, eighty-one of them are from the SLPP, one from APC, and fourteen paramount chief representatives.
Another Female MP Emelia Loloh Tongi from Kailahun district who is returning to parliament for the second time expressed joy over the number of women elected. She said as experienced women in the house, they will ensure they provide mentorship for the others so that they can participate actively and efficiently in debates that may come up from time to time on national development.
The youngest amongst the MPs is 26-year-old Alice Konya Sandi from Kenema district. Sandi is a Lawyer by profession. Sia Mahawa Habiama Tommy is a 27-year-old Hijab wearing woman who is also among the MPs. Speaking to Politico, she committed herself to advocating for issues that will lead to the empowerment and emancipation of more women faced with challenges.
The Clerk of Parliament Umar Paran Tarawally in his welcome address told the MPs that they have prepared two months induction package that is geared towards providing them with a solid and strong foundation to enhance their capacities to perform effectively.
“Over the next five years you will be exercising legislative and constitutional mandates of making laws that will shape the destiny and serve the interest of our people and future generation,” the Clerk said. He added that they will be working to ensure that the government works for the people by representing the people and ensuring that their voices are heard through law-making, transparency, accountability, and equitable distribution of resources.
He said they will not be on their own and assured that he and his professional staff will be committed to supporting them.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (14/07/23)
