On Thursday 26th April 2018, the Fifth Parliament of the Second Republic of Sierra Leone conducted its second sitting in the well of Parliament and Fifty-three out of sixty-eight All Peoples Congress Members of Parliament refused to be sworn in as Parliamentarians.

The Clerk of Parliament, Hon. Paran Tarawallie said in the Well of Parliament that all designated MPs without been sworn in or taking the oath of Parliament cannot be considered as legal members of the House by the Constitution and laws of Sierra Leone after thirty days sessions or sittings.

It can be recalled that at last Tuesday’s sitting, Hon. Paran Tarawallie announced that all designated MPs must come out and be sworn. They refused. On Wednesday All APC MPs walked out in protest and the swearing in of MPs from the other parties took place.

Meanwhile, the new Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Dr. Abass Chernor Bundu has said that there is no list submitted to him for the main opposition APC party and therefore the composition of the House is incomplete. The Speaker urged all Parliamentarians to come back and be sworn in as legal members of the well, adding that, it is the Constitutional right and duty of members to represent their constituents.

Speaking to the deputy Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Sengepor Solomon Thomas of Constituency 089, Bonthe District, he disclosed that, his duties were next to the Speaker to ensure not to accept any law or agreement that is not good for Sierra Leone.

He said under the ticket of the Sierra Leone People’s Party and the ‘New Direction’, there is possibility for free education by blocking financial leakages. Thus, he will ensure that the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee will be accountable to the public as his government is a listening entity and will respect recommendations.
The deputy Speaker furthered that the decision taken by the main opposition APC not be part of the swearing in ceremony was wrong.
He maintained that that the party should have taken the oaths. According to him, those that advised their colleagues’ members not to participate in the swearing in process were deliberately wrong. He stated that without taking the oaths, they will not be entitled to salary effective this month of April.