The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas, has appointed Hon. Aminata Sesay, Member of Parliament representing Port Loko District, to serve on the newly established Adhoc Parliamentary Oversight Committee on the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL).
The committee was constituted in line with Recommendation 20 of the Tripartite Committee Report, which calls for the creation of an independent parliamentary body to oversee the activities of the Electoral Commission. The initiative is aimed at strengthening electoral accountability and promoting credible, free, and fair elections in Sierra Leone.
Hon. Aminata Sesay’s appointment reflects recognition of her contributions in Parliament, where she has earned a reputation for strong leadership, articulate contributions to debates, and objective engagement on issues of national importance.
Speaking during a plenary session, Speaker Thomas underscored Parliament’s constitutional obligation to reinforce democratic institutions and safeguard the integrity of the country’s electoral process. He said the newly formed committee would play a central role in monitoring the operations of the Electoral Commission ahead of future elections.
“The people of Sierra Leone deserve an electoral process that is transparent, inclusive and trusted by all,” the Speaker stated. “This Committee will ensure that ECSL operates within the law and that the concerns of citizens are addressed proactively.”
The committee will be chaired by the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Abdul Kargbo, while the Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business, Hon. Mathew S. Nyuma, will serve as Deputy Chairman. According to the Speaker, the bipartisan composition of the leadership demonstrates Parliament’s commitment to fostering national consensus on electoral governance.
The committee also includes members drawn from both the Government and Opposition benches to ensure balanced representation and inclusive oversight of the Electoral Commission’s activities.
The establishment of the Adhoc Parliamentary Oversight Committee has been welcomed by civil society organisations and development partners as an important milestone in implementing the Tripartite Committee recommendations and rebuilding public confidence in Sierra Leone’s electoral system.
As part of its mandate, the committee is expected to submit regular reports to Parliament on the Electoral Commission’s preparations for future elections, budget implementation, and engagement with political parties and other key stakeholders.
