By Melvin Tejan Mansaray
Members of the Sierra Leone Parliamentary Delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament have reacted to strong concerns from other colleagues from the sub regional legislative and deliberative body.
The concerns were raised on the second day of the ongoing 2026 First Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament holding at the International Conference Center Area 10, Abuja Nigeria.
This comes following the presentation of the country’s report by Hon. Saa Emerson Lamina, Deputy Leader of Government Business Two and Ranking Member of the delegation on Tuesday 5th May, 2026 at the Chamber of the Community Parliament.
The Members of the delegation include:
Hon. Veronica Kadie Sesay Leader of Delegation, Hon. Shiaka Musa Sama Deputy Leader, Hon. Abdul Kargbo who also doubles as the Parliamentary Leader of the opposition All Peoples Congress (APC), Hon. Saa Emerson Lamina Deputy Leader of Government Business Two, and Hon. Mabinty Funna.
The six-page report contained – introduction, the political situation – democracy, good governance, peace and security, and human rights.
The report also highlight updates on political participation, good governance and the rule of law, early warning and conflict prevention, electoral reforms, arbitrary arrests and detention.
The Sierra Leone Country Report also shed light on access to justice, freedom of speech and the press, respect for fundamental human rights/civil liberties, refugees and displacement.
It also provided details on the environmental situation effects of climate change – agriculture and food security, environmental challenges, infrastructure protection, energy and environment, mining and environmental sustainability.
The delegation provided updates on the implementation of ECOWAS Community texts, initiatives, and programmes such as ECOWAS community levy, ECOWAS logistic depot at Lungi, construction of a border market in Wai village, Sorogbema Chiefdom Pujehun District, early warning mechanism, harmonized fuel specifications, ECOWAS free roaming regulation and a conclusion.
In response to the presentation, Lawmakers from other countries expressed the following concerns seeking further information on;
Why the issue of border dispute between Guinea and Sierra Leone was not captured in the report, what flood mitigation and environmental protection strategies are being put in place by the government, what is the country doing to tackle the growing drug problem among young people and whether the Chief Electoral Commissioner was appointed in the right way.
The ECOWAS MPs also enquired about what efforts that are being taken to remove children from the street and above all, they demanded reason for the APC boycott.
In response, Members of the delegation said that the issue of Edmond Alpha, Chief Electoral Commissioner was a no beginner even for the international moral guarantors because according to Hon. Emerson, President Bio followed the provision of Section 32.3 of the constitution of Sierra Leone.
Hon. Mabinty Funna buttressed by stating that a day before their arrival in Abuja, President Julius Maada Bio met and held a constructive dialogue with the opposition for which they ended their boycott and have returned back to Parliament. She nonetheless stressed that there are unfinished implementations that the government must commit to conclude with alacrity.
On the issue of street children, Hon. Veronica stated that the Ministry of Social Welfare has been making relentless efforts to get rid of children from the streets but those efforts are confronted with financial and logistical challenges for which she invited partnership and collaboration by all actors.
On the drug problem, the delegation disclosed that rehabilitation centers have been established in three districts and reintegration and skills training have been provided for hundreds of young drug users.
Hon. Emerson also debunked a submission suggesting that Liberia and Sierra Leone are having a border dispute.
Hon. Funna thanked the role of international moral guarantors in mediating the political stalemate in the country and urged them to continue to do more on peace consolidation and political cohesion. She however registered reservations on the independence of the Electoral.
On the environmental concern, Hon. Veronica said the government has placed a ban on the construction around water catchment and protected areas.
Sierra Leone, officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a West African nation on the Atlantic coast, bordered by Guinea and Liberia with a population of over 8.4 million (2023) and Freetown is its capital.
The country is known for its tropical hilly terrain and a coastal belt of mangrove swamps.
It is a presidential republic with a developing economy largely dependent on agriculture and diamond mining.
Freetown is its capital and English (official), Krio (widely spoken).
The Government is unitary presidential republic. The country gained its Independence on April 27, 1961 (from the UK).
Sierra Leone’s currency is the Sierra Leonean Leone (SLL).
