News:
May 17, 2023
At the ongoing 2023 first Ordinary Session in Abuja Nigeria, Sierra Leone is yet to present its Country report to the plenary as it missed the opportunity on Saturday, May 13, 2023.
Despite the fact that the report arrived in Abuja, it had not been reviewed by all the members for their input.
As to why the Country has delayed in presenting its country report a member of the delegation Musa Shiaka Sama in an interview pointed out that they have been very busy due to the election ahead of them next month.
“Again, we have a new system of conducting election in our County Proportional Representation which has made us busy. I came to the first Ordinary Session late, we have come and looked at the report, it is left with one more member to have a look at it, and when that is done we can present our country report”.
Joint Committees meeting have been scheduled to meet this week from Monday, May 15, 2023 to Wednesday, May 17, 2023. From Thursday the parliament would be meeting at the plenary where it is expected that the Country report of Sierra Leone and Guinea Bissau would be presented.
As to whether Sierra Leone is set to have incident free in the presentation of its Country report, judging from the drama that unfolded last year second Ordinary Session where Manly –Spaine Ajibola walked out of plenary because his input was not included in the Country report, Madam Veronical Kadie Sesay the only female among the delegation in an interview pointed out that there is no delay in the presentation of the Country report because they want everybody (all ECOWAS MPs) to make input.
“Because we do not want to face that ugly situation of last year again, when it was said that people walked out why because the leader of the delegation has been busy, he has now gone for running mate of the opposition”.
“To get him was difficult, now we want to make sure everybody makes his input into the country report, so that we are not faced with the last years embarrassment, that is why we want to be thorough, as you heard from my colleague we have a new system of election proportional representation (PR)
“The system is new, even Ministers are very busy with the PR system, all the political parties are having their primaries at the same time; we have to leave that one after the nomination to come here to come and do the work of the parliament”.
Again, in the next plenary she noted that their country report would be ready for presentation.
On the issue of his colleague walking out, she pointed out it was by reasons best know to him, “all of us looked at the report and we made input into the report”.
As to whether she can categorically say his colleague has input, she responded, “I do not know, I cannot say, everybody had the report at the same time”, she said.
Responding to where the report to be presented has the input of everybody, she said “we do not know; yesterday the clerk sent the report to us, I have had a look at mine”.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com