Some Civil Society Organizations in Sierra Leone have shown grave concern over Parliament’s recent suspension of four MPs, including Hon. Hindolo Moiwo Ngevao, an anti-corruption whistleblower, from participating in parliamentary committee proceedings even without having found them culpable of any wrongdoing. The CSOs are urging Parliament to reinstate the four.
The four Members of Parliament who were suspended include, Hon. Gevao, Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh, Hon. Momoh Bockarie, and Hon. Mohamed Billoh Shaw.
Hon. Gevao was suspended on allegation of confirming corruption allegations on BBC, while Hon. Tawa was suspended when he complained of arm-twisting by the leadership of parliament when performing his oversight function, Hon. Billoh Shaw was suspended based on complaint of sending abusive messages to Hon. Veronica Kadie Sesay, and Hon. Momoh Bockarie was also suspended for allegedly abusing Hon. Emilia Lolotongi. They’ve all been suspended from Parliamentary Committee activities until a report from the Committee on Privileges and Ethics is presented to the House.
The Speaker of Parliament also withdrew the Honourable title from Hon Momoh Bockarie and Hon Billoh Shaw.
In a statement they issued on Friday October 23, 2020, CSOs described the suspension of the MPs by Parliament as atrocious for Sierra Leone’s collective effort to strengthen democratic governance. They further asserted that Parliament’s action also “sends a very unfortunate message about our parliament’s attitude towards persons who raise their voices for accountability and institutional integrity”.
In the release the CSO’s alluded to a press statement dated October 20, 2020 issued by the Department of Public Relations of the Parliament of Sierra Leone which stated:
“Four Hon. Members of Parliament have been committed to the Parliamentary Committee on Privileges and Ethics for investigation, pending approval by the House for complaints relating to intimidation and verbal abuse, indecent and derogatory text messages, unverified corruption allegations against Parliament on BBC Focus on Africa and alleged arm-twisting by the leadership of Parliament resulting in resignation…”
Ironically, the same statement pointed out that “the following Members of Parliament so referred are presumed innocent until proven otherwise by the said Committee’s investigation and recommendations.”
“While it may be within the powers of Parliament to inquire into the general conduct of the Members of Parliament, we fail to see the legal basis for hurriedly suspending elected officials from performing their functions especially for whistleblowing on corruption,” the release stated.
The CSOs argue that the move by Parliament is “simply unjust and profoundly repugnant to all the guarantees of due process and presumption of innocence enshrined in our Constitution,” and also acknowledged that Corruption is pervasive and remains a major impediment to Sierra Leone’s collective effort to addressing poverty and deliver basic social and economic services, against the best efforts of the Government of Sierra Leone and its partners.
The CSOs mentioned in the release that they are worried that the leadership of Parliament has reacted angrily to public opinion on corruption and went further to punish MPs either for expressing their thoughts on corruption in parliament or complaining about attempts by the leadership of Parliament to scupper their efforts to address corruption as a social problem in Sierra Leone.
“We are shocked to learn that even before the Committee on Ethics and Privileges complete investigation of the misdemeanors the MPs and the public are unanimously complaining about Parliament has turn round to punish the whistleblowers by suspending them from their committees” they stated.
Civil society expressed concern in the statement that they are particularly concerned that arm-twisting and unjust punishments of MPs for whistle-blowing on corruption will in turn discourage ordinary citizens who want to report corruption.
They however referenced the fact that a recent (2020) study by Afrobarometer showed that 61% of citizens fear the risk of retaliation for reporting corruption, and urge the Speaker of Parliament and the leadership of all the political parties represented in parliament to immediately take steps to re-instate all parliamentary entitlements and privileges to the affected parliamentarians.
“We further urge the leadership of Parliament to demonstrate more commitment in the fight against corruption by protecting persons who speak up against the scourge – rather than punishing or suppressing their voices,” they said.
They concluded by expressing solidarity in their collective readiness to support Parliament in deepening the culture of accountability and integrity in Sierra Leone.
The release was endorsed (by signature) by the following CSOs:
ActionAid Sierra Leone
Amnesty International – Sierra Leone
Budget Advocacy Network (BAN)
Campaign for Good Governance (CGG)
Campaign for Human Rights and Development International (CHRDI)
Center for Accountability and the Rule of Law (CARL)
Center for Democracy and Human Rights (CDHR)
Citizens Advocacy Network (CAN)
Foundation for Rural and Urban Transformation (FoRUT)
Human Rights Defenders Network
Institute for Governance Reform (IGR)
The 50/50, Group Sierra Leone
National Advocacy Coalition on Extractives (NACE)
Network Movement for Justice and Development (NMJD)
Peace Africa Alliance Consulting Education and Training Centre (PACET)
Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ)
Society for Democratic Initiatives (SDI)
West African Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) Sierra Leone
By Desmond Tunde Coker
26/10/2020. ISSUE NO: 7938