The Centre for Accountability and Rule of Law (CARL) has on Thursday January 28, 2021 drew the attention of the Government of Sierra Leone through media practitioners on findings of a national conference which concluded that the constitutional review process should he restarted in Sierra Leone.
It could be recalled that CARL with support from Action Aid Sierra Leone (AASL) held a conference which was themed: “A call for a Speedy Constitutional Review Process.”
The purpose of that conference was to ensure intensive advocacy primarily directed at the government to resume the constitutional review process. The conference brought together over 80 participants ranging from civil society organizations (CSOs), political parties, youth groups, students, state actors and the diplomatic community.
The Executive Director of CARL, Ibrahim Tommy-Esq, said that at the end of the national constitutional review process participants collectively called on the government to expedite the constitutional review process, adding that participants also urged the Government of Sierra Leone to issue a statement within a one month period, to demonstrate commitment to the process.
He added that it was also noted by participants that the Government should put up a clear programme of action that would enhance the completion of the review process. He emphasized that such a programme of action should include: timeframe and scope for additional consultations; publication of a new white paper; timeline for the conduct of referendum and its commitment to fund the referendum.
Tommy cited that, they want the government to provide detailed update on the action taken in respect of the task force that was setup to manage the affairs of the review process, including its composition, terms of reference (ToR), operational timeline and expected output.
“Participants called on the government to respect the content of the review report and it numerous proposal to strengthen women’s rights and participation in governance, the rights to life and full range of economic, social, cultural and environments,” Tommy said.
Projects Coordinator of CARL, Abu-Bakr Kallay, in his statement said that, during the conference, participants observed that the Truth and Reconciliations Commission (TRC) in its report recommended that it was appropriate for Sierra Leone to formulate a new constitution.
“The review process of the Constitution of Sierra Leone, 1991(Act No. 6) by the Justice Cowan Constitutional Review Committee is still inconclusive and civil society organization are left in the dark about the current status of the constitutional review process,” Kallay said.
President Julius Maada Bio said recently that his government had made a public commitment to look at the Constitutional Review Process and had, therefore, approved the setting up of a Technical Committee to review the recommendations of the Justice Cowan-led Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) and advise cabinet on its recommendations.
By George M.O.Williams
29/01/2021. ISSUE NO: 7991