By VOS Staff Writer
An All People’s Congress (APC) Member of Parliament, Hon. Osman Abdul Timbo, has called on the Government to publish and make publicly available the Justice Cowan Report, amid parliamentary debate on the proposed Constitutional Amendment Bill.
Hon. Timbo made the call during the pre-legislative session in Parliament, following remarks by the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Alpha Sesay, who told lawmakers that a significant portion of the proposed constitutional amendments were derived from the Justice Cowan Report.
Raising concerns on the floor of Parliament, Hon. Timbo questioned the transparency and inclusiveness of the constitutional reform process. He argued that neither the APC nor the wider public has been granted access to the report upon which the Government claims to be relying, describing it as inappropriate for Parliament to deliberate on far-reaching constitutional changes based on an unpublished document.
The APC lawmaker also expressed strong reservations over specific provisions in the proposed amendments, particularly those relating to the possible deregistration of smaller political parties. He cautioned that such measures, if not carefully considered, could weaken political pluralism and restrict democratic participation.
According to Hon. Timbo, several aspects of the Constitutional Amendment Bill being presented by the Attorney General differ substantially from documents and recommendations available to the opposition, raising concerns about inconsistencies and what he described as selective interpretation of the Justice Cowan Report.
In response, the Attorney General assured Parliament that the Government remains committed to stakeholder engagement. Addressing the concerns on political party deregistration, he stated that the Government would engage the Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC) on any recommendations affecting the status of political parties.
He emphasized that matters relating to the registration or deregistration of political parties fall within the statutory mandate of the PPRC, and that any action in that regard would require consultation, dialogue, and consensus with the Commission and other relevant stakeholders.
The Attorney General, Alpha Sesay, further stressed that the Government has no intention of acting unilaterally on such a sensitive issue, acknowledging that regulation of political parties carries serious implications for democratic governance and political pluralism in Sierra Leone.
The pre-legislative session continues as Parliament scrutinizes the proposed constitutional amendments, which are expected to introduce far-reaching reforms to the country’s governance structure, electoral system, and political framework.
