Sierra Leone is known for its Netflix tendencies, and for over a month now, one episode that has dominated the airwaves is the passage of the Constitution of Sierra Leone (Amendment) Bill, 2025, by a simple majority rather than the two-thirds threshold that the supreme law of the land prescribes for altering itself. What began as a procedural ruling by the Speaker of Parliament has transformed into a full-blown national conversation about who, in the end, gets to decide what the Constitution means and whether that decision will be made honestly.

It could be recalled that on 10 August 2026, the Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas, ruled that the Constitution of Sierra Leone (Amendment) Bill, 2025, could be passed under Section 91(1), which provides for members present to vote by a simple majority, rather than under Section 108(2)(b), which governs amendments to the Constitution itself.

Section 108(2)(b) is unambiguous and instructs that an individual or group of individuals cannot alter the Constitution, nor shall an amendment be passed by Parliament unless, at its second and third readings, it is supported by the votes of not less than two-thirds of the Members of Parliament. With 149 seats in the House, that threshold is 100 affirmative votes.

The government reportedly had 96 votes. Instead of lobbying Members of Parliament to secure the additional four votes through persuasion or compromise, the Speaker reinterpreted the rules of the game by relying on Section 91 and, as an afterthought, or as some might say, after the mission had been accomplished, suggested that his decision would be sent to the Supreme Court for interpretation. The authority for such a referral is itself questionable, but that is a matter for another day.

The Speaker's move prompted the opposition All People's Congress to walk out of the chamber in protest. Many saw his action as a blatant bastardisation of, and disregard for, the Constitution, while others hailed him as a hero.

After the bill was passed amid controversy over the applicable constitutional procedure, the main opposition party, some of its members, and even individuals filed petitions with the Supreme Court seeking constitutional interpretation. Others have called on the President not to give his presidential assent and to invoke Section 122(1) of the Constitution.

As we waited in anticipation to see what was going to happen, sitting on a thin thread with our teeth glued in our mouths and forecasting the fate of our beloved country, the President, on 13 September 2026, through a notice from State House, exhibited what many would regard as one of the characteristics of a true leader by sending the matter to the Supreme Court for interpretation.

A friend jokingly said perhaps the President is afraid of treason because violating the Constitution under Section 108(8) could be tantamount to a treasonous act, or perhaps it is simply part of a grand plan to execute the process.

Whatever the President's private calculation—whether it is genuine institutional caution, an awareness that assenting to a bill passed in apparent violation of Section 108(2)(b) could expose him to a serious constitutional breach, or simply a tactical pause—the effect is the same. The burden has shifted, fully and finally, to the Judiciary.

And it is a fine place to say: Thank you so much, President Bio!

Under Section 124 of the 1991 Constitution, the Supreme Court has original jurisdiction, to the exclusion of every other court, over matters relating to the enforcement or interpretation of any provision of the Constitution. That is not a ceremonial power. It is the mechanism by which a nation governed by a written constitution keeps faith with itself—the assurance that no institution, however popular or impatient, gets to rewrite the rules of the game simply by declaring that the old rules no longer apply.

Sierra Leoneans have been here before, and the memory is not a comfortable one.

In 2015, former President Ernest Bai Koroma used the Judiciary to remove his then Vice President, Samuel Sam-Sumana, from office without following the procedure set out in Sections 50 and 51 of the Constitution, the same procedure that Section 54(8) expressly extends to the removal of a Vice President.

The matter went to the Supreme Court, which was asked to determine whether the President's "supreme executive authority" under Section 40(1) could override that procedure. The Court's ruling, which upheld the removal, was widely criticised by some observers as placing political considerations above constitutional safeguards.

Ten years later, that precedent still hangs over the country like unexploded ordnance: a standing concern about whether a future president could seek to remove a sitting Vice President when their political visions no longer align, when they disagree over an issue of national concern, or whenever constitutional language is interpreted to provide a convenient route.

Even the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's report into the causes of Sierra Leone's civil war was blunt about the Judiciary's share of responsibility for the conditions that contributed to that decade of suffering.

A former colleague of blessed memory would always say:

“A judiciary that bends to power will also leave the masses in disarray; one that finds reasons rather than principles does not merely lose a case; however, it corrodes the one thing that keeps citizens believing that grievances can be resolved by law rather than by force.”

This is why the stakes here go far beyond a single clause about electoral thresholds or parliamentary procedure. The Supreme Court now has the opportunity and obligation to give Sierra Leoneans a ruling that reads like law rather than politics; one that engages honestly with the plain words of Section 108(2)(b), does not strain the text to reach a predetermined outcome, and is written with reasoning that ordinary citizens can follow and trust.

A ruling that is technically correct but transparently result-driven will satisfy no one and could deepen the very cynicism it should be dispelling. Conversely, a genuinely reasoned ruling that places the integrity of the constitutional order above the convenience of any political faction could help reinforce public confidence in the rule of law.

If and only if this is achieved, it will begin to repair the long-standing distrust between citizens and the legal system—a trust that Sierra Leone's history teaches us is not a luxury but a precondition for national unity itself.

Now, the Judiciary has a rare opportunity to demonstrate that the Constitution is supreme and that party loyalty and political patronage are not the only lenses through which Sierra Leone's highest court sees the law.

With the burden shifted, Sierra Leone's democracy now rests on the Judiciary's shoulders, and it must be upheld in the best interest of peace, stability and tranquility.

OVER TO YOU, SALONE JUDICIARY! https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/64483

 

A major scholarly review published in the African Studies Review has highlighted Sierra Leone’s experience with community-based urban research as part of a growing movement challenging conventional approaches to development and planning across African cities.

The review, titled: From Models to Methodologies: New Approaches to Development in African Cities, was written by Jennifer Hart of Virginia Tech and published by Cambridge University Press in the June 2026 edition of the African Studies Review.

Jennifer Hart examines four recent books dealing with urban development in Africa, including Urban Transformations in Sierra Leone: Knowledge Co-Production and Partnerships for a Just City, edited by Andrea Rigon, Joseph M. Macarthy, Braima Koroma, Alexandre Apsan Frediani and Andrea Klingel. The Sierra Leone-focused publication was released by UCL Press in 2024.

The review argues that African cities are characterized by complex contrasts, including opportunity and desperation, poverty and wealth, mobility and immobility, as well as organisation and disorder. According to Jennifer Hart, those realities frequently challenge development models and planning theories shaped by Western institutions, international organisations and donors.

The article questions approaches that attempt to impose uniform concepts of urban development on African cities, particularly policies designed to “formalize the informal.” It notes that development interventions ranging from slum renewal to major transport projects have often been based on international planning models that fail to adequately account for local realities.

Jennifer Hart further points to continuing challenges surrounding sustainable urban development, citing increasing inequality, displacement and the destruction of established communities associated with some large-scale development initiatives. The review consequently raises a central question about why conventional approaches to sustainable urban development have frequently failed to produce their intended results.

Against that background, the review identifies a growing body of scholarship seeking to understand African cities on their own terms rather than forcing them into predetermined planning models. That emerging approach places greater emphasis on history, culture, lived experiences and the participation of urban residents in determining how their communities should develop.

Sierra Leone features prominently in that discussion through Urban Transformations in Sierra Leone, which draws on approximately a decade of work by the Sierra Leone Urban Research Centre and its research partners.

According to the review, the book examines how the co-production of knowledge, research, planning and practice can contribute to more inclusive and sustainable urban transformation. It identifies the rapid pace of change in cities such as Freetown as presenting particular challenges and explores how those changes can be managed in ways that are fair and equitable.

Rather than prescribing a fixed blueprint for Freetown, the publication presents what Jennifer Hart describes as a method for understanding the city and using that knowledge to better plan its future. The approach places significant emphasis on the wellbeing of people living in informal settlements and examines the consequences of urban change on communities rather than concentrating solely on the forces driving development.

The review also examines Shakirah E. Hudani’s Master Plans and Minor Acts: Repairing the City in Post-Genocide Rwanda, which explores urban transformation in Rwanda following the 1994 genocide. The work contrasts large-scale, state-led master planning with the smaller actions undertaken by residents as they navigate questions of repair, reconciliation and belonging.

Another publication, Johannesburg from the Riverbanks: Navigating the Jukskei, examines Johannesburg through the Jukskei River, highlighting the relationship between urban communities and the natural environment. The collection demonstrates how interdisciplinary approaches involving ecology, hydrology, history and sociology can provide a more realistic understanding of urban development.

The fourth book, Singumbe Muyeba’s The Homeowner Ideology: Economic (F)Utility of Real Property Rights in Four African Cities, questions assumptions surrounding private homeownership and examines how state policies, family structures and economic thinking have reinforced homeownership as a preferred form of tenure despite difficult economic realities in many African cities.

Taken together, Jennifer Hart argues that the four publications do not seek to replace existing urban theories with another universal model. Instead, they encourage scholars, policymakers and development practitioners to reconsider their methods, question established assumptions and recognize contradiction and complexity as essential elements in understanding African cities.

For Sierra Leone, the review gives particular international academic visibility to research emerging from Freetown and demonstrates how collaboration between researchers, communities and institutions could contribute to more inclusive approaches to urban planning.

The broader message is that the future of African cities may depend less on importing predetermined development models and more on developing methodologies that listen to communities, understand local realities and build urban transformation around the experiences of the people who live in those cities. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/64479

 

The Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Security has issued a strong warning to employers across Sierra Leone to comply fully with Section 25 of the Employment Act, 2023, particularly provisions relating to the protection and payment of workers’ End-of-Service and Gratuity Benefits.

The Ministry, in a public notice dated September 16, 2026, reminded all employers, both public and private, of their statutory obligations under the law and urged them to immediately review their existing arrangements to ensure full compliance.

Section 25 of the Employment Act, 2023 (Act No. 15 of 2023), requires employers to establish a separate End-of-Service/Gratuity Benefits Bank Account for the payment of workers’ terminal benefits.

Employers are also required to submit an annual status report of the account to the Commissioner of Labour and comply with prescribed arrangements governing such accounts.

The Ministry further emphasized that funds held in the designated account must not be withdrawn without prior written notice to the Commissioner of Labour.

According to the Ministry, those requirements are mandatory statutory obligations and are not optional measures for employers operating in Sierra Leone.

The Ministry has therefore strongly urged all employers to review their End-of-Service and Gratuity Benefit arrangements and take the necessary steps to ensure that they conform to the provisions of the Employment Act, 2023.

The public notice warns that any employer or responsible officer who fails to comply with Section 25 commits an offence. Upon conviction, the offender is liable to a fine of not less than 300 months of the national minimum wage, imprisonment for a term of not less than three years or both.

The law also provides for the possible closure of an offending establishment in the case of a repeat offender, subject to the applicable statutory requirements.

The Ministry said it will intensify monitoring and enforcement measures to ensure workers’ End-of-Service and Gratuity Benefits are properly protected and that employers comply with the law.

It called on all employers to take the requirements seriously and comply fully with Section 25, warning that defaulters will face the consequences prescribed by law.

The Ministry concluded its notice with a clear warning to employers: “You have been warned.” https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/64476

 

The Governments of Sierra Leone and Guinea have agreed on a comprehensive package of measures aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation, protecting their nationals, improving cross-border trade and employment arrangements, enhancing border security and regulating certain forms of overseas employment travel.

The agreements followed a high-level working visit to Conakry by a Sierra Leone Government delegation led by Vice President Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh. The Sierra Leonean delegation held bilateral engagements with the Government of Guinea, led by Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah, on September 9, 2026.

The engagement reaffirmed the longstanding friendship and good neighbourliness between Sierra Leone and Guinea and provided strategic direction for addressing issues affecting both countries and their citizens.

Following the high-level talks, officials from the two countries convened an inter-ministerial working meeting at Guinea’s Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralization. Discussions centred on immigration, labour and employment, trade, consular affairs, security and the safe and lawful movement of citizens between the two neighbouring countries.

One of the major outcomes was an agreement to facilitate the regularization of Sierra Leoneans and Guineans living and working in each other's country. Authorities will support nationals in obtaining the necessary residence and employment documentation in accordance with national laws and regional free-movement arrangements.

Special attention will be given to workers, with both Governments seeking to facilitate their movement from informal employment into the formal economy, where they can benefit from labour protections, social security and other applicable rights.

Both Governments also agreed to encourage their nationals living in the neighbouring country to voluntarily register with their respective embassies or designated consular authorities. The arrangement is intended to strengthen consular protection and improve access to identification documents and other consular services. However, such registration will not constitute an additional requirement for lawful entry, residence or movement.

A significant aspect of the agreement relates to overseas employment travel. Sierra Leone and Guinea reaffirmed the right of their citizens to travel between both countries, including through their international airports, under applicable laws and ECOWAS and Mano River Union free-movement frameworks.

However, the two Governments agreed to temporarily suspend facilitated large-group travel arrangements for employment in third countries, including destinations in the Middle East, where such groups intend to transit through the other country's international airport.

According to the agreement, the temporary measure is designed to allow authorities to develop safeguards against human trafficking, migrant smuggling, fraudulent recruitment, exploitation, mass deportation and other risks associated with irregular overseas employment.

The measure does not affect ordinary individual, family, business, official or other lawful travel between Sierra Leone and Guinea. It applies specifically to facilitate large-group employment travel through the other country's airport. Authorities are expected to develop the necessary procedures in the coming weeks.

Border security also featured prominently in the discussions. Sierra Leone and Guinea reaffirmed their commitment to implementing the Tripartite Communiqué on border security signed by the Heads of State of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The two countries agreed to work with Liberia and, where appropriate, the Mano River Union to strengthen border security, information-sharing and regional coordination.

On cross-border commerce, the two Governments agreed to establish a joint mechanism to identify, register and support Sierra Leonean and Guinean nationals engaged in commercial activities in each other's territory.

The initiative seeks to promote lawful trade, protect traders and encourage businesses to transition into the formal economy. Authorities will explore simple and reciprocal registration arrangements, including the possibility of a mutually recognized trader identification mechanism or trader's card. No new trader identification requirement will take effect until procedures have been agreed and communicated to affected traders.

To ensure that the agreements move beyond diplomatic commitments, Sierra Leone and Guinea further agreed to establish a Joint Inter-Ministerial Committee and a Joint Technical Committee to coordinate, monitor and facilitate implementation.

Sierra Leone's representation on the Joint Inter-Ministerial Committee will include the Minister of Internal Affairs, Minister of Employment, Labour and Social Security, Minister of Information and Civic Education, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Trade and Industry and Sierra Leone's Ambassador to Guinea.

The Joint Technical Committee will bring together senior officials from relevant institutions dealing with immigration and border management, foreign affairs, labour and employment, trade, security, information and public communication. It will develop implementation arrangements and periodically report progress and challenges to the Joint Inter-Ministerial Committee.

Both Governments agreed that implementation will be guided by reciprocity, mutual respect, transparency, non-discrimination, protection of nationals and respect for national and regional legal frameworks. Authorities will also conduct public sensitization before measures directly affecting citizens are implemented.

The Joint Technical Committee is expected to submit an implementation status report every six months, while the ministerial body will review progress and issue further directions where necessary.

The agreement concluded with both Governments reaffirming their commitment to continued dialogue and cooperation aimed at strengthening the longstanding relationship between the peoples and Governments of Sierra Leone and Guinea. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/64473

 

The British High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, Josephine Gauld, has expressed appreciation for the ongoing reforms being undertaken by the Judiciary under the leadership of Chief Justice Komba Kamanda.

High Commissioner Josephine Gauld made the commendation during a courtesy visit to Chief Justice Komba Kamanda at his Chambers in Freetown on 15 September 2026, where discussions focused on the Judiciary’s priorities for the 2026/27 judicial year and opportunities to strengthen cooperation between Sierra Leone and the United Kingdom.

During the engagement, Josephine Gauld congratulated Chief Justice Komba Kamanda on the Judiciary’s priorities for the new judicial year and discussed several areas of mutual interest, including judicial reforms, support from the UKSL Pro Bono Network and continued collaboration between the two countries in strengthening the rule of law and administration of justice.

The meeting also provided an opportunity for the British High Commissioner to express her appreciation to Chief Justice, Komba Kamanda for inviting her to the Judicial Thanksgiving Service held on Sunday at Saint George’s Cathedral in Freetown.

Chief Justice Komba Kamanda, in turn, thanked Josephine Gauld for the United Kingdom’s continued support to the Judiciary and for attending and gracing the Thanksgiving Service.

Chief Justice Komba Kamanda welcomed further support and collaboration that could contribute to improving the administration of justice across Sierra Leone. He underscored the importance of partnerships in strengthening the country’s justice system and ensuring effective access to justice.

The engagement underscores the continued cooperation between Sierra Leone and the United Kingdom in promoting the rule of law, access to justice and an effective and independent Judiciary. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/64470

 

Sierra Leone is set to showcase its growing aviation ambitions and investment opportunities on a major continental platform when the Director General of the Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority (SLCAA), Madam Musayeroh Barrie, takes part in the Africa 100 Most Influential Persons Conference & Awards in Kigali, Rwanda, on 25 September 2026.

Madam Musayeroh Barrie will represent Sierra Leone at the high-profile gathering, where she is scheduled to speak during a live red-carpet engagement focusing on civil aviation leadership, institutional excellence, investment opportunities and strategic partnerships in Africa’s aviation sector.

Her participation will provide an international platform to highlight Sierra Leone’s aviation sector, its development priorities and opportunities for investors and strategic partners seeking to participate in Africa’s expanding aviation industry.

The live session, which will be broadcast on YouTube, is expected to feature discussions on “Civil Aviation Leadership: Seize Opportunities” and “Civil Aviation Authority Excellence in Africa.”

Madam Musayeroh Barrie is also expected to share insights into her leadership journey and her experience leading the Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority, under a session examining the theme, “From Vision to Director General: Leading Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority.”

A major focus of her engagement will be investment opportunities and partnerships in Africa’s aviation sector. She is expected to outline approaches to attracting partners for scalable aviation initiatives and discuss how strategic investment can support the growth and sustainability of aviation across the continent.

The programme will further feature a live question-and-answer session addressing funding the future of Africa’s aviation sector and inspiring the next generation of aviation professionals and leaders.

The Business Executive Group, which is organizing the engagement, said Madam Musayeroh Barrie’s live appearance will provide exposure to investors, business leaders and potential partners across Africa through YouTube, its website and The Business Executive Magazine.

The organizers have encouraged stakeholders, business leaders, partners and members of the public to follow the broadcast and participate online using the hashtag #Africa100KigaliLive.

Madam Musayeroh Barrie’s participation in Kigali is expected to place Sierra Leone’s civil aviation ambitions before a wider African and international audience, while creating an opportunity to promote dialogue around investment, partnerships and sustainable aviation development.

The Africa 100 Most Influential Persons Conference & Awards will be held in Kigali, Rwanda, on 25 September 2026, with Madam Musayeroh Barrie scheduled to appear live from the red carpet. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/64465

 

The Commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Francis Ben Kaifala, together with Deputy Commissioner Augustine Foday Ngobie and senior officials of the Commission, on Wednesday, 16 September 2026, presented the ACC’s 2025 Annual Report to President Julius Maada Bio at State House in Freetown.

The presentation was made in fulfilment of the Commission’s statutory obligation under Section 19(1) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act No. 12 of 2008, as amended in 2019.

Presenting the report, Deputy Commissioner, Augustine Foday Ngobie described the occasion as the fulfilment of an important statutory responsibility, noting that the report provides a comprehensive account of the Commission’s activities, achievements, progress and challenges during the 2025 reporting period.

He highlighted the work undertaken across the Commission’s core areas, including prosecution, prevention, audits, investigations and intelligence, public education and outreach, human resource and administration. He also referenced the work of the Project Coordination Office, which is responsible for the grievance redress component of the Productive Social Safety Net and Youth Employment (PSSNYE) Scheme, as well as the National Anti-Corruption Strategy Secretariat and the Commission’s regional offices in Bo, Makeni, Port Loko, Kenema and Kono.

Commissioner Francis Ben Kaifala highlighted several major achievements recorded during the year, including the rollout of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) 2024–2028 and strengthened enforcement of asset declaration requirements.

According to the report, 1,541 public officers were sanctioned for defaulting on their 2024 asset declarations, contributing to an asset declaration compliance rate of 99.54 percent.

The Commission also reported significant results in its enforcement activities. Of the 13 persons tried for corruption before the High Court during the reporting period, 12 were convicted, representing a 92 percent conviction rate.

The enforcement actions also resulted in the recovery of NLe23, 556,597, while NLe1, 394,491 was paid in restitution and NLe1, 460,000 in fines by persons convicted of corruption.

The ACC further reported progress in Sierra Leone’s international governance indicators. The country’s ranking on the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index improved from 114th in 2024 to 109th in 2025. The Commission also highlighted Sierra Leone’s eighth consecutive year of meeting the relevant excellence threshold on the Millennium Challenge Corporation scorecard.

Deputy Commissioner Augustine Foday Ngobie noted that the Commission had also strengthened its institutional framework during the year through the development and operationalization of the Whistleblower and Witness Protection Regulations 2025, in collaboration with the Office of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice and Parliament.

He said the regulations were designed to strengthen protection for individuals who report corruption or provide evidence in corruption-related matters in the public interest, including mechanisms aimed at preventing retaliation.

The Commission also expanded its public engagement through intensified public education and sensitization programmes, increased social media and digital outreach, and stronger collaboration with the media and civil society organisations through formal partnerships and Memoranda of Understanding.

In his response, President Julius Maada Bio welcomed the ACC leadership and staff and commended the Commission for its contribution to Sierra Leone’s development and the fight against corruption.

President Bio praised the Commission’s leadership for the progress outlined in the 2025 Annual Report. He urged the Commission to remain unwavering in the discharge of its mandate.

The President described corruption as “an enemy of the state and a natural risk to the development of a nation,” stressing that the fight against corruption requires sustained commitment because the problem remains persistent.

He encouraged the ACC to remain relentless in its work while paying particular attention to protecting vulnerable citizens from the effects of corruption.

President Bio also emphasized the importance of safeguarding public resources, noting that while revenue collection falls within the responsibility of institutions such as the National Revenue Authority, ensuring that public resources are properly protected and used for their intended purposes remains an important part of the fight against corruption.

He described the ACC’s mandate as a “hard task” and urged its leadership and staff to remain vigilant in responding to emerging technological risks.

The President specifically called on the Commission to pay attention to the growing use of advanced technology and artificial intelligence, warning that such technologies could also be exploited by individuals seeking to undermine institutions and facilitate corrupt practices.

President Bio concluded by encouraging the ACC to remain resolute and not relent in the fight against corruption, while formally receiving the Commission’s 2025 Annual Report.

The presentation marks another stage in the Commission’s statutory reporting process and provides an overview of its enforcement, prevention, public education, institutional and policy activities during the year under review. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/archives/64462