By Amin Kef (Ranger)

Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Alphan Sesay Esq., and the Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah, have held high-level discussions with senior representatives of the opposition All People’s Congress (APC) on Sierra Leone’s constitutional review process, with all parties reaffirming that the reforms must be approached as a national agenda owned by Sierra Leoneans.

The engagement, held on Friday January 16, 2026, brought together key stakeholders from both Government and the APC, including Hon. Chernor Ramadan Maju Bah (Chericoco), Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, Dr. Kaifala Marrah, Dr. Richard Conteh and other members of the APC structure working on reforms under the Agreement for National Unity.

In a statement following the meeting, Attorney General, Alpha Sesay, described the discussions as productive and timely noting that the constitutional reform process requires broad-based consultation and sustained cooperation.

“The Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah and I held productive discussions with our brothers and sisters from the opposition APC Party on the constitutional review process,” Attorney General Alpha Sesay said.

He revealed that the meeting focused on the recently gazetted Constitutional Amendments Bill, how the country arrived at the current stage and what the next steps should be in moving the process forward.

“We discussed the recent constitutional review Bill that was published in the gazette, the process leading us to this point as well what the next steps are,” he explained.

Emphasizing the need for collective responsibility, the Attorney General said both Government and opposition voices agreed that constitutional reform must transcend party lines.

“We all underscored the need to work together and to make this a national process; one that will be owned by Sierra Leoneans,” he stated.

Mayor of Freetown and senior APC figure, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, also confirmed the meeting, describing it as part of ongoing efforts by her party to engage constructively on national reforms.

“Today, I joined fellow members of the APC Ad Hoc Committee on the Implementation of the Agreement for National Unity in a meeting with the Attorney General, Alpha Sesay and the Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah,” Mayor Aki-Sawyerr said.

According to the Mayor, the APC team sought to receive clarity and updates on key reform issues while also offering the party’s perspective on the constitutional amendments now moving through the national process.

She stated that the meeting focused on the bill recently published in the official gazette and included discussions on reform commitments outlined under Resolution 4.

“The discussions focused on the recently gazetted Constitutional Amendments Bill, as well as updates on Resolution 4,” she noted.

Mayor Aki-Sawyerr added that the engagement forms part of a series of consultations and will not be a one-off discussion, as further meetings have already been agreed.

“These important engagements will continue next week as part of ongoing commitment to reforms,” she said.

For his part, Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah, stressed that meaningful reforms require consultation, open dialogue and trust-building between all political stakeholders, particularly on issues as central as constitutional governance.

“This is about building a process that belongs to the people of Sierra Leone,” the Minister said while underscoring that national stability and democratic progress depend on inclusive decision-making.

He described the discussions as a reflection of the Government’s willingness to listen and work with all sides in the national interest.

Also speaking on the engagement, APC stalwart Hon. Chernor Ramadan Maju Bah (Chericoco) welcomed the dialogue and reaffirmed the opposition’s position that reforms must be credible, consultative and guided by national consensus.

“The APC remains committed to engaging in reforms that will strengthen democracy and serve the best interest of Sierra Leoneans,” Hon. Chernor Bah stated noting that the party would continue to participate through its designated structures.

Participants said the meeting also provided room for assessing the steps already taken in the constitutional reform journey and identifying practical actions needed to ensure the reform agenda delivers lasting impact.

Observers view the meeting as another significant step under the post-election national cohesion framework, where political actors are expected to work together on reforms designed to improve governance, accountability and democratic stability.

With Government officials and APC leaders confirming that follow-up discussions will continue next week, expectations remain high that the constitutional amendments process will advance through cooperation, transparency and a shared commitment to a stronger Sierra Leone. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/attorney-general-apc-leaders-hold-fresh-talks-on-constitutional-amendments/