The Rt. Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas has, on the 16th of September 2025, met with the Africa Centre for Disease Control delegation, where they devised the way forward to address Mental Health Issues in Sierra Leone and Africa by extension.
The Rt. Hon. Speaker Segepoh Solomon Thomas vocalized the seriousness of mental health issues and considered it as a grave concern to the government of Sierra Leone. Speaker Thomas, therefore, assured the Africa CDC delegation of an expeditious enactment of the Mental Health Bill just after Parliamentary recess
GENDER COMMITTEE ENGAGES GENDER MINISTRY
The Parliamentary Committee on Gender and Children’s Affairs, chaired by the Opposition Whip 2 Hon. Catherine Zainab Tarawallie of Bombali District, on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, engaged the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs as part of its oversight mandate.
In her opening remarks, Hon. Tarawallie presented findings from the committee’s recent oversight visits across the country. She emphasized that the engagement was not intended to witch-hunt the ministry but rather to obtain first-hand information and highlight the pressing challenges facing the sector.
According to her, the committee visited several one-stop centers in Kailahun, Moyamba, Port Loko, Koinadugu, and the Western Area (Connaught/Kingtom Hospital), as well as Rainbow Centers in Kenema, Bo, Makeni, and Freetown (Cottage Hospital).
Among the challenges identified include the National Children’s Commission (NCC) reported to be on the verge of collapse due to inadequate funding. Basic needs such as electricity, printers, and operational resources remain unmet. Commissioners were said to be largely inactive except when supported by international partners.
PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE ON FINANCE CONCLUDES OVERSIGHT
The Parliamentary Committee on Finance chaired by Hon. Francis Amara Kai-Samba, over the weekend, concluded its oversight probing at the Sierra Leone Ports and Harbour Authority at the Queen Elizabeth Quay in Freetown.
During probing at Gbalamuya Customs Post in Kambia District, the Committee observed that custom officials of Sierra Leone and Guinea operate together, making the border crossing formalities seamless for passengers and goods, amidst both countries maintain their administrative independence. Also, on the Sierra Leone side, customs work in collaboration with other stakeholders/ MDAs to make border crossing formalities seamless. In anither to avoiding conflicts in their operations, in light of the effect of their different mandates stated in their various Acts, a stakeholders committee had been set to look into matters that may arise during operation.
Comparatively, the Committee discovered that there is an increment in revenue mobilisation between 2024 and 2025.
COMMITTEE ON INTERNAL AFFAIRS PROBES MDA’s
Parliamentary Committee on Internal Affairs chaired by Hon. Sarty Banya recently conducted a three-day oversight and probed officials of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and related entities. The engagement is part of Parliament’s mandates to hold the executive accountable.
Ministry of Internal Affairs, Sierra Leone Immigration Department, Sierra Leone Police, Sierra Leone Correctional Service, NCRA, and the National Fire Force were respectively probed by the Committee.
Parliamentary Joint Committees Engage Audit Service Sierra Leone on 2026 Budget Proposal
Joint Parliamentary Oversight Committees members comprising the Finance Committee, the Public Account Committee Transparency Committee Education, Legislative among others, engaged the Audit Service Sierra Leone (ASSL) on Friday, 12th September 2025, at the Speaker’s Conference Room in the Parliament Building at Tower Hill in Freetown. The purpose of the engagement was to scrutinize the 2026 budget estimates submitted by the ASSL, in accordance with the statutory provisions that guide the institution’s financial autonomy.
In his opening remarks, the Chairman of the Finance Committee, Hon. Francis Kai-Samba emphasized the importance of the meeting. He noted that the engagement was intended to evaluate the Auditor General’s budget proposal and understand the rationale behind ASSL’s call for increased financial independence. He underscored the significance of empowering the Audit Service to carry out its mandate without financial constraints.
Liberian Foreign Affairs Students Tour Sierra Leone Parliament
Parliament of Sierra Leone has, on Saturday 13/09/2025, hosted dozens of students from Gabriel L. Denis Foreign Service Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Liberia, in order to foster information sharing and to bolster diplomatic ties between the two countries. The delegation undertook a study tour of the Sierra Leone Parliament, marking a significant step in fostering cross-border understanding and building the blocks for strengthening future diplomatic cooperation.
The visit aimed at providing aspiring diplomats with first-hand experience sharing of parliamentary procedures and governance.
The Deputy Clerk of Parliament, Gilbert Bosco N’habay welcomed the students on behalf of Parliament and provided update on the operations and activities of the Parliament of Sierra Leone. The Deputy Clerk of Parliament also provided detailed insights into the functions, composition, and legislative agenda of the House of Parliament; particularly the sixth Parliament.
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