By Hassan Osman Kargbo
The Sixth Parliament of the Second Republic of Sierra Leone has secured 5th position in the Africa Open Parliament Index (Africa OPI), with an impressive overall score of 72.40%. The achievement places Sierra Leone ahead of several notable countries, including Nigeria, Rwanda, and Uganda.
The ranking, published by the Africa Parliamentary Monitoring Organisations Network (APMON), highlights the efforts of parliaments across the continent in promoting openness, accountability, and citizen engagement. APMON is a coalition of civil society organisations dedicated to monitoring and engaging legislative assemblies at the national, sub-national, and regional levels in Africa.
According to the Index, Sierra Leone scored 53.64% in transparency, 48.64% in civic participation, and 38.64% in public accountability, culminating in its 72.40% overall rating. These results are viewed as a reflection of the strides made by Parliament under the leadership of the Right Honourable Speaker, Segepoh Solomon Thomas, who has been credited for steering a result-driven and reform-focused institution.
The Africa OPI ranks parliaments using three core dimensions – transparency, civic participation, and public accountability – with 48 carefully selected indicators. These dimensions are designed to assess how parliaments conduct their business, how open they are to citizens and civil society, and how well they hold themselves accountable.
South Africa topped the 2025 Africa OPI with a score of 79.69%, followed by Ghana in second place with 77.60%. Kenya came third with 73.96%, and Zambia took fourth place with 73.44%, just ahead of Sierra Leone.
The Open Parliament Index is published biennially and serves as a consistent benchmark for evaluating progress. Beyond comparison, it provides a platform for identifying best practices, sharing knowledge among parliaments, and encouraging reforms aimed at strengthening legislative institutions.
APMON noted that the Index is not just a statistical tool but a mechanism to support the growth of democratic values and promote collaboration between parliaments and civil society organisations. The aim is to encourage reforms that enhance openness while amplifying parliamentary initiatives that promote inclusivity and citizen engagement.
“The Africa Open Parliament Index provides citizens, civil society organisations, the press, and decision-makers with a reliable, evidence-based document that reflects the current state of parliaments across the continent,” APMON said. “It also serves as a call to action for reforms that can lead to stronger, more transparent, and accountable governance structures.”
Parliamentary openness, according to the report, is vital for consolidating democracy and ensuring that citizens have trust in legislative processes. By measuring transparency, participation, and accountability, the Index provides governments and civil society with a clear picture of progress while pointing out areas that need urgent improvement.
Observers say Sierra Leone’s ranking demonstrates encouraging progress in parliamentary openness, but also signals areas that require more attention, particularly in public accountability. Analysts note that strengthening oversight functions, improving access to information, and creating stronger feedback mechanisms between citizens and Parliament will be critical for the country to improve its standing in future rankings.
With the Africa OPI scheduled for review every two years, Sierra Leone now has the opportunity to build on its current momentum and strive toward becoming a continental leader in parliamentary openness.
