Sierra Leone’s Parliament has announced a new policy effectively restricting access to the House by members of the public.
Effective Tuesday 12th July, 2022, entrance into the precinct of Parliament by any member of the public will be strictly on the basis of invitation by the Speaker of Parliament, according to a statement issued through the office of the Clerk. It states that the new policy also affects members of the fourth estate, development partners, and Ministries Department and Agencies (MDAs).
Any member of the public who want to access the facility will have to fill an online form as one of the prerequisites for the issuance of a pass.
A printed list with names of approved visitors will be managed by the security personnel before the issuance of visitors’ access passes. Visitors therefore require an Identification Card to access the facility.
The parliament’s statement issued on 9th July states:
“Invitations to witness proceedings in Parliament by representatives of political parties will be issued by Leaders of the respective Political Parties in Parliament through the Speaker.”
It stresses: “The submission of personal data alone does not give automatic access to the General Public. It must be followed by an invitation issued under the hand of the Speaker.”
The move comes amid growing political tension, as the country heads to the polls in exactly a year from now. It also followed a call by the leader of the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) party in the House, Chernor Maju Bah, for the parliamentary leadership to take action against some unknown members of the public who allegedly verbally attacked opposition law makers.
Hon. Bah, representing Constituency 126 in the Western Area Urban, asked the Speaker to send out members of the public seated in the gallery for the proceeding on 5th July. He says he and his members felt unsafe in the chamber of parliament after they were allegedly insulted by unknown members of the public right in the well of parliament. He even alleged being threatened with attack.
In response at that moment, the Speaker declined to act as requested, noting that the House of Parliament was the people’s parliament and that the parliamentarians are the citizens’ representatives. He however warned occupants of the gallery that they should only be seen and not heard.
Notwithstanding the Speaker’s warning, the occupants of the gallery went on to behave in a disorderly manner, prompting the Leader of Government Business, Mattew Sahr Nyuma, to request that all “strangers”, meaning members of the public, who would like to attend a proceeding of parliament should first be provided an invitation from the speaker before accessing parliament.
