The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Alpha Sesay, today engaged a delegation of International Moral Guarantors to discuss progress on Sierra Leone’s electoral reform agenda.
The delegation was led by former Vice President of The Gambia, Her Excellency Fatoumata Jallow Tambajang, and included the Deputy UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for West Africa and the Sahel, the UN Resident Coordinator in Sierra Leone, as well as representatives from ECOWAS and The Commonwealth.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, former Vice President Tambajang stated that their mission is to assess progress made in implementing the Agreement for National Unity, including the recommendations of the Tripartite Committee, a process stemming from Resolution 3 of the Agreement.
In his response, the Attorney General informed the delegation that significant progress has been made in implementing the resolutions under the Agreement for National Unity.
He added that his office is primarily responsible for the implementation of Resolution 4 of the Agreement, which includes the review and rationalisation of politically motivated cases, as well as legislative reforms arising from the Tripartite process.
He further noted that several recommendations from the Tripartite process relate to the ongoing constitutional review, which the Government has accepted in pursuit of a stronger constitutional framework for Sierra Leone.
He referenced the Lomé Peace Agreement and the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which laid the foundation for earlier constitutional review efforts, including the Peter Tucker Constitutional Review Committee and the Justice Edmond Cowan-led 80-member Constitutional Review Committee (2013–2017), established during the administration of former President Ernest Bai Koroma.
The Attorney General further affirmed that, pursuant to Sierra Leone’s obligations under ECOWAS and other international protocols, a Bill to amend the Constitution concerning electoral reforms has been introduced to Parliament. This measure seeks to conclude legislative updates significantly in advance of the 2028 general elections, utilizing the Justice Cowan Constitutional Committee and the Tripartite Committee recommendations as its foundational sources.
Addressing concerns surrounding the appointment of the Chief Electoral Commissioner, he emphasized that the President acted strictly within the confines of the Constitution.
“Democracy is not a destination, but a continuous act of collective will and refinement,” he stated.
The Attorney General reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to advancing electoral and constitutional reforms in the best interest of the people of Sierra Leone.
