Freetown, 7th November, 2026 — The Parliament of Sierra Leone on Friday, 6th November, 2026, concluded debate on the Address delivered by His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio on the occasion of the State Opening of the Fourth Session of the Sixth Parliament of the Second Republic on Friday, 7th August, 2026.
After three months of debate, Members adopted a resolution thanking the President for his address:
“That we the Members of Parliament here assembled wish to thank His Excellency the President for the Address he so graciously delivered on the occasion of the State Opening of the Fourth Session of the Sixth Parliament of the Second Republic of Sierra Leone in the Chamber of Parliament on Friday, 7th August, 2026.”
Hon. Veronica Kadie Sesay (SLPP, Moyamba District) praised President Bio’s 30% quota for women’s empowerment, said the Feed Salone initiative has been successful and urged MPs and citizens to engage in agriculture for food self-sufficiency.
Hon. Unpha G. Koroma (APC, Western Urban) said job creation remains a major challenge, described Feed Salone as laudable but said policies for its effectiveness have failed, and called for a more enabling environment for jobs.
Hon. Alex M. Rogers (SLPP, Pujehun) refuted Opposition claims on pin codes, cited page 20 of the President’s speech on oil and gas exploration, saying Sierra Leone is well positioned but development is capital intensive and requires government attention.
Hon. Sia Tommy (SLPP, Kono) focused on health, gender and youth, highlighting CT scanners and hospitals provided in Freetown, Kenema and elsewhere, and cited paragraph 117 on laws to protect women and girls.
Opposition Whip Hon. Abdul Karim Kamara (APC, Kambia) refuted claims by Hon. Sia, said improving citizens’ lives should not be politicized, described the operation of the Waka Fine buses as disturbing and not helping the economy, raised concerns about the Minister of Tertiary Education’s conduct towards Parliament, and called for more action on drugs.
Hon. Umu Pyne (SLPP, Moyamba)* said much improvement has occurred under President Bio, thanked Government for the Magban Bridge and other projects including hospitals and roads, and requested a university for Moyamba.
Deputy Leader of Government Business 2, Hon. Emerson Lamina (SLPP, Kono) described President Bio as the best President Sierra Leone has ever produced, said global crises affected cost of living, praised Feed Salone and mining sector gains in Kono, Tonkolili and Bonthe, and listed dozens of bridges constructed.
Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Abdul Kargbo (APC) raised the welfare of MPs, questioned the credibility of the speech saying some statements were deceptive, claimed speech writers are making a mockery of the presidency with inaccurate information, and said Sierra Leone’s debt as of 2026 is 74 billion old Leones. He however commended Government for the 100-bed hospital in Kono and said the Opposition will continue to scrutinize Government.
Acting Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business, Hon. Bashiru Silikie (SLPP) rounding up for Government, cited Section 7 of the 1991 Constitution, said Government will listen to responsible criticism, blamed the previous APC Government for hardship and substandard roads, and highlighted improvements in education, electricity, roads, healthcare, water supply, and a 33% reduction in maternal mortality. He said 100-bed hospitals are under construction in Port Loko and other districts.
Parliament will now proceed to other legislative business for the Fourth Session.
