Freetown, Sierra Leone – The pre-legislative hearing on the Sierra Leone Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2025 kicked off on Tuesday with a strong caution from Opposition Leader Hon. Abdul Kargbo, underscoring the need for strict legal adherence in any reform efforts.
In his opening remarks, Hon. Kargbo affirmed that the opposition supports constitutional changes in principle but insisted that the process must fully comply with national laws.
“We are not averse to change, but every step must comply with national law,” he declared, setting a firm boundary for the proceedings.
The opposition leader highlighted a key contention: the bill includes entrenched clauses, which he argued require more than just parliamentary approval.
“Let us make it clear: entrenched clauses do not only require a two-thirds majority in Parliament, they also demand a national referendum,” he emphasized, challenging earlier assertions to the contrary.
Hon. Kargbo made the opposition’s stance unequivocal, warning that any deviation from proper procedures could lead to their withdrawal.
“If the changes are not in line with laid-down procedures, we shall recuse ourselves. If they are lawful, we will cooperate. If they are unlawful, we will not,” he stated.
The comments have established a contentious atmosphere for the ongoing hearings, signaling that proposals affecting Sierra Leone’s entrenched constitutional provisions, and the bedrock of its democratic framework, will undergo intense parliamentary scrutiny. As debates continue, observers anticipate heated discussions on the bill’s implications for governance and citizen rights in the West African nation.
