FREETOWN, Sunday 9 August 2026 — President Julius Maada Bio on Sunday called on Members of Parliament to vote in favour of the Constitution of Sierra Leone (Amendment) Bill, 2025, describing it as a historic opportunity to strengthen democracy, deepen inclusion and prepare the country for credible elections.
Addressing the nation ahead of the parliamentary vote, the President said the Bill is the product of more than two decades of national dialogue that began after the civil war and has continued across successive governments.
He reminded Sierra Leoneans that the 1991 Constitution, while important, was recognised as incomplete after the war. The Lomé Peace Agreement of 1999 and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission both called for constitutional reform. The process started under the late President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah with the Dr Peter Tucker Constitutional Review Committee, continued under former President Ernest Bai Koroma with the Justice Edmond Cowan Committee, and was taken forward by the current government without discarding previous work.
The Cowan Committee, an 80-member body, conducted what the President described as the most extensive consultation in the country’s history between 2013 and 2017. It held more than 10,000 public consultations, engaged 133 stakeholder groups, received 150 position papers, broadcast over 20,000 hours of airtime and distributed more than 70,000 consultation forms across every district.
President Bio said his government built on that foundation rather than starting afresh. The Bill now before Parliament introduces proportional representation to widen participation for women, young people, professionals and minority groups. It also establishes a minimum 30 per cent quota for women in political nominations, making gender inclusion a constitutional requirement rather than an aspiration. In addition, it seeks to strengthen the independence and accountability of electoral institutions.
“The next general elections are approaching,” the President said. “If we delay, we risk conducting them under rules that the Government, the Opposition, civil society, citizens and several election observer missions have all recognised as requiring reform.”
He stressed that constitutional and electoral changes must be completed before elections, in line with principles upheld by the African Union, ECOWAS and the United Nations.
He appealed directly to MPs to rise above partisan considerations. “Do not vote for me. Do not vote for this Government. Do not vote for any political party. Vote for Sierra Leone. Vote ‘Yes’ for inclusion. Vote ‘Yes’ for women. Vote ‘Yes’ for the youth. Vote ‘Yes’ for credible elections. Vote ‘Yes’ for a stronger democracy.”
President Bio recalled that in 1996, as Head of State, he helped return the country to civilian rule and multi-party democracy. He now urged Parliament to complete the next step by giving Sierra Leone a more inclusive Constitution.
He thanked citizens who have followed the debates and MPs who have endured long hours of deliberation, describing the moment as one that future generations will remember.
“May history record that, at this critical hour, Parliament chose country over division, progress over stagnation, and a stronger democracy for generations to come,” he said.
The Bill is expected to be put to a vote in Parliament shortly.
