By Kelfala Kargbo
Freetown, 23rd July, 2026 — The Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Sengehpo Solomon Thomas, has announced the formation of an ad hoc Election Monitoring Committee to oversee the work of the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL), reinforcing Parliament’s oversight role in electoral matters.
The move aligns with Recommendation 20 of the National Agreement for Unity, which calls for the establishment of a Parliamentary Standing Committee on elections.
The newly constituted committee comprises sixteen members drawn from the SLPP, APC, and Paramount Chief Members of Parliament. It will be chaired by the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Abdul Kargbo, with the Leader of Government Business, Hon. Matthew Sahr Nyuma, serving as deputy.
Addressing Parliament, Speaker Thomas urged both leaders to engage their caucuses and prepare draft Terms of Reference (TOR) for the committee’s work.
“We have now formed the ad hoc committee. I now urge the Leader of the Opposition and the Leader of Government Business to engage your respective membership and prepare two different TOR. I will call a meeting for us to discuss the TOR, agree and bring the TOR for approval,” Hon. Thomas said.
The committee’s mandate includes providing oversight of ECSL operations, reviewing the electoral cycle, examining electoral preparedness, and guiding legislative reforms ahead of the 2028 general elections.
By placing both government and opposition leaders at the helm, Parliament signals a bipartisan approach to strengthening electoral integrity and ensuring Sierra Leone’s democratic processes remain credible and transparent.
