EDITORIAL
By Truth Media
Freetown, 10th August 2026- Parliament is making modifications to the constitutional amendment bill before it is finally voted on. The amendment bill now in committee stage is being reshaped after long arguments, with lawmakers trying to fix what the cabinet either overlooked or deliberately left vague.
Yet, despite its lofty title, Constitution of Sierra Leone (Amendment) Act, 2025, this is not the long‑awaited full review of our supreme law. Instead, it narrows in on electoral mechanics: how presidents are elected, what system governs parliamentary contests, and how electoral commissioners are appointed.
Last week, MPs sparred over a new clause guiding appointments under Section 61. It reads: “In making appointments, the President may give consideration, as far as practicable, to: a. regional and district balance; b. gender equity; and c. inclusion of minority groups.” The word “may” not “shall” already weakens the obligation. But what is more troubling is what was left out. When we shared the provision, one reader asked the piercing question: “What about the youth?”
That omission is glaring. Sierra Leone’s lawmakers debated balance, gender, and minority inclusion, but youth, the largest demographic force in our nation, were nowhere in sight. At a time when across Africa young people are driving innovation, democracy, and development, leaving them out of constitutional recognition is a mistake Sierra Leone cannot afford.
Yes, President Julius Maada Bio has appointed many young leaders. But that was his choice, not a constitutional requirement. His successors may not follow suit. True commitment to youth means embedding their inclusion into law, ensuring they are not just participants but leaders. Bio’s experiment with youth leadership has proven they can deliver. Why not enshrine that progress?
The stakes are high. The drug crisis is ravaging our young population. Youth unemployment remains stubbornly high. Many are languishing, others barely surviving. The government promised 500,000 jobs under its “Big Five” agenda, but official figures remain unpublished. As the President himself admitted, “I have directed that the verified cumulative employment figure be published, clearly stating what is counted, the sectors involved and job durations.” Until then, the promise is just words.
Meanwhile, youth ministries, commissions, and projects exist and Bio recently announced support for 8,000 youth‑led enterprises. But these efforts, while commendable, are not enough. Just as gender and minority inclusion were explicitly written into the amendment, so too should youth be named.
This is not about semantics. It is about restoring hope, building trust, and affirming that Sierra Leone’s future belongs to its young people. Without constitutional recognition, youth empowerment risks becoming rhetoric, box‑ticking, and political slogans. With it, we can fuel their passion to lead, innovate, and transform the nation.
The question remains: What about the youth? Parliament must answer it, not with speeches, but with law.
