Freetown, 20th February 2026 – Citizens from all 16 districts of Sierra Leone, backed by nine civil society and media organizations, have formally requested the names and contact numbers of all Members of Parliament (MPs).
The coordinated effort, submitted on 19th February, 2026, to the Clerk of Parliament, was led by Citizens’ Barray, Campaign for Good Governance (CGG), 50/50 Group, Budget Advocacy Network (BAN), Campaign for Human Rights and Development International (CHRDI), Reform Initiatives, The Institute for Legal Research and Advocacy for Justice (ILRAJ), the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), and Truth Media. Together, they filed 28 Right to Access Information (RAI) requests under the 2013 Act, demanding greater transparency and accountability from lawmakers.
The move comes amid heated debates over the 2025 Constitution Amendment Bill, with citizens voicing frustration at their inability to reach or engage with elected representatives. Many say they do not know who their MPs are, nor how to contact them. Currently, only about 19% of MPs have telephone numbers listed on Parliament’s website, leaving most citizens, especially those in rural areas without practical means of communication.
Civil society leaders argue that phone access remains the most realistic way for citizens to connect with MPs, given limited internet access and the challenges of traveling to Freetown. They reminded Parliament of its legal obligation under the RAI Act to respond to such requests and to proactively disclose information that enables citizens to participate in governance.
“This is about building an Open Parliament,” the groups emphasized in their joint statement. “Making MPs accessible nationwide will not only fulfill the spirit of transparency and accountability, but also strengthen trust between Parliament and the people it represents.”
The coalition has urged Parliament to act swiftly in releasing the requested information and to commit to ongoing transparency. Citizens, meanwhile, are being encouraged to continue using the RAI Act to demand information about their representatives and ensure their voices are heard in Sierra Leone’s democratic processes.
