Commonwealth MPs Engage Speaker & Parliamentarians

A six-man delegation from the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, United Kingdom (CPA-UK) led by Lord Forster of Bath, on Monday 29/01/2024, paid courtesy call on the Speaker of the Sierra Leone Parliament, Hon. Dr. Abass Chernor Bundu, in his Chambers at Parliament building in Freetown.

Head of Delegation, Lord Forster, said they were in Freetown for a three-day training and experience sharing regarding a post-election seminar for Members of Parliament in the Sixth Parliament, after the polls in June last year.

Responding, Hon. Dr. Abass Chernor Bundu welcomed the delegation and wished them a hospitable stay throughout their stay in the Republic of Sierra Leone. He called on the delegation to keep drumming into the hearts and minds of Africans the value of democracy, emphasizing that with all its imperfections, yet it was the best form of government in Africa.

Speaking on the importance of Proportional Representation and provisions in the Public Elections Act 2022, he said it resulted in increasing women’s representation from 11% to 30% in Parliament, adding that the PR system had diffused political tension and also promoted cohesiveness within the District. The post-election seminar for MPs commenced on 30th to the 1st of February 2024, aimed at experience sharing and capacity building of MPs, including effective oversight, committee system and cross-party relations.