The proposed constitutional amendment bill currently before Sierra Leone’s Parliament has ignited intense political debate, with opposition voices warning that certain provisions risk plunging the country into instability if not properly addressed.
Speaking during a radio interview on Radio Democracy on Monday, 26th January 2026, a senior opposition Abdul Karim Kamara esq cited Section 38 of the bill as having the propensity to propel the country into chaos. He asserted that the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) does not command the required two thirds parliamentary majority needed to pass the bill if it proceeds to a vote, describing the process as contentious and divisive.
Central to the controversy is the proposed Proportional Representation (PR) electoral system, which critics argue remains vague and insufficiently defined.
According to lawyer Abdul Karim Kamara, the lack of clarity surrounding the PR framework raises serious concerns about transparency and electoral fairness.
Another major point of contention is the threshold for winning presidential elections.
He further highlighted what he described as an “elephant in the room”: the proposal to reduce the winning margin from 55 percent plus one to 50 percent. He argued that this move departs from the Tripartite Committee recommendations, accusing the government of introducing a confusing and disingenuous interpretation by describing the change merely as a “simple majority.”
Lawyer Kamara Esq. further alleged that the SLPP had already made up its mind on the bill long before it was tabled in Parliament, thereby undermining genuine consultation and public participation. He insisted that sovereignty does not reside with any political party but with the people of Sierra Leone.
“We are not asking for favours,” prominent Lawyer AKK emphasized. “What we are asking for is equality.”
He stressed that constitutional reforms must reflect the will and interests of the broader population rather than serve partisan objectives.
Responding to the criticisms, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh acknowledged that no bill presented before the House is ever perfect, noting that Section 38 itself remains subject to scrutiny, debate, and possible amendment as parliamentary deliberations continue.
Meanwhile, Hon. Tawa Conteh accused the All People’s Congress (APC) of opposing the PR system out of fear of the Western Area, suggesting that demographic and political realities in the region influence the party’s stance. He argued that many of the world’s most stable and happiest democracies operate under proportional representation, which he said was one of the key reasons the APC had previously recommended the system.
Hon. Conteh also addressed the controversial 30 percent women’s quota, stating that the APC had earlier discouraged the provision while simultaneously advocating for amendments to entrenched clauses of the 1991 Constitution a position he described as contradictory.
As parliamentary debate continues, the constitutional amendment bill remains a defining test for Sierra Leone’s democratic maturity.
With opposing sides firmly entrenched, observers say the coming weeks will be critical in determining whether consensus can be reached on reforms that are broadly acceptable, inclusive, and capable of strengthening national unity rather than deepening political fault lines.