Sierra Leone: Civil Society Demands Apology From Speaker Over First Lady’s Humiliation In Parliament 

 

By Mahmud Tim Kargbo

The National Consortium on Public Accountability (NCPA) has urged the Speaker of Parliament of Sierra , Hon. Sengepoh Solomon Thomas, to issue a public apology to First Lady Fatima Bio after she was allegedly humiliated in the Well of Parliament during the State Opening. The group says the singing of an “immoral” song, reportedly titled “Cocoa Roast”, by some MPs and supporters breached parliamentary decorum and demeaned the dignity of state institutions.

At a press conference in Freetown, the NCPA argued that the incident offends the spirit of the 1991 Constitution’s Fundamental Principles of State Policy, notably the duties of citizens to promote national unity and respect lawful authority as contained in Section 13, and undermines Parliament’s own obligation to model civic leadership under Section 11 on the role of the press and public institutions in promoting accountability and good conduct. Speakers insisted the affront was not merely personal to Mrs Bio but injurious to the esteem of the Presidency and, by extension, the State.

Section 11, The Press, Radio and Television

The press, radio and television and other agencies of the mass media shall at all times be free to uphold the fundamental objectives contained in this Constitution and highlight the responsibility and accountability of the Government to the people.

Section 13, Duties of the Citizen

Every citizen shall:

(a) abide by this Constitution, respect its ideals and its institutions, the National Flag, the National Anthem and authorities;

(b) cultivate a sense of nationalism and patriotism so that loyalty to the State shall override sectional, ethnic, tribal or other loyalties;

(c) protect and preserve public property and prevent the misappropriation and squandering of funds belonging to the Government, local authorities or public corporations;

(d) help to enhance the power, prestige and good name of the State and to defend the State and render national service as may be required;

(e) respect the dignity and religion of other persons and the rights and interests of others;

(f) make positive and useful contributions to the advancement, progress and well-being of the community, wherever he resides;

(g) work conscientiously in a lawful and chosen occupation and abstain from any activity detrimental to the general welfare of others;

(h) ensure the proper upbringing of his children and wards;

(i) pay taxes and other legitimate levies and dues; and

(j) help in the proper maintenance and improvement of the environment of the community.

“This episode is an embarrassment to the President and the nation,” said NCPA representative Daniel S. Pewa, calling on the Speaker to “do the needful” and issue an unreserved apology.

Civil society member David Hindolo Conteh criticised Parliament for neglecting pressing national concerns such as the kush drug crisis, poor road infrastructure, the rising cost of living and electricity shortages in favour of what he described as “trivialities” that corrode public trust. Journalist Boima JB Boima described the conduct as “uncivilised and unparliamentary,” urging the SLPP to investigate and sanction those responsible. Political commentator Melvin Tejan Mansaray added that while the First Lady’s office is ceremonial, there is no constitutional rule that would justify her public ridicule for alleged protocol lapses.

Child rights advocate Mohamed Galimah Esq. linked the episode to the wider struggle for women’s political participation, noting Sierra Leone’s ongoing efforts to meet the 30 percent representation target and warning that public humiliation of high profile women leaders risks entrenching gendered hostility.

The NCPA’s Executive Secretary, Ahmed Yillah, termed the incident “an attack against the Presidency” and urged remedial action by both the Speaker and President Julius Maada Bio.

Constitutionally, Section 13 sets civic obligations to foster national unity, respect lawful authorities and refrain from conduct that undermines public order. While these duties are not directly punitive, they establish standards that public office holders should exemplify. Section 11 sets expectations that state institutions promote accountability and good governance, making disorder in a State Opening difficult to reconcile with constitutional norms.

Parliamentary Standing Orders and the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges law give the Speaker authority to name and suspend disorderly members, order withdrawal from the chamber, refer misconduct to the Committee on Privileges or Ethics, and require formal apologies or impose sanctions for contempt.

Comparable incidents across the Commonwealth show that breaches of solemn state occasions are treated seriously. In the United Kingdom, Members named by the Speaker for gross disorder can be suspended under Standing Order 44. In South Africa, MPs from the Economic Freedom Fighters have been forcibly removed and suspended for disruptions during the State of the Nation Address under the Rules of the National Assembly. In Ghana, disorder during budget and Speaker elections led to disciplinary referrals and public censure. In Kenya, MPs have been suspended for singing and disruption during presidential or budget proceedings under Standing Order 107. In Uganda, MPs have faced suspension for unparliamentary behaviour under Rule 80.

These examples underscore a consistent norm across legislatures: solemn state occasions are not party rallies. Conduct acceptable in the heat of a political contest becomes unacceptable when the setting is a national ceremony in the legislature.

It is in this light that the First Lady is cautioned to separate partisan exuberance at the SLPP National Delegates Conference from the dignity owed to a State Opening of Parliament.

Party conferences are overtly partisan and emotionally charged. Delegates support rival slates, chants and songs are common, and victory laps are often part of the culture. Political science calls this “hot cognition”, judgments made in the heat of emotion. A State Opening of Parliament is entirely different. It is a national, non-partisan ritual where the behaviour of all present should be guided by constitutional and procedural respect.

While conference floor behaviour is governed by party rules and customs where the remedy is internal reconciliation, parliamentary conduct is governed by the Constitution, Standing Orders and privileges, where the remedy is formal sanction. By not dwelling on conference taunts and instead insisting on parliamentary standards, the First Lady strengthens her moral case for a Speaker-led remedy and avoids politicising the dispute.

Political science research supports this approach. The book “Loser’s Consent: Elections and Democratic Legitimacy” by Anderson et al. (Oxford University Press, 2005) shows that democracies are stable when losers accept outcomes after a cooling-off period, even if rhetoric was harsh during contests. Studies by Pippa Norris and others note that partisan language during internal contests is often temporary and de-escalates over time. Rituals of reconciliation, such as the Clinton-Obama unity rally in 2008 in the United States or the ANC’s post-conference unity statements in South Africa, demonstrate that internal party tensions can be repaired if winners extend the olive branch.

Therefore, the First Lady is encouraged to treat conference-hall chanting as ephemeral politicking and Well-of-Parliament taunting as a breach of institutional dignity. Publicly prioritising the latter and calling for corrective action from the Speaker under the Standing Orders would keep the focus on parliamentary integrity and national unity.

A measured remedy would include a formal apology from the Speaker, referral to the Committee on Privileges or Ethics, guidance from the Chair reaffirming rules against singing, chanting, and personal abuse during solemn sittings, and public education linking decorum to the Fundamental Principles of State Policy.

“Parliament is not a party rally. What is forgivable in the heat of a conference is unacceptable in the Well of the House.”

References:

Constitution of Sierra Leone, 1991. Sections 11 and 13. Available at: https://www.sierra-leone.org/Laws/constitution1991.pdf

Standing Orders of the Parliament of Sierra Leone. Available at: https://www.parliament.gov.sl/

Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act, Sierra Leone. Available at: https://www.parliament.gov.sl/

Anderson, C. J., Blais, A., Bowler, S., & Donovan, T. (2005). Loser’s Consent: Elections and Democratic Legitimacy. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/0199276382.001.0001

Norris, P. (2011). Democratic Deficit: Critical Citizens Revisited. Cambridge University Press.

BBC News. (2015). South Africa MPs ejected from State of the Nation Address. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-31438516

The Guardian. (2015). Ghana parliament in chaos over budget approval. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/nov/

Daily Nation (Kenya). (2018). MPs suspended for singing in Parliament. https://nation.africa