Story By Abdul Rahman Bah
At a Government Press Conference held on Tuesday, 10 February 2026, Honourable Abdul Sulaiman Marray-Conteh, Chairman of the Legislative Committee of Parliament, provided detailed civic education on the procedures guiding the Constitutional Amendment Bill.
Hon. Marray-Conteh explained that although the proposed bill seeks to repeal and replace the 1991 Constitution, the process of amendment is itself governed by the provisions and Standing Orders entrenched in the Constitution of Sierra Leone 1991. He emphasized that the Constitution is a dynamic yet protected document that cannot be altered lightly or without strict adherence to due process.
Providing an update on the current stage of the review, he disclosed that the bill has progressed from the pre-legislative engagement phase to the introduction stage, commonly referred to as the First Reading. He further revealed that the Parliament of Sierra Leone, under the directive of the Speaker, has mandated the Legislative Committee to receive position papers from members of the public. These submissions, he said, will guide Members of Parliament in making informed contributions during debates.
He clarified that for the bill to advance from the Second Reading to the Third Reading, it must secure the support of two-thirds of the House approximately 99 out of the 149 Members of Parliament. This threshold applies to both non-entrenched and entrenched provisions. However, entrenched clauses will additionally require approval by two-thirds of voters in a national referendum before they can take effect.
Hon. Marray-Conteh outlined the full legislative journey of a bill, noting that it must undergo public consultations and be gazetted twice before being formally presented to Parliament. Once tabled, the bill enters a pre-legislative session where its drafters present a comprehensive explanation, allowing lawmakers and citizens to understand each clause and seek clarification where necessary.
Following this stage, the bill proceeds to the First Reading. During the Second Reading, Members of Parliament debate its general principles after detailed explanations by the drafters. For complex legislation, the bill may be referred to the Legislative Committee for further scrutiny, after which the committee submits a report to the House for consideration.
At the Third Reading stage, sitting as the Committee of the Whole House, Parliament debates the bill clause by clause. Upon conclusion of this process, a simple majority vote is required for final passage, except in cases where constitutional thresholds apply.
Reassuring the public, Hon. Marray-Conteh affirmed that Parliament remains committed to transparency, due process, and the protection of democratic principles as the constitutional review advances through its prescribed stages.
