Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. A civil society group is asking for the immediate resignation or removal of the Clerk of Parliament, Paran Umar Tarawally, after he made it known that he plans to run for a top position in the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP).
The League of Democracy Advocates (LoDA) says the Clerk’s decision to enter the race for National Secretary General of the SLPP while still holding public office goes against the law and could damage trust in Parliament.
In a statement released today, LoDA pointed to Section 82 of the Constitution, which clearly states that the Clerk of Parliament is a public officer. According to LoDA, that makes him subject to rules that stop public officers from taking part in political party leadership.
They also referred to Section 29 of the Political Parties Act of 2022. It bans public officers from being involved in the executive activities of political parties. These rules, when read along with Sections 75 and 76 of the Constitution, aim to keep public institutions neutral and fair.
LoDA says public officeholders are expected to stay out of politics while in office to keep their roles honest and fair. The group believes the Clerk’s political move risks making the office look biased.
“This is not just about rules. It’s about trust in how Parliament works,” the statement said.
LoDA has called on President Julius Maada Bio to act fast by replacing the Clerk. They say this is needed to protect the role of Parliament, which is meant to make laws and hold leaders accountable.
The group has given a 14-day deadline. If no action is taken, they say they will decide what steps to take next.
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