The Attorney General and Minister of Justice has announced that proposed amendments to Sierra Leone’s 1991 Constitution will formally grant Parliament the authority to remove a Vice President as part of ongoing constitutional reforms currently undergoing pre legislative scrutiny.
Addressing Members of Parliament, the Attorney General said the proposal seeks to address longstanding constitutional ambiguities, particularly those highlighted during the Sam Sumana case, when the former Vice President was removed from office following his expulsion from the All People’s Congress APC, the party under which he was elected.
He explained that the current Constitution does not clearly outline the consequences when a President or Vice President resigns from, or is expelled by, the political party that sponsored their election. While such circumstances may raise questions of political legitimacy, he noted that the Constitution does not provide any automatic mechanism for removal from office.
The Attorney General stated that the government’s position is that loss of political party membership alone should not automatically create a vacancy in the presidency or vice presidency. However, to prevent future disputes and governance uncertainty, a clearly defined constitutional process is required, hence the proposal to empower Parliament with removal authority.
On electoral reforms, the Attorney General disclosed that following extensive consultations and technical recommendations, Proportional Representation PR has been adopted as the preferred electoral system. He cited a proposed amendment to Section 74 subsection 1 paragraph b of the Constitution which states that Members of Parliament shall be elected through a system of proportional representation with the detailed mode, method of nomination, and conduct of such elections prescribed by or under an Act of Parliament.
The Attorney General also announced proposed amendments relating to dual citizenship. He revealed that Section 76 subsection 1 paragraph a of the Constitution has been revised by removing the clause that disqualifies individuals who voluntarily acquire citizenship of another country. Under the proposed provision, a person will be disqualified from election to Parliament only if he or she is a naturalised citizen of Sierra Leone.
According to the Attorney General, the proposed constitutional amendments are intended to strengthen legal clarity, enhance democratic accountability, and prevent future governance disputes arising from constitutional gaps.
