Freetown, Sierra Leone – Clerk of Parliament has been directed to proceed on leave effective June 20, 2025, following a formal complaint by the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Hon. Abdul Kargbo, who raised serious concerns about the Clerk’s political ambitions and public conduct.
In a letter dated June 1, 2025, Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas confirmed that he had engaged President Julius Maada Bio on the matter. According to the Speaker, the President instructed that the Clerk step aside temporarily “whilst he tries to exercise his mind on the next line of action about the Office of the Clerk of Parliament.”
This move comes in response to a May 5 letter from Hon. Kargbo, who accused the Clerk of violating both the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone and the Political Parties Regulation Commission (PPRC) Act. He cited the Clerk’s declared intention to contest for the role of Secretary General in a political party, an act he said directly breaches Section 15(a)(ii) of the PPRC Act and Section 26(2)(b) of the Constitution, which prohibit public officers from participating in partisan politics or holding executive party office.
Kargbo described the Clerk’s actions as a fundamental violation of constitutional limits and warned that they pose a threat to the neutrality of Parliament, especially given the Clerk’s control over sensitive resources and information.
Additional concerns were raised over alleged derogatory comments made by the Clerk about opposition Members of Parliament. Kargbo called the statements “unacceptable” and said they undermined the impartial and professional standards expected of a parliamentary officer.
Speaker Thomas, in his response, urged all political parties to remain engaged in the work of the House and to continue serving the people of Sierra Leone with integrity and dedication.
While the decision places the Clerk on temporary leave, the matter remains under review, and further action is expected in the coming weeks.
