By Amin Kef Sesay
The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mohamed Lamin Tarawallie Esq., has presented a proclamation to the Sierra Leone Parliament on Thursday, April 18, 2024. The proclamation, made by His Excellency Brigadier Retired, Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic, Supreme Head of State, Grand Commander of the Order of the Republic, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Fountain Head of Unity, Honour, Freedom, and Justice, relates to Constitutional Instrument No.6 of 2024, focusing on Kush and other harmful drugs.
During the parliamentary session, the Attorney General tabled several key documents:
1. Proclamation 2024 by President Julius Maada Bio
2. The Public Emergency Regulations, 2024
3. The Drug and Substance Abuse Public Emergency Response Regulation 2024
4. Statutory Instrument No.7 of 2024
In his remarks, Majority Leader and Leader of Government, Hon Mathew Sahr Nyuma, affirmed that all legal procedures regarding the President’s proclamation had been duly fulfilled. He commended the Attorney General for adhering to the advice of Parliament in the matter.
Acting Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Daniel Koroma, welcomed the new proclamation, emphasizing its importance and the adherence to parliamentary advice. He clarified that the previous proclamation, issued on the 9th, had elapsed, highlighting that the new proclamation was gazetted on April 17, 2024.
In a separate development during the parliamentary session, members extensively debated the ‘Criminal Procedure Act, 2024.’ This bill aims to repeal and replace the outdated Criminal Procedure Act of 1965, introducing new procedures related to summary trials, committal proceedings, trials on indictments, alternative sentences, and other relevant matters.
Both opposition and Government Members of Parliament contributed substantially to the discussions, raising concerns and questions. Following the debate, the bill was committed to the Legislative Committee for further amendments and scrutiny.
The Attorney General and Minister of Justice responded to the issues, concerns, and questions raised by Members of Parliament, providing clarifications where necessary. It must be noted that the parliamentary session marked a significant step in addressing drug abuse and reforming criminal procedures in Sierra Leone.
