By Josephine W. Lagawo
FREETOWN, July 13 (232news.com) – Members of Parliament on Tuesday July 12Th 2022 ratified Constitutional Amendment in section 32(8)-changing the number of Commissioners in Electoral Commission from four to five commissioners and one chairman.
This is so because another district was recently created known as the North West Region.
Amendment was also done for reasons to remove commission which was previously for ‘misbehavior’ but it is now for ‘gross misconduct.’
Presenting the bill to Members of Parliament, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice Mohamed Lamin Tarawally said that the bill needs to replace ‘misbehavior’ to ‘misconduct.’
Hon Ajibola Mainley Spaine stated that he wants to know the interpretation of ‘misconduct.’
Opposition Leader APC Hon Chernor R.M. Bah said that they have mentioned in the house of parliament times without number that there is no perfect law.
He pointed out that the two issues that are on the floor “misconduct and the specify figure of the number of commissioners they have in the 1991 constitution was amended, “noting that they would support the amendment with specific figure.
The Leader of government business Hon Mathew Nyuma said in the amendment they have five commissioners with chairman and that with 98 votes they are amending section 32(8) in the constitution and section 52 to be addressed to a tribunal.
The Attorney General responded that the reason they are changing ‘misbehavior’ to ‘misconduct’ is to strengthen the electoral commission in carrying its duties without fear.
The Deputy Speaker of Parliament Hon Segepoh Solomon Thomas moves a motion for a collection of voices to be considered.
The Speaker of parliament Dr. Abass Bundu stated that there are 135 members of parliament including the paramount chiefs that were present out of 145 members of parliament and that 2/3 majority the should be 97 but that in this case, the 135 members of parliament support the ratification of the constitutional amendment.
