The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh, on 12 December 2024 at the New Brookfields Hotel, opened a two-day seminar for the Leadership of Parliament on ways to facilitate cross-party dialogues and mediations processes.

Giving a keynote address on behalf of the Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh, acknowledged the benefits of cross-party dialogue and mediation, saying difficult conversations are ahead for the current Parliament assembly.

He praised the Leadership of Parliament for nurturing and fostering peace, unity and dialogue in Parliament.

He also spoke about traditional and multimedia networks that are running commentaries and reporting Parliamentary proceedings.

On having a united parliament, he referenced the popular lyrics of a reggae songstar, Lucky Dube, “different colours, one people”.

Speaking on behalf of the Commission for Peace and National Cohesion, the Deputy Director of Research, Adikalie Sheku Kamara, said he was pleased that Parliament was discussing cross-party dialogue and mediation in light of peace and cohesion in the country, whilst speaking on the mandate of the Commission including conflict prevention and resolution in the country.

The Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business, Hon. Mathew Sahr Nyuma said he believes in statistical analysis than perceptions, given the progress report on the Bo Declaration.

He said he is a man of conscience and faith and believes in dialogue, and in effective consultation and sincerity of purpose. He said currently there is unity and decorum in Parliament because of the dialogue, consultation that is upheld without a recourse to voting strength in Parliament.

He also spoke on increased female representation in the current Parliament assembly totaling 42.

Leader of the Opposition,  Hon. Abdul Kargbo said tParliament has a great role to play to promote cross-party dialogue and unity, whilst speaking on the expectations of government and opposition benches both in and out of Parliament. He said Parliament is the medium through which political parties interact, whilst speaking on majority and minority in Parliament.

He noted that over reliance on majority vote in Parliament is inimical to progress and decorum in Parliament.

He also noted that a united Parliament is stronger than the executive, citing the power to remove the president from office through impeachment, adding MPs are difficult to be removed from office.

Norah Babic of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), in an online address said among other things that mediation requires an open, inclusive and comprehensive approach, with a view to getting and reflecting the majority views of the population including women for purposes of dialogue and consultation.

She also noted that Parliament was a space that accommodate agreement and disagreement, thus the need for dialogue and mediation.

Hon. Veronica Kadie Sesay, President of ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians said that women are central to peace building and bridging the gap in society.

She also noted that the people do not appreciate Members of Parliament in spite of the difficulties they are being faced with. She recognized the need for a united Parliament and spoke on increased female representation in the current Parliament assembled through the reintroduction of the Proportional System of representation accounting for 42 women in Parliament.

Director General, Finda Fraser welcomed participants and the Director of Parliamentary Commission Secretariat’s Office.