By Africa 24 newsman

The Deputy Speaker of Parliament who doubles as the Chairman Public Account Committee in Parliament, Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh,  has announced the formation of a Parliamentary Committee to visit other Parliaments in other countries to know how agreements are prepared and passed into law.

Hon Tawa Conteh said the committee to be set up will comprise Members of Parliament from government bench, Opposition and Paramount Chiefs.

He said the committee will examine other parliamentary agreements and laws related to approval of agreements.

He made the submissions on Tuesday 23rd July, 2024 when presiding over the hearing on the approval of the Presidential nominees and the approval of the CTC Mining Company agreement in the Chambers of Parliament.

The Deputy Speaker also proposed the formation of such committee on the loopholes being raised by the Deputy Leader of opposition, Hon. Daniel Koroma on the agreements tabled before the Chambers of Parliament.

Hon. Koroma says parliament can make some agreements better if it is consulted during the preparation of these agreements.

Daniel Koroma pointed out that it caused no harm for agreements to be scrutinised by Parliament, adding that it will also help make the document  better for both the investors and the government.

He however asked the entire house to remove what he referred as legal “virus” that debarred Parliament from looking into the agreements and better review them.

According to Hon. Koroma, monies that are meant for development purposes over the years, but are only going into the “wrong hands” with hardly any development happening in the mining communities.

He cited Sierra Rutile community  as very deplorable irrespective of the huge sums CDF and lease funds being given to community stakeholders.

He emphasized that all agreements should be brought to Parliament for scrutiny before taken to the Well of Parliament.

“We need to amend that virus so that we can make agreement suitable for investors and the government,” he asserted.