By Africa 24 Parliamentary reporter

The Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) Member of Parliament from Bo District who serves as the Acting Leader of Government Business in Parliament, Hon Bashiru Silikie has reacted to the opposition leader in Parliament that “most of the names submitted to government for the release of politically motivated prisoners are November 26 coup plotters.”

This reaction came during the ratification of the $480 million.

This was disclosed on Tuesday 15th October 2024 during the debate on the ratification the $480 million agreement signed between the government of Sierra Leone and the United States of America.

Hon. Kargbo said since calls for national unity was signed there are no single opposition prisoner who has been released neither politically motivated case in court has been dismissed.

Hon. Kargbo claimed that 8 opposition supporters are still in prison in Magburaka town and are still attending  2023 elections related cases thereby refusing to adhere for a national agreement signed.

Hon Abdul Kargbo also informed the house that, the national agreement also said the government should pay backlog of all Mayors and Chairmen of councils including the Member of Parliament from the opposition side, adding that to date no MP or mayor is yet to receive a dime from government.

To make matter worst, Hon Kargbo said the MCC funds are tied up on way out for with national unity and the implementation of the tripartite recommendations which are yet to be considered by government.

Hon Kargbo said as opposition in parliament they are supporting approval of MCC $480 million but cautioned the government to implement all the conditions as prescribed as MCC criteria.

Reacting to the Hon Kargbo, the acting leader of government business, Hon Bashiru Silikie, said when the government went to signed for the MCC compact in the united State of America the opposition leader was conspicuously absent and did not go at all, a statement that opposition leader clarified. Stating that the he failed to attend because the government intentionally failed to adhere to calls for inter-party unity by freeing political prisoners and terminating opposition cases in court.

Hon Silikie pointed that, the list of these prisoners submitted to government for action is November 26 coup plotters, how can we free coup plotters?

The acting leader said when they took over governance they promised to fight corruption and to maintain good governance.

He said the SLPP government won the 2023 elections but they participated in the deliberations of the tripartite committee.

He stated that the MCC fund will address the perennial problem of the electricity in the country especially on strengthening the Dodo hydro dam and the Bumbuna electricity project.

He said the leadership will continuously monitor the implementation of the MCC.

Hon. Silikie said energy is the source of all level of development adding that the MCC with address the problem faced.

Speaking on the elections, he said as a government they also want free and fair elections and urged the opposition not to make the MCC difficult for government.

Hon. Bashiru Silikie therefore called on the diaspora, Paramount Chiefs all all Sierra Leoneans to come and help and give the MCC the support required during it implementation.