By Ragan M. Conteh

In a way to continue to cushion transparency and accountability in public institutions including Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Foreign Affairs on Friday, January 24th, 2025 summoned the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the Parliament Building Committee Room, Tower Hill Freetown to address the operational and financial activities of the ministry.

Chaired by Hon. Mohamed Bangura of the opposition All People’s Congress (APC), the session was marked by a tense atmosphere and sharp criticism of the ministry for its perceived neglect of responsibilities and failure to meet parliamentary obligations.

The meeting drew attention to critical issues of governance, accountability, and representation that exposed lapses which highlighted broader concerns about inefficiency and disregard for legislative authority.

Hon. Mohamed Bangura expressed disappointment over the ministry’s failure to provide adequate supporting documentations to validate the financial submissions it presented. He emphasized that such failure was not merely a procedural error but a fundamental lapse in accountability that undermined the integrity of the parliamentary process. He added: “As an institution tasked with representing Sierra Leone internationally, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs carried a unique burden of responsibility to operate with transparency and competence.

By submitting incomplete and unsupported documents, the ministry did not only hinder the committee’s oversight duties but also raised questions about the credibility of its leadership.”

The frustration of the committee was compounded by the conspicuous absence of the minister and his deputy to provide a formal apology or explanation for their non-attendance which was deemed as serious affront to the authority of Parliament.

Hon. Bangura remarked that their absence reflected a troubling disregard for the constitutional role of Parliament as the supreme legislative body of the nation. This conduct, he argued, sent a message of indifference toward the institution tasked with the responsibility to ensure transparency and accountability in governance. The chairman noted that such actions were not only disrespectful to Parliament but also detrimental to the international image of Sierra Leone. He described the situation as a significant embarrassment for the country, especially given the growing global expectations for good governance and accountability.

Meanwhile, as the session progressed, Hon. Bangura and other members of the committee also expressed grave concerns over the issue of diplomatic passports, which they described as a source of national embarrassment. He explained that the mishandling of diplomatic privileges had led to unnecessary challenges for passport holders abroad, resulting to situations where Sierra Leone’s representatives were ridiculed or treated with disdain. This, Hon. Bangura argued, was emblematic of poor governance and lack of oversight within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The chairman therefore called for an urgent review of the processes surrounding the issuance and management of diplomatic passports to restore dignity and credibility to Sierra Leone’s international engagements.

The committee also turned its attention to the ministry’s financial accountability, an area where glaring deficiencies were identified. Hon. Bangura reminded the ministry’s representatives that they had been summoned to Parliament as far back as November and December 2024 to account for their expenditures for that fiscal year, as required by the constitutional “Committee of Supply” process.

“Despite these repeated summonses, the ministry had failed to present a comprehensive financial report for the year 2024 or provide the necessary evidence to support its claims,” the chairman expressed disbelief.