Parliament Fails To Honor Citizens’ Request
By JKM
Sierra Leone’s Parliament is facing growing public criticism after failing to respond to citizens’ requests for the contact details of Members of Parliament (MPs), in what civil society groups describe as a breach of transparency laws.
On 19 February 2026, citizens from across the country submitted formal requests to the Clerk of Parliament, seeking the names and telephone numbers of their respective MPs. The move was aimed at strengthening direct engagement between elected officials and their constituents.
The requests were made under the Right to Access Information Act 2013, which mandates public institutions to respond within 15 working days. However, that deadline has passed without any response from Parliament.
The initiative is backed by a coalition of civil society and media organizations, including Citizens’ Barray, Campaign for Good Governance, 50/50 Group, Budget Advocacy Network, Institute for Legal Research and Advocacy for Justice, Sierra Leone Association of Journalists, and Truth Media.
Eleanor Thompson of Citizens’ Barray stressed that access to MPs is critical for transparency and democratic accountability. Meanwhile, citizens like Suafiatu Tunis from Pujehun District say Parliament’s silence undermines trust in public institutions.
In response, the coalition has petitioned the Right to Access Information Commission to intervene and ensure Parliament complies with the law.
Civil society groups are urging citizens to continue exercising their right to information, emphasizing that active public participation is essential for strengthening democracy in Sierra Leone.
