Speaker of the House of Parliament of Sierra Leone
The Speaker of the House of Parliament of Sierra Leone is the presiding officer of Parliament of Sierra Leone. The speaker is the overall leader of Parliament, and is directly elected by sitting members of the House of Parliament of Sierra Leone.[1] Like other members of Parliament, the speaker is addressed as the Honourable.
| Speaker of the House of Parliament of the Republic of Sierra Leone | |
|---|---|
since 2018 | |
| Style | The Honourable Speaker |
| Appointer | Parliament of Sierra Leone (Elected by) |
| Constituting instrument | 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone |
| Formation | 1957 |
| First holder | Sir Henry Josiah Lightfoot Boston |
| Succession | Second in line of presidential succession, after the Vice-President of Sierra Leone |
The Speaker is given the constitutional power to preside over Parliament. Further, they call Members of Parliament into session, and discipline members who break the rules of Parliament. The first Speaker of the Sierra Leonean House of Parliament was the Honourable Sir Henry Josiah Lightfoot Boston who served from 1957 to 1962.[2]
Per the Constitution, the speaker is elected either among MPs who have served for no less than five years, or non-MPs who have been eligible to stand for no less than 10 years, and must be at least 40 years of age.
List of speakers
edit| Name | Took office | Left office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sir Henry Josiah Lightfoot Boston | 1957 | 1962 | [1] |
| Sir Banja Tejan-Sie | 1962 | 1967 | [1] |
| Sir Emile Luke | 1968 | 1973 | [1] |
| Justice Percy Davies | 1973 | 1977 | [1] |
| Justice Singer Betts | 1977 | 1986 | [1] |
| William Niaka Stephen Conteh | 1986 | May 1992 | [1] |
| In abeyance, military junta | May 1992 | 1996 | |
| Justice Sheku Mohamed Fadril Kutubu | 1996 | May 1997 | [1] |
| Hon.Umaro S Timbo | May 1997 | February 1998 | |
| Justice Sheku Mohamed Fadril Kutubu | February 1998 | 2000 | [1] |
| Justice Edmund Cowan | 2000 | 2007 | [1][3] |
| Justice Abel Nathaniel Bankole Stronge | 25 September 2007 | 19 November 2013 | [1] |
| Sheku Badara Bashiru Dumbuya | 19 November 2013 | 2018 | [4] |
| Abass Bundu | 25 April 2018 | Incumbent | [5] |
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Dr. Abdulai Conteh Comments on Controversial Speaker Issue". November 22, 2013.
- ^ "Sierra Leone: Re: The Speaker of Parliament by Dr. Abdulai O. Conteh". Sierra Leone News. May 1, 2020. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ "SIERRA LEONE: Parliamentary elections Parliament, 2002".
- ^ "Parliament of Sierra Leone > About Us > the Speakership > Speaker > Biography". www.parliament.gov.sl. Archived from the original on November 22, 2016. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
- ^ "Parliament of Sierra Leone > About Us > The Speakership > Speaker > Biography". www.parliament.gov.sl. Archived from the original on November 22, 2016.