Freetown: The Public Sector Reform Unit (PSRU) has launched “Reform Hour,” a dynamic television platform designed to access the public service performance and strengthen governance. The initiative brings together diverse stakeholders to assess the civil service and the broader operational framework, fulfilling PSRU’s core mandate to lead and coordinate reform programs across Ministries, Departments, Agencies, and Civil Society Organizations.
According to Sierra Leone News Agency, Siaka Wusha-Conteh, PSRU’s Head of Communications and ICT, moderated the flagship discussion on African Young Voice Television on February 26, 2026. He brought together a key Parliamentarian and a civil society activist to dissect the roles of the legislative arm and civic groups in governance. He set the stage by reminding viewers that Parliament holds the constitutional authority to create laws, with legislation typically emerging from policy directions or through established parliamentary procedures.
Hon. Abdul S. Marray-Conteh, Chairman of the Parliamentary Legislative Committee, outlined the threefold mandate of a Member of Parliament: lawmaking, oversight, and representation. He explained that these functions are primarily executed within Parliament and its various committees. As a standing committee, the Legislative Committee holds the sole responsibility for the detailed examination of proposed laws.
“When a bill enters Parliament, it undergoes first and second readings,” Hon. Marray-Conteh explained. “For highly technical bills, Parliament refers them to the Legislative Committee for meticulous refinement. Our job is to scrutinize them line by line, proposing additions, reductions, or language adjustments. We also conduct further consultations to ensure the bill is thoroughly ‘cleaned up’ before it advances.”
Following this review, the committee presents a report at the Well of Parliament. This report is influential, with Parliament adopting its recommendations in approximately ninety percent of cases. After the report is presented, the bill proceeds through the Committee of the Whole House, where members can further refine specific aspects. The legislative process often begins at the consultative level with MDAs, where early parliamentary engagement helps shape laws effectively. Hon. Marray-Conteh noted that the vast majority of bills are government-initiated, reflecting cabinet-approved policies, with private member’s bills rarely succeeding.
Victor Lansana Koroma Esq., Executive Director of Health Alert, characterized civil society as the essential link between citizens and the state. “We serve as the moral compass and custodians of citizens’ interests, ensuring the interface between the public and duty-bearers remains transparent and fair,” he stated.
Koroma emphasized that civil society’s primary function is to hold the state accountable, guaranteeing that every voice is heard and that citizens can actively participate in decisions affecting their lives. He described civic groups as persistent advocates who push for tangible reforms, from electoral processes to constitutional reviews. “Sustainable development is impossible without addressing foundational governance elements. We raise the alarm on issues affecting the populace, compelling the state to address inefficiencies.”
He argued that reform excluding non-state actors is incomplete. “We are the journalists, lawyers, and former public servants who scrutinize critical issues and ensure reforms deliver greater efficiency and transparency.” He noted that while government can sometimes be hesitant, civil society provides the necessary impetus for timely change. By highlighting underperforming ministries, they compel state authorities to act, ensuring governance is a collaborative process for the benefit of the entire population.
Koroma stressed that authentic change begins with consultation. “You cannot design a policy for a select few in an office. You must go to the communities, and when you do, you meet us the civil society organizations that are the people’s voice.” He reflected on successful platforms like the Open Government Initiative, which brought all political parties together to ensure transparency. However, he noted that such robust engagement levels, particularly regarding uncensored access to information, have not been replicated.
A persistent challenge, he said, is a lack of effective coordination. An institution like PSRU should serve as the secretariat connecting diverse ideas, but it requires the capacity to conduct deep, cross-sectoral research. He added that while reform often faces resistance because it disrupts the status quo, it is ultimately a catalyst for development, innovation, and progress.
Hon. Marray-Conteh reinforced this, pointing to platforms like CSO-net that formally connect parliamentarians and civil society. He also identified a persistent mismatch between policy and law, where institutions struggle to implement legislation without clear policy backing. He introduced post-legislative scrutiny as a critical tool for gauging implementation and identifying bottlenecks, citing public feedback on the Cyber Law as an example.
“Public complaints about the Cyber Law’s rigidity are common,” he noted. “Yet, no institution has formally come to Parliament to say a provision is unworkable. We haven’t conducted post-legislative scrutiny, partly due to limited technical capacity to understand community-level impacts.” He advocated for proactive feedback mechanisms and regular reviews to ensure laws serve their intended purpose.