Speaker of the House of Parliament of Sierra Leone

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Speaker of the House of Parliament of the Republic of Sierra Leone
Incumbent
Abass Bundu
since 2018
Style The Honourable Speaker
Appointer Parliament of Sierra Leone
(Elected by)
Constituting instrument 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone
Formation1957
First holderSir Henry Josiah Lightfoot Boston
SuccessionSecond in line of presidential succession, after the Vice-President 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.

Contents

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

NameTook officeLeft officeNotes
Sir Henry Josiah Lightfoot Boston 19571962 [1]
Sir Banja Tejan-Sie 19621967 [1]
Sir Emile Luke 19681973 [1]
Justice Percy Davies 19731977 [1]
Justice Singer Betts 19771986 [1]
William Niaka Stephen Conteh 1986May 1992 [1]
In abeyance, military juntaMay 19921996
Justice Sheku Mohamed Fadril Kutubu 1996May 1997 [1]
Hon.Umaro S TimboMay 1997February 1998
Justice Sheku Mohamed Fadril Kutubu February 19982000 [1]
Justice Edmund Cowan 20002007 [1] [3]
Justice Abel Nathaniel Bankole Stronge 25 September 200719 November 2013 [1]
Sheku Badara Bashiru Dumbuya 19 November 20132018 [4]
Abass Bundu 25 April 2018Incumbent [5]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Dr. Abdulai Conteh Comments on Controversial Speaker Issue". November 22, 2013.
  2. "Sierra Leone: Re: The Speaker of Parliament by Dr. Abdulai O. Conteh". Sierra Leone News. May 1, 2020. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  3. "SIERRA LEONE: Parliamentary elections Parliament, 2002".
  4. "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.
  5. "Parliament of Sierra Leone > About Us > The Speakership > Speaker > Biography". www.parliament.gov.sl. Archived from the original on November 22, 2016.