The Chairman of the Transparency and Accountability Committee (TAC), Honourable Ibrahim Tawa Conteh, representing Constituency 132 Western Area (SLPP) has on Thursday 10th September 2020 announced his resignation, in tears, to the Committee effective immediately. He made the shocking announcement after returning from an unexpected meeting called by the Leader of Government Business, Hon Mathew Sahr Nyuma, who informed members in Committee Room No 1 that the sitting is adjourned for five minutes.
Earlier, after the Committee’s engagement with officials from the Ministry of Information and SLACAB started, the Leader of Government Business entered and was allowed to make a statement. This followed a call into a meeting, with the Chairmen of both the Committee of Transparency and Accountability and of Information and this led to a temporary disruption of the proceedings.
Returning from the closed door meeting, Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh promptly stated, “Considering the nature of the job that I accepted when it was approved in the chamber of Parliament, I know it was going to be a daunting and herculean task. And I realised much is expected from me, from both Parliament and the people.”
He maintained that since he subscribed to the oath of office on 25th April 2018, he knew it was going to be a challenging task as he will be entering into an uncharted territory, and yesterday was no different. “Today is another day that my resolve has been tested.” He said, noting that “Today is another day that we should believe Sierra Leone comes first and that Sierra Leone is bigger than any other person.”
The young SLPP Member of Parliament then shockingly proclaimed “On that note, I want to sadly announce my resignation as the Chairman of the Transparency and Accountability Committee effective immediately.” Before making the disclosure, Hon Tawa assured the Committee and the public that they were on the journey of getting the meeting back on track as several things have unfolded since the Committee started its sitting. He explained that as Chairman with a mandate supported by the Standing Order and the 1991 Constitution, he saw it as maintaining decorum and in line with the spirit of transparency and accountability to have thought of inviting the Ministry of information and SALCAB for the Committee members to understand the issues surrounding the unbundling of SALCAB.
“As an arm of government, we believe that it is best in the interest of the people to understand exactly what is happening with SALCAB and other agencies operating under the Ministry of Information,” he said. His resignation announcement came as a shock to everyone, including members of the Committee. Things took a dramatic turn then, as all the members almost unanimously announced their resignations, saying: “We are also resigning as Committee members.”
The TAC and the Committee on Communication were probing the Ministry of Information’s intention to unbundle SALCAB, which according to the TAC Chairman is of public interest. Members of both committees were at the peak of asking the Minister of Information questions when the Leader of Government Business entered the Committee room and asked for the meeting to be stood down for five minutes.
In response before leaving the committee room for the meeting, Hon Tawa said that although he is standing down the meeting, the Committee’s approach to the unbundling of SALCAB will not change. Hon Tawa, however, confirmed that the interference of Parliamentary Leadership is one of the major reasons for his resignation, as he cannot allow anyone to twist his hands while performing his constitutional obligation as the people’s representative.