Bio Proposes Doubling Paramount Chief Representation in Parliament

President Julius Maada Bio has proposed reviewing the representation of Paramount Chief Members of Parliament, with the possibility of increasing their number from one to two representatives per district.

The President made the proposal during the State Opening of the Fourth Session of the Sixth Parliament of the Second Republic, where he highlighted the role of Paramount Chiefs and traditional authorities in community leadership, peacebuilding and social cohesion.

President Bio described traditional leaders as an important part of Sierra Leone’s governance structure, noting their accessibility to communities and contribution to maintaining peace and unity.

He announced that a technical committee, led by Vice President Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, will examine the proposal and assess its implications within the framework of the Constitution and relevant laws. The review, he said, will be consultative and evidence-based.

If approved, the proposal would increase the number of Paramount Chief representatives in Parliament and give traditional leaders greater participation in national legislative decision-making.

The proposal forms part of the Government’s broader decentralisation agenda, which seeks to strengthen local governance, devolve responsibilities and improve coordination between local councils and central government.

President Bio also stressed that decentralisation must translate into tangible improvements in communities, particularly in roads, markets, water supply, sanitation, healthcare and education, while emphasising the need for transparency, accountability and adequate resources at the local level.

However, the proposal does not yet change the existing parliamentary structure. The technical committee must first review the proposal and make recommendations in line with the Constitution and relevant laws.

The initiative could open a broader discussion on the role and representation of traditional authorities in Sierra Leone’s governance system and, if adopted, result in increased Paramount Chief representation in Parliament.