Parliamentary Clerk sent on leave based on opposition’s ultimatum

The political landscape of Sierra Leone has been significantly impacted by a leaked letter indicating that the Clerk of Parliament, the Honorable Paran Tarawally, has been directed to proceed on leave. This development, effective June 20th, 2025, is a direct consequence of an ultimatum issued by the opposition All People's Congress (APC) party.

The APC had threatened to boycott parliamentary proceedings unless Mr. Tarawally resigned or withdrew from his political party's internal elections.

The aforementioned letter, addressed to the Honourable Leader of the Opposition, the Honorable Abdul Kargbo, refers to previous correspondence from May 2025 regarding the Clerk's conduct and the demand for his immediate resignation.

It states that the matter was subsequently referred to His Excellency the President, who then instructed Mr. Tarawally to take leave. This period of leave is designated for the President to deliberate on the subsequent actions concerning the Office of the Clerk of Parliament.

This action is a direct response to the opposition's firm stance of abstention, following an appeal from Speaker himself to the APC to reconsider their decision and continue their service to the House and the populace of Sierra Leone.

The Speaker had confirmed receipt of the APC's letter and conveyed that internal discussions within his own party were in progress. 

Although the letter was leaked in the last twenty-four hours, it is clear that it was issued on June 1st, which raises the question: why now?