The Ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), Member of Parliament representing Kono District, Hon. Komba Quee, has clarified that the heated exchange witnessed in Parliament during the Committee Stage of the Constitutional Amendment Bill, 2025, was not a physical confrontation but rather a verbal disagreement arising from political differences.

Speaking in an interview, Hon. Quee explained that tensions increased after Parliament moved from the Second Reading of the Constitutional Amendment Bill into the Committee Stage, where individual Members of Parliament were given the opportunity to scrutinise specific clauses, make submissions, raise concerns, and express their positions on the proposed amendments.


According to him, disagreements emerged when members from both the ruling SLPP and the opposition All People’s Congress (APC) made their contributions during the debate.

“During the proceedings, when the ruling SLPP MP from Kailahun District, Hon. Quintin Salia Konneh, stood up to make his submission, APC MP Hon. Aminata Sesay from Port Loko District started making some undertone comments which were very derogatory,” Hon. Quee alleged.

He added that a similar situation occurred when APC MP Hon. Peter Yamba was making his contribution on the Constitutional Amendment Bill.

Hon. Quee said the Committee Stage created intense political debate because lawmakers from both sides were determined to defend what they considered the interests and rights of their supporters and citizens.

“Within the Committee Stage, individual members were able to take clauses and make their submissions. During that process, tension arose between the two parties because everybody was trying to protect the rights of their supporters and citizens,” he explained.

He said the disagreement involved himself, Hon. Aminata Sesay, and Hon. Ibrahim Barrie of the APC, who were all participating in the parliamentary debate.

Hon. Quee acknowledged that there were moments when strong language was exchanged among lawmakers, attributing it to the close seating arrangement in the Chamber, where members from opposing political parties sit near each other.

“We are very close to each other. We seat not far from one another, so whatever happens, we respond. I am not saying there was no use of strong language, but it was part of the exchange during the debate,” he stated.

However, he maintained that the disagreement never resulted in any physical confrontation.

The Kono lawmaker argued that Members of Parliament have a duty to defend the interests of the people they represent, especially under Sierra Leone’s Proportional Representation (PR) electoral system, where political parties play a significant role in electing representatives.

“We are all here representing people through our political parties. Without the political party, we would not have come here to represent the people directly because of the PR system,” Hon. Quee said.

He further rejected suggestions that some lawmakers lacked experience in parliamentary debates, saying MPs have acquired years of legislative experience and understand their responsibilities.

“I have debated four or five times. Nobody should tell me about debate because we all represent our people. Before a particular symbol or amendment is considered, we critically analyse it, discuss it, and challenge issues that need clarification,” he stated.

He stressed that disagreements in Parliament should be viewed as part of democratic engagement rather than personal attacks.

The Constitutional Amendment Bill, 2025, continues to progress through parliamentary stages, with lawmakers expected to further scrutinise its provisions before a final decision is reached.