Hon. AKK Defends Parliament, Slams Afrobarometer Report
By Benjamin S Conteh
In a fiery appearance on AYV’s On Sunday talk show, Honourable Abdul Karim Kamara (Hon. A.K.K.), Opposition Whip and Member of Parliament for Kambia District, launched a scathing critique of the Afrobarometer survey that ranked Sierra Leone’s Parliament among the country’s most corrupt institutions. He described the report as misleading, ill-timed, and part of a broader agenda to undermine democratic institutions.
Addressing the show’s theme “Afrobarometer spots Parliament in the list of corrupt institutions and the Clerk is sent on leave: are integrity and trust gone?” Hon. Kamara passionately defended Parliament’s integrity, challenged civil society’s perceived silence on government misconduct, and questioned the credibility of the survey’s methodology.
“I’m not calling Alphonsus to be like Kenya’s civil society,” he said, referencing the bold activism in Kenya. “But in Sierra Leone, we wait for the opposition to speak instead of collectively defending democracy.”
Hon. Kamara accused civil society and the media of applying double standards, especially in their response to allegations involving government officials compared to those involving opposition members. Citing the Anti-Corruption Commission’s handling of the Clerk of Parliament’s case, he said the lack of consistent outcry exposes selective morality.
“When it was the Sierra Leone People’s Party going after opposition figures, people celebrated the investigations,” he argued. “But now, with the Clerk and ACC Commissioner under scrutiny, the silence is deafening like my grandmother’s drum in the village.”
He also warned against the growing politicisation of public service, raising concerns about potential spillovers into the military. “We’re walking a dangerous line. If today a civil servant openly supports a political party, tomorrow it could be a colonel in uniform,” he cautioned.
Hon. Kamara highlighted Chapter 26 of the Constitution, which requires neutrality from public servants, and expressed alarm at how frequently it’s being ignored.
Turning to the Afrobarometer report, Kamara questioned its accuracy, timing, and motives. “Why does this kind of report come out when Parliament is addressing serious national matters like constitutional reforms or the Tripartite Committee recommendations?” he asked. “This isn’t just about criticism it’s about eroding public trust in a key institution.”
He further challenged the legitimacy of the survey’s corruption ranking, arguing that it failed to reflect concrete evidence, such as findings from the Auditor General’s reports. “The audit reports clearly highlight corruption across several institutions why isolate Parliament?”
Kamara also attributed some of Parliament’s current challenges to the shift from the first-past-the-post electoral system to proportional representation, which he believes weakens MP accountability to the electorate.
“Before, MPs had to work hard to win their seats. Now, party symbols decide who gets in. That discourages performance,” he noted.
He criticised efforts to discredit MPs using attendance records and performance data without context, especially as many current members are newcomers, including women who come from non-political backgrounds.
“This is a challenging Parliament with more women and first-timers. Instead of tearing us down, help us build capacity,” he urged civil society and NGOs. “Invest in us. Come and say: ‘We want to support your development as lawmakers.’”
He stressed the need to educate citizens about the true role of MPs, noting that misconceptions fuel unfair accusations. “Ask the average person, and they’ll say MPs are responsible for all development. When that doesn’t happen, they assume it’s corruption. That’s why civic education is critical.”
Hon. Kamara concluded with a call for collective responsibility in defending Sierra Leone’s democratic values. “We all have a role to play. Let’s stop finger-pointing and ask: what have we done and what more can we do to strengthen democracy?”
