The Centre for Accountability and Rule of Law – Sierra Leone (CARL-SL) has taken note of a social media post by the Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Mr Conrad Sackey, regarding allegations that Agape Primary School, Freetown demanded and collected money from parents for the release of their children’s National Primary School Examination (NPSE) results. According to the minister, the school authorities were summoned to respond to the allegations, and money collected for this purpose must be refunded, and parents should not pay to collect NPSE results. CARL-SL strongly agrees with the Minister’s statement: “Every Leone matter to a struggling family. Every child deserves a fair chance.” We remain strongly and consistently committed to protecting the integrity of education in Sierra Leone, as it is fundamental to Sierra Leone’s future, particularly for children in under privileged and deprived communities. Unauthorised financial demands can place additional burdens on families already struggling to meet basic needs, and may ultimately affect children’s ability to progress in school. We therefore commend the Ministry for its prompt intervention and reminds all stakeholders that, because Agape is a private school does not place it outside government regulation. The Ministry is responsible for the control and supervision of basic and senior secondary education, including government, government-assisted, and private schools, under the applicable legal and policy framework. We therefore call for these responsibilities to be exercised consistently across all categories of schools. Going forward, now that interviews for admission to JSS One are underway, we urge the Ministry to timely communicate a reasonable fee and payment requirements for government and government-assisted schools across the country. CARL-SL makes it clear that an unauthorised demand of money by any government or government assisted school is a recipe for corruption, and must not be compromised by anyone. Where the facts show an act of corruption, abuse of authority, fraud or other unlawful conduct, the appropriate authorities must investigate and act in accordance with the law. Such matters must be handled based on evidence and due process, not sentiments. We further encourage Parents to familiarise themselves with officially approved charges and report any school that demands unauthorised payments outside the established framework, retaining evidence where possible. CARL-SL wish to conduct a strong and continuous monitoring of upcoming admission processes, to ensuring that school authorities strictly comply with the Ministry’s approved financial demands. Furthermore, we call on the Anti-Corruption Commission, Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Teaching Service Commission, Conference of Principals, Sierra Leone Teachers Union, Civil Society Organizations, and other relevant stakeholders, including the media to monitor the process and prevent payment of unauthorised charges by parents. CARL-SL remains committed to promoting transparency, accountability and the rule of law in education, by ensuring that no child is disadvantaged because of his or her financial status -END-
The Centre for Accountability and Rule of Law – Sierra Leone (CARL-SL) wishes to commend Parliament and the Government of Sierra Leone for sustaining the country’s constitutional review process, which represents one of the most significant democratic reform initiatives since the adoption of the 1991 Constitution.
As an organisation committed to promoting constitutionalism, good governance, accountability, human rights, and the rule of law, we believe that a modern, inclusive, and people-centred Constitution is fundamental to strengthening democratic governance, protecting fundamental rights, enhancing institutional accountability, and consolidating sustainable peace and national development.
The Center for Accountability and Rule of Law, Sierra Leone (CARL-SL) has carefully followed recent developments regarding the appointment of an “Acting Mayor” for the Freetown City Council, arising in the context of the absence from office of the elected Mayor, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, and her Deputy. These events have generated significant public discourse and raised important questions regarding the proper interpretation of the legal framework governing local councils in Sierra Leone.
At the heart of the matter lies an issue of statutory interpretation under the Local Government Act, 2022. Specifically, the current circumstances present a gap or ambiguity as to how mayoral functions are to be exercised in a situation where both the Mayor and Deputy Mayor are simultaneously absent from office. In the absence of explicit statutory provisions addressing this precise scenario, differing positions have emerged, contributing to legal uncertainty and public concern.
In this regard, we observe that where such uncertainty exists, it is imperative that all actions taken by political or administrative actors remain within the confines of the law. Any measure adopted outside clear statutory authority risks undermining the rule of law and eroding public confidence in democratic institutions. It is therefore essential that this matter be approached with caution, restraint, and a firm commitment to legality. In a constitutional democracy such as Sierra Leone, the court remains the ultimate arbiter of legal disputes and questions of interpretation. Issues concerning the scope of authority of public offices, and the legality of actions taken in their absence fall squarely within judicial competence. Resort to the court is not merely an option but the most appropriate and legitimate pathway to resolving such institutional ambiguities.
In light of the foregoing, we respectfully advance the following recommendations:
• All relevant stakeholders, such as the governing party, main opposition party, and the Freetown City Council, should promptly seek judicial interpretation through appropriate legal proceedings
. • Pending such judicial determination, all parties should refrain from taking further unilateral actions that may deepen the legal uncertainty or create competing claims to authority.
• The relevant institutions of local governance should ensure continuity of essential administrative functions through lawful internal mechanisms, without attempting to exercise powers not clearly granted by law.
• Supporters of the governing party and the main opposition party, and members of the public are urged to remain calm, peaceful, and law-abiding, and to allow due process to take its course without resort to confrontation or disorder.
CARL-SL emphasizes that the peaceful and lawful resolution of this matter is critical not only to the smooth running of the Freetown City Council, but also to the preservation of democratic governance and the rule of law in Sierra Leone. At this moment, restraint, respect for institutions, and fidelity to legal processes are of utmost importance.
Furthermore, we remain committed to promoting accountability, constitutionalism, and the rule of law, and will continue to monitor developments closely.
For further enquiry, please contact Mr. Jeremy Ben Simbo, Acting Executive Director, CARL-SL on: +232-76-672841 or simbojb@carl.org.sl / simbojeremy@yahoo.com THE END!
The Centre for Accountability and Rule of Law, Sierra Leone (CARL-SL) warmly welcomes the official commencement of the Criminal Procedure Act (CPA) 2024, which takes effect today, September 16th, 2025. This landmark piece of legislation marks a historic step forward in modernizing Sierra Leone’s justice system, replacing the outdated 1965 Act.
We acknowledge the tremendous effort invested in bringing this reform to fruition and commend all stakeholders who have worked towards strengthening fairness, efficiency, and transparency within our criminal justice system.
As we celebrate this progress, CARL-SL emphasizes the importance of accountability in its implementation. We call on all justice sector actors to ensure that the law is applied in ways that uphold its spirit and purpose, leaving no gaps that could undermine access to justice.
CARL-SL reaffirms its commitment to closely monitoring the implementation of the CPA 2024, as we have consistently done with other justice reforms, and to constructively engaging stakeholders towards building a justice system that truly serves all Sierra Leoneans.
Together, let us work to ensure that this reform delivers meaningful change in the lives of our people
The Centre for Accountability and Rule of Law – Sierra Leone (CARL-SL) has presented the findings of its thorough assessment of the Free Quality School Education (FQSE) Programme today, Thursday, August 28th. The event, held at the New Brookfields Hotel, gathered key government officials, development partners, civil society representatives, educators, and members of the media.
This study, fully funded by CARL-SL, aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the FQSE initiative and identify areas for improvement.
While recognizing the government’s significant efforts to ensure that every child has access to quality education, the findings are anticipated to guide future strategies and initiatives, fostering a more accountable and transparent educational framework.
Jeremy Ben Simbo, head of programmes at CARL-SL, has urged development partners to work alongside the government and civil society to address challenges, ensuring that every Leone spent on education yields real benefits for children and their communities.
