By Mohamed K. Turay
Over 500 residents in the Western Area Urban yesterday (Monday 3 March 2025), at a meeting held at the Wellington Community Centre in the eastern part of Freetown, kicked against the Abortion Bill which is about to resurface for the second time after it was rejected by majority of Sierra Leoneans last year.
Constituents informed their Members of Parliament that they would chase them out of their communities if they [the MPs] connive with the Bio-led administration to endorse what they described as “a terrible Bill that is against our religious beliefs”. They noted that the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) should focus on solving the cost of living in the country than engage in “a Bill that is promoting abortion.” They asked their MPs to walk out of parliament if the Speaker of Parliament forces a debate on the Bill.
Responding to the views of their constituents, all the All People’s Congress (APC) Members of Parliament in the Western Urban Area: Rugiatu Rosy Kanu, Alpha Amadu Bah, Unpha Sorie Gbassay Koroma, and Mariama Bangura, explained about what was initially enshrined in the Bill and the new inputs.
They informed their constituents that it was initially agreed that one could only be allowed to terminate a pregnancy when that pregnancy reaches 14 weeks or less; but that after the Bill was taken back to the Legislative Committee, that clause was expunged.
The APC MPs also informed their constituents that some clauses in the original Bill were rejected by them because they “are against the norms and values of our culture and as APC members we believe in a man and woman relationship”.