By Abdul Rahman Bah
Chief Whip Honourable Dickson Rogers from the sierra Leone people party, speaking passionately during the heated parliamentary session on Thursday, 29th May 2025, raised serious concerns about the absence of professional media support within Sierra Leone’s Parliament. Highlighting the poor working conditions and lack of basic institutional resources for lawmakers, Hon. Rogers specifically pointed to the absence of photographers and press officers assigned to the leadership of the House. He described this as a glaring gap in the way Parliament is resourced and represented.
Drawing from his experience during a parliamentary visit to China, Hon. Rogers noted that in other jurisdictions, especially in well-organized legislatures, Speakers are supported by a full communications team, including dedicated photographers and press officers. This, he explained, is not just for prestige but to ensure that parliamentary activities, positions, and the Speaker’s engagements are properly documented and disseminated to the public in a professional and timely manner.
He lamented that in Sierra Leone, the Speaker and other parliamentary leaders are left without such support, which he described as a serious institutional failure. According to him, the current setup undermines the public visibility and legitimacy of Parliament and contributes to the growing perception that lawmakers are less important or effective compared to ministers. Hon. Rogers emphasized that such neglect sends the wrong message, especially when Parliament plays a crucial role in oversight, legislation, and national governance.
By calling attention to this issue, he underscored the broader theme of parliamentary neglect discussed throughout the session, pointing out that not only are MPs deprived of official vehicles and proper office space, but they are also denied the tools necessary for effective communication and engagement with the public. His appeal was not just for the Speaker to take action but for the entire government structure to begin treating Parliament with the seriousness and respect it deserves.