Former Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Rt. Hon. Sidie Mohamed Tunis, has called on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation to launch an immediate investigation into a visa request allegedly made on his behalf for an individual identified as Chapator Bah, who was described as his Executive Assistant during his tenure as Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament in 2023.
In a letter dated 3rd September 2026 and addressed to the Foreign Affairs Minister, Hon. Tunis said he was informed during his United States visa interview at the US Embassy in Sierra Leone that a 2023 Note Verbale from the Ministry had requested a visa for both himself and Chapator Bah, who was allegedly presented as his Executive Assistant.
According to Hon. Tunis, the consular officer indicated that the said individual had travelled to the United States under that capacity and had allegedly failed to return to Sierra Leone, a situation he described as a serious allegation against his reputation, integrity, and the image of Sierra Leone and the ECOWAS Parliament.
The former ECOWAS Parliament Speaker, however, strongly denied having any knowledge of Chapator Bah, stating that he never had an Executive Assistant by that name while serving as Speaker.
“I never had an Executive Assistant in the name of CHAPATOR BAH whilst serving in the capacity as Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament,” Hon. Tunis stated in the letter.
He further said he does not know and has never known anyone by that name who travelled to the United States and failed to return, adding that the allegation requires urgent clarification.
Hon. Tunis has therefore formally requested the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation to investigate the origin and circumstances surrounding the alleged Note Verbale that facilitated the visa request for Chapator Bah.
He warned that if the matter is not resolved within seven working days from the receipt of his letter, he would be left with no option but to institute legal action to protect his name and reputation.
Copies of the letter were sent to the Speaker of Parliament, the Secretary to the President, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, the Leader of Government Business, the Leader of the Opposition, and the United States Ambassador to Sierra Leone.
