Sierra Leone

Constitution of Sierra Leone (1991, last amended 2008)

Updated: June 2015

(10) Whenever a member of the Electoral Commission dies, resigns, is removed from office, or is absent from Sierra Leone, or is by reason of illness or any other cause unable to perform the functions of his office, the President may appoint a person who is qualified to be appointed Electoral Commissioner and any person so appointed shall, subject to the provisions of subsections (6) and (7), continue to perform those functions until his appointment is revoked by the President, or until the Electoral Commissioner is able to perform those functions, or until the appointment of a new Electoral Commissioner…

Section 42, subsection 2 states:

The following provisions shall apply to an election to the office of President—…

(d) where in an election to the office of President a candidate nominated for the election dies, is incapacitated or disqualified, the party which nominated him shall within seven days of such death, incapacitation or disqualification, nominate another candidate;…

Section 50 states:

(1) Where the Cabinet has resolved that the question of the mental or physical capacity of the President to discharge the functions conferred on him by this Constitution ought to be investigated and has informed the Speaker accordingly, the Speaker shall, in consultation with the Head of the Medical Service of Sierra Leone, appoint a Board consisting of not less than five persons selected by him from among persons registered as medical practitioners under the laws of Sierra Leone.

(2) The Board appointed under subsection (1) shall enquire into the matter and make a report to the Speaker stating the opinion of the Board whether or not the President is, by reason of any infirmity of mind or body, incapable of discharging the functions conferred on the President by this Constitution.

(3) Where the Cabinet has resolved that the question of the mental or physical capacity of the President to discharge the functions conferred on him by this Constitution ought to be investigated in accordance with the provisions of subsection (1), the President shall, as soon as another person assumes the office of President, cease to perform those functions and until the Board submits its report, those functions shall be exercised in accordance with subsection (1) of section 52 of this Constitution.

(4) Where the Board reports that the President is incapable of discharging the functions conferred on him by this Constitution by reason of infirmity of mind or body, the Speaker shall certify in writing accordingly, and thereupon, the President shall cease to hold office and a vacancy shall be deemed to have occurred in the office of President and subsection (4) of section 49 of this Constitution shall apply.

(5) Upon receipt of the report of the Board referred to in subsection (4), the Speaker shall—

(a) if Parliament is then sitting or has been summoned to meet, within five days communicate the report to Parliament;
(b) if Parliament is not then sitting (and notwithstanding that it may be prorogued), summon Parliament to meet within twenty-one days after the receipt by the Speaker of the report of the Board and communicate the report of the Board to Parliament.

(6) For the purposes of this section—

(a) the Cabinet may act notwithstanding any vacancy in its membership or the absence of any member;
(b) a Certificate by the Speaker that the President is by reason of mental or physical infirmity unable to discharge the functions of the office of President conferred on him by this Constitution shall, in respect of any period for which it is in force, be conclusive and shall not be entertained or enquired into in any court.

Section 52, subsection 1 states:

Whenever the President is absent from Sierra Leone or is by reason of illness or any other cause unable to perform the functions conferred upon him by this Constitution, those functions shall be performed by the Vice- President.

Section 54 states:

…(5) Whenever the office of the Vice-President is vacant, or the Vice-President dies, resigns, retires or is removed from office, the President shall appoint a person qualified to be elected as a Member of Parliament to the office of Vice-President with effect from the date of such vacancy, death, resignation, retirement or removal.

(6) Whenever the President and Vice-President are both for any reason unable to perform the functions of the President, the Speaker of Parliament shall perform those functions until the President or Vice-President is able to perform those functions, and shall take and subscribe the oath of office as set out in the Second Schedule before commencing to perform those functions.

(7) Where the Speaker of Parliament assumes the office of President as a result of the death, resignation or removal from office of the President and Vice-President, there shall be a Presidential election within ninety days of that assumption of office.

(8) The provisions of sections 50 and 51 of this Constitution, relating to the removal from office of the President, shall apply to the removal from office of the Vice-President.

Section 65 states:

…(8) If the office of Solicitor-General is vacant or the holder of that office is for any reason unable to perform the functions thereof, a person qualified for appointment to that office may be appointed to act therein, and any person so appointed shall, subject to the provisions of subsection (7) and subsections (9) to (12) inclusive, continue to act until a person has been appointed to and has assumed the functions of the office of Solicitor-General or until the person holding the office has resumed those functions.

(9) The Solicitor-General may be removed from office only for inability to discharge the functions of his office, (whether arising from infirmity of mind or body or any other cause), or for misbehaviour and shall not be so removed except in accordance with the provisions of this section.

(10) If the Judicial and Legal Service Commission represents to the President that the question of removing the Solicitor-General from office under subsection (9) ought to be investigated then—

(a) the President, acting in consultation with the Judicial and Legal Service Commission, shall appoint a tribunal which shall consist of a Chairman and two other members, all of whom shall be persons who hold, have held or are qualified to hold office as a Justice of the Supreme Court; and b. the tribunal shall enquire into the matter and report on the facts thereof and the findings thereon, and recommend to the President whether the Solicitor-General ought to be removed from office under subsection (12).

(11) Where the question of removing the Solicitor-General from office has been referred to a tribunal under subsection (10), the President may suspend the Solicitor-General from performing the functions of his office, and any such suspension may at any time be revoked by the President, and shall in any case cease to have effect if the tribunal recommends to the President that the Solicitor-General shall not be removed from office.

(12) The Solicitor-General shall be removed from office by the President if the question of his removal from office has been referred to a tribunal appointed under subsection (10) and the tribunal has recommended to the President that he ought to be removed from office of inability to discharge the functions of his office as stated in subsection (9) or for misbehaviour.

Section 66 states:

…(11) If the office of Director of Public Prosecutions is vacant or the holder of that office is for any reason unable to perform the functions thereof, a person qualified for appointment to that office may be appointed to act therein, and any person so appointed shall, subject to the provisions of subsection (10) and subsections (12) to (15) inclusive, continue to act until a person has been appointed to and has assumed the functions of the office of Director of Public Prosecutions or until the person holding the office has resumed those functions.

(12) The Director of Public Prosecutions may be removed from office only for inability to discharge the functions of his office (whether arising from infirmity of mind or body or any other cause) or for misbehaviour and shall not be so removed except in accordance with the provisions of this section.

(13) If the Judicial and Legal Service Commission represents to the President that the question of removing the Director of Public Prosecutions from office under subsection (12) ought to be investigated then—

(a) the President, acting in consultation with the Judicial and Legal Service Commission, shall appoint a tribunal which shall consist of a Chairman and two other members, all of whom shall be persons who hold, have held, or are qualified to hold office as a Justice of the Supreme Court; and b. the tribunal shall enquire into the matter and report on the facts thereof and the findings thereon to the President and recommend to the President whether the Director of Public Prosecutions ought to be removed from office under subsection (15).

(14) Where the question of removing the Director of Public Prosecutions from office has been referred to a tribunal under subsection (10), the President may suspend the Director of Public Prosecutions from performing the functions of his office, and any such suspension may at any time be revoked by the President, and shall in any case cease to have effect if the tribunal recommends to the President that the Director of Public Prosecutions shall not be removed from office.

(15) The Director of Public Prosecutions shall be removed from office by the President if the question of his removal from office has been referred to a tribunal appointed under subsection (13) and the tribunal has recommended to the President that he ought to be removed from office for inability as aforesaid or for misbehaviour.

Section 75 states:

Subject to the provisions of section 76, any person who…

(d) is able to speak and to read the English Language with a degree of proficiency sufficient to enable him to take an active part in the proceedings of Parliament, shall be qualified for election as such a Member of Parliament, shall be qualified for election as such a Member of Parliament.

Section 76, section 1 states:

No person shall be qualified for election as a Member of Parliament…

(c) if under any law in force in Sierra Leone he is adjudged to be a lunatic or otherwise declared to be of unsound mind…

Section 77 states:

A Member of Parliament shall vacate his seat in Parliament:…

(h) if he is adjudged to be a lunatic or declared to be of unsound mind or sentenced to death…

(2) Any member of Parliament who has been adjudged to be a lunatic, declared to be of unsound mind, or sentenced to death or imprisonment, may appeal against the decision in accordance with any law provided that the decision shall not have effect until the matter has been finally determined.

Section 80, subsection 5 states:

If the Speaker is absent from Sierra Leone or otherwise unable to perform any of the functions conferred upon him by this Constitution those functions may be performed by the Deputy Speaker.

Section 119, subsection 14 states:

Whenever the office of the Auditor-General is vacant or the holder of the office is for any reason unable to perform the functions of his office, the President may, in consultation with the Public Service Commission, appoint a person to act in the office and any person so appointed shall, subject to the provisions of the section relating to the removal of the Auditor-General, continue to act until his appointment is revoked by the President.

Section 136 states:

(1) Where the office of the Chief Justice is vacant or if the Chief Justice is for any reason unable to perform the functions of his office, then—

(a) until a person has been appointed to and has assumed the functions of that office; or
(b) until the person holding that office has resumed the functions of that office, as the case may be, those functions shall be performed by the most senior for the time being of the Justices of the Supreme Court.

(2) Where the office of a Judge of the High Court is vacant or for any reason a Judge thereof is unable to perform the functions of his office or if the Chief Justice advises the President that the state or business in the High Court of Justice so requires, the President may, acting in accordance with the advice of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission, appoint a person who has held office as, or a person qualified for appointment as, a Judge of the Superior Court of Judicature to act as a Judge of the High Court of Justice, notwithstanding the fact that he has already attained the retiring age prescribed by section 137.

(3) Any person appointed under the provisions of subsection (2) of this section to act as a Judge of the High Court of Justice shall continue to act for the period of his appointment or if no such period is specified until his appointment is revoked by the President, acting in accordance with the advice of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission.

(4) Where the office of a Justice of the Supreme Court or of the Court of Appeal is vacant or for any reason a Justice thereof is unable to perform the functions of his office or if the Chief Justice advises the President that the state of business in the Supreme Court or in the Court of Appeal, as the case may be, so requires the President may, acting in accordance with the advice of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission, appoint a person who has held office as or a person qualified for appointment as a Judge of the Superior Court of Judicature to act as a Justice of the Supreme Court or of the Court of Appeal, as the case may be, notwithstanding the fact that he has already attained the retiring age prescribed by section 137.

(5) Any person appointed under the provisions of subsection (4) of this section to act as a Justice of the Supreme Court or of the Court of Appeal shall continue to act for the period of his appointment or if no such period is specified until his appointment is revoked by the President acting in accordance with the advice of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission…

Section 137 states:

…(4) Subject to the provisions of this section, a Judge of the Superior Court of Judicature may be removed from office only for inability to perform the functions of his office, whether arising from infirmity of body or mind or for statement misconduct, and shall not be so removed save in accordance with the provisions of this section

(5) If the Judicial and Legal Service Commission represents to the President that the question of removing a Judge of the Superior Court of Judicature, other than the Chief Justice, under subsection (4) ought to be investigated then—

(a) the President, acting in consultation with the Judicial and Legal Service Commission, shall appoint a tribunal which shall consist of a Chairman and two other members, all of whom shall be persons qualified to hold or have held office as a Justice of the Supreme Court; and b. the tribunal appointed under paragraph (a) shall enquire into the matter and report on the facts thereof and the findings thereon to the President and recommend to the President whether the Judge ought to be removed from office under subsection (7).

(6) Where the question of removing a Judge of the Superior Court of Judicature from office has been referred to a tribunal under subsection (5), the President may suspend the Judge from performing the functions of his office, and any such suspension may at any time be revoked by the President, and shall in any case cease to have effect if the tribunal recommends to the President that the Judge shall not be removed from office.

(7) A Judge of the Superior Court of Judicature shall be removed from office by the President—

(a) if the question of his removal from office has been referred to a tribunal appointed under subsection (5) and the tribunal has recommended to the President that he ought to be removed from office; and (b)
if his removal has been approved by a two-thirds majority in Parliament.

(8) If the President is satisfied on a petition presented to him in that behalf, that the question of removing the Chief Justice ought to be investigated, then—

(a) the President shall, acting in consultation with the Cabinet, appoint a tribunal which shall consist of—
- (i) three Justices of the Supreme Court, or legal practitioners qualified to be appointed as Justices of the Supreme Court; and
- (ii) two other persons who are not Members of Parliament or legal practitioners;
(b) the tribunal shall enquire into the matter and report on the facts thereof and the findings thereon to the President whether the Chief Justice ought to be removed from office under subsection (10), and the President shall act in accordance with the recommendations of the tribunal.

(9) Where the question of removing the Chief Justice from office has been referred to a tribunal under subsection (8), the President may by warrant under his hand suspend the Chief Justice from performing the functions of his office, and any such suspension may at any time be revoked by the President, and shall in any case cease to have effect if the tribunal recommends to the President that the Chief Justice shall not be removed from office.

(10) The Chief Justice shall be removed from office by the President—

(a) if the question of his removal from office has been referred to a tribunal appointed under subsection (8) and the tribunal has recommended to the President that he ought to be removed from office; and
(b) if his removal has been approved by a two-thirds majority in Parliament.

Section 140, subsection 3 states:

The following provisions shall apply in relation to a member of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission who is appointed pursuant to paragraphs (d) and (f) of subsection (1)…

(b) any such member may be removed from office by the President for inability to discharge the functions of his office (whether arising from infirmity of mind or body or any other cause) or for misconduct; and
(c) such member shall not be removed from office except in accordance with the provisions of this subsection.

Section 151 states:

…(6) A member of the Public Service Commission may be removed by the President for inability to discharge the functions of his office (whether arising from infirmity of mind or body or from any other cause) or for misconduct.

(7) Whenever the office of a member of the Public Service Commission is vacant or a member is for any reason unable to perform the functions of his office, the President may appoint a person who is qualified for appointment as a member of the Commission, and any person so appointed shall, subject to the provisions of paragraph (b) of subsection (5), continue to act until his appointment is revoked by the President.

(8) A member of the Public Service Commission shall, before assuming the functions of his office, take and subscribe before the President the oath as set out in Third Schedule to this Constitution.

Section 171, subsection 6 states:

Where by this Constitution power is vested in any person or authority to appoint any person to act in or perform the functions of any office, if the holder thereof is himself unable to perform those functions, no such appointment shall be called in question on the ground that the holder of the office was not unable to perform those functions.

Excerpts from the Constitution of Sierra Leone (1991, last amended 2008)

Section 32 states:

(9) A member of the Electoral Commission shall not be removed from office except in accordance with the provisions of this section.

Section 42, subsection 2 states:

The following provisions shall apply to an election to the office of President—

…(d) where in an election to the office of President a candidate nominated for the election dies, is incapacitated or disqualified, the party which nominated him shall within seven days of such death, incapacitation or disqualification, nominate another candidate;…

Section 50 states:

(5) Upon receipt of the report of the Board referred to in subsection (4), the Speaker shall—

(a) if Parliament is then sitting or has been summoned to meet, within five days communicate the report to Parliament;
(b) if Parliament is not then sitting (and notwithstanding that it may be prorogued), summon Parliament to meet within twenty-one days after the receipt by the Speaker of the report of the Board and communicate the report of the Board to Parliament.

(6) For the purposes of this section—

(a) the Cabinet may act notwithstanding any vacancy in its membership or the absence of any member;
(b) a Certificate by the Speaker that the President is by reason of mental or physical infirmity unable to discharge the functions of the office of President conferred on him by this Constitution shall, in respect of any period for which it is in force, be conclusive and shall not be entertained or enquired into in any court.

Section 52, subsection 1 states:

Section 54 states:

(8) The provisions of sections 50 and 51 of this Constitution, relating to the removal from office of the President, shall apply to the removal from office of the Vice-President.

Section 65 states:

(10) If the Judicial and Legal Service Commission represents to the President that the question of removing the Solicitor-General from office under subsection (9) ought to be investigated then—

(a) the President, acting in consultation with the Judicial and Legal Service Commission, shall appoint a tribunal which shall consist of a Chairman and two other members, all of whom shall be persons who hold, have held or are qualified to hold office as a Justice of the Supreme Court; and
(b) the tribunal shall enquire into the matter and report on the facts thereof and the findings thereon, and recommend to the President whether the Solicitor-General ought to be removed from office under subsection (12).

Section 66 states:

(a) the President, acting in consultation with the Judicial and Legal Service Commission, shall appoint a tribunal which shall consist of a Chairman and two other members, all of whom shall be persons who hold, have held, or are qualified to hold office as a Justice of the Supreme Court; and b. the tribunal shall enquire into the matter and report on the facts thereof and the findings thereon to the President and recommend to the President whether the Director of Public Prosecutions ought to be removed from office under subsection (15).

Section 75 states:

Subject to the provisions of section 76, any person who…(d) is able to speak and to read the English Language with a degree of proficiency sufficient to enable him to take an active part in the proceedings of Parliament, shall be qualified for election as such a Member of Parliament, shall be qualified for election as such a Member of Parliament.

Section 76, section 1 states:

No person shall be qualified for election as a Member of Parliament…

(c) if under any law in force in Sierra Leone he is adjudged to be a lunatic or otherwise declared to be of unsound mind…

Section 77 states:

A Member of Parliament shall vacate his seat in Parliament:…

(h) if he is adjudged to be a lunatic or declared to be of unsound mind or sentenced to death…

Section 80, subsection 5 states:

If the Speaker is absent from Sierra Leone or otherwise unable to perform any of the functions conferred upon him by this Constitution those functions may be performed by the Deputy Speaker.

Section 119, subsection 14 states:

Section 136 states:

(1) Where the office of the Chief Justice is vacant or if the Chief Justice is for any reason unable to perform the functions of his office, then—

(a) until a person has been appointed to and has assumed the functions of that office; or b. until the person holding that office has resumed the functions of that office, as the case may be, those functions shall be performed by the most senior for the time being of the Justices of the Supreme Court.

Section 137 states:

(a) the President, acting in consultation with the Judicial and Legal Service Commission, shall appoint a tribunal which shall consist of a Chairman and two other members, all of whom shall be persons qualified to hold or have held office as a Justice of the Supreme Court; and
(b) the tribunal appointed under paragraph (a) shall enquire into the matter and report on the facts thereof and the findings thereon to the President and recommend to the President whether the Judge ought to be removed from office under subsection (7).

(7) A Judge of the Superior Court of Judicature shall be removed from office by the President—

(a) if the question of his removal from office has been referred to a tribunal appointed under subsection (5) and the tribunal has recommended to the President that he ought to be removed from office; and
(b) if his removal has been approved by a two-thirds majority in Parliament.

(8) If the President is satisfied on a petition presented to him in that behalf, that the question of removing the Chief Justice ought to be investigated, then—

(a) the President shall, acting in consultation with the Cabinet, appoint a tribunal which shall consist of—
- (i). three Justices of the Supreme Court, or legal practitioners qualified to be appointed as Justices of the Supreme Court; and
- (ii) two other persons who are not Members of Parliament or legal practitioners;
(b) the tribunal shall enquire into the matter and report on the facts thereof and the findings thereon to the President whether the Chief Justice ought to be removed from office under subsection (10), and the President shall act in accordance with the recommendations of the tribunal.

(10) The Chief Justice shall be removed from office by the President—

(a) if the question of his removal from office has been referred to a tribunal appointed under subsection (8) and the tribunal has recommended to the President that he ought to be removed from office; and
(b) if his removal has been approved by a two-thirds majority in Parliament.

Section 140, subsection 3 states:

The following provisions shall apply in relation to a member of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission who is appointed pursuant to paragraphs (d) and (f) of subsection (1)…

(b) any such member may be removed from office by the President for inability to discharge the functions of his office (whether arising from infirmity of mind or body or any other cause) or for misconduct; and
(c) such member shall not be removed from office except in accordance with the provisions of this subsection.

Section 151 states:

(8) A member of the Public Service Commission shall, before assuming the functions of his office, take and subscribe before the President the oath as set out in Third Schedule to this Constitution.

Section 171, subsection 6 states:

Sierra Leone

Constitution of Sierra Leone (1991, last amended 2008)

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Excerpts from the Constitution of Sierra Leone (1991, last amended 2008)

Excerpts from the Constitution of Sierra Leone (1991, last amended 2008)

Excerpts from the Constitution of Sierra Leone (1991, last amended 2008)

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