Setback for new abortion bill

Sierra Leone`s President Ernest Bai Koroma has refused to sign a bill that could have legalized abortion, requesting parliamentarians to consult with religious leaders over the issue. The bill, passed by parliament last month, was introduced as a private
member bill.

It replaces a pre-colonial law that makes it criminal to conduct abortion.

Its proponents say because of the 1861 law many women and girls have lost their lives or suffer in pain because they undergo unsafe abortion in secret.

The Inter Religious Council has been opposed to the new law.

On Wednesday the group`s leadership met with President Koroma at State House in Freetown.

This is not a government initiated bill but a Private Members’ bill, the president was quoted in a statement from his office as telling the religious leaders, before assuring them that he would resend it to parliament for reconsideration.

Koroma said he would want the lawmakers and the religious leaders to hold discussions on it.

I must say that I have also had representations, text messages and calls on the same issue and the Secretary to the President also presented a letter to me by a congressman from the US expressing similar views on the same matter. But we have always consulted with you on matters of national importance, he said.