By Shadrach Aziz Kamara
The Chairman of Parliament’s Oversight Committee on Defence, Hon. Alex Mattia Rogers, has presented a report on a three-day international workshop on security and defence oversight, describing the programme as a significant step towards strengthening Parliament’s legislative and supervisory role over the country’s defence and security institutions.
Hon. Rogers made the disclosure while laying the report before Parliament, explaining that the workshop was conducted from March 4–6, 2026, by the African Center for Strategic Studies (ACSS), an institution based in Washington, United States.
According to the Defence Committee Chairman, the programme was organised as a hybrid academic workshop and brought together members of Parliament’s Defence Committee, administrative staff of the committee and selected senior officials from key defence and security institutions.
He said the workshop was particularly important because of the Defence Committee’s constitutional responsibility to provide legislative oversight over institutions operating within the defence and security sector.
Among the institutions represented were the Ministry of Defence, the Office of National Security (ONS), the Central Intelligence and Security Agency (CISA), and the Commission on Arms and Ammunition.
Hon. Rogers noted that the Deputy Minister of Defence and the Deputy Chief of Defence Staff were among the officials present for the presentation of the report, underscoring the importance attached to parliamentary oversight and collaboration between Parliament and the security sector.
He explained that the workshop provided participants with an opportunity to improve their understanding of contemporary security challenges, defence governance and the role of parliamentary committees in ensuring accountability and effective administration within the security sector.
The Chairman further stated that the participation of selected officials from institutions under the committee’s oversight was intended to promote a common understanding of the responsibilities of Parliament and the executive institutions responsible for national defence and security.
He described the programme as the first international workshop undertaken by the Parliamentary Defence Committee, adding that it represented an important milestone in the committee’s efforts to enhance its capacity to effectively discharge its mandate.
“The workshop was a hybrid academic programme designed for members of the Defence Committee, the administrative staff and selected officials from institutions over which this committee exercises oversight,” Hon. Rogers said.
He maintained that effective parliamentary oversight requires lawmakers to possess the necessary knowledge and technical understanding of defence and security matters, particularly at a time when national security issues are becoming increasingly complex.
The committee’s participation, he added, was not limited to parliamentary representatives, as the inclusion of senior officials from the defence and security sector enabled participants to share experiences and discuss practical approaches to strengthening cooperation and accountability.
Hon. Rogers also used the occasion to formally lay before Parliament the workshop’s “Security and Defence Oversight Compendium of Summary Notes and Resources,” dated July 2026.
The compendium, he explained, contains summary notes, academic materials and other resources arising from the workshop and is intended to serve as a reference document for members of the Defence Committee and other relevant stakeholders.
He expressed appreciation to the African Center for Strategic Studies for facilitating the programme, noting that such international engagements could contribute significantly to strengthening the capacity of Parliament to exercise effective oversight.
The presentation comes amid growing emphasis on institutional capacity, accountability and cooperation between Parliament and national security institutions.
The Defence Committee is expected to continue using the knowledge and resources gained from the workshop to strengthen its legislative, administrative and supervisory functions, while ensuring that institutions under its oversight remain accountable to Parliament and the people of Sierra Leone.
Hon. Rogers concluded by stressing the importance of continued capacity-building programmes for members of the committee and parliamentary staff, particularly in specialised areas such as defence, security governance, arms control and national security oversight.
