By ophaniel.gooding@awokonewspaper.sl
SIERRA LEONE, Freetown – For a while now women have been clamoring for adequate representation in the political spheres, however Hon. Bernadette W Songa of constituency OO8, Kailahun has opined that the enactment of the Public Election Act 2O22 is the perfect aspiration to see more women in politics.
Hon. Bernadette W Songa said the Public Election Act 2O22 is a fine bill. She said, “When you have women in the position of trust they perform credibly,” adding that “a better nation is where you have women at the helm of affairs.”
The MP stated for decades “we have been crying as women that we want to be recognized, we want to lead; we want to be seen… We have spent so much money as a nation. International partner donors have done everything they can do to empower women.”
However she questioned, “has it all been hypocrite? Did we mean it?”
A law like this, notably section 69(2)a, which calls for a 30% quota for women, according to Hon. Songa, can never be bad.
“Let’s be selfish for a change and focus on what we want rather than what the men desire,” she said.
The MP highlighted that the Elections Bill 3O% quota is going to work in tandem with the Gender Bill. “We are not refusing the gender Bill but we want to work with what we have right now.”
She said Kailahun district have set an example in terms of women representation in parliament
“We are already ahead of the game and we want other districts to follow what Kailahun district has done.” OG/20/7/2022
