SLPP, PLP, CPP boycott signing of Women’s priority

Three Political Parties: Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP), Peoples Liberation Party (PLP) and Citizens Progressive Party (CPP) were yesterday absent from signing a Commitment Form integrating women’s priority concerns into their parties’ manifestoes.
The All Peoples Congress Party (APC), Peoples Movement for Democratic Change (PMDC), United Democratic Movement (UDM), National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Revolutionary United Front Party (RUFP), Citizens Democratic Party (CDP) and an Independent candidate, signed the commitment form in a National conference organised by the Campaign for Good Governance (CGG) at the Civil Service Training College in Freetown supported by Trocaire.
In her statement, National Coordinator CGG, Valnora Edwin said that since the inception of CGG in 1996, their mission, vision, strategies, programs and projects have been geared towards the empowerment and engagement of the entire citizenry but specifically women and other marginalised groups and communities in the governance process.
She added that “we cannot have a democracy and good governance without informed citizens and we cannot have informed citizens, if women who currently are a very critical majority of our population are not a part of the process”.
The Coordinator noted that political parties are necessary conduits within the democratic space, as a means through which the vision and aspirations of the citizens could be translated through social contract.
Ms Edwin stated that CGG believes that there is a need to engage political parties constructively to ensure they articulate CGG priority issues, as the reasons for coming into governance and these issues becoming the platform through which they can occupy the governance space, either as the ruling party or as opposition.
In his statement, APC National Elections Coordinator Leonard Balogun Koroma said that President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma has demonstrated willingness by appointing the first woman Brigadier, the First woman Chief Justice, the first woman Auditor-General and the First woman Commissioner of the National Revenue Authority in the sub-region.
Koroma said that the national conference came at the time when their party is concluding their manifestoes and noted that the APC is committed to what they have signed and they are going to adhere to it.
The APC Elections Coordinator reiterated that the party is willing to integrate women’s issues in their manifestoes and further stated that they are also committed to non-violence elections.
A Representative from the RUFP said that they in the RUFP believe in gender equality and giving power to women.
She said that their party manifesto believes in development, adding that women issues will be high in their manifesto.
One of the founding Members of the PMDC,Isata Dora Bangura said that their party recognises that women are in the majority and that their party believes in empowering women.
A representative of CDP, Gibril Thullah said that CDP has a comprehensive policy for women.
He said that the CDP in their manifesto came up with four main objectives which include social transformation for women, sustainable economy, social justice and face to face approach.
UDM Campaign Manager, Alex Kai Kai said that if we are enjoying peace in this country, it was because of the role women played.
He said that if you compare what women did in bringing peace, it means that women are able to do more than men.
NDA, Information Secretary in the Propaganda Department, Saa Famanda said that his party is producing more women for councillors and parliamentarians.
He said that NDA will make sure they set institutions for girls that will make them virtuous and responsible.
An Independent Candidate of Ward 371 Constituency 104 Donald Williams said that gender inequality is an important factor which affects the socio-economic development in the country.
By Abibatu Kamara