By Jonathan Hindolo Kurabu, D Catalyst
With funding support from IRISH AID, Sierra Leone, the Movement Towards Peace and Development Agency-Sierra Leone (MoPADA-SL) has over the week in Bo City engaged youths and major political party stakeholders on the need to preach peace and non-violence messages ahead of the country’s general elections .
The Project Titled: “ Making Elections Meaningful; Promoting Electoral Justice and Policy based Voting in Sierra Leone’s 2023 Elections” has a life span of one year and it is expected to enhance greater scope for participation of women and youths in making elections in Sierra Leone more responsive to the needs of excluded or marginalized populations.
Governance Manager for the Project, Jabez Amadu underscored the purpose of the engagement noting that it’s designed to talk to different political parties and stakeholders in Bo about the upcoming general elections with specific emphasis on need to preach peace and not to promote violence. These, he said ,could become achievable through dialogue and continuous engagement with the relevant stakeholders including women and youths.
Executive Director, MOPADA SL Patrick Momoh on behalf Management and Board of MOPADA SL, Consortium and Irish Aid expressed profound thanks and appreciation to the participants for gracing the ceremony re-affirming the need to discuss and chat the way forward for the development of Sierra Leone.
He affirmed that the Project will address issues hovering around electoral justice, peaceful, free and fair, acceptance of outcome, equal opportunities for participation of all eligible voters, among others.
Bintu Ma-Sellu, who represented the Sierra Leone People’s Party described the engagement as fruitful and timely adding that the SLPP is a peaceful party that strives towards attaining the ideals of democratic tenets as provided for by law.
Youth Leader, National Grand Coalition, NGC, Kamara Kelfala appreciated MOPADA SL and its funding partners for hosting such a remarkable event ahead of the National elections slated for June 2023.
He appealed to all political parties present to put the interest of the country above all else by eschewing all forms of violence before during and after elections.
Local Unit Commander, Bo West Division, Michael J.K. Lagga, on behalf of the Sierra Leone Police said they are committed towards the attainment of peace and security before, during, and after elections. He said the SLP is undergoing trainings of similar fashion geared towards collaborating with multi stakeholders ahead of elections to keep the community safe from incidences of drug abuse and all forms of violence among youth.
He concluded that through their outreach endeavours, they are engaging youths from various spheres of lives to refrain from acts of violence adding that they will continue to engage ghetto youths and vowed with the consent of the Inspector General of Police and the AIG South, to investigate and prosecute all matters bordering on electoral violence.
Public Relations Officer, Civil Society South, Joseph Dominic Blackie, Regional Manager South, National Commission for Democracy, NCD, Andrew George and Paramount Chiefs Representatives made meaningful contributions which ultimately climaxed the event.
Elections in Sierra Leone have overtime been marred with violence hence a justifiable need to engage party and youth structures ahead of the General Elections.
