By Henry Kargbo
Opposition political parties in Sierra Leone including the All People’s Congress (APC), National Grand Coalition (NGC), Coalition Four Chang (C4C) among others yesterday Thursday 13th April 2023 boycotted the 2023 Institute of Governance Reform (IRG)’s Citizens’ Manifesto launching at the Freetown City Hall. Reasons for the absent of APC, NGC and C4C remain unknown.
Citizens’ Manifesto is a non-partisan public interest initiative that unifies well-meaning civic leaders behind a document that provides space for ordinary Sierra Leoneans to have their priorities and expectations feed into manifestos of political parties.
Giving out some of the commitments for any government vying to take power in the June 24, 2023, election, about two thousand four hundred (2,400) citizens across the country gave recommendations.
According to some of citizens demands, Andrew Lavalie and other facilitator stated that citizens demand the replacement of traffic police officers with traffic streetlights.
They also informed the ceremony that aspiring political parties should achieve in providing 50% employments to youth, adding that the next government should allocate appointment to regions, not below 15%.
They said that Members of Parliament and presidential aspirants should publish their assets before nomination. Giving out their top priorities in the 2023 election, they stated that citizens need farming, food, healthcare, keep price down, water, road infrastructure job, government security, electricity and education.
Emma McLougwin Second Secretary to Embassy of Ireland command IGR and all members of the Steering Committee for their commitment on putting citizens at the centre for discussion.
She said elections and their outcomes should focus of on the will of the people and with the manifesto, adding that the Irish Embassy gain some insights following independent engagements with partners across the country. She said as developing partners, it is important for Ireland to grant autonomy to their partners and give Sierra Leone Civil Society Organizations the space to engage with the populace.
She described the document is an example of such an exercise, and furthered that the manifesto give voice to citizens to air their life experiences which should be closely reviewed by those who wish to represent these citizens. The foreign envoy added that they want to see the outcome of this process reflect on the desires and importance placed by citizens on transparency.
It is important to note that Citizens’ Manifesto is not just an aggregate of policy priorities that citizens are asking political parties and government for, she said, and explained that manifesto comprises Citizens’ commitments to promote positive behaviour and meaningful citizenry compliance with the rule.
She furthered that the 2023 Citizens’ Manifesto is part of their overall partnership with IGR, CARL, and MOPADA to make the June 24th election focused on violent free and with improved mechanisms from the admiration of electoral justice.
