By Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara (JFK)
The SLPP’s just-concluded National Delegates Conference at Bintumani was not only about leadership selection, it was a test of commitment to the principles they preach. And on that test, they failed.
Despite all the banners and bold promises around the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Act, the ruling party did not meet the legally required 30% representation of women in its national executive. Let that sink in. The very custodians of the law have become its first violators.
This is more than a political misstep, it is a moral contradiction. You cannot champion women’s inclusion on paper and then exclude them at the decision-making table. Symbolism is not empowerment. Visibility without voice is not victory.
As a member of the APC and someone who has always stood for fairness and progress, I believe this should serve as a rallying call not just a criticism. To the bold, brilliant, and battle-ready women of the APC: the time is now.
Don’t wait to be invited. Don’t wait to be selected. Aspire. Contest. Organize. Win.
We must not repeat the errors of those we oppose. If we are to offer the people of Sierra Leone a genuine alternative, our leadership must reflect the diversity and strength of our nation, starting with our women.
Let our next convention not just talk about inclusion but embody it. Let APC women rise, not as placeholders but as power shapers.
It is not enough to clap for progress, we must become it.
