NaCCED, NCD Dialogue With Citizens On Governance & Politics

By Marilyn King
The National Council for Civic Education and Democracy (NaCCED) and the National Commission for Democracy (NCD) with support from International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IIDEA) and the European Union (EU) Organized two days Citizens Dialogue on Governance and Politics, with the theme. “Consolidating Democracy by promoting Inclusive Participation” at the Atlantic Hotel Lumley, Freetown.
Speaking at the event the Chairperson of NCD, Madam Marian Samu, said that after one year of the 2023 national elections, citizens should be talking about National Unity and Cohesion.
She furthered that they are still finding ways on how Sierra Leone has forged ahead after the elections and still discussing how political parties can come together to ensure that Sierra Leone become a better country.
She stated that a lot of thoughts were going around saying that the citizens were not properly represented.
She concluded that what has happened in the past will not happen again in Sierra Leone.
International IDEA, Head of Program, Dr Mamoud Idris Tarawally, said that one of the things that International IDEA is looking at is research, they are doing research on Governance and Democracy, and also the popular research is the Global State of Democracy (GSD).
He said the document measures Democracy:
1. Representation, which is a direct form of democracy.
2. Participation, people always participated in the governance processes, and the data of electoral process plays significant role that citizens energizing in participating in the elections.
3. The Right of Citizens and how Citizens would ensure their Right to participate and belong to any political Party, and also the fundamental component of citizens Right.
4. The Rule of Law, and that all Citizens should be abide by the law.
The EU Representative, Julius Foday said the EU has contributed in so many things, and they have not only supported the IIDEA but they have supported Parliament, PPRC and all democratic factors in Sierra Leone.
He said the two-day events is a testament in their role and in the EU action plan.
He noted that their core value is to promote and protect all human rights issues in democracy across the globe.
The Chairman of NaCCED, Kalilu Totangi said that the two days citizens’ dialogue is to have a look at citizens of Sierra Leone.
He continued that the democracy is to work with NCP, PPRC, and civil society groups among others for them to drive participation especially of young people, and they want young people to come out in numbers to always participating in electoral process.
He furthered that during the elections the level of violence was minimum.
He mentioned that they decided to come up with Citizens Dialogue to have conversations that allow them to know how many people represented in parliament and make sure when next Sierra Leone elected a president, that president will not going to be holding only to their own political parties or their tribes that voted, but has the responsibility to serve the whole country.
He concluded that the two days Citizens Dialogue is to talk about what can Citizens do in the electoral system to better the lives of people, or business and government is to secure and protect the people of Sierra Leone.
In his keynote address, the Chief Electoral Commission (ECSL) Mohamed Konneh, said there are basic inputs for promoting inclusion which is eliminating legal barriers enhancing accessibility, empowering voter educational awareness, ensuring representation, reducing social economic barriers and infrastructure, combating voter suppression, fostering community and enhancing electoral infrastructure.
He said these are the basic form of principles.
He said the eight pillars of the strategic plan solidly dedicated to inclusion participation and equity.
He stated that after 2018 elections based on the recommendations there was a need for ECSL to consider as a priority in the electoral process, and that they encourage or provide opportunities for everyone to participate in elections.
A panel round table discussion climaxed the occasion.