By: Aminata Sesay
The Campaign for Good Governance (CGG) on Tuesday convened a high-level meeting of female ministers and women Members of Parliament at Family Kingdom in Aberdeen, culminating in the formal formation of the executive of the Network of Women Ministers and Parliamentarians (NEWMAP).
The meeting marked a significant transition for the women’s leadership initiative, with full responsibility for NEWMAP now handed over to its members following years of engagement, capacity building, and coordination led by CGG and its partners.
Chairing the session, Sahr Kendema recalled that engagement around NEWMAP began in 2023, shortly after the national elections, when CGG initiated discussions with female ministers and later extended the dialogue to women parliamentarians.
“This has been a journey that started in 2023. It is not a new engagement,” Kendema said, outlining a series of consultations, launches, and validation processes that led to the establishment of the NEWMAP Secretariat, the development of a five-year strategic plan (2025-2030), and the adoption of a constitution.
He noted that the strategic plan and constitution were validated in December 2024 and officially launched in August 2025, paving the way for the formation of an executive to manage the affairs of the network.
The Executive Director of CGG, Marcella Samba-Sesay, emphasized that the formation of the NEWMAP executive was the result of sustained advocacy and networking efforts supported by CGG over several years.
“Women are not entering political spaces merely for inclusion,” Samba-Sesay said. “We are here to add value and to transform these spaces.”
She stressed the importance of networking among women leaders, noting that deep-rooted socio-cultural barriers continue to limit women’s political participation despite existing legal frameworks.
“The power of networking enables women to break these barriers and build collective strength,” she added.
Speaking on behalf of women in Parliament, Hon. Catherine Zainab Tarawalie said female MPs made a deliberate decision to attend the meeting despite ongoing parliamentary business.
“NEWMAP is ours, and we cannot allow it to move forward without our presence,” she said, reaffirming Parliament’s commitment to working with CGG and civil society to advance women’s issues.
Tarawalie also called for a review of the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Act to further strengthen women’s participation in governance, noting that the current framework should be treated as a minimum benchmark.
The Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Isata Mahoi, credited CGG for supporting the revival and institutionalization of NEWMAP.
“When the idea of resuscitating NEWMAP came up, CGG was the only organization that stepped forward to support it on behalf of the Ministry,” Mahoi said.
She explained that engagements with CGG and other partners led to the development of the network’s strategic plan and constitution, describing the meeting as a proud moment for Sierra Leone’s women’s movement.
Mahoi emphasized that NEWMAP was designed as an inter-party platform, calling on women leaders to set aside political affiliations in the interest of national development.
“This is a small country. If women do not work together, we will not be able to move forward,” she said.
At the close of the meeting, participants agreed to form the NEWMAP executive by consensus rather than elections. Minister Mahoi was confirmed as Chairperson of NEWMAP, with members pledging collective responsibility for the work of the network.
“This is ours, and we will run it our way,” Mahoi said, adding that committees would be established to drive the network’s activities going forward.
CGG pledged continued accompaniment and support to NEWMAP as it transitions into this new phase.