By: Thaimu Bai Sesay
As the June Election is fast approaching, the Institute for Government Reforms (IGR) has on Thursday 13th April 2023 launched the Sierra Leone Citizen’s Manifesto 2023 with the theme ‘Making Elections Meaningful: Promoting Electoral Justice and Policy-Based Voting in Sierra Leone’.
The launching of this highly participated event by representatives of all the districts and other international and national organizations was chaired by BBC Umaru Fofana and AYV Phebean Swill on the Fourth Floor of the New City Hall Auditorium.
According to the Institute for Government Reforms, the Citizen’s Manifesto was a survey platform through which the IGR randomly select citizens from every part of the country to voice out their priorities. It intimated the 2023 Citizen’s Manifesto was conducted based on a random selection of 2,400 citizens from all the districts in Sierra Leone, using the ECSL data. Explaining the survey details in a presentation, IGR displayed the top 10 priorities of Sierra Leone Voters which it suggested for political parties to use as a manifesto. In their order of need and percentages, the top 10 priorities were Road Infrastructure, Water, Keep Prices Down, Health Care, Farming/Food, Education, Electricity, Transportation, Governance Security and Jobs.
During the presentation of the district resolution, representatives of each and every district were given the unique opportunity to present their topmost demands and commitments in return.
Amongst the major demands presented by almost all the districts were the reduction of police from the streets and replacing them with street lights, 50 per cent employment for the youths, fair justice and the declaration of assets by politicians. In return, representatives of almost all the districts committed to paying their taxes, stopping begging politicians, using social media responsibly and maintaining proper sanitation and cleanliness in their various districts.
As the event progressed, great personalities were invited to unveil portraits of drawings, containing information on how citizens should responsibly conduct themselves for a better nation. A representative of CARL who unveiled an infographic portrait containing different colour images and names of major tribes with the words ‘United Behind Our Thrown,’ explained the importance of inclusive government and the need for a united force. Another representative of the 50-50 Group who unveiled the drawing portrait, showing the Sierra Leone map and its riches with the words ‘Let Enjoy Our Riches Together,’ explained the need to make good use of their resources in a way that it should reflect the citizens and the country.
Addressing the citizens as a moderator and chairperson, BBC Reporter, Umaru Fofana requested that let their politicians see them as citizens but not just voters. He commended IGR and expressed that if he would have run for an independent position, he would have used the IGR Manifesto presentations for the campaign. AYV Phebean Swill disclosed that they as citizens were the very ones enabling their leaders to govern them in the wrong way. ‘We should not clap for our leaders when they are doing wrong because they will eventually miss their ways,’ she admonished.
