By Problyn J. Alpha
A group of women in Kono District have spoken out against what they describe as bullying and public humiliation connected to the recent treatment of the First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Her Excellency Dr. Fatima Maada Jabbie Bio, during the official State Opening of Parliament.
Their concerns were voiced during a local good governance and accountability radio program titled “We Wane Know”, aired on Radio New Song FM 91.3 Kono every Wednesday at 10:30 PM.
The First Lady was reportedly subjected to public ridicule when the song “Coco Rose” was played as she entered the well of Parliament during the ceremonial state opening. The moment has since sparked national debate, with reactions ranging from satire to outrage.
According to women who called into the program, they have also become targets of bullying and mockery primarily by male counterparts and even some fellow women because they openly supported the First Lady during the controversial event.
The women who spoke on air unequivocally condemned the incident, describing it as demeaning, disrespectful, and a blow to women’s empowerment efforts in Sierra Leone.
“Despite her status as First Lady, Dr. Fatima Bio is also the Chairperson of the Organization of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD). She deserves respect not only as a national figure but as a continental leader advocating for women and girls across Africa,” one caller said.
They further linked the treatment of the First Lady to historical sidelining of women in politics and national development. According to them, such public disgrace could discourage other women from pursuing leadership roles or participating in politics.
The callers also raised alarm that such humiliation could undermine the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Act, a key legislative milestone designed to increase female participation in governance and public life.
“What happened in Parliament has the potential to make the GEWE Act meaningless if women are not protected and respected in public spaces,” one contributor noted.
The women called on Dr. Prince Harding, former Chairman of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), and others allegedly involved in orchestrating the incident, to publicly apologise to the First Lady, the women of Sierra Leone, and by extension, African countries she represents under her continental role.
“As vulnerable members of society, our strength lies in our integrity, mutual respect, and love. We cannot thrive in national development and politics if our dignity is constantly undermined,” they stressed.
While the women expressed disappointment, some political commentators who appeared on the same program argued that the First Lady’s treatment is a consequence of her active involvement in politics, which, while not unconstitutional, blurs the lines of her ceremonial role.
“The First Lady has increasingly engaged in frontline politics, and this is not without consequences in African political settings. What happened is unfortunate but not surprising,” one analyst observed. The incident and its aftermath have reignited national conversations around respect for women in leadership, the role of the First Lady, and the challenges facing female political participation in Sierra Leone. Whether the calls for accountability will yield formal responses remains to be seen.