September 17, 2021
By Mohamed Jalloh
Maria Samu, the acting chairperson of the National Commission for Democracy (NCD) graced the ministry of information press briefing to explain the need to uphold the tenets of democracy on the commemoration of the international day of democracy.
The theme for this year’s commemoration is “deepening Sierra Leone’s Democracy: Prospects and Challenges”.
She said this year`s observation of the International Day of Democracy) is happening amidst a continued global pandemic that has seriously impacted on every sphere of human existence, with lives, livelihoods, and lifestyles coming under serious scrutiny.
“Despite the pandemic and related challenges, we still have a national duty to shine a spotlight on our democracy”, Mrs Samu noted.
She said the day is celebrated on an international level to identify and introspect on the features that are straining the promotion of democracy.
Mrs Samu explained that apart from the fundamental human rights of air, food, water, shelter and clothing, associated rights like shelter and clothing are some of the most elementary requirements of democracy.
She admitted that we have come a long way in the consolidation of the nation’s democracy, but however noted that we still have enough grounds to cover as we consider the various levels and strata of democratic consolidation.
“From the institutional, representational, behavioral and civic culture perspectives, let me hasten to say that there is still room for improvement with the need for state and non-state actors to make a determined move in consolidating our democracy on the foundation of legitimacy, nationalism and patriotism”, Madam Samu urged.
The acting chairperson of NCD urged all and sundry to observe the day with a consciousness on the need for continued national dialogue in addressing the challenges with the need to focus attention on building a robust political economy that can withstand the test of time.
“At this critical juncture of our political history, let us don’t forget to exercise the vital instruments of political tolerance, national unity, and social cohesion as vital ingredients in the consolidation of the nation`s democracy”, the NCD chairperson warned.
She implored everyone to give consideration to the country`s different ethnicity, political parties, regions, tribes, religions and related variables.
Madam Samu concluded by entreating every citizen to eschew corruption, intolerance, violence, injustice, coercion, hate speech in order to make Sierra Leone a better place.