By: Thaimu Bai Sesay
In order for citizens to own the 2023 SLPP Manifesto which is dubbed as the People’s Manifesto, Chief Minister Jacob Jusu Saffa, together with other party stakeholders, has on Tuesday 30th May 2023, organized a special press conference titled ‘Taking the SLPP Manifesto to the People’.
It could be recalled that the Sierra Leone People’s Party had launched their 2023 Manifesto labelled as ‘Big Five’ with the theme of consolidating gains and accelerating transformation on the 24th of May 2023.
Chief Minister Jacob Jusu Saffa who was the speaker of the conference gave an overview of the Big Five manifesto launched. He expressed that the special press conference organized had never happened before but said they did it deliberately in order to change the narrative and assured the people of Sierra Leone of their seriousness.
Jacob Jusu Saffa intimated that the major objective of the conference was to create an open space to interact with the press on the manifesto. He added that it was also a way to take the manifesto to the people and increase their awareness of it.
The Chief Minister explained that the Manifesto was well Informed by the five years of experience of the New Direction Government. He said that it was a collective effort and ideas of highly educated people. J.J Saffa made known that he had been fully participating in all their manifestos from 2012 to 2018 and affirmed that the 2023 manifesto was highly inspired by the views of the community people.
Giving key highlights presentation of the manifesto, the Chief Minister explained the interconnectedness of the Big Five manifesto and said that one cannot fully function without the others. He placed emphasis on the first one described as ‘Feed Salone’ and went on stating that the biggest problem of Sierra Leoneans was to feed themselves and furthered that it was why they have placed a premium on it.
The Chief Minister recalled the achievements and gains of their five years governments, specifically on education, economy and infrastructure. He explained that despite the global issues, they were still able to maintain essential commodities in the market, pay salaries and at the same time fully support the Free Quality Education program. On the economy, he said they were able to maintain a single digit in 2021.
The Chief Minister expressed confidence in winning the 2023 election and assured the people of Sierra Leone of their seriousness in addressing the issues and making Sierra Leone a better place for everyone.
