Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Sierra Leone on Friday, ugust 19, 2022 held a CSO Townhall meeting on the state of governance, peace and security.
The meeting which was held at the Vanilla Complex in Aberdeen brought together civil society groups from across the country to speak on one voice.
In her opening statement, Macela Samba Sesay, Executive Director, Campaign for Good Governance, called on participants to speak frankly, adding that the meeting is key in looking at the issues affecting citizens and the country.
Mrs. Samba Sesay noted that, at the meeting held with President Julius Maada Bio various groups brought out key issues that needs to be addressed.
‘We have all made mistakes, and that the meeting with CSO is correctional space to talk to ourselves. Civil society should be able to talk to themselves otherwise we will not be able to talk to government, the international community, and the people of Sierra Leone. We all have a role to play because we all need one another,” she said.
The CGG Executive Director called on each and every participant and the civil society family to continue to play their roles because no one person will be able to play all the roles.
The Executive Director, ActionAid Sierra Leone, Foday Bassie Swaray, who also doubles as lead coordinator for the CSO Townhall Meeting, said the meeting was self-sponsored and it is the beginning of how CSO should go.
“I have been in this country throughout my life; the only time I left was in 1999 as a refugee in Guinea. I don’t want to experience this again, and I am sure nobody in this room would want to experience such. We believe in this country because it is the only country we have,” he said.
Mr. Swaray noted that Sierra Leone is the only country we have, and we should not allow it to be burnt down either by us or anybody from outside.
“We are good people, and we should not allow such to be eroded. This is the more reason why we as CSO need to stand up and speak. It is time to raise our voice in unity on the things that are affecting us. What happens on August 10th is not something we are known for. This must be allowed to continue,” he said.
Mr. Foday Bassie Swaray called on CSOs to put aside their differences, adding that as a people they have allowed politics to divide them.
“This is not what we want. What we need is an agenda for quality service to our people. This is a moment for Civil society to take back our space because we have allowed others to take this space we called civil society space,” he said.
Mr. Swaray noted that civil society should have the courage to speak truth to power and this is a national agenda they are driving.
“This townhall meeting will develop clear plans for engagement, and should be strong enough to speak to government what is wrong and proffer recommendation and solutions,” he said.
By Alimatu Jalloh