September 29, 2017 By Hassan Gbassay Koroma
‘Fambul Tok’ International Sierra Leone, one of the leading civil society organisations in the country has called on political leaders and stakeholders to conduct credible, free and fair elections come March 7th 2018 for the maintenance of peace in the country.
The peace-building organisation made the call on Wednesday, 27th September, 2017, at their Hill Station Office during a presser with various media houses.
Reading the press release, Programme Manager at Fambul Tok International, Martha A. R Gbouma-Alieu, said the organisation has been following the recent discussions and pronouncement surrounding doubt over the overall conduct of the March 7th 2018 general elections that warranted their attention as a peace building organization.
She recalled that the National Electoral Commission earlier this year declared March 7th 2018 as the date for the conduction of Local Council, Parliamentary and Presidential elections.
She said her organization has observed with grave concern, divergent opinions, statements and counter statements from various political parties including the ruling All People’s Congress (APC) and the main opposition Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) regarding issues relating to the proper conduct of the 2018 general elections and that similar views are being echoed by some civil society organizations in the country.
She continues that her organisation will like to remind political leaders that maintaining the peace of this country largely depends on the conduct of a credible, free and fair elections and they therefore owe it to the citizens of the country especially women and children.
“We are therefore appealing to their good conscience to see reason and seek an acceptable compromise as a solution that will guarantee and alley the fears of the general public about the process itself rather than ignore the concerns that will ultimately sow the seeds of the elections related conflict and undermine the credibility and legality of the entire elections process,” she said.
She concluded that Fambul Tok International Sierra Leone is calling on the government, political parties, Political Parties Registration Commission PPRC, the National Electoral Commission, Civil Society Organizations, Religious Leaders and the international community to engage in a frank and hard conversation that will lead to a lasting and accepted solution regarding their legitimate concerns.