October 19, 2017 By Ishmael Sallieu Koroma
The high table at the press conference
The National Grand Coalition (NGC) has in a press conference held at the headquarters of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists on Campbell, in Freetown, disclosed that they have officially been certified by the Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC) to operate fully as a political party.
Chairman and Leader of NGC, Dr. Dennis Bright, said after a long delay “We received today from the PPRC, the authority to operate in Sierra Leone as any other existing political party as we do so within the confines of the constitution of the Republic and other laws governing the establishment and conduct of political organisations in the country.
He said the NGC is a party whose overarching role is to create a free, fair and just society that offers opportunities for social mobility, coupled with the full exploitation of individual potentials.
“The party’s aims include fostering unity among the people of this country ,ensuring full participation of all Sierra Leoneans in political ,social and economic life, restoring discipline and accountability in all facets of society ,revitalizing our economy ,reinstating high quality education and providing a sound health plan for all Sierra Leoneans,” he said.
The NGC chairman and leader further noted that the reason behind the creation of the party was that there was an urgent need to change the growth and development trajectory in Sierra Leone- from a trajectory that keeps the majority of the population in penury, with the country being beggarly nation close to the bottom of the UNDP Human Development index.
He added that the country needs to change from a country where selfish individuals, through blatantly corrupt activities, amass wealth while the majorities wallow in poverty.
“The logo of the NGC is a motorbike and a rider carrying the scales of justice with an electric bulb on one side and a hoe on the other which symbolizes enlightenment, education, energy and dignity in labour,” he said, stating that the motorbike also signifies speed and maneuverability and a focus on the common.
He further said that as a party they have only one person, Dr. Alhaji Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella, who has expressed interest in being the presidential candidate for the 2018 elections.
He stated that they will soon meet to take decision on the party’s presidential candidate and set the motion and the process to identify candidates for all other positions.
The NGC leader boasted that they are ready to win the March 7th 2018 elections, saying that they would be a force to reckon with in the political landscape of the country, adding that the party is unique in its way.
‘’The party colours are gold ,white ,Green, Blue, Red and Black- almost a rainbow combination which symbolises our determination to challenge and try to bring down the divisive politics of colour that has been tearing the country apart for the last decades,” he said.