Female members of Sierra Leone’s main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) have challenged its gender inclusive credentials and called for more role in how it is run.
The group of female politicians in the northern Koinadugu district decried the continued subjugation of women members of the party, which they say has always meant that they are reduced to handling the kitchen during political campaigns and other activities. They want women to be allowed to participate in planning process and major decisions.
The women made this call in a position paper issued after a “solidarity conference” in the town of Kabala over the weekend.
As part of a six-point demand, they urged the party’s leadership to ensure the allocation of 40 percent of positions in the executive and other decision-making bodies to women. They also called for the removal of barriers which they say hinder women’s participation and empowerment at all levels of the party.
The women, under the United All People’s Congress Women of Koinadugu District, said they held several consultative meetings which culminated in the one-day solidarity conference meant to “enhance coordination” and “consolidate the ideals” of the party and foster peace amongst women in their communities.
“We are cognizant of the growing recognition of the untapped capacity and talent of women in politics and recognize that our empowerment, participation and representation in positions of decision-making are fundamental to the development of the APC,” the position paper reads in part.
The call by the women comes as the APC struggle to reform under pressure from some of its membership who have questioned its democratic credentials.
The party is expected to adopt its new constitution, after the current one came under popular criticism by members who fill the leadership is entrusted with too much power, among other concerns.
Low women’s participation in politics is a widespread concern in Sierra Leone, not just limited to the APC.
Even at the national level there have been calls for review of policies to encourage greater women’s participation in decision making bodies.
But some gender activists have argued that true changes can happen only if appropriate initiatives are taken at the party levels.
The APC is one of the two dominant political parties in the country, the other one being its main rival, the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP).
APC has been the main opposition party since it lost power to SLPP in the 2018 elections.
The Koinadugu women are requesting the party to take deliberate steps at district, regional and national levels towards addressing their concerns, calling on the leadership to provide resources towards the development of female political aspirants.
The solidarity conference was convened under the theme: “Voice of Women.”
Haja Bintu Mansaray, who chaired the conference on Saturday, February 3, said they intended to show to the party that they had overcome their differences and their seeming academic limitations as well as the overt and covert discontents amongst them with the goal of seeking their common and collective aspirations and to be positive players in the administration and decision-making processes of their party.
“We have come of age and we have come to this realization that together we can build a better future for women in the party and also ensure victory in the coming elections,” she stated, noting that as women, they recognized how less considered they were as far as executive positions within the party was concerned.
She stressed that they were merely calling for consideration to be side by side with their male comrades and not to be seen threat.
“We just want to work with them as partners in the future sociopolitical developments and successes of the party,” Mrs Mansaray said.
“We want to tell everyone, everywhere that women power is power from God,” she added in her statement to the conference, urging the men folks to provide space for their women folks and share power with them for the good of party and country.
