AYV News, August 27, 2025
Presidential Spokesman and Special Adviser to the President of Sierra Leone, Dr. Alpha Kanu has urged political parties in the country to adopt the Proportional Representation (PR) system of elections.
He was speaking at a meeting with the All Political Parties Association (APPA), All Political Parties Women Association (APPWA), and the All Political Parties Youth Association (APPYA), where he referenced President Dr. Julius Maada Bio’s statement at the state opening of Parliament.
He said the President urged Sierra Leoneans to choose between continuing the current adversarial political system and embracing one that promotes inclusion, fairness, and national unity.
He said adopting the PR system is the best path to restoring peace and unity in the country.
Dr. Alpha Kanu said, “The essence of PR system is simply to ensure that every vote counts, and that every voice matters”.
He compared it with the winner-takes-all electoral system that often excludes significant portions of the population from meaningful representation, adding that the PR system better reflects the true diversity of the electorate in both Local Councils and Parliament.
The presidential spokesman cited successful implementations of the PR system in South Africa, Rwanda, Northern Ireland, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, which are emerging from conflicts and ethnic divisions.
He also pointed to its effectiveness in Switzerland, Belgium, Italy, Germany, France, and most European Union countries, where PR has helped reduce political tensions, broaden participation, and strengthen democratic legitimacy.
“Our journey as a democratic country has been oscillatory and fractious most of the time. We have known the bitterness of division, but we have also tasted the sweetness of unity,” he stated.
The Presidential Spokesman highlighted practical benefits of PR systems, including significantly reduced election costs and the elimination of by-elections when vacancies arise in national legislative and local government assemblies, thereby freeing up scarce financial, logistical, and human resources.
Concluding his address to the political parties, Dr. Kanu noted that Sierra Leone’s 16 tribes make PR a wise choice, given its proven success in other advanced nations.
