The Local Councils Association of Sierra Leone has completed capacity building training for potential women aspirants for the positions of councilor, mayor and/or chairpersons from different political parties in the Northeast Region.
Makeni City Council’s outgoing Mayor, Sunkarie Kabba-Kamara who also facilitated some of the sessions, urged the potential women aspirants to take full advantage of the training. She said: “This training serves as a guard on how you can able to achieve your various aspirations, not limited to on how to hobnob with the party stakeholders, how you can overcome intimidations from your male opponents, the strategies needed to organise a community meeting among others. Government has given us 30% that is not appropriate, there are procedures involved and those are things you are going to learn today so be very attentive. Give all your best and I’m wishing you all the best of luck ahead”.
Giving an overview of the project, Henry Powell, the Focal Person indicated that the essence of the training cannot be unconnected with increasing the number of elected women in local councils which he described as not too appealing over the years.
“This training is part of the quest to changing the narrative in the June 2023 elections at least we must have 135 female Councillors, and also 7 female Mayors or Chairpersons out of the twenty-two Local Councils in Sierra Leone and that will sum up the 30% of the GEWE Act of 2022″ he revealed.
Joseph Munda Bindi, President of the Local Councils Association of Sierra Leone in his keynote address stated that the LoCASL is owned by the twenty-two Local Councils.
He said key among its objectives is lobbying and advocating for the interest of its members “LoCASL is an independent body that is not owned by the government.
He continues to encourage the participants to pay a keen interest revealing that it is a training of trainers.
The LoCASL President Joseph Munda Bindi noted that the training is a manifestation of their commitment to increase the number of women in the Local Councils which he referred to as the bedrock for the development of the country.
The day-long training featured a total of four sessions, the first session covers the functions of Local Councils, the roles of Councillors, and challenges faced by women in politics, while the decision-making marks the second session.
One of the beneficiaries of the training was Suard Henrietta Koroma a former Councilor who has decided to aspire again. She disclosed that the training is not only timely but as well benefitted her a lot, especially on how to overcome the challenges.
