By Ralph Sesay
The Institute of Governance Reform has called on the Government of Sierra Leone to postpone the proposed Bintumani III conference in order to adequately prepare the regulatory environment and make it fully participatory and inclusive.
A release from the IGR applauds the Government and its partners for working towards convening a third Bintumani Conference to discuss growing concerns about national cohesion and also develop a roadmap for building a more inclusive society.
The release further highlighted the fact that, the Government is convening the Bintumani III conference amidst fears from various groups that the preparatory processes for the conference are being rushed. The IGR pinpointed the fact that the Government has not provided a platform for dialogue on a number of important issues ahead of the conference.
“Already the buildup to Bintumani III is raising fresh concerns as interest groups try to assert their preferred direction of the dialogue’s outcome,’’ the IGR stated.
They cited an attack on Marcella Samba Sesay of Campaign for Good Governance by Government agents for statements she made on radio about the failings of Government.
The IGR release acknowledged the fact that holding such a conference, after 22 years of multiparty democracy under the SLPP and APC, provides a unique opportunity for Sierra Leone to take a stock and assess the country in terms of institution building. It also suggests what the proposed National Cohesion Commission should achieve.
They continued that this initiative can only succeed “if we can rise above narrow agendas and focus on the issues that really matter if we want a unified Sierra Leone,’’
The IGR release concludes that a compelling reason for postponing the date of the Bintumani Conference is to allow highly skilled facilitators to help reconcile the two different perspectives on the table about how to move forward.
The Institute of Governance Research release is coming at a time when the Government is also trying to salvage their image as over fifty Non Governmental Organizations have expressed concern over the shrinking space for inclusive political participation and dialogue in Sierra Leone following the March 2018 elections.
The NGOs have cited the verbal attacks against the head of Campaign for Good Governance, Marcella Samba Sesay, following alleged attacks by Government agents after she made a very strong statement on the Government.
The NGOs have referred to such attacks as completely unwarranted and a veiled threat to silencing critical civic voices on national issues, which reduces the scope for genuine political participation and advocacy.