On Thursday, March 14, 2024, the Sierra Leone Female Parliamentary Caucus (SLeFPac), in collaboration with the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, PetroJetty, the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, Orange Sierra Leone, and other partners, held a significant event at the State Hall of the Parliament Building. This occasion marked the inauguration of their new executive leadership and celebrated International Women’s Day 2024 under the theme: “Invest In Women: Amplifying Women’s Political Agenda in Parliament.” The event, dubbed ‘Orange Day,’ drew a distinguished audience of Sierra Leoneans and international diplomats.
In her welcome address, SLeFPac President Hon. Neneh Lebbie highlighted the event as a moment to reflect on achievements, challenges, and future directions. She acknowledged the contributions of her predecessor, Hon. Veronica Kadie Sesay, and praised the support from President Bio and the First Lady, which has facilitated increased female representation in Parliament. The President underscored the importance of women’s empowerment and participation, stressing the need for continued support.
Dr. Sylvia Olayinka Blyden, the Chairperson for the event, paid tribute to two of her mentors, Hon. Reverend Marie Yansaneh and the late Hon. Elizabeth Alpha-Lavalie, who had previously served as SLeFPaC executives. Dr. Blyden reminisced about the long struggle for women’s representation and the recent shifts that helped women gain parliamentary seats. She encouraged female MPs to build trust with their constituents, be gender-sensitive, and champion the voices of women, especially those in rural areas.
Dr. Blyden also praised the Rt. Hon. Speaker of Parliament, Dr. Abass Chernor Bundu, for his efforts in advocating for the 30% women’s quota in Parliament and commended President Maada Bio and the First Lady for their unwavering support. She also shared personal experiences of overcoming male chauvinism and urged female MPs to be prepared for similar challenges.
Madam Finda Fraser, Director General of Parliament, commended the event organizers and reaffirmed Parliament’s commitment to gender inclusion, praising President Bio for his support of women’s roles in society.
Mr. Sylvester Mallah of PetroJetty highlighted his organization’s dedication to supporting women in Sierra Leone, while Rev. Alusine Diamond-Suma of WFD emphasized the importance of women’s participation and the foundation’s commitment to supporting female MPs and governance.
Madam Danetta Young, General Secretary of Orange Sierra Leone, expressed pride in SLeFPac’s promotion of gender equality and pledged continued support from her organization. Mr. Jack Burne of the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office assured ongoing support to eliminate gender barriers and promote women’s rights.
During the inauguration, the Leader of Government Business, Hon. Matthew Sahr Nyuma, and the Leader of Opposition, Hon. Abdul Kargbo, presented the new executive members with their rosettes of authority. Both leaders praised the efforts of the Female Caucus and committed to supporting their work.
Hon. Nyuma reaffirmed Parliament’s commitment to women’s representation and urged female MPs to collaborate on advancing their agenda. Hon. Kargbo emphasized the need to eradicate gender-based violence and encouraged female MPs to work together for their common goals.
Representatives from both the SLPP and APC parties called for additional support for women and addressed the issue of harmful drug use among youth.
The event concluded with a keynote address by former Minority Leader, Hon. Dr. Bernadette Lahai, who commended the progress made in female representation in Sierra Leone and advocated for increased budgetary allocations to support female MPs. She highlighted Sierra Leone’s ranking in the ECOWAS subregion for female representation and called for further policy support.
Hon. Veronica Kadie Sesay, President of the ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Caucus, expressed gratitude to the partners and acknowledged President Bio’s support.
Hon. Lucinda Kellie and Hon. Mariama Zombo shared inspiring messages about their political journeys, and Director Gilbert N’habay presented the SLeFPaC annual action plan. The event concluded with a Vote of Thanks from Vice President Hon. Rose Marie Bangura.
Director of Parliamentary and Public Relations Sheku Lamin Turay called the event to order, emphasizing the positive impact of Orange Day in celebrating and promoting women’s achievements.
