The Civil Society Organisation Working Group on Elections and Human Rights in collaboration with the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (EC-SL) has organised a voter sensitisation seminar on the Proportional Representation (P.R) system for over 500 university students in Sierra Leone.
The objective of P.R sensitisation exercise was to educate and empower university students with knowledge about the P.R system, its merits and demerits, its significance in the electoral process and its impact on democratic representation in the country.
The sensitisation program took place at the Fourah Bay College campus and was attended by students from different faculties and departments in the University of Sierra Leone.
National Coordinator of the CSO Working Group on Elections and Human Rights, Rashid Dumbuya delivered a comprehensive presentation on the basics of the P.R system, starting with its international, regional and legal frameworks, its key features, strengths and weaknesses while emphasising on the different types of elections that will attract the P.R system come June 2023.
Rashid also dilated on the relevant institutional frameworks in Sierra Leone that are germane to the smooth conduct of elections.
Phillip Fara Kargbo, Director of Research, Monitoring and Evaluation at EC-SL provided insights into the implementation of the P.R system in Sierra Leone and highlighted its advantages for the democratic process.
He also stressed on the different types of elections and the threshold set by EC-SL for the parliamentary and local council elections.
A dedicated question and answer session was conducted after the power point presentations, allowing students to seek clarifications and address any concerns related to the P.R system.
The seminar successfully increased students’ awareness and understanding of the PR system as an electoral system established under the 1991 constitution.
The interactive nature of the program fostered active participation and encouraged students to engage in political discourse, contributing to increased civic engagement to their communities.
The seminar attracted students from various faculties and Departments, ensuring a diverse and representative audience.
The knowledge gained during this occasion can serve as a basis for future advocacy efforts in promoting electoral reforms and inclusive democratic processes in Sierra Leone.
At the end of the seminar, students were provided with light refreshments and were also given an opportunity to talk about their impression of the program to the press.
