Campaign for Good Governance (CGG), in its Advocacy for the Development of a Citizens Constitution Project on Thursday concluded a Western Urban Area Working Session for the consolidation and validation of citizens’ position paper at the Civil Service Training Centre in Freetown.
In her statement on the essence of the work session which is funded by Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), CGG’s Director of Programmes, Marcella Samba-Sesay said, “Since the transition to democracy in 1996 we’ve been using the 1991 constitution, which in its shape and form does not speak for democracy and respect for human rights in its fullest.”
She cited the constitutional provision controversy early this year regarding the President’s Supreme Executive Authority’ in firing erstwhile Vice President, Alhaji Sam Sumana.
“That is why, for example, early this year when we were challenged with the constitutional provision with regards the ‘Supreme Executive Authority’, the constitution was not clear in it form, shape and interpretation for us to be able to see very clearly what that means,” Mrs. Samba-Sesay explained.
However, she pointed out, “this is a unique opportunity for Civil Society to position itself to make the required recommendations for the constitutional review.”
The CGG Director of Programmes explained that other civil society organizations (CSO’s) have been calling for the participation and recommendations across the country. “So what we’ve done is that our recommendations backed with other organizations like the Network Movement for Justice and Development (NMJD) would be cited in a national meeting Monday (today).”
She further explained that the working session is to deliberate with Western Urban Area representation in order “to agree on a set of recommendations. Once you’ve stamped these recommendations, that is, what we are going to take to the urban meeting,” Mrs. Samba-Sesay averred, also pointing out that the process is “going to happen for a number of other CSO’s across the country.”
She revealed that on Friday, CGG “would be talking to organizations in the Western Rural part of Freetown and in the East and the South so that we get together conclusive notes on what will be the recommendations for civil society.”
More importantly, she stressed, “I want to make sure that this process would finally end with want we called a referendum. The referendum means that we have to say Yes or No to some of the provisions that would be recommended for change in the constitution.”
The Programmes Director also pointed out that “the constitution has what is called ‘entrench clauses’, these clauses cannot be changed by parliament except by a two thirds majority by the general public. So, it could be coming back to you. We are saying that when the referendum comes to you, you already know what you are expecting. If you did not participate in this stage when the referendum comes how will you know what to vote for in the first place?” she questioned, further pointing out “if the options that are presented are devoid of the options we’ve recommended it is a big challenge.
“So in the first place, we need to ensure that the right options are in the referendum and if the right options are put in the referendum then we would be able to say yes or no, but if the options are not given in the referendum and the ones presented are totally out of place how can we say yes or no? Even yes or no doesn’t make sense in that instance. This is why we’ve tried as best as possible to include a wide range of CSOs,” she explained.
‘Though some of the organizations present here today are organizations that traditionally CGG has been working with over the years, nevertheless, we want to ensure that many groups know about the constitutional process as possible.”
She implored participants “to maximize this opportunity to the fullest”, also adding that after the session would have ended, if participants have another input regarding the work session they must contact Mrs. Bernadette French, CGG’s focal on the constitutional review process.
Mrs. Samba-Sesay assured that “whatever recommendations made” would be collected, collated and presented to the CRC.
CGG’s Programme Manager, Bernadette French explained that though it’s not physically possible to have every Sierra Leonean in one venue to give out their recommendations, however, CGG has ensured that the process is all inclusive by seeking consultation from the ordinary people nationwide. She emphasized that the processes is to sieve out what is relevant.
November 23, 2015
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