At its 4th National Delegates Conference, the All Political Parties Women Association yesterday through a consensus chose a new executive, with Augusta Temah as the new President.
For two days, 21-22 November 2017, women representatives from different political parties, including newly registered parties, converged at the Family Kingdom, Aberdeen to discuss issues affecting women’s inclusiveness and participation in economic and political Governance.
With the theme, “Wi taya for klap en dance, en want for de insai tranga wan”, meaning, we are tired of dancing and clapping all the time, now we want total inclusion and participation.
As the women have now decided and determined to be more united, there was no election, or selection, but a consensus was reached that the new executive should be all inclusive, and to encourage more women for effective team work, it was decided that all parties will be part of the two terms executive.
Former secretary-general of the past executive, Augusta Temah is now the President of APPWA, and she is from the National Democratic Alliance party, while her deputy is Salima Francis of the PMDC, and the secretary-general went to the APC. Fatmata Sawanneh, women’s leader of the SLPP will handle the Directorate of Projects and RUFP will be in-charge to organise the affairs of the association. UDM, CDP, PLP and UNPP will handle all other positions respectively.
The past executive, was headed by current Minister of Marine Resources and Fisheries, Elizabeth Manns, was commended for her selfless efforts as well as personal contribution to the association. The former secretary-general of the APPWA, Augusta Temah, furthered her stewardship during her tenure, which despite the many challenges the past executive was able to get some support from the UNDP and other partners through the efforts of the Political Parties Registration Commission, (PPRC) of which the association is appreciative. “The road was not easy, but we were able to keep afloat both our membership and the association”.
Kadiatu Sesay, from one of the political parties, added that women can be better performers when it comes to mobilisation and management, noting they are custodians of both small and large families.
Other speakers from women’s organisation and civil societies maintained that the 2017 national conference has proved that indeed the women are ready and have set the agenda to in cooperate more women for more inclusiveness and participation in governance. From the report of the past executive it was also clear that APPWA needs more resources to keep it afloat, and this was why members have to be more proactive and come up with initiatives to mobilize local resources, to support more women participation come 2018 elections and beyond.
Founding member and first President of the association, Isata Jabbie Kabba, was honoured to be part of history, noting that despite the storm APPWA is still intact. She became the first President of the association under the ticket of the SLPP, and the executive by then was all SLPP, including the outgoing APC executive, which also served two terms.
By Ade Campbell
Thursday November 23, 2017.