The Northern region secretariat of Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) has partnered with staff and management of the University of Makeni (UNIMAK) to organise debates for Mayoral and district councils candidates in the five North districts.
The debates are geared towards helping constituents in the region to make informed decisions on whom they should votes for.
It could be recalled that the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists has been organising debates for Mayoral candidates and councillors only in Bombali district.
This time, the secretariat is collaborating with the first private University in the country to take all aspiring candidates to their constituents at district level.
According to the Secretary-General of Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), Mathew Abdul Kanu, they are collaborating with the University based on the fact that the Association believes in partnering with educational institutions in the country for the enhancement of development, good governance and political tolerance.
He also said that they want to ensure that they give equal time and space to all aspirants in the district to explain to their constituents, why they are contesting.
”We want to bring politicians and the voters at constituency and district level to ask the politicians how they will help in creating more jobs, health care services, better improvement of the country’s economy.
The Debates are taking place at a neutral platforms, as both the Association and University are very neutral and we want to demonstrate that level of neutrality,” he concluded.
The debates as planned will start on Friday 26th October 2012 in Makeni, with the Mayoral aspirants on what they described as ‘The Platform’ at the University campus.
The team will proceed to Tonkolili district for all district candidates on Sunday 28th while Koinadugu, Kambia, Port Loko and Bombali districts council’s debates, will hold on 29th, 31st, 1st, and 2nd respectively.
The Regional SLAJ Secretariat have vowed to provide both national and International coverage around it, especially so when the private University, UNIMAK, as part of their good governance and outreach programs, have vowed to document the entire debates ceremony, as a reference to hold politicians responsible if they fail to adhere their promised.
By Mohamed Kabba
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