Inter Press Service (Johannesburg)
2 August 2008
Official results from the July 2008 local council elections in Sierra Leone have been announced by the chairperson of the country's National Electoral Commission. Despite numerous reports of harassment and intimidation, more women were elected to councils than in polls four years ago. But results fell short of the 30 percent representation set by gender activists.
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A political regressioin for women in Sierra Leone is the obvious aftermath of the last local elections. In Kono the ruling APC has instituted electioneering practicers that will ensure their success in elections irrespective of whether they are popular or not. This is reminiscent of the APC of the pre-civil war years.I guess any political party will apply methods that works best for them.The draconian policies coupled with political intimidation gave the APC some victories in Kono.These gains were at the expense of well female councillors who were better adept at empathizing with women's issues in the community. The North where I hail from remains in the dark ages on women's issues. The institution of Chieftaincy is a no go area for. It is therefor not surprising that there are fewer female elected individuals from the Northern Province. The educated elite from the north should share the burden of eliminating the lack of recognition of females' vital role in community development.