PPRC Launches Strategic Plan
The Chairman of the Political Parties Regulation Commission (PPRC), Mr. Abdulai Masiyambay Bangurah, on 9th May 2023, launched the Commission’s Strategic Communication Plan and the Commission’s 2023 Elections theme, both in English and Krio; “Join Hands for Better Sierra Leone”; “Join han for betteh Salone” at the PPRC Conference Hall on Lamina Sankoh Street in Freetown.
In his welcome address, the Director of Training and External Relations, Lucien Momoh, said the plan is timely and will help the Commission in its duties. He said he accompanied the consultant hired by International IDEA to engage key stakeholders, including the seventeen registered political parties across the country.
In his opening courtesy, the Executive Secretary, who doubles as the Chairman of the launch, Olushogo A. David, said the plan will aid the PPRC in its engagement with the public, key stakeholders, and members of political parties.
The Head of Governance and CSOs of the European Union, Serena Bertaina, in her statement, said she is pleased to be part of such a great event for a meaningful dialogue, adding that communication is a key component that fosters peace and cohesion. This strategy, she reiterated, will help the Commission achieve its mandates, by increasing its visibility and consultative dialogue with political parties. She assured the Commission of her organization’s continued support to ensure a peaceful election in Sierra Leone.
In his statement, the Head of Country Program, International IDEA, Dr. Idriss Mamoud Tarawally, said his organisation is always pleased to strengthen democratic processes in Sierra Leone. For the Commission to be effective in its activities, a robust Communication plan is needed.
In his statement, Asmieu Bah, the Acting Director of Media and Public Affairs of the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Cooperation (SLBC), said that as journalists, they know the important role of communication, and an institution as big as PPRC needs a Communication Strategy to function effectively. So designing a strategy is the right move by the Commission and its International Partners, he added. “The Clients of the PPRC are not only Political Parties, but the people of Sierra Leone. People need to know the operations of the Commission, he added. He said the Media should not be left out in implementing the Strategy, because they play a pivotal role in ensuring the public is properly informed.
In his keynote address and launching the Plan, the Chairman of the Commission, Abdulai Masiyambay Bangurah Esq. thanked International IDEA and European Union for supporting the development of the plan. The Plan he said will counter disinformation and misinformation perpetrated by politicians, supporters, and operatives. The Chairman stated that “We have a new act; the Political Parties Act of 2022, which has now conferred a lot of responsibility and power on the Commission. So with this plan, we can now communicate and educate the public on our mandate” he added.
The Strategy, he says, will increase the visibility of the Commission, and that people will know what the Commission does.
