By Sulaiman Jalloh
Hon. Mohammed Bangura of the opposition All People’s Congress (APC) party representing the people of Karene district, Northwestern region of Sierra Leone has called on political parties especially the two main parties in the country to make their position known on the safe motherhood and Reproductive Health care Bill something he would Aly the affairs of their supporters.
Speaking to Parliamentary journalists in parliament, the Lawmaker said everyone is giving his or her opinion and that it was good for him to make calls to political parties while giving an example to the US.
When asked if he was in support or not, he said “It is not about being in support or not but to call on political parties to make their positions clear”, emphasizing that he has his position but did not explain his side, adding it is not about parliament engaging but the political parties’ position is very essential in this kind of public discuss. He added that they were elected based on their political parties, and he pointed out that they would hold the leaders to account.
His call underscores the importance of transparency in governance; hence, it is prudent for people to know the standpoint of the different political parties they support on national issues.
According to him, when it comes to elections in Sierra Leone people are not looking for policies or the best but they just dance and sing, noting since the Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health bill has been one of the first major issues that has been brought to parliament and topical across the country, saying people should know that stands of both the ruling and main opposition party. He added that Donald Trump won the American election on policies of immigration, migration, and economy among others but that is not the case in Sierra Leone
This ‘safe motherhood and Reproductive Health bill’ was passed under the APC era through a private member motion but did not get the consent of then-president Earnest Bai Korma. This time around, the government, through the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, is pushing for it to pass into law something the government argues would reduce Maternal mortality death. Religious leaders and other civil society activists are arguing over major clauses that were in the bill, thus making it more topical.
He stressed that if political parties cannot talk about important things like the safe motherhood and reproductive health bill, it means they have no business in leadership while calling on the inter-religious council to engage different political parties in the country. “If political parties take a position on this, the membership would know their position, there will not be a much debate” he underscored.
