By Ragan M Conteh

The Leader of government business Hon. Sahr Mathew Nyuma and opposition head Hon. Abdul Kargbo have, on behalf of the clerk, have endorsed an executive of the female caucus in parliament.

The clerk of the Sierra Leone Parliament is yet to assume office after a recent fracas.

The event took place on Thursday 14, March 2024 at State Hall in the House of parliament.

During the inaugural ceremony Hon.Nyuma representing Kenema district, Nongowa Chiefdom, made a commitment for the promotion of gender equality in parliament.

The MP also expressed commitment to support the Female Parliamentary Caucus in achieving its aspirations as an active structure within the parliament of Sierra Leone.

He emphasized that there is a growing need for the Female Parliamentary Caucus to enhance its visibility and showcase ambition to be a potent and result-oriented structure inside and outside parliament.

This year’s theme “Invest in Women: Amplifying Women’s Political Achievement in Parliament”.

He said the Orange Day celebration is a platform through, which parliament will extol the achievements of the Female Caucus and provide an opportunity to re-define the role of the Caucus in Parliament.

He assured that the parliament of Sierra Leone will seek to create an inclusive and safe and enabling environment for female MPs with the intention of incorporating gender equality at all levels of parliamentary operations.

As part of parliament commitments, Hon. Nyuma said the Fifth Session of parliament is to pass into law the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act, which introduces 30% quota for women’s representation in public and private offices.

Hon. Nyuma cited Section 58 (2) of the Public Elections Act 2022 which says, “for every three candidates nominated by a political party, one of them shall be a female.”

This according to Hon Nyuma, served as an important step for the empowerment of women in Sierra Leone.

He assured that the increment in the number of female representatives in Parliament is a result of (GEWE) and the Public Elections Act 2022. According to Hon. Nyuma out of 135 Members of Parliament, 41 are women.

He reechoed President Bio’s statement which says “The presence of more women within this Parliament and our democracy enriches the tapestry of our nation, infusing it with compassion, empathy, and resilience.”

The Majority leader ended by admonishing the Female Parliamentary Caucus to bridge the political divide not only in Parliament but across the nation, and to cultivate a spirit of cooperation and collaboration in their pursuit of shared goals.

The Leader of opposition in Parliament Hon. Abdul Kargbo buttressed that Female MPs are the examples to many women, adding that they should work towards more women representation in all walks of life.

He said women have been pushed outside in their communities, emphasizing that some of them are being sexually harassed and abused in their place of works.

He urged female MPs and the caucus to be voice of the voiceless women who cannot speak the quiz language.