By Joseph S. Margai in Freetown, Sierra Leone
The Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) has waived all application and nomination fees for female candidates that want to vie for various positions in the March 7, 2018 multitier elections.
The affirmative action, according to the National Secretary General of the party, Umaru Napoleon Koroma, “is consistent with the party’s Gender Policy and in line with the vision of our presidential candidate-Retired Brigadier Julius Maada Bio, to empower women by giving them the opportunity to maximize their potential as enshrined in his policy direction.”
The party has decided to waive application fees, which is Le2m (approximately $265usd), for all female aspirants vying for parliamentary seats under the party’s symbol and five hundred thousand Leones ($70usd) for those vying for the local council seats.
The SLPP application fees are; Members of Parliament Le2m (approximately US$265), Mayor/Chairman Le5m ($666.67usd) and councilor five hundred thousand Leones (0.07usd).
A press release which was signed by the party’s National Secretary General, further disclosed, “All those who have already paid will be refunded at a later date.”
The SLPP has also undertaken to pay candidature or nomination fees to the National Electoral Commission (NEC) for all female aspirants who succeed in getting the symbol.
The Publicity Secretary for the ruling All People’s Congress (APC), Cornelius Deaveux, said the demand for symbols for their party is very high. They will not be giving waivers to female candidates.
A member of the communications team of the National Grand Coalition (NGC), Mohamed Fofanah, said, “Application fees for men and women political hopefuls are free.” We are not going to ask for any fee from any aspirant.”
For their NEC nomination fees, Fofanah said, “As a party, we are putting our house together so that we can come in (pay) for those that can’t afford.”
