The Honorable Minister of Political and Public Affairs, Hon. Nanette Thomas host Civil Society Organizations.

The dynamic and result oriented Minister of Political and Public Affairs, Hon. Nanette Thomas today host Civil Society Organizations in a round table discussion to map the way forward on how to tackle issues of national interest i.e Water shortage, Energy and Education. 

The round table discussion was well attended by prominent activist like Mr. Charles Mambu, Ms. Valnora Edwin, Mr. Alphonso Manley and others prominent activist.

The Citizens Complain Desk Officer in the Ministry of Political and Public Affairs, Mr. Sylvester Fonnie called the programme to order whiles the Policy Analyst, Mr. Muctarr Tejan-Cole gave an overview of the Ministry's mandate and the Liaison officer for the West, Ms. Mabel Carpenter gave the vote of thanks on behalf of the ministry. 

During the inactive session and inputs, Mr. Charles Mambu stressed on the need for prompt action by the government in enforcing the laws especially by stakeholders in the government and Ms. Valnora Edwin also appeal to the government to be proactive in addressing the needs of the citizenry of this great country. She commended the government for the good job and suggested that they most do more in the areas of water, electricity and in the health sector especially with the free health care.

The Minister of Political and Public Affairs,  Hon. Nanette Thomas in her speech told CSO about the need of close collaboration and encouraged members of the CSO's to be proactive and should put their interest above all else for the betterment of our one and only  Sierra Leone.

⚡⚡Abstract of The Minister’s speech during a round table discussion with Civil Society Organizations ⚡⚡

Good Morning. I see several of my friends here and I want to thank you for honoring our invitation. 

I feel very much humbled and proud to host a cross section of Civil Society Organizations in Sierra Leone. 

It is evident that Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) play an important role in enhancing transparency and good governance in the development of Sierra Leone. 

The reason for this meeting is to introduce the Minister of political and Public Affairs and to inform you all that the Ministry has only one Minister because my Deputy Minister and I are working as a team.  

As civil society, it is your responsibility to limit and control the power of the state.  Of course, any democracy needs a well-functioning and authoritative state. 

Civil society actors must watch how state officials use their powers.  

You should raise public concern about any abuse of power.  

You should lobby for access to information, including freedom of information laws, and rules and institutions to control corruption. You should be seen as neutral and your focus should be about Sierra Leone.

It is important that CSO expose the corrupt conduct of public officials and lobby for good governance reforms and it is expected of you to promote political participation. Even where anti-corruption laws and bodies exist, they cannot function effectively without the active support and participation of civil society.

As CSO, it is your responsibility to develop programs for democratic civic education in the schools as well.  

Comprehensive reforms are needed to revise the school curricula, rewrite the textbooks, and retrain teachers in order to educate young people about the crimes of the past and teach them the principles and values of democracy.  This is too important a task to leave only to officials in the education ministry.  

Civil society must be involved as a constructive partner in development and advocate for democracy and human rights training.

Civil society can strengthen democracy by providing new forms of interest and solidarity that cut across old forms of tribal, linguistic, religious, and other identity ties.  

Democracy cannot be stable if people only associate with others of the same religion or identity. When people of different religions and ethnic identities come together on the basis of their common interests as women, artists, doctors, students, workers, farmers, lawyers, human rights activists, environmentalists, and so on, civic life becomes richer, more complex, and more tolerant.

This is the only country we have and let us take ownership of this country. Let us bear in mind that education is the best way to develop any community.

Civil society can help to inform the public about important public issues. This is not only the role of the mass media. CSO's can also play an important role in mediating and helping to resolve conflict.  

As we are gradually moving toward the 2018 elections, you have a vital role to play in monitoring the conduct of elections. I want to stress that civil society should not be in tension with the state.  

Civil society is independent of the state that doesnt mean that it must always criticize and oppose the state where there are good things that the government is doing, talk about it, and then we will know that the CSO's are not biased.

A democratic state cannot be stable unless it is effective and legitimate, with the respect and support of its citizens.  

Civil society is a check and a monitor, but also a vital partner in the quest for this kind of positive relationship between the democratic state and its citizens.

I would like to appeal that you establish ties with all political parties and the state, but you MUST retain your independence, and please do not seek political power for yourselves.

The Ministry of Political and Public Affairs is responsible for the welfare of the public and anything that affects the public affects me in particular and my ministry in general. If the public is unhappy it creates a negative impact on the government.

Let me on behalf of the President, the government and the people of this great country thank you very much for your awareness raising  during the Ebola outbreak and let us all bear in mind that if the public is unhappy the President will also be dissatisfied.

Thank you all for your time, I look forward to working with you.

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