NGC SYMPOSIUM 2024

NGC Concludes Symposium…As Party Sets Pace For Plans Ahead.

By: Musa Kamara

On the 12th of April, 2024, the National Grand Coalition (NGC) Party started a two-day long and intensive symposium that ended on Saturday, 13th April, 2024 at the Robert Hall, Robert Street, Freetown, on the theme, “NGC Finding the Path to True Democracy in Sierra Leone.” The Symposium was organized by a cross-section of committed party members called the ‘Progressives’ in the NGC.   

The Symposium saw the gathering of over 500 party members, including constituency, districts, region and national executive members of the party as well as the party’s enthusiastic and committed grassroots members who converged at the Robert Hall to discuss the challenges faced by the party, and find sustainable pathways that will better position the party for the 2028 election and beyond.

Madam Yasmin Jusu Sheriff, a renowned lawyer and activist, gave the Keynote address on the topic “NGC in 2024: Regaining Control of the present to ensure survival of ‘Salone Fos’ in the future of Sierra Leone.” Madam Yasmin underscored the importance of active opposition and stressed that, the NGC party has all it takes to be a viable opposition party. She remarked that, the NGC is not a “Bastard” political party, stressing that, the party has owners, and the owners are the young people of this country and Sierra Leonean at large. 

The Chairman and Leader of the NGC Party, Mr. Jesmed F. Suma electrified the Symposium with an electrifying and motivating speech to attendees. He called on the membership of the NGC party to be steadfast and embark on massive recruitment across the country. 

The President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalist, Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, who was invited to speak at the Symposium, delivered a speech on the topic “The role of opposition in Democracy: A case study of Sierra Leone politics.” Quoting Nelson Mandela, “Democracy requires robust institutions and opposition parties that are committed to the principle of the rule of law, human rights and accountability. Opposition parties play a crucial role in ensuring that those in power are held accountable and that the voices of the people are heard,” Mr. Nasralla said that, it is essential for opposition parties to to uphold democratic principle, promote accountable and safeguards the rights and interests of citizens. He emphasized the importance of a vibrant political opposition in ensuring the health and functioning of democratic systems. 

He called on the NGC party to not just oppose, but to do more than opposing. He called on opposition parties to present their own policies, present alternative solutions to issues, stressing that, opposition party is a government in waiting and that, it must be prepared and ready to fit into the role of a ruling party. 

Other various speakers took to the podium including the National Women’s Leader of the party, Madam Fatima Jarieu Sillah, Madam Haja Memunatu Koroma, a founding member of the party Hon. Foday Mario Kamara, Former Deputy Leader of the NGC in Parliament and Alhaji K. Tarawally, the current Deputy National Secretary General who spoke on the negative impacts of Kush and was able to deliver well on that. 

Other activities also took place, including withdrawal of resignations and welcoming those members back and group discussions and presentations. The group discussions and presentations on Day Two of the event saw regional executive members discussing among themselves burning issues of the party and providing cogent recommendations that they called on the leadership of the party to look into.

The organizers of the Symposium promised to come out with a comprehensive report on the outcome of the event detailing the inputs of all speakers and presentations, and put together workable and cogent recommendations that is to be presented to the leadership of the NGC party and ensure they do a follow-up on that.   

  Robert Hall was electrified and beautified with the brightly color of the NGC party with enthusiastic youths all in jubilant mood as they dance to the rhythm of the Bubu Dance all-round the hall.