By Sallieu S. Kanu
Women leaders and stakeholders from across Sierra Leone have called for greater inclusion of women’s voices in the ongoing constitutional review process, emphasizing the need for reforms that strengthen gender equality, women’s political representation, and participation in governance.
The call was made during a National Women’s Conference on the Constitutional Review Process convened by the Campaign for Good Governance (CGG) through its National Advocacy for Women’s Empowerment (NAWE) project, with support from Trócaire/Irish Aid. The conference was held on September 11, 2026, at the Vanilla Complex in Aberdeen, Freetown.
The gathering brought together women leaders and representatives from all 16 districts of Sierra Leone to review outstanding constitutional issues and develop recommendations aimed at ensuring women’s concerns are reflected in future constitutional reforms.
Chairing the conference, CGG Executive Director, Mrs. Marcella Samba Sesay, underscored the importance of meaningful female participation in national decision-making processes. She said the constitutional review process presents a critical opportunity for women to collectively advocate for reforms that promote equality and strengthen their role in governance.
Mrs. Sesay raised concerns over the low level of public awareness about the constitutional amendment process, noting that only seven out of nearly 80 participants indicated familiarity with the Constitutional Amendment Bill 2025. She said the finding highlighted the urgent need for increased civic education and public awareness.
“The objective is to strengthen women’s voices and confidence to engage in constitutional discussions while developing recommendations that reflect the experiences and aspirations of women across Sierra Leone,” she stated.
CGG Senior Programmes Manager, Mr. Sahr Kendema, encouraged participants to remain actively involved in constitutional advocacy, describing the reform process as a vital national undertaking that requires broad-based participation.
Delivering a presentation on the Constitutional Amendment Bill, governance expert Mr. Ibrahim Bangura provided participants with an overview of Sierra Leone’s constitutional reform journey, tracing developments, independent candidacy, electoral management institutions, and broader constitutional provisions affecting gender equality. His analysis generated extensive debate on whether existing proposals would translate into meaningful representation for women in governance structures.
Several stakeholders used the platform to advocate for stronger protections and greater opportunities for women.
Speaking on behalf of the All Political Parties Women’s Association (APPWA), Madam Fatimah M.D. Momodu challenged women to strengthen support for female candidates and urged political parties to create more opportunities for women seeking leadership positions.
Trócaire Country Director, George Were, commended CGG for facilitating the dialogue and reaffirmed his organisation’s commitment to supporting initiatives that promote women’s rights and gender equality.
Representing the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Chief Director Charles Vandi called for the use of social media and other communication platforms to broaden public understanding of constitutional reforms and increase citizen engagement.
The conference also featured a high-level roundtable discussion involving women leaders, parliamentarians, civil society activists and media representatives. Discussions focused on women’s representation in politics, implementation of the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Act, electoral reforms, economic empowerment, and measures to address violence against women.
Participants further stressed the need to ensure women with disabilities and other marginalized groups are not excluded from constitutional reform discussions.
At the conclusion of the conference, delegates adopted a set of key recommendations, including calls for the release of the final reviewed Constitution, intensified civic education, stronger political commitment to women’s representation, sustained engagement with political parties, and broader inclusion of marginalized groups in the reform process.
The conference also urged government institutions, civil society organizations, the media, traditional leaders and youth groups to work collaboratively to ensure that constitutional reforms reflect the aspirations and interests of women across Sierra Leone.