By Prince J Musa in Kenema
The Sierra Leone Health Workers Union (SLHWU) regional executive election in Kenema ended in controversy after some members got disenfranchised.
The election conducted on the 19th of February, 2024 saw some members expressing dissatisfaction, citing stage- managing in the interest of a few members, contrary to their constitution.
A Health sister from Port Loko district, Fatmata Baion who is also one of the aspirants for the Union’s national President said they have conducted other regional executive elections, but some of them decided to boycott the process in the east, alleging they had highlighted challenges and suggestions to be addressed, but the executive insisted on going on with the election.
“We are definitely not going to accept the outcome,’’ she said.
She pleaded with the leadership to consider the interest of health workers who have been paying their monthly dues rather than just what he referred to as a small section of the membership. She said that about 80% of the contributors are nurses and there is a need for them to get voting rights but they have been disenfranchised which is sending a bad signal.
Baion noted that if the executive went ahead to conduct the election with few people, they would not honour the election and would not recognize the executive.
Matron Massa Mambu of Kenema Government Hospital said that since the formation of the union in 1985, all healthcare workers have been contributing 20 to 25 Leones monthly but not getting any update about their monies and called on the executive to give account of their contributions. She said that they were only told about the election a few days into the process without proper sensitization.
She said that they were also only informed that they had no voting rights or delegate status after they had assembled for the process which made the place chaotic, prompting police intervention.
The national President of the Sierra Leone Health Workers Union, Sankoh Sesay said, he was in Kenema to talk to the delegates and the incoming regional executive not to forget the project he has started to develop. He stated that he was confronted by Baion one of the aspirants for the national presidency,whom he said questioned the election.
He said, her point was that all the nurses that are contributing should vote which he said has not been the case in previous elections as the criteria to vote is stated in their constitution.
The President however affirmed that the regional election will go on whether one votes or not and that those aggrieved should table their complaints to the appropriate authorities. He said if a member feels aggrieved genuinely and petitions the outcome of the election, a re-run will be conducted.
However, at the end, voting was held and Mohamed Bobor Shaw went unopposed as regional President of the union; Feima Lamin also went unopposed as regional women’s leader, Fatmata Kanneh was elected regional youth coordinator while Mask Samba from Kailahun became the regional council representative.
Copyright © 2024 Politico (21/02/24)
