By Saio Marrah
In a debate conducted for youths representing the 17 political parties in the country on the topic: “The role of political parties in promoting responsible use of social media among young people”, representatives of the various political parties promised a responsible use of social media among their members to promote peace and development and avert chaos in the country.
The debate which was conducted by the National Political Debates Committee (NPDC) in partnership with National Democratic Institute (NDI) and other partners took place at the New Brookfields Hotel in Freetown, Friday 21st January 2022.
Representing the National Grand Coalition party, Ambrose Osman Bangura, described social media as a platform where they can speak with one voice in order to disseminate information. He also advised other political parties to ensure that their members use it in an appropriate way. After pointing out the huge impact social media has in terms of disseminating fake news and stories, he urged his fellow youth to know that Sierra Leone is their country of origin and as such, developing it should be at the centre of their thoughts and not about destroying it.
He also noted that the party uses its finance to educate their membership on the appropriate use of social media and that they have been providing them electronics that can help them to learn what social media is and how best they can use it to transform information for the better.
He added that their monthly press briefing helps the public to know the activities of the government and how best as a political party they can help the government to achieve its goal.
He also mentioned the NGC hour which he said informs their members about the activities of the party.
The representative of the governing Sierra Leone People’s Party started by describing their party as a responsible political entity that uses social media to share significant messages to its members.
He added that they also use it to educate their membership, organise meetings and seminars. He said they have been engaging their fellow youths of the party on the responsible use of social media and that they discipline their members when they violate the rules and regulations binding social media use.
He also cited the National Young Generation social media group of their party, which he said the Chairman and the Leader of their party monitor. He promised to continue with that trend in the 2023 general elections.
The representative of the main opposition political party, All People’s Congress (APC), Gunther A.B Daramy, started by describing citizen journalism as a product of social media. He pointed out that anyone who does not use social media in this generation will perish.
Daramy noted that social media will positively promote the socio-economic, cultural, and political economy of the country.
He pointed out that those using social media to negatively incite the public in the name of APC are doing so on their own and not for the party, saying that they are never proud of such acts.
Representatives of the other political parties made similar contributions.
The NPDC Vice-Chairperson, Marcella Samba-Sesay, said all that has been said will only make meaning if they live up to it. She also observed that among all the 17 political parties’ representatives there were no female participants, and encouraged the political parties to work up to.
The Chairperson of the NPDC, who also happens to be the President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists, Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, told politico that their objective is to engage the political parties on how they can help to promote the responsible use of social media among young people. He said they targeted the youths because they are very important in society as they form the majority.
He added that they want to build a culture of debate among the political parties wherein they can discuss issues in a democratic and respectable manner and take the citizens along.
Nasralla noted that the debate will help the body politics and the governance in the country as the politician will talk to themselves, and talk to the people to make informed decisions.
He described social media as a very powerful tool when used positively as it can help develop a country but also destroy it if used negatively. He recalled how in the 2018 general elections social media was used by various political parties and other groups to pass on misinformation and propaganda for political gains.
He said they want the political parties to denounce any person or group that puts out misleading information on social media especially during the election and also encouraged their members to also send out the correct information.
Copyright © 2022 Politico Online (24/01/22)
