Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Elections in Sierra Leone

On 17 November, Sierra Leoneans will go to the polls to select a leader for their country. The current President is Ernest Bai Koroma who defeated the incumbent party in 2007 and successfully transferred power peacefully.  In 2012 eight  candidates are running against the current president and the winner must receive 55% of the votes cast. 
In one article I read, the reporter was lamenting that only 15% of the parliment is occupied by women as they look forward to another election.  In our more than 200 years of democracy, how many women occupy seats in our Senate and House of Representatives?        We have worked our way up to 17%.   Humm...we found more common ground with our sisters in Sierra Leone.
 With 10 political parties seeking 124 open seats by 586 candidates, can you imagine the election atmosphere?   One key difference between our November election and the upcoming election in Sierra Leone is the length of time the campaign can be conducted.  One country campaigns for nearly 2 years and the other has just one month.   Humm again.  
Let us lift up the voters in Sierra Leone in prayer as they discern who can best lead them to improved prosperity.  
You might want to check out this article on the elections.  Be blessed and we'll soon be on holy ground as Randie reminded us yesterday. 

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