Young Life in Freetown | What It Means to Vote in 2018

John Keita will vote for the first time in 2018

March 20 was the date set by Sierra Leone’s National Electoral Commission, or NEC, to begin registration for the 2018 Elections. All citizens of Sierra Leone who are 17 years or older have been asked to register. Only those people who are on the Voters’ Register and present a Voters ID Card will be able to vote in the 2018 Elections.

Young Life spoke to young people in one electoral ward. Some of them voted in the last elections. Others are looking forward to voting for the first time.

 



Juliet Thomas voted in 2012 and she's hoping to vote again in 2018.

She had just turned eighteen when she voted in the last elections. Almost six years on, is she better off?

Juliet says she had plans to go to college but couldn't because her mother was out of work. Juliet still hasn’t been able to raise enough money to pay her college fees. She also said things were much cheaper five years ago. For example, a cup of rice used to be 800 Leones but prices are a lot higher now. People pay anything between 1,200 and 1,500 Leones, depending on the quality of rice. Rice is the staple food in Sierra Leone. Still, Juliet hopes that the new government will care more for its people, and stop the rolling blackouts and water shortages.

Alima Kargbo hopes the new government will improve learning institutions, around the country,
improve the health facility in her community, and that rising Sierra Leonean food prices will fall.

Alima will be voting for the first time in 2018. She said the NEC registration process is going smoothly in her ward and she feels privileged to be able to vote in the next elections because it would be a way to show that she’s now a responsible citizen.

John Keita is just as thrilled about the registration process.  It's his first experience so he’s a bit nervous. John has also been also been wondering about how to cast his vote. He’s confused about the many party candidates but he hopes for free and fair elections. He said his Voter’s ID card is very important to him. John wants the next government to actively support education and job training.

  Ali Badara voted in 2012. Before the last elections, he was unemployed. But after the APC (All

People's Congress, the ruling party) came to power, he landed a job as a machine operator at the Sierra Leone Brewery, one of the largest employers in the east end of Freetown. Since then, Alie has built a small house and things are looking up. Five years from now, Ali hopes the next government will be as worthy as this one and deliver on their promises.

The National Election Commission and the National Civil Registration Authority are conducting registration daily, during the period 20th March to 16th April 2017.


For Young Life in Freetown, I'm Inyilla Borteh Conteh reporting.