08/26/2025
Presidential Spokesman urges Political Parties to adopt Proportional Representation
By: Mohamed Kamara
Presidential Spokesman and Special Adviser Dr. Alpha Khan has called on political party members to carefully consider adopting the Proportional Representation (PR) electoral model during an engagement with the All Political Parties Association (APPA), All Political Parties Women Association (APPWA), and the All Political Parties Youth Association (APPYA).
Dr. Khan referenced President Dr. Julius Maada Bio's challenge during the state opening of Parliament on Thursday, August 7th, 2025, where the President urged Sierra Leoneans to choose between continuing the current adversarial political system or embracing one that promotes inclusion, fairness, and national unity.
The Presidential Spokesman emphasized that adopting the PR model, supported by a modified form of consociationalism tailored to Sierra Leone's socio-political context, represents the best path to restoring peace and unity in the country.
"The essence of PR is simply to ensure that every vote counts, and that every voice matters," Dr. Khan explained. He contrasted this with winner-takes-all electoral systems that often exclude significant portions of the population from meaningful representation, noting that PR better reflects the true diversity of the electorate in both Local Councils and Parliament.
Dr. Khan cited successful implementations of PR in countries emerging from conflict and ethnic divisions, including South Africa, Rwanda, Northern Ireland, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. He also pointed to its effectiveness in Switzerland, Belgium, Italy, Germany, France, and most European Union countries, where PR has helped reduce political tensions, broaden participation, and strengthen democratic legitimacy.
"Our journey as a democratic country has been oscillatory and fractious most of the time. We have known the bitterness of division, but we have also tasted the sweetness of unity," he stated.
The Presidential Spokesman highlighted practical benefits of PR systems, including significantly reduced election costs and the elimination of by-elections when vacancies arise in national legislative and local government assemblies, thereby freeing up scarce financial, logistical, and human resources.
Concluding his address to the political parties, Dr. Khan noted that Sierra Leone's 16 tribes make PR a wise choice, given its proven success in other advanced nations.