A leading candidate for the chairmanship of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party, Alex J. Bhonapha has taken his campaign to the SLPP North America Region in a virtual Town Hall Meeting where he laid out plans to unify the party and restore its former glory. While a significant surge of support has been shared among the three leading candidates, many SLPPiers believe that a combination of factors will put Bonapha ahead of the other two in the upcoming National Delegates Conference. These factors include his rapidly increasing support base and his message of unity, collaboration, cohesiveness, transparency, accountability, and visionary leadership.
Inspired by this conviction and passion for serving the party in the most impactful way, Bonapha has, over the last several months, consulted with party members across Sierra Leone and in the diaspora, receiving overwhelming support in his bid to chair the party. He has engaged with hundreds of party stalwarts and well-wishers on precisely what his team is up to in leveraging what they know how to do best: unify and uplift the Sierra Leone People’s Party and re-position it to better serve the government of President Bio and the people of Sierra Leone.
Participants from the SLPP regional executive and various chapters in North America joined in what emerged as one of the most successful virtual community gatherings to dive into Bonapha’s manifesto for the position of chairman of the SLPP. Bonapha emphasized that it was expedient to discuss with the SLPPNA region why his message of unity is the most significant investment that the SLPP can make to re-build its image heading into yet another crucial national election in 2023.
Some participants disclosed that although they were still somewhere between making their own decisions versus what the majority thinks about the right person for chairman, they believe that Alex Bhonapha brings the energy, experience, and thought leadership needed to reach the goals of the party. “He has put together a diverse team of supporters globally and has already attracted people with the right skills-set and attitude to look for opportunities, especially the excluded categories, including women in the party,” a senior SLPP delegate said.
“We have seen his movement grow in size and volume; his support ticked up in the last couple of months and, in a short window, he has been able to raise a commendable sum to help fund his campaign,” said a supporter who joined Bhonapha’s Team Unity recently.
The more than two-hour-long virtual Town Hall Meeting laid bare majority of the challenges faced by the party. Participants expressed concerns about party executives at the national level holding government appointments, thereby dividing their attention between service to the party and the government.
Further, delegates raised concerns about a collection of SLPP NA members who have disengaged from party activities in the region due to their dissatisfaction with the conduct of past elections. Participants also highlighted the rather collapsible financial status of the SLPP in the region, the lack of discipline within the party, and members not being issued party ID cards despite meeting their complete registration and financial commitments.
In response, Bhonapha assured members that if he were elected as chairman of the SLPP, he would immediately resign from his current government job and concentrate on running the party. “This is how I will serve as an example to deal with the longstanding menace of the conflict of roles and responsibilities. Not only because I want to be effective and efficient, but also because it is the right thing to do. Until you sit in the office and exclusively work for the party you won’t be effective,” he said.
On the party’s finances, Bonapha has an idea affirmed that his “current team consists of a great candidate, a terrific campaigns manager, a well-executed marketing strategy. We have conducted good research combined with our effective media strategy. At this time, we have a well-designed fundraising strategy, but most importantly – we now have a team of fundraisers across Sierra Leone and the diaspora who are working round the clock to raise funds for the campaign. I promise to mobilize these tools, ideas, and resources to support the SLPP under my leadership as chairman.”
Perhaps the most compelling question was from a very senior SLPPNA member who agreed that while Team Bonapha carries the torch of being the game-changer for the party, some participants think the timing is a concern. A senior delegate asked: “why now?
In response, Bonapha said, “The election for chairman is not about who came first in the race; this is not about who first asked you for your support; this is not about who joined the race at the last minute. This is about reflecting individually and collectively on the challenges confronting the party. This is about giving me your votes to allow me to permanently keep our oppositions in their permanent state, uplift our party beyond the current status quo and retain our victory in the next elections. I have seamlessly gathered entire communities and professionals from across all disciplines and geographies. My job as National Chair will be the most impactful on the lives of party members, not to mention the government. The consequences of getting this decision wrong could be tragic and result in worse conditions for our beautiful party. You now have the opportunity to reason,” he stressed.
As his campaign grows in volume and size, Alex J. Bonapha stressed that he understands that the SLPP chair’s road is long, costly, and arduous. Becoming a candidate is only the beginning of the process. Bonapha stressed that the most crucial test is how to overcome the advantage that other candidates have had by coming out first even though their campaigns are tainted by violence. He claimed to now being in control of the battle for Chairman of the SLPP.
Bhonapha added that dedicated supporters and delegates are fully aware that the next elections victory for the Sierra Leone People’s Party is on its way under Alex Bonapha as Chairman for the party. “The SLPPNA virtual Town Hall Meeting is a testament that the delegates and members remain ready and alert, heading into the National Delegates Conference in December 2021, and they cannot be deceived,” he concluded.
A statement by SLPPNA Chairman, Desmond Pessima, climaxed the virtual Town Hall Meeting. He thanked Bhonapha and his team for making the right call to the SLPPNA leadership and following the appropriate party channels to engage with the membership. He assured Bhonapha and his team of his fullest support to ensure that all delegates were guaranteed the space and freedom to exercise their rights to vote for who they deemed fit.
