On 13th November 2025, during the validation of the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) Inclusive Policy.
“True Inclusion Begins with Policies” …NCPD C'zar
The Chairman of the National Commission for Persons with Disability (NCPD), Brima Abdulai Sheriff, on 13th November 2025, during the validation of the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) Inclusive Policy, called on ECSL to create the necessary environment for Persons with Disabilities to exercise their franchise unhindered.
The Chairman stressed that accessibility in politics goes beyond physical infrastructure like ramps and braille; instead, it is about open minds, systems, and spaces for PWDs to lead, stating that "inclusion is not about asking for favors but about ensuring justice, equality, and good governance. Policies that exclude PWDs are not merely incomplete but also unjust," he maintained
He opined that true Inclusion begins when policies see ability before disability, and potential before limitation, "true measure of a nation's strength is not how it treats the powerful, but how it empowers the excluded," he added.
He said the NCPD is the statutory institution responsible for Persons with disabilities, guided by the PRIDE Strategy, which represents Policy, Resilience, Inclusion, Innovation, Dignity, and Empowerment, to deliver on its mandates effectively.
He cautioned that the Electoral Inclusion Policy being validated should not remain a mere document, but rather a living promise that translates to accessible voter education, inclusive political parties, barrier-free polling centers, and genuine representation at every level of decision-making.
The Chairman commits that NCPD stands ready to serve as the technical partner and advisor in achieving the set goals outlined in the policy. He commends ECSL and International IDEA for their contribution to the policy.
ECSL Western Region Commissioner Zainab Humu Mosiray stated that the purpose of validating the Electoral Inclusion Policy is to promote equal participation, representation, and accessibility in Sierra Leone's electoral processes for all citizens, regardless of their disability status.
Commissioner Moseray emphasized that ECSL is committed to guaranteeing equal rights and opportunities for participation in all electoral activities for every citizen, including women, youth, and the aged.
She emphasized that at ECSL, we believe that Inclusion is not just a principle, it is a promise, a promise that every voice counts, every vote matters, and every citizen deserves equal opportunity to participate in shaping our nation's future "right to vote and to be voted for is a fundamental right and non-negotiable right of every Sierra Leonean" she concluded.
She noted that the new policy reaffirms ECSL's commitment to making elections more accessible through voter education in accessible formats, improved polling station design, and the use of assistive technologies. "Inclusion for PWDs strengthens our democracy and ensures that no one is left behind," the Commissioner concluded.
Minister of Youth Ibrahim Sannoh has applauded ECSL and International IDEA for spearheading the Electoral Inclusion Policy initiative. "I am particularly encouraged by the attention this policy gives to young people and PWDs as youth make up the highest percentage of Sierra Leone's population, and their role in our democratic processes is both essential and undeniable," he accentuated.
However, he acknowledged a concern that has been repeatedly raised: many young people feel dissatisfied with the limited space, often referred to as just 10 percent, allocated to youth in electoral participation.
He maintained that he firmly believes that increasing dialogue sessions with young people, open, honest, and continuous dialogue, will help shift attitudes away from violence and toward peaceful participation.
He further urged young people to view elections like a football match: "If your team doesn't win, you embrace the winning team and work together for the development of the country rather than fighting each other," he concluded.