Freetown, 28th July 2026- Prominent women’s rights activist Rugiatu Nenneh Turay has called on Members of Parliament representing Port Loko District to vote against the proposed Proportional Representation (PR) Bill, insisting that the system undermines true representation of the people.
Turay, founder of the Amazonian Initiative Movement (AIM), a nonprofit dedicated to eliminating female genital mutilation (FGM) across West Africa, said broad consultations with stakeholders, including Paramount Chiefs and Civil Society Organizations, revealed a unanimous position: Sierra Leone should return to the first-past-the-post electoral system.
“The reason is simple, Members of Parliament should be representatives of the people, not representatives committed to the party.”
She warned lawmakers against passing legislation solely because they hold political advantage, cautioning that such laws “will always come back to haunt you.”
Beyond her political advocacy, Turay is widely recognised for her groundbreaking campaign against FGM. Through AIM, she has championed the concept of “Bondo without cutting”, a cultural process that allows young women to participate in the traditional Bondo society without undergoing the harmful practice of genital mutilation. Her work has positioned her as one of Sierra Leone’s most influential voices in both women’s rights and governance reform.
As Parliament debates the PR Bill, Turay’s intervention adds weight to growing calls for electoral reforms that prioritize direct accountability between MPs and their constituents.
