T𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐓𝐨 𝐄𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐰 𝐎𝐫 𝐊𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐩𝐨𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐁𝐢𝐥𝐥

𝐁𝐲 𝐒𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐟𝐚𝐧𝐚

After weeks of heated public debates over the sanctity of the Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Bill 2024, it is time for the government to either withdraw the Bill for further consultation or kill it altogether.

In the first place, religious leaders across the country have expressed strong feelings against the so-called Safe Motherhood Bill. They are implacably opposed to this controversial Bill and have even strongly rejected the amendments made to it by the government.

Secondly, even gender activists are afraid to openly associate themselves with this controversial Bill because it lacks clarity on sexual identity and personal relationships.

Even the usually very convincing Minister of Health and Sanitation is struggling to explain what the Bill really stands for.

Some religious leaders have expressed frustration over the government’s determination to push through Parliament this unpopular Bill with feverish haste.

Across the country, people have expressed indignation over the poor consultative process that has been undertaken by the government on the Safe Motherhood Bill. The government has woefully failed to get public consensus for the Safe Motherhood Bill.

The right thing to do now is, for the government to either withdraw the Bill to give more time for consultation or kill it altogether.

Those jumping on the band wagon of promoting the Safe Motherhood Bill are doing so for pecuniary consideration.

The government should focus on delivering for the people rather than engaging in controversial issues that have the propensity to divide the country.

Let the promoters of the Safe Motherhood Bill go back to their White patrons/paymasters and tell them that, the people of Sierra Leone are not interested in the promotion of LGBT+ rights in this country. Let the LGBT+ rights activists and promoters know that, Sierra Leoneans respect and promote their culture and tradition even at the expense of donor funds.

We urge the government to either withdraw this controversial Bill or kill it altogether. That, in our view, is the right thing to do.