By: Alhassan Jalloh (National Coordinator)
On 28th November, the Alliance held its AGM at the Rendezvous Conference Hall, in the eastern regional city of Kenema on the theme “Implement the National Alcohol Policy to Keep Children Safe at All Times”. Fifty three of the alliance’s District Chapters executive and on executive members across 14 of the 16 districts of Sierra Leone participated in the meeting.
In his welcome address, the deputy town chief of Kenema city, Chief Musa Kallon expressed gratitude to the alliance’s membership in raising awareness about alcohol harms. He emphasized the need for collective action in monitoring the implementation of Sierra Leone’s first National Alcohol Policy 2022.
The alliance’s national chairman, Habib Taigore Kamara, who is also the Executive Director of Social Linkages for Youth Development and Child Link (SLYDCL) in his opening remarks thanked the membership in leading mobilization and advocacy in reducing harms from alcohol use in Sierra Leone. He reminded the membership that everyone should play their role in monitoring the implementation of the National Alcohol Policy 2022 to ‘Keep children safe at all times.
The alliance’s Annual Operational Report, annual Audited Financial Report 2023 and programme of work 2024 were presented, discussed and adopted. Governance and inclusivity issues at district levels were discussed and decisions to review the constitution to reflect persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups into the district and national executive committees.
The Head of Secretariat of the West African Alcohol Policy Alliance, Issah Ali, based in Ghana made virtual presentation on the topic “Implementing the African Regional Framework of the Global Alcohol Action Plan 2022 – 2030”.
The Alliance’s National Coordinator, Alhassan Jalloh who doubles as the Head of Programmes for Foundation for Rural and Urban Transformation (FoRUT) presented a proposal for adoption for the development of SLAPA Anti-Corruption Policy. He said that reechoes the membership’s commitment to transparency and accountability in line with established national and international anti-corruption instruments. He highlighted that the purpose of the policy is to prevent and address corruption in all SLAPA activities and to provide clear guidelines on expectations in creating a corruption-free work environment.
Every year SLAPA holds its Annual General Meeting (AGM) to discuss the strengths, weaknesses, treats and opportunities that faces the alliance. Since its establishment in 2015, SLAPA has actively worked with government Ministries’ Department and Agencies including Ministry of Health in developing and implementing national legal frameworks in controlling alcohol production, marketing and consumption ‘free of commercial interest’. The West African Alcohol Policy Alliance (WAAPA) and FoRUT co funded the AGM. Thanks to their donor, Campaign for Development and Solidarity (FORUT) in Norway.
