By Mohamed Massaquoi in Pujehun
Over 60 delegates from across Pujehun district have voted in a new 7-member youth executive at the council hall in the town for a three-year term. Seven positions were contested. The elections were conducted by the National Youth Commission with technical assistance from the National Electoral Commission. Apart from the vice chairman and financial secretary positions, all others went unopposed. The outgoing Secretary General, Brima Fulla went unopposed as the new Chairman. While the town chief, Mustapha Koroma, said the elections were free, fair and democratic, Minister of Youth, Alimamy Kamara commended the process, praising the gender mixture of the executive. He said young people had been marginalized by “a few wicked people” in authority but encouraged them to put aside all other antisocial behaviours in the interest of growth and forward-movement in the country. He warned the youth that “fighting and killing for politicians are nothing but a mere show of stupidity,” and donated one motor bike, a laptop computer, one internet modem and Le3 million in cash to the new executive. Youth commissioner, Anthony Koroma said they were surprised at the “good behaviour” of the youth in Pujehun amid rumours of violence, and encouraged them to take that spirit to the chiefdom youth committee levels. The deputy District Council Chairman, Moses Kalilu Fofana said that there was need for youth to be involved in national governance and urged government to increase its budget allocation for youth activities. District Youth Chairman-elect, Brima Fullah commended his peers and paid tribute to the peace project that first formed the youth structure in the district in 2009. He promised they would work as a team in the district that would enable them achieve their objectives. Politico 03/08/13
