Unity Party (Sierra Leone)
{{Infobox political party
| country = Sierra Leone
| name = Unity Party
| logo =
| logo_size =
| leader = Femi Claudius Cole
| chairperson =
| spokesperson =
| founder = Femi Claudius Cole
| foundation = {{start date|2017}}
| colorcode = #c0d5ed
| secretary_general =
| headquarters = 4 Pademba Road, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| ideology = African nationalism
African socialism
| position = Centre-left to left-wing
| colors = Light Blue
| seats1_title = Seats in Parliament
| seats1 = {{Composition bar|0|132|hex=#c0d5ed}}
| seats2_title = District Councils Chairperson
| seats2 = {{Composition bar|0|13|hex=#c0d5ed}}
| seats3_title = Municipalities Mayors
| seats3 = {{Composition bar|0|6|hex=#c0d5ed}}
| seats4_title =
| seats4 =
| seats5_title =
| seats5 =
| website = [http://www.unitypartysl.com/ Official Website]
}}
The Unity Party is a political party in Sierra Leone. It was founded on 25 October 2017 by Femi Claudius Cole.{{Cite web |url=http://slconcordtimes.com/female-presidential-candidate-rocks-western-rural-district/ |title=Sierra Leone: Female Presidential Candidate Rocks Western Rural District |last=Koroma |first=Dusuba |date=2017-11-14 |website=slconcordtimes.com |language=English |access-date=2018-06-15}}
It is the first political party founded by a woman in the history of Sierra Leone.
History
The party has offices in Bo, Kenema, and Makeni.
In partnership with the West End Clinic, she established the Unity Movement Sierra Leone a voter outreach initiative through mobile medical outreach programs to treat malaria, hypertension, diabetes, and other illnesses.{{Cite web |url=https://www.gofundme.com/unity-movementsierra-leone |title=Unity Party Sierra Leone |date=2017-11-09 |website=gofundme.com |access-date=2018-06-15}} The initiative included town meetings in marginalized communities.
Ideology
The aim of the Unity Party is to bring Sierra Leoneans of all ethnic groups together in a common effort to improve the country. The party's main focus is education, health, job creation and increased international trade.{{Cite web |url=http://www.unitypartysl.com/unity-party-leader/ |title=Unity Party Leader |date=2017-10-25 |website=unitypartysl.com |access-date=2018-06-19}}
The aims of the Unity Party are:
- A unified and multiethnic Sierra Leone.
- A strategic outline for achieving growth and development.
- Transparency, accountability, and integrity.
- A smaller, focused, and more efficient government.
- Commitment to minimize and as much as possible, to eliminate corruption.
- Basic education, free and accessible to all.
- A healthcare system designed to address the needs and challenges of life in Sierra Leone.
- Investment and promotion of agriculture to achieve self-sufficiency in food production.
Recent electoral history
The Unity Party participated in the 2018 General Election. So far the Unity Party does not hold any electoral seats.
===In presidential elections===
Cole began her presidential campaign before the party was officially registered in October 2017.{{cite news|title=Sierra Leone News: Unity Party at last|url=http://awoko.org/2017/10/27/sierra-leone-news-unity-party-at-last/|accessdate=13 November 2017|work=awoko.org}}
Cole stood as a candidate in the Sierra Leonean general election, 2018.{{cite news|title=…And they can make her the next President!|url=http://ayvnews.com/AYVNews/index.php/opinion/item/4426-and-they-can-make-her-the-next-president|accessdate=13 November 2017|publisher=AYV Television|language=en-gb}} She was the only female presidential candidate in the election and the first woman in history to run for the office of President of Sierra Leone.
Cole received the endorsements of Isata Jabbie Kabbah, the former First Lady of Sierra Leone and Dr.Nemata Majeks Walker, founder of the 50/50 Sierra Leone Group.{{Cite web |url=http://sierraexpressmedia.com/?p=83354 |title=I J Kabbah Hails Female Presidential Candidate |website=sierraexpressmedia.com |access-date=2018-06-17}}
The Unity Party won 0.2% of the vote in the 2018 General Election.{{Cite web |url=https://electiondata.io/sites/default/files/2018-03/march-7th-2018-final-presidential-result.pdf |title=2018 Election Results |website=electiondata.io |access-date=2018-06-15}}
Further reading
References
{{reflist|30em}}
{{Sierra Leonean political parties}}
Category:2017 establishments in Sierra Leone
Category:Political parties established in 2017