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Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), is representing Sierra Leone at the International Debate Best Practices Symposium, a high-profile event aimed at fostering knowledge-sharing among debate organizers worldwide.
The symposium, held under the auspices of the US-based Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD), Debates International, and the National Democratic Institute (NDI), brings together over 40 nations to discuss strategies for organizing effective political debates. Nasralla is attending in his capacity as Chairman of Sierra Leone’s National Political Debates Committee (NPDC), a coalition of 11 stakeholder organizations including civil society, electoral management bodies, women’s groups, youth, and media representatives.
In addition to attending, Nasralla is set to moderate a panel on “Coalition vs. Competition” in organizing political debates. Speaking ahead of the event, he expressed pride in sharing Sierra Leone’s experience, citing the success of the 2018 presidential debates despite the absence of similar forums during the country’s most recent national elections.
“Although we did not organize a presidential debate in our national elections last year, we still have the success story of the 2018 presidential elections debate to share with other countries. I am truly honored and excited to be a part of this gathering,” said Nasralla.
The symposium agenda includes exploring challenges and best practices in producing non-partisan political debates, strategies to engage candidates, and techniques for live TV and online broadcasting. Participants will also discuss international standards for debates, innovative debate formats, and moderator preparation.
The event underscores Sierra Leone’s commitment to advancing democratic dialogue and fostering cross-border collaboration on election best practices.
