21/11/2024
Press Release
Date: 21st November 2024
NPDC Chairman Attends International Debate Symposium in Washington
The Chairman of the National Political Debates Committee (NPDC), Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, has departed Sierra Leone to attend this year's International Debate Best Practices Symposium in Washington DC, USA from the 19th to the 22nd of November 2024.
Organized by the US-based Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD), Debates International, and the National Democratic Institute (NDI), the international debate symposium is part of ongoing efforts to support debate sponsoring groups around the world by promoting the sharing of ideas and experiences. As usual, the symposium brings together new and long-standing members of Debates International, a network of debate sponsors from more than 40 countries, to share the latest practical lessons in organizing and producing candidate debates, including common challenges and solutions.
During the symposium, discussion topics will include: drawing lessons from recent debates staged by Debates International members; developing international standards for effective, non-partisan debates; designing approaches to convince candidates to take part in debates; forming permanent debate-sponsoring organizations; producing a live TV and live-streamed debate broadcast; creating innovative and informative debate formats; selecting and preparing moderators; and facilitating regional collaboration among peer debate sponsors.
The NPDC Chairman is scheduled to moderate a panel on ‘Coalition vs Competition’ in organizing political debates. He said: “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 and moderate a panel that promises to be interesting and educative.”
The NPDC is a multi-stakeholder group of eleven (11) organizations, including civil society, EMBs, women, People living with disabilities, youth, and media. It was established after the successful organization of the Presidential Debate of the 2018 national elections. The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) is co-chair of the Committee with the Political Parties Regulation Commission (PPRC).
Signed:
Lucien Momoh
Spokesman
