The National Election Watch (NEW), on recently, at hotel Cabenda, launched its observation report of the 2018 electoral cycle. The report proffered a seven point recommendation calling on the government to take “urgent action”.
In his keynote address OSIWA Country Officer, Joe Pemagbi, called for constructive engagement with the government and also urged government to ensure that funds are readily available for elections instead of always relying on donors for funding.
In presenting a synopsis of the report, NEW’s National Coordinator, James Lahai, spoke about the seven recommendations. He said urgent actions are required in promoting massive civic education on multi-party politics and elections.
“The Government of Sierra Leone should undertake massive civic education so that ordinary citizens would imbibe the civic attitudes and habits that underpin multi-party politics and elections. NEW calls on PPRC to ensure political parties commit themselves to civic education on multi-party politics and elections as a permanent activity on their party programs.” Lahai added that there is an urgent need to pursue collaborative efforts to address hate speech and violence in elections.
“A dangerous political culture based on ethnic divide, violence, reprisals and inciting social media messages unfolded in the 2018 elections. Government, civil society and other relevant actors should reflect on how hate speech, ethnic tensions and violence bedeviled the 2018 elections and develop strategies to curb them in future elections. This would promote national cohesion and peaceful co-existence in communities.”
NEW, further called for speedy investigation and prosecution of electoral offences and grievances to address impunity and also to achieve elections financing security to guarantee routine elections.
The report also called for the enhancement of police neutrality and professionalism in elections and electoral legal reforms.
NEW Strategic Management Committee member, Bernadette French emphasized, “The government should take serious steps to see that these recommendations are implemented and the process must start now…”
The Minister of Internal Affairs, Edward Amin Soloku, expressed the government’s commitment to the recommendations. “We will not allow what we went through to happen again,” he said.
NEW’s Chair, Marcella Samba Sesay, remarked, “The report gives me the confidence that Sierra Leone has won and Sierra Leone will continue to win in our democratic process…”
Reading a press statement, Samba Sesay said NEW observed the entire 2018 electoral cycle activities from the boundary delimitation (BD) onto the immediate post- elections environment.
“NEW expresses its unreserved thanks and appreciation to the National Electoral Commission (NEC) especially the chair of the commission for remaining focused amidst calculated attempts to disrupt the process as a way of denying Sierra Leoneans the opportunity to decide and to cast their votes in a free, fair and credible election.
NEW equally gives credit to the people of Sierra Leone for their determination and resolve for the elections to be conducted on schedule as provided for by law. NEW recognize the mediation role of the Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC) and looks forward to a more empowered commission with the ‘appropriate legal framework and support.”
However, she pointed out that NEW equally recognized the importance and coordinated role of the security forces through the Office of National Security (ONS) but notes that the security strategy lacks the required funding support and the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) compromised their impartiality and professionalism in a number of instances. Interventions from ECOWAS and the leadership of International observer missions and support from the donor community were equally acknowledged. Country Director, Search for Common Ground, Joseph Jimmy Sankaituah, said the road to the end of the process was quite rough. However, he revealed that the consortium has documented what was learnt through the electoral process and would be using those experiences garner in subsequent elections “…for a better electoral process.” DFID’s governance team leader, Chigo Gelders, said NEW plays a key role in democratic transition and consolidation in Sierra Leone. OG/21/7/18
By Ophaniel Gooding
Tuesday July 24, 2018.
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