As Sierra Leone counts down to the March 2018 multi-tiers elections, the Strengthen Electoral Accountability and Governance (SEAG) Consortium has yesterday launched an Election Preparedness Report at the Hill Valley Hotel, Congo Cross on 15 November 2017.
Executive Director of Society for Democratic Initiative (SDI), Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai, said, “…the purpose of the report was to provide information for public consumption with a view to draw the attention to all development partners on the issues surrounding the conduct of the March elections.”
While presenting the document, Saffa Abdulai explained that initially, the objective of the report “…was to do a baseline study where we look at the preparedness, and monitor bodies to be engaged in the elections… these include the National Electoral Commission (NEC), Civil Society, Sierra Leone Police- which general look at the security sector, Political Parties Registration Commission, the media and multilateral and bilateral organizations.”
Also adding that the report was also “…to assess the overall strategy on how transparent the Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs) are in terms of preparedness and operations and to further access the availability of required funding and the resources to carry out the requisite activities of the March elections.”
The report “… was also to proffer recommendations for the successful holding of credible, fair and transparent elections come March,” he emphasized.
Peace Africa Alliance Consulting, Educating and Training (PAACET) Africa Regional Director, Charles Lahai, said, “Election preparedness is fundamental to every electoral process and it is the first stage in which all other processes are built for democratic elections and therefore we in SEAG believe there is a need for strategic partnership building between and among institutions especially the (EMBs) Civil Society and the Sierra Leone Police to ensure that we create and maintain the environment for peaceful and non violent elections .”
He said, “our role as Civil Society has to go beyond merely being a watchdog to that of being a workforce with a strategic organizational power base an organized force that is recognized and speak with one voice.”
Representing the Inspector General of Police, Chief Superintendent Thomas Mustapha Lahai, explained about challenges faced by the police. Amongst the challenges is the lack of an adequate number of personnel to man the elections.
Chief Superintendent Lahai explained that the current police strength is 12,031 and 2,000 are about to be recruited, however 20,860 personnel are needed to cover the elections.
Legal Aid Board (LAB) Executive Director, Fatmata Claire Calton-Hanciles explained about the alarming rate of violence and the need for political parties to educate their supporters and sympathizers on tolerance and non-violence during and after the electoral process.
Launching the report, NEC Executive Secretary, William Davies noted that the Commission is prepared for the elections and they are working in accordance with the electoral calendar. Also emphasizing government commitment to the process.
SEAG consortium is a body of national, regional and international civil society organizations that are committed to strengthen electoral accountability and governance through various means including electoral justice and non-violence promotion. Membership includes: Society for Democratic Initiatives, Centre for Accountability and Rule of Law, National Advocacy Coalition on the Extractives, West Africa Network for Peace Building and Peace Africa Alliance Consortium Educating and Training Centre. OG/15/11/17
By Ophaniel Gooding
Thursday November 16, 2017.
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