By Amin Kef (Ranger)
The High Commissioner of India to Sierra Leone, it is reported, has on the 6th April, 2023 handed over to the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone (ECSL) Indelible Ink said to be very expensive as support from the Government of India to Sierra Leone to be used in the forthcoming June 24, 2023 General Elections.
The handing over ceremony took place at 15 Industrial Estate, Wellington, ECSL Warehouse, East End of Freetown.
21 boxes of permanent ink were given to the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone to be used in the June 2023 elections.
The Indian High Commissioner, Neerat Kumar Saint, stated during the handover ceremony that the indelible ink that was donated by the Indian Government is a demonstration of a friendly gesture to Sierra Leone for the upcoming 2023 General Elections.
Neerat Kumar further revealed that the request for Indelible Ink was received from the National Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone in August-September last year and considering the cordial and strong bilateral relations between India and Sierra Leone, the Indian High Commission immediately sent the draft request to the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi.
He added that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also positively accepted the proposal and immediately started the process of purchasing Indelible Ink, noting that the 40,000 unit batch of Indelible Ink arrived in Freetown on the 31st March, 2023.
He also disclosed that India had earlier donated permanent ink to Sierra Leone for elections adding that India has always been a time-tested friend of Sierra Leone.
On his part, the Chief Electoral Officer and National Returning Officer, Mohamed Konneh, reiterated the humanitarian gesture of the Indian Government to ECSL in the area of human capacity building for the IT staff of ECSL who were sent to India for training for about a month. He said they were therefore able to manage the voter registration process without external support.
He also highlighted the cordial relationship that ECSL has with the Government of India, which he said is an ongoing relationship that will grow to the next level.
The Chief Election Commissioner and National Returning Officer noted that the donations made by the Government of India will reduce the burden on the Government.
He expressed profound appreciation and gratitude to the Government of India.
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