Towards Democratic Consolidation in West Africa: Sierra Leone Decides in 2023 Elections

June 22, 2023

From left to right: Pres. Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP), logo of the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone and Dr. Samura Kamara of the All People's Party (APC)

On Saturday, June 24, Sierra Leoneans will go to the polls to elect a new president and members of parliament. This will mark the country’s fifth consecutive presidential elections since the end of the brutal 11-year civil war – more than two decades ago –which left many dead. About 3.4 million people have registered out of a population of 8.4 million people.

Voters Concerns & the Political Campaigns

13 candidates and political parties are contesting the elections even though heavily dominated by the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) and the main opposition, All-People’s Congress (APC). Both the SLPP and APC are going head-to-head, actively campaigning and disseminating key messages to the electorate. Voting is expected to be competitive as incumbent President Julius Maada Bio of the SLPP, seeks a second five-year term, against his major contender, Dr. Samura Kamara of the APC. In Sierra Leone, ethnicity and region are historically a major deciding factor of who emerges the winner. While the southern and eastern regions are considered strongholds of the SLPP, the northern and western regions come across as pro-APC.

High cost of living, high taxes on businesses, rising inflation, electricity challenges, high cost of fuel are some of the key issues on the minds of voters. Others are youth unemployment, education, peace, and security and infrastructure. The country in July 2022 launched a re-denomination of its currency to strengthen its value. But as of April 2023, Sierra Leone had seen inflation rise to about 43%. In the final days of campaigns, the political landscape in the country is already bustling with activity and anticipation. The winner of Saturday’s polls needs 55% of the votes to clinch victory in the first round otherwise it goes into a runoff within two weeks, a repeat of the 2018 elections.

Shoring up women’s participation in the elections with the new Gender Policy

Sierra Leone’s elections management body, the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone (ECSL) has assured that the polls will be held as scheduled. The ECSL is hopeful of a high voter turnout as the number of registered voters this year is an increase of almost 200,000 from that of 2018.Women’s participation is also tipped to somewhat increase as the ECSL, consciously implemented the 2022 Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Act which requires that 30% of candidates put forward by any political party for parliamentary and local elections are women. The policy was intended to encourage political parties to actively seek out and support capable women to run for office and help deal with the country’s Gender Inequality Index value of 0.644, ranking it 153 out of 162 countries in the 2018 Index.

The Media and the 2023 Elections

The media in Sierra Leone is diverse and pluralistic and has seen some significant improvement over the past few years. In 2020, the country witnessed the historic repeal of the 55-year-old Criminal Libel and Seditious law (Part 5 of the Public Order Act, 1965) that hindered media freedom in the country for half a century. A new Independent Media Commission (IMC) Act was also passed which strengthened the Commission’s regulatory powers to address media challenges in the country. Consequently, Sierra Leone made an impressive showing in the 2021 World press freedom index as its ranking improved by ten places from 85 out of 180 countries to 75 out of 180.

As of 2022, the media landscape in Sierra Leone had over 200 radio stations, 20 television networks, 240 newspapers, even though, viability, professionalism and conditions of service remain key challenges. The media are relatively free and enjoy a cordial relationship with government despite the incidents of journalists’ harassment, arbitrary arrests and detentions. The Sierra Leone of Association Journalists (SLAJ) as part of its 52^nd anniversary has also launched the “Media We Want” Manifesto as a comprehensive roadmap towards advancing media freedom, professionalism, viability, gender equality, inclusivity and journalists’ safety.

Ahead of the 2023 elections, several pro-media development and democracy organisations have partnered local-based media associations, to prioritise support to the Sierra Leonean media to enable it play its critical role in ensuring peaceful elections. This has included trainings on elections coverage/reporting, peace journalism; safety of journalists and countering mis-disinformation as well as dialogues aimed at strengthening media-security relations and nurturing a safe environment during the elections. To help counter mis-disinformation, this year’s elections has also seen the heavy deployment of fact-checking mechanisms in the country including the UNDP’s automated fact-checking tool, iVerify platform run by SLAJ and Independent Radio Network (IRN); the #MatterOf Facts campaign by Media Reform Coordinating Group and Africa-Check, and Dubawa.

The Elections and its outlook on Democracy in West Africa

Until recently, the West Africa region had been experiencing considerable steady progress in democratic governance. Almost all countries in the region had transitioned from military dictatorships to elected governments by 2015. The progress in democratic development was characterised by the liberalisation of the media sector, the opening up of the civic space and conduct of democratic elections. However, in the last couple of years, the regionis experiencing a democratic rollback of the gains made marked by factors including a shrinking civic space,the recent wave of military coup d’etats and attempts by some sitting presidents to tweak constitutional term limits and elongate their stay in office.

Senegal which was traditionally a poster child of democracy in the region is going through political crises which resulted in the death of some citizens. Indeed, Sierra Leone had also earlier recorded some deadly anti-government protests against economic hardships with the latest in August 2022 resulting in the death of some civilians and security officials amidst internet shut down and an imposition of curfew.

Local and International election observers, including the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) say, the Sierra Leone 2023 polls is a litmus test for West Africa’s democratic resilience asit provides the opportunity to entrench the country’s democratic progress and by extension, regional democracy. This will certainly improve ongoing efforts to restore and consolidate democratic governance in the region.

Ensuring peaceful elections and addressing the democratic backsliding in West Africa requires actions on the part of all stakeholders including a media that is free, professional and independent; a media that is able to facilitate quality citizen-authorities dialogues, public discourse and fact-based programming and reporting. The media are therefore encouraged to use their platforms to sensitize and educate the public about the voting processes and exhibit a high sense of professionalism in their work. They should practice peace journalism, desist from and condemn any form of hate speech that have the potential to incite violence. Both the media and security must also commit to dialogue and collaboration before, during and after the elections, and to modalities of working together to ensure peaceful elections and towards protecting the peace of Sierra Leone thereafter.

As the world watches with a bated breath, we wish the people of Sierra Leone peaceful elections.

This article is written by Abigail Larbi Odei, Programme Manager for the Media and Good Governance Programme at the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA). She can be reached on abigail@mfwa.org

APC, Peace Commission, PPRC & ECSL Dialogue Continues Today

June 21, 2023

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

It was agreed at the Bintumani Conference Centre during a Dialogue Meeting that commenced on the 19^th June and continued on the 20^th June, 2023, jointly organized by the Political Parties Regulation Commission (PPRC) and the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion (ICPNC) otherwise known as the Peace Commission, that the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone and other stakeholders will address certain concerns raised by the opposition All People’s Congress Party after the development of a stalemate that seems to impinge the successful outcome of the upcoming General Elections.

As a result of a firm position taken by the main opposition APC Party of staging a peaceful protest following the expiration of a 72 hours ultimatum, in which it was categorically stated that the Chief Electoral Commissioner and other Commissioners of the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) must resign from their positions amidst other demands to be met, followed by the ruling SLPP stance that any attempt to disrupt the upcoming elections will be strongly rejected, leading to a stalemate, the Political Parties Regulation Commission (PPRC) invited the leadership of the All Peoples Congress (APC) Party to a dialogue meeting on Monday 19^th and Tuesday 20^th, June 2023, at the Bintumani International Conference Centre in Aberdeen, Freetown which is said to continue on Wednesday 21^st June, 2023.

Co-hosting the dialogue meeting was the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion (ICPNC) and in attendance were the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone, the Security Sector Actors- National Security Coordinator, Inspector General of Police, Development Partners, Election Observer Missions and line Civil Society Organizations. The aim of fostering the meeting was to foster peace and national cohesion in Sierra Leone, especially in the context of upcoming elections.

The APC was represented at the meeting by prominent figures such as presidential running mate Hon Chernor Maju Bah, Secretary General Lansana Dumbuya Esq, and Mayoral candidate Yvonne Aki Sawyer. The meeting was also attended by the Chair of ECSL, Civil Society representatives and members of the diplomatic community.

After three hours of deliberations at the Bintumani Conference Centre , the APC Delegation decided to hold a consultative meeting among themselves and to later revert to the main dialogue meeting but unfortunately no concrete resolution was arrived at which led to the postponement of the meeting to the 20^th June, 2023.

On the 20^th June, 2023 during the continuation of the Dialogue Meeting held at the Bintumani Conference Centre, it was agreed that the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) has announced that it will be looking into several critical issues raised by the All People’s Congress Party ahead of the upcoming election. The Commission stated that it will be responding to those issues by 11:00am Wednesday, 21^st June, 2023.

The first issue on the agenda is the voters register will be closely scrutinized to ensure that it is accurate and up-to-date. Additionally, the Electoral Commission stated that it will not use any software app parallel systems for vote counting, but will rely on manual counting only. This decision was made to ensure the transparency and credibility of the electoral process and to prevent any potential hacking or tampering with the results.

In light of recent concerns regarding security, the security sector will be addressing these issues and will release a Press Statement to reassure citizens of their safety across the country. Finally, the security has confirmed that Arthur Pearce a member of the All People’s Congress who was in detention at the CID has been released, although this was done before the conclusion of the meeting.

The meeting is set to continue today Wednesday 21^st June, 2023 and is expected to cover a range of other topics related to the upcoming election. The ECSL has emphasized its commitment to ensuring a fair and transparent democratic process and has encouraged citizens to remain engaged and informed throughout the election period.

Election Commission stated that the Commission is committed to ensuring free and fair elections and will continue to work closely with all stakeholders to achieve this goal. It also stated that it will provide further updates on the preparations for the elections, including the implementation of the manual counting and the security measures.

However, following what transpired on the 20^th June, 2023 there is a thin glimmer of hope that it is not definitely certain what will really be the outcome of the PPRC/ Peace Commission Dialogue vis-à-vis the June, 24, Elections.

MRCG Concludes One-day Police-Media Dialogue Forum on Elections

June 21, 2023

By Foday Moriba Conteh

As part of continuous efforts towards strengthening the relationship between the Media and the Sierra Leone Police in the country, the Media Reform Coordinating Group (MRCG) with support for International Media Support (IMS), has on Monday 19^thJune, 2023, concluded a one-day Regional Police-Media Dialogue Forum on Elections. The one-day forum, which brought together media practitioners from various media institutions and police personnel in the country, was held at the Cabenda Hotel on Signal Hill in Freetown.

In his Chairman opening remarks, the Chairman of the Independent Media Commission, Dr. Victor Massaquoi, described the Forum as very important towards cementing the relationship between the Media and the Sierra Leone Police.

He said the safety and protection of journalists are critical for the democratic culture of Sierra Leone, adding that there are many ways journalists can be protected which he said include State organs and functionaries providing access to information for journalists.

Dr. Victor Massaquoi said verbal and physical abuses should not be meted on journalists of which he said the Commission treats this as very serious issue. He , however, called on media practitioners to behave professionally and responsibly in carrying out their duties.

He concluded by assuring that the Independent Media Commission and others right-based organizations will ensure that journalists are protected supported but at the same time will hold journalists accountable of their activities.

Addressing the gathering, the National Coordinator of the Media Reform Coordinating Group, Dr. Francis Sowa said that a couple of weeks ago the International Media Support (IMS) visited Sierra Leone and during their visit they engaged various institutions including the Sierra Leone Police, adding that from the consultations they had what came out clearly was a call for the Police-Media Dialogue Forum to be held.

He said that a Police-Media Dialogue Forum was last held in Sierra Leone in 2018 and that during the consultations both the media practitioners and the Sierra Leone Police suggested that the Forum must be held again especially when the country is gearing towards the June 24, 2023 General Elections.

Dr. Francis Sowa said that even though since 2018 when the forum was last held there has been marked improvement between the Police-Media Relation in terms of the number of Committees formed, including the Safety and Security Coordination Committee.

He pointed out that the aim of the Forum is to continue to strengthen the relationship between the Media and the Sierra Leone Police, adding that when both institutions perform their various duties they need each other and in that regard there must be cordial relationship between them which the Forum is ready to establish.

Speaking on behalf of the Sierra Leone Police, the Deputy Head Community Relations Department, Sierra Leone Police, Samuel S. Conteh, said that Police-Media Dialogue Forum is very key to the Sierra Leone Police owing to the fact that the media and the Sierra Leone Police are two main prominent institutions that play very significant roles in the economic development of the country.

He said that the media is responsible to inform the public and that when a society is well informed there will be very peaceful and professional citizens, adding that the Sierra Leone Police is responsible to protect and save the lives and properties of people.

Samuel S. Conteh maintained that the Police-Media Dialogue Forum bee will continue to strengthen the collaboration between the media and the Sierra Leone Police in the country.

Other stakeholders including the Director of Information at the Ministry of Information and Communication, Emmanuel Turay, the Secretary General of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) also made salient points.

The opening session was followed by discussions and presentations which include ,Police-Media Relations: challenges and opportunities for collaboration on covering elections and the preparation of the Sierra Leone Police Service so far in ensuring peaceful elections by the Sierra Leone Police, rights and responsibilities of journalists by the Independent Media Commission etc.

These presentations were also followed by group (comprising both police and media) discussions and identification of concrete modalities for Police-Media collaboration and mechanisms for ensuring safety of journalists in the electioneering period.

At the end of the group presentations resolutions captured were adopted which climaxed the end of the Forum.

CSOs Urge Political Actors to Demonstrate Commitment to Peaceful Elections

June 21, 2023

By Foday Moriba Conteh

During a well-attended one-day National CSOs Consultation Meeting geared towards finding a pathway to de-escalate political tension in the country organized by Fambul Tok in partnership with the Center for Accountability and Rule of Law (CARL-SL) on Tuesday 20^th June, 2023 at the Hub Hotel on Wilberforce in Freetown, the under-mentioned Civil Society Organisations in Sierra Leone urged Political Actors to deescalate political tension & demonstrate commitment to Peaceful Elections.

Speaking during the ceremony, the Executive Director of Fambul Tok, John Caulker said that they are gravely concerned about the rising political tension ahead of the country’s multi-tier elections on 24th June 2023 as well as the questions raised about the professionalism of the Electoral Commission.

He maintained that the objective of the National CSOs consultation is to foster a constructive and respectful environment to address political tension and promote peaceful engagement in the upcoming elections.

Head of Programs at Center for Accountability and Rule of Law (CARL-SL), Jeremy B. Simbo described the National CSOs consultation as very important towards finding a pathway to deescalate political tension in the country.

He said that as the country heads for its 5th post-war election in its democratic milestone that is making the country an example of a working democracy in the region and that despite that success, politically orchestrated divisions and hate continue to fuel tension in the country.

Jeremy B. Simbo, however, noted that after the national CSOs consultation meeting, representatives from various organizations present will in return go to their communities in order to engage in meaningful dialogue in order to deescalate political tension in their communities.

Reading the press statement on behalf of the CSOs, the National Coordinator Foundation for Human Rights and Democracy, Jarrai Barrie, said as CSOs they now see genuine fears on all sides that losing an election can amount to losing everything including economic opportunities and rights of supporters but said unfortunately, this fear has implications for the work of Election Management Bodies and is making acceptance of election results very difficult.

She noted that considering these challenges, CSOs proposed the following suggestions to EMBs, Government agencies, political parties, local and international election observers, and civil society to help calm tension and increase confidence in the electoral process:

Firstly, that as CSOs they are alarmed by recent incidents of politically motivated violence in some parts of the country, and accordingly urge the Sierra Leone Police to respect the rights of citizens and fairly investigate every complaint of violence with the view to bringing the perpetrators to justice, regardless of their status or political affiliation. They pleaded particularly with young people to abstain from violence and continue to engage with the electoral process constructively.

Secondly, political actors should ensure that demands on the Electoral Commission should be framed within the confines of our laws and international best practices.

She said they noted the recent concerns expressed by the Presidential candidate of the All People’s Congress (APC) regarding the management of the electoral process.

Unfortunately, they learnt that some of the concerns and demands are either outside the powers of the Electoral Commission or are unsupported by the 1991 Constitution, national electoral laws, and international best practices.

According to them, the Electoral Commission, for example, can do nothing about the proportional representation system since the matter has already been litigated and decided by the Supreme Court of Sierra Leone.

Further, it would be plainly unconstitutional to replace the current Board of Electoral Commissioners with an international electoral team few days to the elections.

She said as CSOs they are calling on political parties, local and international observers to see acceptance of election results as a critical democratic norm Sierra Leone should embrace and that since 2007, no losing Presidential candidate has gracefully accepted the outcome of an election without questioning the accuracy of the results or the fairness of the process.

While there could be merit in some of the petitions, outright rejection of election results without any proof of gross irregularities that undermine the outcome of election defeats the core principle of competitive democratic election, according to the CSOs.

The CSOs urged political parties to continue to utilize the Political Parties Liaison Committee to discuss, clarify and address burning issues and to respect the spirit and outcome of those discussions as well as the country’s electoral laws and international best practices in the interest of a peaceful, free and fair electoral process.

The CSOs concluded by urging political parties to tone down the rhetoric, conduct peaceful campaigns but more importantly demonstrate vigilance on polling day to support the integrity of the process.

NP-SL’s Maintains Leadership in Petroleum Marketing

June 21, 2023

National Petroleum Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL-Ltd)

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

NP (SL) Ltd continues to reposition itself within the petroleum marketing landscape of the country by gallantly maintaining its high held reputation as the largest importer and marketer of high grade and internationally approved petroleum products across Sierra Leone. Though operating in a free market economy where there is competition as there are other players within the landscape such as Leoneco, Cortex, Malador, the fact, however, remains that NP (SL) Ltd is currently, by every estimation, the leading oil marketing company operating in the country. This assessment did not materialize merely out of bragging or praise singing but rather a very objective one when cognizance is taken of the impressive achievements that the company has made through the years since its inception by 35 former employees of the British Petroleum (BP) Company who decided to invest their end of service benefits by purchasing shares and later become the owners of what metamorphosed into what we now today know as NP (SL) Ltd.

It must be underscored at this juncture that the meteoric rise of the company did not just materialize out of the blues but rather came about as a result of the selflessness of the shareholders and the Management. Through sheer commitment, steadfastness and implementation of savvy business initiatives the company was successful in establishing business contacts with reputable oil marketing overseas from which its does transactions to procure the high grade petroleum products that are marketed right across the country.

Having achieved that feat commendably, the company focused attention on how to give optimal satisfaction to members of the public and other entities that purchase its petroleum products. Placing premium on giving the best to their customers, the company decided to install in all Filling Stations that it has stakes in calibrated pumping machines which are highly capable of the pumping the exact quantity of fuel purchased. By doing so it succeeded in putting an end to the several complaints made in the past by customers mostly bordering on them been cheated in terms of not getting value for money based on receiving less than what they paid for at Filling Stations.

Promoting Local Content is one of the hallmarks of the company. With the aim of maintaining its identity as an indigenous business entity, NP(SL) Ltd , over the years made it a policy to source out employees who are exclusively Sierra Leoneans. It also outsources Sierra Leonean entrepreneurs, fuel transport owners and other service providers with the strong conviction that the company is contributing to the empowerment of Sierra Leoneans as well as to socio-economic development. The company has been warmly commended for maintaining this posture over the years.

To simplify the process of purchasing fuel at Filling Stations, the company introduced the use of the NP Smart Card, which is a card with an embedded memory chip, it is capable of giving command for quantities of fuel purchased at Filling Stations as long as the Smart Card has credit in it. The holders of NP Smart Cards, from time to time, credit it in readiness for other purchases. The NP Smart Card is now in vogue as more customers are now finding it extremely advantageous in procuring fuel more especially as it saves time, energy and above all is a secured way of conducting transactions.

Still with the aim of optimizing customers’ satisfaction, the company also introduced a cooking device known as NP Gas which before hitting the market went through various tests until it was finally approved as environmentally friendly and very precise in its performance. Manufactured in various cylinder shapes and sizes, NP Gas has gained a foothold in the country as it is used in many households with no resultant adverse effects or cases of malfunctioning. Sold at affordable prices, NP Gas is now being recommended to others by those who have experienced how it performs.

The company has gained a very good reputation for standing by the side of the Government and People of Sierra Leone during critical moments, evident in the swift response of the company during national disasters or alarming situations like the outbreak of the Corona Virus when it donated up to a Billion Leones to help combat the spread of the virus, how it decided to fund the construction of a Burns Unit at the Connaught Hospital in the wake of the Wellington Tanker explosion saga that claimed many lives, empowering the National Fire Force to easily access water by funding the construction of boreholes and others.

Mindful of the fact that it is dealing in highly inflammable products, the company has always scaled up precautionary measures and awareness on what and not what to do in situations of fire outbreaks. This was demonstrated recently when NP (SL)Ltd joined the world to commemorate ‘World Day for Safety and Health at Work’ on the theme: “A Safe and Healthy Working Environment as a Fundamental Principle and Right at Work”.

In all NP Filling Stations in the country there are trained Station Managers and Pump Attendants that professionally respond to the needs of customers. They treat customers in such friendly ways to an extent that the former are always eager and willing to continue doing business with the company.

Worthy of note is that at any time there is a fuel crisis in the country, NP(SL) Ltd is always the last bastion from which fuel could be accessed in the country which speaks volumes of how the company remains the biggest marketer of petroleum products in the country and it is religiously maintaining that position and it therefore comes as no big surprise that it has earned the covetous reputation of 1^st for Customer Care.

Head of Commonwealth Observer Team Briefs the Press

June 21, 2023

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

Journalists were briefed by the Chair of the Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) HE Prof Yemi Osinbajo,former Vice President of Nigeria

at Radisson Blu Mammy Yoko Hotel in Freetown on Monday 19^th June, 2023 that they are in the country to monitor Sierra Leone’s June 24, 2023 multi-tier elections.

In his briefing he also mentioned that the COG was constituted by the Commonwealth Secretary-General, The Rt. Hon Patricia Scotland KC, following an invitation from the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone to observe the poll.

He added that COG members were drawn from across the entire Commonwealth, adding that they have a wealth of experience, which include experts in law, politics, election administration, human rights, media and civil society and that the group is supported by a staff team from the Commonwealth Secretariat led by Linford Andrews, Head of Electoral Support.

HE Prof Yemi Osinbajo further noted that the Commonwealth Secretariat has had a long-standing engagement with Sierra Leone dating back to its independence, when the country became an independent state within the Commonwealth in 1961.

He recalled how the Commonwealth has observed every election in Sierra Leone since the end of the civil war in 2002, as well as the General Elections of 1996.

“In other words, the Commonwealth has been an enduring companion of the nation on this extraordinary journey, witnessing the country’s evolution into what it is today,” HE Prof Yemi Osinbajo said.

He ,however, cautioned that the Commonwealth Observer Group has no executive role; and that its function is not to interfere, but to observe the process as a whole and to make recommendations accordingly.

“We will observe the pre-election environment, polling day activities and the post-election period, In particular we will consider whether the conditions exist for credible elections, including a fair election environment; whether public media has been impartial; the transparency of the entire process; whether voters are free to express their will; and whether the counting and results process is transparent. We will then report on whether the elections have been conducted in accordance with the standards to which Sierra Leone has committed itself, including its national law, and regional and international commitments.

In conducting our duties, we will be guided by the principles of neutrality, impartiality, objectivity and independence. As we are here in our individual capacities as responsible and experienced Commonwealth citizens, our assessment will be our own, and not that of any member government .That said, we have a very active period ahead of us,” he said.

He went on to state that over the coming days “we will be meeting stakeholders including the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone, Government representatives, political parties, security agencies, civil society groups, citizen and international observer groups, diplomats, and the media.”

According to him, from the 22 of June, COG will deploy in small teams across various parts of the country to observe the voting, counting and results process, as well as meet with other stakeholders in respective locations.

The COG Chair maintained that on Election Day, “we will observe the opening, voting, closing, counting and the results management processes,” adding that they will issue an interim statement on their preliminary findings on the 26th of June, before members of the Group depart Sierra Leone on the 30^th of June.

He stated that a final report will then be prepared and submitted to the Commonwealth Secretary-General, and subsequently shared with relevant stakeholders and made publicly available.

ECSL Receives Ballot Papers & RFs from South Africa

June 21, 2023

By Alpha Good Kamara

Ballot papers enclosed in 216 pallets, including Reconciliation Forms (RFs), arrived on Monday 19^th June 2023 at the Freetown International Airport from the contracted printer in South Africa.

A total of two hundred and sixteen (216) Pallets were disembarked including 58 Pallets containing Presidential ballot papers, 100 containing Municipal ballot papers( for Mayoral and Local Council Elections), and 58 containing ballot papers for the Parliamentary Election making it a total of 216 pallets,.

Witnessing the arrival of the ballot papers were representatives of the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) , journalists, Party Observers, Civil Society Organization representatives and other key stakeholders.

ECSL’s Director of Operations , Mohamed Turay, intimated journalists that each of the ballot papers have labels and different color codes for each of the elections disclosing that Blue is for the Presidential election, Yellow is for Parliamentary election, Pink for the Mayoral and Brown for Municipal Elections.

He added that the maximum ballot papers in each Pallet is 108 ballot papers further revealing that they will be conveyed in military vehicles to the different district headquarter towns prior to the June 24^{th ,}Presidential, Parliamentary, Mayoral and Local Council elections.

Electoral Commissioner North, Abu Bakarr Koroma, on his part, said the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone is very well prepared to conduct the elections. He added how they have been delivering all the non- sensitive materials to the various districts.

According to him, they have already trained polling staff, ballots staff controllers, queue controllers and tally center staff as well as setting up tally centers in all districts.

One of the Civil Society Organization representatives, National Election Watch (NEW), Hassan Fuad Kanu, stated how the process is going on smoothly and they were even granted permission to take details and pictures of the pallets.

An inventory was taken by ECSL of the pallets of ballot papers with the names of the districts and quantity, he further said, adding how they are satisfied with the process and there is nothing to raise concerns about.

He further said they will continue to monitor the process until each and every pallet is dispatched to the various districts.

Mohamed Turay, the Director of Operations for ECSL, outlined their plans for the materials and intimated journalists that each of the ballot papers have labels and different color codes for each of the elections disclosing that Blue is for the Presidential election, Yellow is for Parliamentary election, Pink for the Mayoral and Brown for Municipal Elections.

He added that the maximum ballot papers in each Pallet is 108 ballot papers going further to reveal that they will be conveyed in military vehicles to the different district headquarter towns prior to the June 24^{th ,}Presidential, Parliamentary, Mayoral and Local Council elections.

Electoral Commissioner North, Abu Bakarr Koroma, on his part, said the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone is very well prepared to conduct the elections. He added how they have been delivering all the none sensitive materials to the various districts.

According to him, they have already trained polling staff, ballots staff controllers, queue controllers and tally center staff as well as setting up tally centers in all districts.

One of the Civil Society Organization representatives, National Election Watch (NEW), Hassan Fuad Kanu, stated how the process is going on smoothly and they were even granted permission to take details and pictures of the pallets.

An inventory was taken by ECSL of the ballot papers in all the pallets with the names of the districts and quantity, he further said, adding how they are satisfied with the process and there is nothing to raise concerns about.

He also stated how they will continue to monitor the process until each and every pallet is dispatch to their various districts.

Electoral Commissioner North, Abu Bakarr Koroma, on his part, said the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone is very well prepared to conduct the elections. He revealed that they have been delivering all the none sensitive materials to the various districts.

According to him, they have already trained polling staff, ballots staff controllers, queue controllers and tally center staff as well as setting up tally centers in all districts.

One of the Civil Society Organization representatives, National Election Watch (NEW), Hassan Fuad Kanu, stated how the process is going on smoothly and they were even granted permission to take details and pictures of the pallets.

An inventory was taken by ECSL of the ballot papers in all the pallets with the names of the districts and quantity, he further said, adding how they are satisfied with the process and there is nothing to raise concerns about.

He further said they will continue to monitor the process until each and every pallet is dispatch to the various districts.

ECSL’s Director of Operations , Mohamed Turay, intimated journalists that each of the ballot papers have labels and different color codes for each of the elections disclosing that Blue is for the Presidential election, Yellow is for Parliamentary election, Pink for the Mayoral and Brown for Municipal Elections.

He added that the maximum ballot papers in each Pallet is 108 revealing that they will be conveyed in military vehicles to the different district headquarter towns prior to the June 24^{th ,}Presidential, Parliamentary, Mayoral and Local Council elections.

Electoral Commissioner North, Abu Bakarr Koroma, on his part, said the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone is very well prepared to conduct the elections. He added how they have been delivering all the non-sensitive materials to the various districts.

According to him, they have already trained polling staff, ballots staff controllers, queue controllers and tally center staff as well as setting up tally centers in all districts.

One of the Civil Society Organization representatives, National Election Watch (NEW), Hassan Fuad Kanu, stated how the process is going on smoothly and they were even granted permission to take details and pictures of the pallets.

An inventory was taken by ECSL of the ballot papers in all the pallets with the names of the districts and quantity, he further said, adding how they are satisfied with the process and there is nothing to raise concerns about.

He further said they will continue to monitor the process until each and every pallet are dispatch to their various districts.

Turay assured that the plans for the elections are continuing without hindrance and the activities scheduled for Saturday are expected to proceed smoothly.

VIP Commences Final Distribution of Rice to Police

June 21, 2023

The second phase of rice distribution to the Sierra Leone Police by VIP Trading Company started on the 19th June, 2023 with 3 bags of rice supplied to each to Police Officers nationwide.

This came in the wake of completing an early supply of three bags of rice to each Police Officer and with the supply of an additional three bags to each officer over the next ten days that will bring the total number of bags of rice supplied to each Police Officer to six.

Ahmed H. Hashim, the CEO of VIP Trading Company, expressed profound thanks and appreciation to the SLPP Led Government for prioritizing the welfare of the security sector, specifically the Police Force stating that under his leadership he will always ensure that VIP Trading Company achieves remarkable success and set a high standard in the industry.

Speaking to journalists, the Chief Executive Officer of VIP Trading Company, Ahmed H. Hashim disclosed that the second set of VIP RICE BRAND supply, when completed in ten days beginning Monday today, the 19th of June, 2023, will make a total of six (6) bags to have been supplied to each Police Officer nationwide.

He noted that the supply is as a result of the agreement between the company and the Government of Sierra Leone, which he commended for continuing to put premium on the welfare of the security sector particularly the Sierra Leone Police.

Ahmed Hashim continues to make a name for himself through his passion to always deliver not only on time but also in terms a of the quality of rice supplied which is unprecedented in the history of rice supply to the security sector.

Security Sector Denounces Tribal & Hate Speech

June 21, 2023

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

In a Press Release dated 18^th June, 2023 and signed by the National Security Coordinator, Abdulai Caulker, for and on behalf of the Security Sector it was stated by the Security Sector that it is appalled by the growing spate of tribal and hate messages in the Social Media directed against certain ethnic groups of Sierra Leone adding that it believes such disgusting development could potentially undermine the peace and integrity of a country that not too long emerged from a brutal civil conflict.

The Security Sector continues that the idea of some ill-motivated Sierra Leoneans at home and abroad using Social Media to record and circulate tribal messages against certain ethnic groups is self-serving, unlawful, counterproductive and not representative of the nation’s collective heritage.

It therefore states that whilst recognizing Freedom of Speech as a fundamental human right of every citizen, however, blatantly and maliciously defaming the image of any other individual and/or ethnic group does not fall within the realm of human rights and is in fact deviant.

The Security Sector says it wishes to inform all and sundry that effective immediately, anyone who is confirmed to have recorded, shared and forwarded any tribal or hate message directed against any individual or ethnic group will be committing an offence, and will therefore face the full force of the law.

It ended by maintaining that the Security Sector wants the general public to be rest assured that it is committed to providing professional security services for all Sierra Leoneans, including the maintenance of law and order in the country at all times.

Caritas Boss Dilates on their Role in Promoting Peaceful Elections & Women’s Participation in Leadership

June 21, 2023

In a speech delivered by Executive Director-Caritas Freetown, Rev. Fr. Peter Konteh on the topic: “The Role of Caritas in Promoting Peaceful Non-Violent Elections and Encouraging Women’s Participation and Leadership in the Upcoming Election, he stated that it is an honor to address the crucial topic of the role of Caritas in promoting peaceful non-violent elections and encouraging women’s participation and leadership in the upcoming election.

Rev. Fr. Peter Konteh said as we navigate through this significant period of democratic processes, it is imperative that we draw inspiration from both biblical teachings and the invaluable work carried out by Caritas and Catholic priests in fostering harmony and inclusivity in our electoral processes.

He continued that firstly, let us reflect upon the biblical examples of women in leadership, as viewed from the Catholic perspective saying the Bible presents numerous instances of women who demonstrated remarkable leadership qualities and played pivotal roles in shaping their communities.

According to him, we find the courageous Esther, who fearlessly advocated for her people before the king, risking her own life for justice and peace. He mentioned Deborah, a Prophetess, and Judge, who led the Israelites with wisdom and integrity, instilling a sense of unity and righteousness among the people.

He maintained that these biblical accounts remind all that women possess inherent strength, wisdom, and leadership capabilities, making their participation in elections and governance essential for a thriving society.

The Executive Director-Caritas Freetown said he would like to emphasize the significance of the religious commitment of the Catholic Church in the upcoming elections in Sierra Leone furthering that as we prepare for this pivotal moment in our nation’s history, it is crucial for the Catholic Church to make a resolute commitment to promote and preach peace and non-violence.

He said the Catholic Church holds a profound responsibility to uphold the values of love, justice, and reconciliation, as exemplified by the teachings of Jesus Christ adding that as members of the Catholic Church, they are called to be agents of peace and builders of unity within communities and the nation.

“This responsibility becomes even more critical when we consider that both Presidential candidates in the upcoming elections are members of our Catholic Church,” he said saying in light of that he is urging the Catholic Church to take a strong stance in promoting peace and non-violence throughout the electoral process.

He said by engaging actively in initiatives that foster peaceful dialogue, understandin, and respect among supporters of different candidates, the Church can play a vital role in reducing tensions and promoting a peaceful atmosphere conducive to fair and democratic elections.

The Revered Father said the commitment to peace and non-violence should be echoed from the pulpits across the nation adding that Priests, as spiritual leaders, have the unique opportunity to address their congregations, urging them to reject violence, incitement, and divisive rhetoric.

He said they can emphasize the importance of respectful discourse, responsible citizenship, and the pursuit of the common good and by encouraging prayer, reflection, and unity among their congregants, priests can inspire individuals to embrace peaceful means to address differences and conflicts that may arise during the election period.

Executive Director of Caritas Freetown said the humanitarian and development arm of the Catholic Church, has consistently been at the forefront of promoting peaceful non-violent elections.

He said through their tireless efforts, Caritas Freetown has demonstrated a commitment to nurturing a democratic process that respects human dignity, upholds the principles of justice, and ensures the equal participation of all citizens and their dedication to fostering peace, reconciliation, and social cohesion is commendable.

Caritas Freetown, he underscored, actively engages with communities, empowering women to participate in the electoral process and assume leadership roles saying recognizing the unique perspectives, talents, and experiences that women bring, Caritas Freetown advocates for their increased representation in decision-making bodies, encouraging an inclusive democracy that reflects the diverse voices of our society.

He said by organizing training programs, capacity-building workshops, and awareness campaigns, Caritas Freetown equips women with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to actively engage in electoral processes, whether as voters, candidates, or campaign managers.

Rev. Fr. Peter Konteh maintained that , moreover, the role of Catholic priests in promoting peaceful elections cannot be overstated saying as spiritual leaders, they have a moral responsibility to guide and nurture their congregations, not only in matters of faith but also in matters of social justice and civic engagement.

“Catholic priests, drawing inspiration from the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, play a crucial role in promoting peace, non-violence, and respect for human dignity during electoral periods,” he said adding how they emphasize the importance of ethical conduct, responsible citizenship, and dialogue as means to resolve conflicts and ensure peaceful transitions of power.

He pointed out that by fostering an environment of prayer, reflection, and community engagement, Catholic priests encourage individuals and communities to actively participate in elections with a focus on the common good.

According to him, they provide spiritual guidance and pastoral care to candidates, supporters, and voters, urging them to embrace the principles of integrity, fairness, and respect for one another.

Catholic priests, he intimated, promote a culture of inclusivity, urging their congregations to reject violence, discrimination, and divisiveness, and to work towards a society that values the inherent worth and dignity of every individual.

He commended the collaboration and partnership between Caritas, the UNPBF, and Catholic Relief Services Sierra Leone in their dedicated efforts to promote peaceful elections and inclusivity in Sierra Leone.

The Revered Father said they must rally behind that partnership, recognizing the importance of empowering women, engaging the youth, and ensuring accessibility for people with disabilities in the country’s electoral processes.

He said by doing so, they can create a more inclusive and democratic society that paves the way for a prosperous future for all citizens of Sierra Leone adding that one key aspect of that collaboration is the emphasis on promoting women’s participation and leadership in the upcoming elections.

Rev. Fr. Peter Konteh underscored that women play a critical role in shaping the future of the nation, and their perspectives and voices must be heard and respected.

“Together, Caritas, the UNPBF, and Catholic Relief Services Sierra Leone implement initiatives that empower women, providing them with training, mentorship, and support to actively engage as candidates, voters, and campaign managers,” he said adding that by breaking down barriers and addressing gender-based discrimination, this partnership strives to create a level playing field for women in the electoral arena.

He concluded by stating that the role of Caritas Freetown in promoting peaceful non-violent elections and encouraging women’s participation and leadership, along with the contributions of Catholic priests, is instrumental in building a just, harmonious, and inclusive society.

“As we approach the upcoming election, let us draw inspiration from the biblical examples of women in leadership and recognize the immense value that women bring to the political arena,” he said furthering that by working together, fostering peace and embracing the principles of non-violence, we can ensure that our electoral processes uphold the dignity and well-being of all citizens.