By Chernor Alimamy Kamara
In order to fulfill the Legal framework of the Constitution of Sierra Leone, the Chief Electoral Commissioner (CEC) Mohamed Konneh has presented the 2022 Annual Report and Certificate of the Presidential Election to President Julius Maada Bio. The Presentation was done at State House on the 19th July 2023.
Konneh first congratulated President Bio on his reelection as President of the Republic of Sierra Leone in the just concluded 24th June multi-tier elections. He said the 2022 Annual Report of the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone (ECSL) was written pursuant to sections of the 1991 constitution of Sierra Leone which make provision for the CEC to submit a report on the programmes and work of the commission at least once a year to the President, a copy of such report which shall also be laid before Parliament.
He said the year 2022 laid the foundation for the positive outcome of the June polls and that the report entails key milestone achievements on the preparations leading to the conduct of the Paramount Chieftaincy elections. He mentioned the commission’s focus on operationalizing policy decisions into action in line with the institution’s strategic plan for the 2020- 2024 election cycle including but not limited to the announcement of the election date, legal reform initiatives, and voter registration.
Konneh recalled how in line with the legal framework, the President in a press release dated 11th March 2022 declared June 24th, 2023 as the date for Parliamentary elections and 3rd September to 4th October 2022 as the date for the conduct of voter registration, followed by the announcement on the declaration of the Presidential election by the CEC on the 14th March 2022. He said to actualize some of the key 2018 elections observation recommendations and emerging government policy initiatives, the commission in consultation and collaboration with key stakeholders and other partners engaged in a series of legal reforms.
He thanked President Bio and the Ministry of Finance for providing the funds for the running of the commission. He also extended gratitude to the European Union (EU), Irish Aid, UNDP, and the Canadian Government for complimenting financial support to the commission. He also thanked the regional body ECOWAS, local partners, and political parties for their collaboration during the electioneering period.
“We are satisfied that the result reflected the votes of Sierra Leoneans for the President’s re-election,” he said.
In his response, President Bio expressed delight for having received the annual report which he said is a mandate of ECSL, and that its contents outline the activities undertaken by the commission during the period under review. He thanked the CEC, the other commissioners, and the staff of ECSL for what he said was the great work they undertook for the 2023 elections.
He said the task of the commissioners is very complicated and it cannot be without hitches, citing what he described as a highly contested election like any other in the world.
“Even the Great United States’ elections are highly contested. So ours is no exception,” he said.
The President urged ECSL staff to continue to work hard, noting that their role has a greater impact on the country’s development trajectory. He thanked ECSL for delivering a credible election which he said he was proud to have won and appealed to all Sierra Leoneans to accept that democracy is a process.
President Bio won the election by securing 56.17 % of the votes to avoid a runoff with the main opposition candidate, Dr. Samura MW Kamara who got 41.16%.
Copyright © Politico (21/07/23)
