By Nasratu Kargbo
Sierra Leoneans would want Asset Declaration for the Presidential and Parliamentary aspirants to be mandatory in the June 24 2023 elections, as highlighted in the recent Citizens manifesto, captured by Institute for Governance Reform (IGR).
Executive Director of IGR Andrew Lavali said the people are demanding that it should be done on or before nomination.
“We want to see this in parties’ manifestoes,” said Lavali who explained that asset declaration was part of demands in the 2018 elections but that only one presidential aspirant Mohamed Kamarainba Mansaray complied, noting that none of the aspirants from the main political parties declared their assets.
He explained that some of the main objectives of the citizens manifesto include ensuring that the citizens’ needs are featured in political parties’ manifestoes, ensuring the electoral discourses are issue-based and not personality based, and making the election policy driven.
Speaking as part of the Steering Committee, Coordinator of National Advocacy Coalition on Extractives (NACE) Cecilia Mattia explained that asset declaration was part of the 2018 citizens manifesto; however, such did not happen.
She explained that when they refused to declare their assets, some people visited the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to find out why they did not handle the issue of asset declaration. Mattia added that the response they got was that the law does not make it mandatory for politicians to declare their assets.
“There has been no reform; the law as it now does not mandate them to declare their assets. I think this manifesto should add that, between now to the election, let them reform these laws,” said Mattia.
She said they could still include asset declaration in the manifesto, but if there are no laws to force politicians to comply, they will refuse to commit themselves just as they did in the 2018 elections.
Executive Director of Action Aid Foday Bassie Swaray called on the media and other institutions to ensure that this time they can get politicians to comply with the demands made by the citizens. He stated that they should hang their heads to find ways how citizens can demand accountability.
“In the last citizen’s manifesto, in big events they all came, they made commitments but the challenge is how we can get them to implement them. This time, I think the media and other partners should help push and constantly remind them of the commitment they made and why it’s their obligation to implement it” said Swaray.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (20/03/23)
