News

By Saio Marrah

An Appeal Court Judge, Justice Monfred Sesay, has said the judiciary of Leone has set up a court for election offences and petitions  coming from election disputes, that will be addressed within four months.

Justice Sesay disclosed this to stakeholders at a Seminar on the state of the electoral justice system in Sierra Leone held at the Country Lodge Hotel in Freetown on Thursday 23^rd March 2023.

The programme was organised by a local civil society organization, Centre for Rule of Law and Accountability (CARL).

By Nasratu Kargbo

More than half of the country’s population remains unaware of or does not understand the electoral system that will be used in the forthcoming election. According to a presentation by the Research and Policy Director, Andrew Lavali, and Professor Fredline M’Comarck- Hale respectively, 61% of the population said they are not aware of the change in the electoral system.

By Alpha Abu

Members of the All Political Parties Association (APPA) have questioned the 11. 9% per total district votes that a party must have under the Proportional Representation System of voting in this year’s election to ensure Parliamentary and Local Council seats. This was among a series of concerns raised in a statement released by APPA during a Press Conference at The Brookfields Hotel, Freetown yesterday.

By Chernor Alimamy Kamara

In a verified document read in parliament and widely circulated on social media, the Speaker of Sierra Leone Parliament Dr. Abass Bundu has called out the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) for allocating a European Union 3 million Euros contract to other subcontractors that he said lacked the technical capacity and as such did a substandard job.

The contract was meant for the renovation of Parliament which some have reached completion and others ongoing.

By Nasratu Kargbo

Following the delay to sign the Nicotine and Tobacco Control Act 2023, the    Interreligious Council of Sierra Leone has called on Presidents Julius Maada Bio to sign the Act, stating that the substance has destroyed and continues to destroy the lives of Sierra Leoneans.

Speaking on behalf of the Christian Action Group Rev Muriel Koroma said “We appeal to His Excellency Julius Maada Bio to speedily append his signature to the bill before the close of parliament”, she added that parliament will close very soon.         

By Nasratu Kargbo

The Chairman of the Political Parties Regulatory Commission (PPRC) Abdulai M. Bangura has warned that if issues related to violence are not addressed beforehand, things could get out of control in the June elections.  

He made this statement on Wednesday whilst reacting to findings presented by the Institute for Governance Reform (IGR) on citizens’ views on the likelihood of election violence. Bangura said PPRC holds the view that the likelihood of violence exists.

By Saio Marrah

Magistrate Mark Ngegba of Court No 1, Pademba Road in Freetown has remanded a former police officer in custody at the start of preliminary investigations into one count against Alimamy Fofanah. He is accused of killing one Yayah Jalloh at Bassa Town, Waterloo on 1^st February, 2023.