By Bampia James Bundu
African Union Commission has urged the government of Sierra Leone to domesticate one of Africa’s latest documents, the African Charter on Democracy Elections and Governance, ACDEG.
It said it adoption was inspired by “the significance of good governance, popular participation, the rule of law and human rights”.
In his statement at a press conference on the “sensitization and popularization of the ACDEG”, the AU Commission’s special representative to Sierra Leone and Liberia, Ambassador Oluwatoyin Solaja, said the charter also reaffirmed the collective will of African leaders “to work relentlessly in order to consolidate the rule of law, peace, security and development on the continent”.
Moreover, he said, the charter frowned at unconstitutional changes of governments which resulted in insecurity, instability and violent conflicts across the continent, adding that it expressed the determination to strengthen good governance through the institutionalization of transparency, accountability and participatory democracy.
Solaja said when a treaty entered into force it became binding on the member state which gave the required consent through ratification. This, he said, meant that the provisions of the ACDEG included “the holding of regular free, fair elections, the prohibition, rejection and condemnation of unconstitutional changes in government, upholding of the freedom of the press, citizen participation, the promotion and protection of the independence of the judiciary, as well as accountability in the management of public affairs, become legally binding on these states”.
“So far, 45 AU member states have signed the Charter, 23 of which have ratified. Sierra Leone signed the ACDEG on 17 June 2008, ratified it on 17 February 2009. With reference to Sierra Leone, we are specifically talking about domestication”, he explained. He said all 23 states, out of 54 member states had deposited the Charter with the AUC.
In an effort to get the Charter domesticated, the UN representative said various consultations had been held with government officials, the Independence Media Commission and civil society organizations. This, he said, was an indication of some level of awareness about the ACDEG and its ratification. However, he said, that was just 50% of the task completed, adding that the Charter could only be enforced if it was incorporated into domestic or national laws.
“Thus, the domestication and implementation of the Charter completes the process of adoption, signature and ratification. It is only then that the Charter’s provisions, and benefits can be applicable”, Solaja said.
(C) Politico 26/02/14
