By Albert George Sheriff
The Women’s Situation Room Sierra Leone, a group of prominent women seeking women's interest in politics, has called on the National Electoral Commission (NEC) to announce the results of Saturday's polls urgently to ease tension.
A member of the group and former Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Iran, Haja Alarie-Cole made this statement at a press conference held on Monday at the Bintumani Hotel in Freetown.
She said that in view of “the enthusiastic and peaceful manner in which Sierra Leoneans exercised their right to vote, the WSR believes that the organization and voting process have been fair”, adding that 138 incidents were reported including 5 in the southern province, 5 in the north, 9 in the east, 5 from Western Area, Rural and 114 from Western Urban.
Alarie-Cole said that 10 incidents reported violence, 9 were on election materials, 7 on electoral malpractices and 96 on the voting process as well as many
other incidents.
She said the WSR observed some lapses including the late arrival of electoral materials leading to late start of voting in many areas, transportation challenges for some NEC staff, observers and the general public. She also spoke of the shortage of ballot papers in some centres.
She called on an increase in the number of women in leadership positions to create a balance, particularly at polling centre management level, adding that
political parties should take deliberate actions to increase the number of women candidates and party agents in line with international commitment to the minimum quota of 30 per cent.
She said NEC, political parties, and civil society organizations should intensify voter education, taking into account the level of illiteracy in the country and that NEC and other electoral management bodies should respond quickly to complaints from political parties and candidates.
When asked about allegations of ballot-stuffing in some parts of the country made by the SLPP, she said all political parties and candidates should use the legal framework for addressing their grievances.
Alarie-Cole noted that the Angie Brooks International Centre, Mano River Women’s Peace Network (MARWOPNET) and Femmes Africa Solidarite (FAS) brought in 18 eminent women from across the sub-region as observers and expert mediators to lend their support to the running of the presidential, parliamentary and local elections under the auspices of Sierra Leonean Women’s Organization, UN Women, UNDP, Urgent Fund, NATCOM, and other national and international institutions.
© Politico 20/11/12
