By Ragan M. Conteh
The Co-chair of the Tripartite Committee which is set up to review the 2023 general elections, Hon Keifala Marah, has informed the media at their Secretariat that they have received the bulk of documents from some state offices.
The documents are being demanded by the Committee but, he said, their key challenge is to get the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone (ECSL) to submit theirs. The said documents are relating to electoral conducts in June 24, 2023.
Dr Kelfala Marah made the disclosure on Wednesday 24 April 2024 during a press conference held at the All People’s Congress (APC) party Secretariat in Freetown.
According to Dr Marah, the review of the 2023 general elections has started in earnest, adding that there is only eight weeks to go for the review to be concluded.
He maintained that many institutions have complied in the process but the ECSL had said the time is short which was given to them to furnish the committee with the relevant documents requested and, therefore pleaded for an extension of time.
Dr Marah went on to say that they have received many excerpts in various field of elections conduct and they are in-country to help the Tripartite committee on the review process.
He spoke on bi-partisan approach on the review process, stating that the Committee usually sits every Tuesdays and Thursdays.
He revealed that as a Committee they are charged with the responsibility to review the electoral process, and that they are confident since many institutions such as PPRC, ONS, SLP, RSLAF and Statistics have honoured the demand from the Committee, and so it’s hoped that it will also be by ECSL in the shortest time.
“Let me tell you. This Tripartite is bigger than the APC, SLPP and government. This is about the future of Sierra Leone. If we missed this process, Sierra Leone will be doom and we as Tripartite Committee members, we will not afford to fail,” he said.
Dr Marah explained on how the Committee had been divided into various sub-committees which would look at several areas like election laws, elections management, administration, result management, civic voter management and security architecture during elections.
He warned all Sierra Leoneans especially his All People’s Congress for which he is representing at the Tripartite Committee, not to preempt the outcome of the review process.
He also said the Tripartite Committee has no intention to push or extend the review process, stating that by the end of June this year, they are hoping to submit the findings and recommendations.
He said whatever the Committee recommends it will be implemented with support from international players and government.
He stated that the US government and European Union are all well set to support the technical implementation of the recommendations from the Tripartite.
Dr Marah stressed that as Committee they are going to inform the general public on every points agreed on.
He assured that every institution that has to do with elections will certainly comply in the review process because this process is for the peace and future of Sierra Leone.
Another Member of the Tripartite Committee, Prince Tholley, said the process is as good as the outcome, adding that the country has been seen over the years for major institutional failures during electioneering processes.
He pointed out that the Tripartite Committee aims to address public trust and deficit.
He said the sub-committee also aims at reviewing institutional reforms, checking ECSL internal policies, recruiting, internal guidelines on transparency, decision making policy, elections security, internal and external Memorandum of Understanding, observation mission during elections, and among others.
Another member of the tripartite sub Committee said they are looking at the elections management, adding that they have so far demanded 45 documents, and 35 out of the 45 are from ECSL.
He said they have written to the ECSL to submit the number of those documents listed above for review.
The Chairman of the APC Party, Minkailu Mansaray, said as a party they have trust in the Tripartite Committee and hope to receive findings and recommendations soonest.
He used the platform to ask for unity of the APC and warned those fermenting baseless accusations against leaders to stop.
He said his party will prepare for the incoming elections as the tripartite committee progresses.