By- Aruna Rashed Toma Bangura
Some concern citizens who spoke to the Africa24 newspaper have registered their dissatisfaction over the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone for delaying processes towards the forthcoming general elections slated for June 24th, 2023.
These concerned people strongly condemn ECSL for delaying and derailing the electoral process of the distribution of voters’ identity card that was scheduled to kick start this month but has now been shelved to early next month.
According to these people, they are keen to know what is causing the delay on the side of ECSL, adding that they want to collect their IDs for utility purpose and not only to vote on that day.
One among them who stated that there was a huge delay during the registration and verification processes and furthered that ECSL as a responsible and independent institution should trudge the path of deceiving the populace at a crucial time when citizens are desperately eager to see change.
Speaking to the Africa 24 as at press time via telephone call, the Director of Operation for ECSL, Mohamed Turay disclosed that they decided to post-pone the distribution of voters’ registration cards as a result of strike action by the Air service controllers in France.
He said there is current strike action that will end on March 16th 2023 in France and said no sooner the strike action ends the ID cards will be available for distribution.
Mr. Turay assured the public that ECSL is working towards the new date for the distribution of voters’ registration cards, adding that the primary purpose of the ID cards is to vote come June 24th 2023.