By Hassan I. Conteh-Editor
Sierra Leone like other countries in Africa hasn’t an election calendar of activities.
Unlike the world’s champion of democracy, United States of America, which has a specific timeframe for elections period, the West and Africa nations have intentionally refused to set a separate period of time for the conduct of elections.
It’s safe to say that United States of America cherishes the sacred values of democracy. As such, it strives to uphold the principles that strengthen the pillars of democracy.
African American repeated protests against racism and police killing of them may have cracked the foundations of United States democratic ideals.
But they have not weakened the foundations of United States true values and ideals. Such as the promotion and protection of citizens’ freedom of expression, freedom of association and assembly and the rule of law.
The timing of US general elections has best described it as a nation that firmly upholds the principles of democracy. The United States has a four (4) year term limit for Presidency. And her presidential election is held every first week of November.
A trajectory of United States presidential elections shows that every Tuesday, the first week in November, is declared Polling Day for Americans. A four -year- term limit for presidency places little number of years that discourage a leader to stay long in power by depriving others.
Unlike some African countries whose term limits extend beyond four years. Sierra Leone runs a five-year time limit for presidency.
Some African countries similarly have five-year term limits or more than that. And sadly, most African leaders tend to stay in power for a very long time.
Some have even refused to give an exit door after their two-term period of five years expires.
This habit of African leaders staying in power for too long is scorned by campaigners of democracy. The United States, a forte-holder of democracy, particularly disdains African leaders overstaying in power.
Past Presidents of United States have shown respect for term limit, though. They soon leave office when their mandate and citizens’ trust erode.
Americans often go to the polls on Tuesdays in November. A record below shows a traditional period of US presidential elections.
Tuesday November 4, 2008; Tuesday November 6, 2012; Tuesday November 8, 2016; Tuesday November 3, 2020. And United States next presidential election is slated Tuesday November 5, 2024.
It is globally known that Americans hold their elections on November. The observation of its elections on November adequately prepares the state and the electorates better.
Since US has a fixed month in which elections are held after a particular government term expires, political parties scuffles and electoral bodies shortcomings are minimized.
However, Sierra Leone has held four (4) elections on a different period. The past presidents had failed to set out a “fixed month and a day” for general elections. And the fact that presidential, parliamentary and local government elections are conducted together make a serious case for possible anomalies. It is also time- consuming on the part of Sierra Leone ‘s National Electoral Commission to announce elections’ results when multi-tier elections are conducted. For Sierra Leone, final elections results were being announced late over the past years by the country’s electoral body.
“Observers noted several administrative shortcomings on elections day, including late poll openings, shortages of election materials, and problems due to long queues…” according to Carter Center’s observation of Sierra Leone’s 2012 General Elections.
Carter Center monitors and reports the conduct of elections in most African countries.
The fact that Sierra Leone hasn’t a drawn up “events of calendar” for rallies, elections, and announcement of results points to the rifts and uproars that often emanate from among political parties’ supporters and leaders.
Sierra Leone has held elections on mixed days and months. Since 2007, a record of Sierra Leone’s general elections of varying dates indicate as follow: August 11, 2007; November 17, 2012; March 7, 2018. And the country prepares to hold its next election June 24 this year.
The point is citizens are always left confused as to when political activities and elections are held if there is no fixed calendar. It’s an infringement of their right to know and to be governed transparently.
The past governments have not shown any commitment to invoke in the constitution a fixed month, a week and a day to hold general elections in Sierra Leone. It is a sad reality that obtains in most democratic nations in the world because sitting heads of state may want to overstay their time in office.
If a bold step is not taken by a government to set a month for general elections, heads of states especially in Africa would tend to overstay their tenure in office.