The Chief Electoral Commissioner for the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone, Mohamed Kenewui Konneh during the handing over ceremony of the 11,000 ballot boxes by the Guinea Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralization, Mory Conde at Forcaria, along the Guinea borders has said that the commission needs up to 50,000 ballot boxes for voting on June 24th polling day.
Mr. Mohamed Kenewui Konneh made this revelation during the inspection of the 11,000 ballot boxes by the media and civil society organizations handed over to the ECSL by the Guinean government of Junta Leader, Colonel Mamadou Dumbouya.
He disclosed that the 11,000 ballot boxes borrowed by the Guinea government will not be used for presidential election but for parliamentary and local council elections, adding that with the 11,000 ballot boxes that they have lent from the Guinean government, the commission is one hundred percent ready to conduct free, fair and credible elections.
According to Mr. Konneh, the borrowed 11,000 ballot boxes is part of the Electoral Peer Support Initiative in helping each other with electoral materials.
On his part, the Guinea Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralization, Mory Conde said the two Heads of State are friends, adding that president Bio was the first to visit his friend after he successfully overthrown the civilian government of former president, Professor Alpha Conde.
He said that as sister countries under the ECOWAS community they should be helping each other as that is what they have showcased.
The Minister of Internal Affairs, David Maurice Panda Noah extended gratitude on behalf of the government, the people and the president and stated that Guineans have demonstrated a true friendship, adding that the two sister countries share similar cultural values ranging from inter marriage, family customs and traditions, marriage, communities and so forth.