The citizenry has described the institution charged with the mandate to conduct and regulate electoral activities in the country, the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone as deceptive.

According to these citizens, the standard and quality of the 2023 voters’ registration identity card is very appalling to see thinking of the huge amount of taxpayers’ money(s) spent to print the ID cards.

There has been huge optimism about the standard of the voter ID cards that Ministers and Directors have said will be of high standard and quality than the ones produced during the APC era. Some citizens have accused the Electoral Commissioner of duping the citizens with such huge amount of money(s) spent on the process.

Even CSOs have said the ECSL Boss has been disingenuous with the electoral public for awarding contract to a company called CONTRASKT that they believe he is a beneficiary to such entity. CSOs are now questioning the integrity of Mr. Mohamed Kenewui Konneh to conduct the June 24th election in a free, fair and transparent and will not hurt a fly on the process.

The Africanist Press in a report published on September 23rd, 2022 revealed that USD$10 million was allocated to ECSL for the requisite technological equipment and software for the voter registration process. And the report disclosed that the registration process was marred with technical and bureaucratic challenges due to a corrupt procurement process. The report unravel that thousands of potential voters in Freetown and cities in the North were unable to register because of faulty technology, despite millions of dollars in procurement fund allocated for technology and other voter registration equipment.

It could also be recalled that the ECSL Director of Media and Communication, Raymond A.N George has via telephone interview with this medium disclosed that the commission spent well over US$1, 433, OOO on printing the voters’ card in Greece.

Some citizens have condemned the cards that it is not safe and secured for utility purpose. “Dem bin say di card wi go use am for do boku tin dem. But di kayn card way mi see so ar nor sure if ein fit for ein purpose. Dis ar wata touch am so e don pwel,” Mammy Kadiatu doing business at Sani Abacha said to this medium.

Despite heavy criticism by the public for jetting in with such voter cards, the Chief Electoral Commissioner is believed to have done his bit for the presidency come what may be the outcome of the result. Citizens have said the electoral process will be fraud due to blurred pictures on the voter cards that voters are finding it very difficult to identify themselves unless by their names.

Speaking to the Africa24 as at press time at the ECSL Situation Room, the Assistant Director of Operation, Paul Banister said the voter cards is one of its kind based on its security features.

According to him, the voter cards has a QR scan code to identify the actual owner, adding that some fraction of the public appreciated the cards because of its security features, adding that 3,374,258 cards were printed and said will be disaggregated by districts.

He also disclosed that the ECSL used old photos that dated back to 2017 voter registration exercise.

Another fraction of the public are of the view that the voter cards printed for the 2012 general election was more guaranteed and of high standard and quality which they said the past regime spent less on to print , but the ten million dollar spent on voter cards is a complete sham to the ECSL.