By: James Kamara-Manneh
The head of Electoral Commission Sierra Leone (ECSL), Mohamed Konneh in a meeting organized for foreign election observers and the press held at the Bintumani Hotel intimated the public that the June 24th elections will go ahead as planned and they as commissions will not resign from their duties.
“I just want to inform the public that the Chief Electoral Commissioner and the Commissioners of ECSL will not resign, and we will conduct this election. As a matter of fact, elections have started today. “
He further described the press release published yesterday from APC as false because early voting was conducted yesterday for only registered Sierra Leoneans that will be going to the Holy land of Mecca before June 24. He called on political parties to continue with their campaigns until the stipulated end period.
He said the election was observed by political party agents, Local and international observers and the press. He reiterated that there were security personnel in all the polling stations.
On the contrary, Dr Samura Kamara and the APC on the 14th of June 2023, called for the resignation of the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone, Mohamed Konneh. Many believe that the opposition party has clearly shown that they are not prepared to face President Bio at the ballot box since they have no chance of winning the election.
This current trend of the main opposition has left many wondering in confusion as to whether they are in readiness to contest the forthcoming elections. This has prompted Information Minister Mohamed Rado Swaray that Sierra Leone’s elections have never been conducted by foreign observers even when the country was under civil unrest. He called on the main opposition party to put their house in order as their request will never be considered by the international community.
However, Sierra Leone has never experienced international communities conducting an election in Sierra Leone even at the height of our civil war, let alone under a democratically elected government with all the capacity to conduct free fair, and credible elections.
While it is true that international election observers are currently in the country to monitor the process, it is also true that they have no business to dictate to ECSL or conduct the election when there are competent laws in the land guiding the conduct of the election.