By: Ilyasa Baa
The information otherwise referred to as misinformation circulated by former Minister of Justice under the All People’s Congress (APC), Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara (Esq) that the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone (ECSL) would not count presidential ballots papers at the polling station but at the regional centres has been debunked by the Chairman of the Commission, Mohamed Konneh.
Commissioner Konneh said for a lawyer of his calibre to misinform the general public in that manner is most unfortunate, noting that it is a calculated ploy to ridicule the electoral process.
” After our meeting recently, someone went and said ECSL had taken the decision not to count presidential votes at polling stations that we intend to rig the elections”, ECSL Chairman complained, adding that the statement is tantamount to hate speech against the Commission charged with the responsibility to conduct elections and announce the presidential winner in the Republic of Sierra Leone.
He emphasized that the unset ECSL had made it clear that presidential votes must be counted at the polling centres and tally of results done at the regional centres of the Commission.
He said partnering with the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) would save the Commission from misinformation, selfish and ill-motivated actors within and outside of the country who want to smear the reputable image of the Commission.
It could be recalled that with support from the National Democratic Institute (NDI), SLAJ is going to operate a Super News Room to get rid of fake news and misinformation in the electoral process.
However, the Commission is set to commence the distribution of voters’ identity cards which was postponed to 6th April. After the distribution of the voters’ cards, the next step will be the aspect of nomination and payments of fees into the consolidated fund.