BY: MOHAMED SAHR
In an interview with Africa Young Voices (AYV) television on Friday, May 17, 2024, Minister of Information and Civic Education, Honorable Chernor Bah, provided detailed insights into the operations and progress of the tripartite committee. The Minister confirmed that the committee’s report on its findings and recommendations would soon be presented to President Dr. Julius Maada Bio for implementation in accordance with Sierra Leonean law.
Minister Bah addressed concerns regarding the committee’s legal authority, stating, “Several questions have come up like whether the committee has the legal constitutional mandate to do the work that they had been set up to do.” He clarified that the committee, established by President Bio, operates under his supreme executive authority and does not require a constitutional mandate to perform its duties.
The primary task of the committee, according to Bah, is to review the previous elections with a specific focus on the electoral systems and laws, and to recommend improvements. He emphasized that the committee’s role is not to challenge or call for a rerun of past elections but to suggest robust enhancements for future electoral processes.
Upon completion of their work, the committee will report directly to President Bio, who is the sole authority to receive their findings and recommendations. “President Bio had given the committee a very clear mandate which was to review the challenges the country’s electoral commission has had with the systems and the laws and at the same time make recommendations on how a robust improvement could be made in the electoral systems of Sierra Leone going forward,” Bah stated.
The Minister further assured that President Bio is committed to the process and will thoroughly review the committee’s recommendations. This initiative is part of the broader effort to meet criteria set by the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), which emphasizes the importance of transparent and effective governance. Minister Bah reiterated, “This is all part of what for example to bring about the MCC is looking at. They want to see that the committee is allowed to do its work and once they are done, the government takes the recommendations seriously.”
Minister Bah’s statements underscore the government’s commitment to enhancing Sierra Leone’s electoral framework and ensuring the credibility and efficiency of future elections.
