November 5, 2021
By Hafsatu Z Bangura
Speaking at a presser at the Ministry of Information and Communications on the 3rd November in Freetown Youyi Building, the Minister of Information and Communications Mr. Rahman Rado Swaray, Chairperson of the PPRC Mr. Abdulai Masiamay Bangura and Mr. Christopher Jones Spokesperson Acting Director of Communications and Outreach NEC have jointly reechoed dissatisfaction over the recently published EU report.
The Minister stated that the purpose of the press was to clarify the issues about the EU report. He said the report unduly dampens the credibility of the various institutions which is disappointing to the government.
Mr. Abdulai Chairperson of the PPRC said the PPRC’s position as to regards the report is unfair as it fails to cross check with the issues cited.
He said one of the issues is that the press statement did not disclose the source of their information that informed their conclusion on the commission. He said that they are keen on the source of information being provided to the EU based on the context under which these observations were made and it’s a rather serious issue which is a missing link.
He further noted that as chairman of the commission he was opportune to meet with the EU that came at the Brookfileds office. He said the PPRC asked the mission to run them through the recommendations of their report but throughout that engagement nothing was said about the allegations.
He said at least that would have aided him in expressing his own side of the coin and felt that the principle of natural justice was not met.
Mr. Bangura Esq noted that as an institution they have observed that the context of the report is completely oblivious of the political climate under which the institution works He argued that no matter their hard work and efforts in conducting free, and fair credible elections parties will certainly cry foul.
He further stated that if questions or recommendations were made the EU had a responsibility to ask the PPRC before publishing a report. He said there are instances were a party will commend them and also damage the credibility of the commission. He insisted that as an institution they know this things are bound to happen.
He also gave an example of the APC that a month ago showered praises on him due to the credibility process of the commission, for the emergency convention and the election of those constituted and later they had a youth retreat at Port Loko despite the fact that there was an injunction slammed on the activities of the party.
He said in that instance he cautiously contacted the judge and told him that that was a circumvention of his order and immediately contacted the police. He disclosed that the APC later was not happy about this and he was damned for his action.
He said the same situation applied in the case of the ruling party when the accused the commission as being sympathizers of the opposition party in the recently concluded bye elections.
He noted the report was very hostile, very suspicious for not only the country but also for all political parties concerned as it plays on the integrity of the commission and whipping up distrust of members concerned within the commission taking into cognizance the rivalry between political parties.
He concluded that the report will expose them to unnecessary hostility from political parties and as an institution their own side of the story was not heard. He said they as an institution considered the EU AS a pivotal and instrumental body who are not oblivious of the political climate in the country as they are profiled everywhere.
Christopher Jones Acting Director of Communications NEC concluded that the report is bias, castigating and relegating the National Electoral Commission (NEC) He added that the report is misleading to the electoral commission and the people of Sierra Leone.