By: MOHAMED M. SESAY
The Fifth Parliament of the Second Republic of Sierra Leone on Monday 20th June 2022, held a public hearing on the Public Election Act of 2022 in the Committee Room One, Parliament Building.
The intention of the Public Election Act 2022 is geared toward repealing and replacing the Public Election Act of 2012 (Act No.4 of 2012). It also provides for supplementary provisions to sections 32 and 33 of the Constitution of Sierra Leone, 1991 (Act No. 6 of 1991) to the Electoral
Commission and to provide for other related matters.
The Chairman of the Legislative Committee in Parliament, Hon. Abdul S. Marray Conteh welcomed MPs, Civil Society organizations and other members of the public for their attendance and assured fruitful deliberations on the bill.
The Leader of the Main Opposition Hon. Chernor RM Bah said the two bills are very important in the country’s governance system. He added that the pre-legislative process is not the first time they are having it, “it is normal in any parliamentary process”, he said. He said sometimes there are a lot of controversies in their deliberations but such controversies have never served as an impediment to not legislating laws that are of public interest.
He assured the drafters that the bill was now the property of Parliament and not the Executive Arm of Government. He maintained that they allow public involvement in the process as evident in other related bills that have been legislated by them such as the cyber bill. He pleaded for the bill to be available to MPs and the general public so that the public will also understand the nature of the bill.
Leader of Government Business, Hon. Mathew Sahr Nyuma said the Public Election Act 2022, is an amendment to the 2012 Public Elections Act.
He referenced sections 32 and 33 in the 1991 Constitution which deals with the electoral process and underscored that the bill is divided into fifteen parts. He also acknowledged that Parliament is open to amendment.” Some are using the elections process to carry out violence, we will stop it by making tougher laws in electioneering process in Sierra Leone”, He said.
Hon Nyuma assured the public that the process would be carefully looked into and in consultation with the public on elections matters. He reiterated that the bill is now in front of Parliament adding that, they would do due justice to the document. He made a clarion call on civil society organizations and members of the Fourth Estates to cross-check with Parliament with regards to anything that has to do with the bill
Representing the Chief Electoral Commissioner (CEC), Commissioner North, Abubakarr Koroma, commended Parliament for giving them the platform to do their work. He said previous election laws were used in the election process and said through the recommendation of international organizations on the electioneering the process they as the commission decided, after several consultations to amend a certain portion of the current laws for making them better.
Chairman Political Party Registration Commission (PPRC) Abdulai M. Bangura Esq. said he is in front of Parliament to ask them to pass a law to regulate political parties in Sierra Leone. He said for the past years, as a commission they had been doing their constitutional mandate to regulate political parties. He said through their engagement with 17 registered political parties and the Election Observer Mission, they decided to add more weight and powers to the work of PPRC
The Attorney General and Minister of Justice Mohamed Lamin Trawelly Esq. Said election process is a transformative process and that laws keep on changing; whilst calling for new laws of elections to match up with international best practices. He said both bills had several consultations with stockholders, relative to the process and advised them to make the process open and transparent.
