Christiana Thorpe speaks on 2012 elections
Elections in Sierra Leone will be held within the last quarter of next year, Chairperson of the National Electoral Commission Dr. Christiana Thorpe confirmed in London this evening. (NEC boss Christiana Thorpe and Deputy High Commissioner Tamba Ngegba)
At a presentation at the Conference Hall of the Africa Research Institute on 55 Tufton Street, SW London, Dr. Thorpe said the cheating days are over in Sierra Leone elections.
She revealed that her commission needs a total budget of $47million for the elections with $26million of that amount coming from the Sierra Leone Government and the remaining $21million expected from donors.
The NEC boss was however quick to dismiss suggestions that government’s contribution of resources to NEC elections fund would influence the commission’s independence.
“No, that has got nothing to do with our independence – we are an independent body. In fact this is supposed to be the responsibility of the government – donors are only helping,” she said adding: “even if the government is to provide 110 percent of our (NEC) resources that will not affect our independence in any way,” she said.
The NEC Commissioner said the date for the Presidential elections would be announced by her while that of the Parliamentary elections would be announced by President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma – but that would come after consultations with the various stakeholders.
Dr. Thorpe said her commission is working in collaboration with stakeholders ahead of the 2012 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.
Among the stakeholders that she mentioned were Statistics Sierra Leone, NGOs and Civil Society, the Political Parties Association, UNDP/Donors, Office of National Security, the Media and other Development Partners.
She said her commission is meeting political parties on a fortnightly basis and the press on a monthly basis.
On Diasporans rights to voting, Dr. Thorpe said that it will not be possible for the 2012 elections because in her words, “the legal framework for that process is still not ready yet.”
Dr. Thorpe also confirmed that polling stations will be increased by ten percent in the 2012 elections but that the number of voters in each of these polling stations will be reduced from 500 to 400 this time round.
(l-r Christiana Thorpe, Edward Paice, and Ade Daramy)
Linford Andrew of the Commonwealth Secretariat, who was part of the Panel, commended NEC for what he described as a competent exercise.
He also commended the current government for the ongoing infrastructural development in the country and the corruption drive.
Andrew commended the National Electoral Commission (NEC) for decentralising its work up-country by establishing new offices.
He called on political parties to declare their interest to the public just as Ministers and Parliamentarians have declared their assets.
Andrew observed that there were slight delays after the first round of elections in the 2007 elections due to election violence and called on NEC to avoid a repeat of such ugly development in future.
Overall, the Commonwealth chief said Sierra Leone has a potential to become a model country in Africa.
Sierra Leone-born renowned historian and seasoned journalist Ade Daramy of the London-based Sierra Leone Diaspora Network, who was also part of the four-man panel, spoke on the election process, the people and politics.
Daramy called on political parties in Sierra Leone to base their campaign on issues rather than personal, regional or tribal issues as has always been the case.
He called for a massive educational drive, especially on radio and television.
As a Sierra Leonean, Daramy said his dream is to see Sierra Leone become a model where monitors from his country will be sent to the United States of America and other Western countries to observe elections.
Later, the NEC Commissioner responded to questions from the jam-packed audience – among them were a representative of DFID, a Ghanaian elections monitor, and the Chairman of the United Kingdom Branch of the People’s Movement for Democratic Change (PMDC) John Komeh who wanted to know what NEC intends to do if political parties were to be involved in political violence making reference to elections violence in Tongo and other towns during the 2007 elections.
“I think the question should have been the other way round – what you as a party intend to do if your members are involved in violence,” Thorpe responded.
She then called on political parties to ensure internal discipline within their respective political parties.
“You should do your homework well and try to maintain discipline amongst your supporters,” she charged.
Dr. Thorpe also spoke on the role of youths in the forthcoming elections following concerns raised by the President of the Youth Coalition of Sierra Leone Unisa Dizo Conteh.
Sierra Leone’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Edward Mohamed Turay and his Deputy Tamba Mansa Ngegba were among the high profile guests who graced the occasion.
Edward Paice of the Africa Research Institute chaired the programme.
By Sorie Sudan Sesay, London
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