By Sulaiman Aruna Sesay
In his speech on the Tripartite Report, Dr. Samura Wilson Kamara addressed several pressing issues related to electoral processes, including diversity, transparency, and accountability. While Dr. Kamara’s words express a desire to address these issues, it remains to be seen whether his political party (APC) will be able to follow the recommendations on these fronts.
One of the most significant issues Dr. Samura Kamara highlights is diversity. In Sierra Leone, diversity is a key concern, given the country’s various ethnic, regional, and religious groups. It is well understood that ensuring equal representation for all communities is critical to building a truly democratic society. Therefore, Dr. Samura Kamara’s acknowledgment of the importance of diversity in the electoral process is a positive sign.
Dr. Samura Kamara’s speech was rather vague on this issue. He did not provide any concrete plans or actions aimed at increasing diversity in the administration or the electoral process. As such, it is difficult to know how Kamara plans to address this critical issue. Given the complexity of the task, it is incumbent upon Kamara to provide more detailed plans and strategies to ensure that diversity is included and celebrated.
Another critical issue the APC 2018 and 2023 presidential candidate addressed is electoral transparency. Dr. Samura Kamara notes that a lack of transparency has been a significant issue in Sierra Leone’s previous elections most especially the June 24 2023, general elections that gave birth to the formation of the Tripartite Committee. The June 24 elections leading to mistrust, suspicion, and, ultimately, threats to the country’s democracy. As such, Dr. Samura Kamara’s commitment to ensuring transparency in the electoral process is nothing such of a devil’s advocate.
As with diversity, Dr. Samura Kamara was vague when it came to how he plans to address electoral transparency issues. He stated broad intentions to improve processes, but there was no real indication of what specific actions his APC’s party would take under his leadership to achieve this goal. To ensure that the electoral process he claimed to be unfair, bias, and many irregularities, Dr. Kamara failed to outline clear plans and timelines for addressing the issues identified.
Accountability is another contentious issue that Dr. Samura Kamara addressed in his speech. In Sierra Leone’s previous elections, and the recent June 24 general elections, there have been instances of electoral fraud, votes miscounted and violence, leading to questions over the legitimacy of the electoral process. A transparent electoral process should be the first step towards ensuring accountability; however, accountability measures need to be put in place for those who violate the electoral process and he solely relied on the international community and those that are concerned to come on board and implement the recommendations outlined.
Operational efficiency of the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone (ECSL) was an issue raised by Dr. Samura Kamara. The ECSL’s failures in conducting free and fair elections have been well-documented in the past and have led to a loss of confidence in the institution. Given the critical role the ECSL plays in the electoral process, improving its effectiveness and efficiency is essential for future democratic processes in Sierra Leone.
Dr. Samura Kamara’s speech on the Tripartite Report addressed several significant issues related to the outcome of the Tripartite Result. However, while his words express his intentions and commitments towards addressing these contentious issues/ recommendations, he must provide a more comprehensive and detailed plan to ensure that the issues identified are appropriately addressed. It is only with a transparent, fair, accountable, diverse, and efficient electoral process that Sierra Leone can realize its true democratic potential.
