NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR DEMOCRACY (NCD) For Positive Participation in Governance PRESS STATEMENT

NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR DEMOCRACY (NCD)

For Positive Participation in Governance

PRESS STATEMENT

DATE: MONDAY, JUNE 26, 2023

TIME OF RELEASE: 12 NOON

INTRODUCTION:

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen of the press, this is a statement from the National Commission for Democracy (NCD) to reflect on our observation of the polls in Sierra Leone on Saturday, June 24, 2023, and to express the need for calm now and in the days ahead as the results of the polls are tallied and subsequently announced by the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) respecting the overall outcomes of the polls. It must be noted that NCD as a decentralized commission with Headquarters in the Western Urban District and Regional Offices in Kenema, Western Rural, Bombali, Portloko, and Bo districts, respectively, on the day of polling, deployed accredited staff to observe the polls in the locations stated above.

COMMENDATIONS TO THE VOTERS AND STAKEHOLDERS:

With the outcomes of the electoral process so far, NCD wishes to commend the resilience of the voters who turned out in their numbers and waited patiently to cast their votes, thus participating in a key democratic process in the overall governance of the country. Even as we acknowledge the challenges of ECSL in conducting the elections in some parts of the country especially in the Western Urban and Rural districts, NCD commends the courage of ECSL to conduct the polls of Saturday, June 24, 2023, amidst tensions and uncertainties. Also, other stakeholders, especially national and international observer missions, in the conduct of the Saturday, June 24, 2023, polls are commended for creating the enabling environment, the level playing field, and de-escalating the tensions around the polls with far-reaching implications for the peace, stability, and tranquility of the country.

GENERALITY OF THE OBSERVATION:

The various teams of NCD reported the following based on the polling centers and stations observed in the stated or cited districts:

1. Some of the polling centers and stations started voting at 7 am, local time;
2. Some of the polling centers and stations started voting late;
3. Some of the reasons cited for starting late were mostly logistical and procedural;
4. Whether voting started on time or late, it was observed that the laid-down procedures were followed to the letter;
5. There were very long queues in the polling centers and stations observed;
6. Every eligible voter that was in the queues by 5 pm, local time, was allowed to vote;
7. In most of the polling centers and stations observed, counting of the votes started immediately after the close of polls at 5 pm, local time;
8. In some polling centers and stations observed, voting went beyond 5 pm, local time, and counting went well into the night and the early hours of Sunday, June 25, 2023;
9. In all the polling centers and stations observed, counting was not disrupted with ECSL officials and party agents signing the Reconciliation and Result Forms (RRFs) with certified copies posted on the walls, copies also issued to the party agents, and copies also placed in Tampered Evidence Envelopes (TEEs) for onward transmission to the district and regional tally centers;
10. There were party agents, at least from the two oldest parties, in all the polling centers and stations observed;
11. There were national and international observers in the polling centers and stations observed;
12. There were security personnel in all of the polling centers and stations observed;
13. There was an alleged malpractice reported by our Bombali observers with the reported beating of the alleged culprit who was later handed over to the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) for appropriate actions;
14. Apart from the Western Urban, Western Rural, and Bombali districts, the teams in the other districts did not report any major incident;
15. All of the teams reported fair weather and as such voting was not impeded by natural causes.

TALLYING OF THE VOTES IN THE DISTRICTS, REGIONS AND NATIONALLY:

These moments are crucial and with elections as time-consuming processes, tallying the votes, that is ongoing, from results obtained in the polling centers and stations across the country, requires patience and vigilance in order not to compromise the process. The professional integrity of all involved in the tallying process in the districts, regions, and nationally, is of utmost concern and becomes the foundation for elections that can best be described as credible, fair, free, peaceful, and transparent, thus clean elections.

KEEPING CALM AND FOCUSED NOW AND ALWAYS:

NCD urges and encourages all involved in the electoral process including the electorates to keep calm and remain focused as the destiny of the country is decided based on the will of the people as expressed in the ballot boxes on Saturday, June 24, 2023. Everybody must keep their eyes on the ball as our electoral democracy is consolidated in the best interest of the country.

USING SHUTTLE DIPLOMACY AND CONSULTATIVE DIALOGUE:

NCD stands ready to join other stakeholders including National and International Observation Missions to engage especially the political players as they are urged to play by the rules of the game even as we consolidate the nation’s democratic gains. NCD notes that we cannot afford to slide into the abyss of anarchy or chaos, but must steadfastly engage in consultative dialogue as it is better to “jaw-jaw-jaw, than to war-war-war” as we stir the nation clear of violent disorder and bloody insurrections.

CONCLUSIONS:

Sierra Leone is at a crossroad and our actions, whether intentional or unintentional, can make or break her. NCD, therefore, calls for the right thing to be done by all and sundry in making Sierra Leone a much better place in the context of democratic good governance with the successful outcomes of the 2023 polls becoming a litmus test. As we continue to pray for the peaceful and successful outcomes of the 2023 polls, we must bear in mind that we all have a role to play in achieving such a laudable goal.

Together, we can make it happen for Sierra Leone, the land that we love! Let us always choose the path of genuine democracy and not do anything to derail the processes of consolidating, deepening, and expanding our nation’s democracy.

Long Live the Democratic Processes in Sierra Leone;

Long Live the People of Sierra Leone!

Long Live the Republic of Sierra Leone!

Thanks for your time and attention! God bless you!

Made in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Monday, June 26, 2023!

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