Minority Leader Hon. Abdul Kargbo has called for urgent reforms to the process of appointing Sierra Leone’s Chief Electoral Commissioner, emphasising the need to implement Recommendation 36 of the Tripartite Committee before the end of the year.

Speaking during a recent media engagement, Kargbo explained that Recommendation 36 focuses on amending subsection (3) of Section 32 of the existing law, which currently empowers the President to appoint the Chief Electoral Commissioner after consultation with political party leaders.

According to Kargbo, the recommendation seeks to strengthen this process by introducing a Search and Nominations Committee. This committee, he noted, would be responsible for identifying and interviewing qualified candidates before presenting a shortlist of three names to the President for final selection.

“The President is operating within the extant law,” Kargbo stated, “but part of the problem lies in how the Chief Electoral Commissioner is appointed. We have all agreed that this law needs to be amended.”

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He stressed that the proposed reform is not merely procedural but essential for enhancing public trust in the electoral system. By involving an independent committee in the selection process, Kargbo argued, the country can ensure greater transparency and credibility in electoral management.

“The entire essence of Recommendation 36 is about how we arrive at the Chief Electoral Commissioner,” he said. “Political parties become concerned when the processes leading to elections lack transparency-whether it is the conduct of the census, voter registration, or how key decisions are made.”

Kargbo maintained that implementing the recommendation would help build confidence among stakeholders and the general public, ultimately strengthening the integrity of Sierra Leone’s electoral processes.