Augustine Marrah Esq Takes ECSL to Court Over Election Data Access And Transparency

Augustine Sorie-Sengbe Marrah ESQ, a Lawyer and social activist in Sierra Leone has taken legal action against the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) with the aim of upholding transparency and accountability in the electoral process.

Marrah is seeking access to unaggregated data results, specifically the Results Reconciliation Forms, from all 11,712 polling stations that formed the basis of ECSL’s announcement during the last general elections.

He argues that ECSL’s refusal to grant him access was both unlawful and unjust, violating his rights to freedom of expression and access to information as enshrined in the country’s constitution and the Right to Access Information Act of 2013.

He stated, “I’ve filed an action in the Supreme Court against the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) for their refusal to grant me access to the unaggregated data results otherwise known as the Results Reconciliation Forms for all 11,712 polling stations, which formed the basis of the results announced by ECSL in the last general elections.”

In addition, Marrah underscores that his legal action is not an attempt to challenge the election’s outcome but rather underscores the critical importance of transparency, accountability, and adherence to the rule of law in the electoral process.

He said, “This action is not about the outcome of the last elections-it is not about who might have won or lost. It is about the need for transparency and accountability in our electoral processes and the management of our elections. It is about the advancement of our democracy and the need for institutions to be accountable to citizens. No institution should assume that they are bigger or mightier than the laws of Sierra Leone, especially our Constitution. This case is about citizens’ right and action for good governance and the rule of law.”

He has committed to keeping the public informed about the case’s progress and outcome once the Supreme Court decides to hear it. This legal action serves as a testament to the significance of citizens’ rights and the pursuit of good governance in Sierra Leone.

Comment(s)

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| 2023-10-12 16:27:52

This is sad to the citizens of this country. Hope the legal structures redeem this nation. A country where no rules are followed is not safe for everyone, not even the leaders, nor the led.
| 2023-10-12 16:05:24

The lawyer should just go to hell not court twwwwww 🤩🤩🤩
| 2023-10-12 16:00:14

Title: Augustine Marrah's Legal Battle: ECSL in Court Over Election Data Access and Transparency Introduction: In a famous legal challenge, Augustine Marrah, a respected legal professional, has taken ECSL to court over issues related to election data access and transparency. This move has sent shockwaves through the underscoring critical importance of transparency and accountability in the electoral process. The Dispute: The crux of Augustine Marrah's case revolves around the contentious issue of election data access and transparency. Marrah alleges that ECSL has failed to provide adequate access to crucial election data and has not maintained a sufficient level of transparency in electoral processes within the country. However, according to him, He argues that ECSL’s refusal to grant him access was both unlawful and unjust, violating his rights to freedom of expression and access to information as enshrined in the country’s constitution and the Right to Access Information Act of 2013. which we all know is to proven by the court. Importance of Election Data: Access to accurate and transparent election data is fundamental to the functioning of any democracy. It ensures that elections are free and fair, allowing citizens to trust in the electoral process and its outcomes. Augustine Marrah's legal challenge underscores the significance of this issue for the country and it institutions. The Legal Arguments: Marrah's legal team argues that ECSL has a responsibility to uphold the principles of transparency and accountability in the electoral processes of member states. They claim that the organization has not adequately enforced standards for data accessibility and transparency, which has led to concerns about the legitimacy of elections in the state. Implications: The outcome of this legal battle could have far-reaching implications for the ECSL . If Marrah's claims are validated, it could compel ECSL to implement stricter regulations on election data access and transparency, thereby improving the overall integrity of elections in the country. Broader Implications: This case also highlights the broader issue of transparency in international organizations. In an increasingly interconnected world, ensuring transparency and accountability within such organizations is vital for global governance and cooperation. Conclusion: Augustine Marrah's decision to take ECSL to court over election data access and transparency is a significant event in the quest for democratic accountability and transparency in sierra leone. The case has the potential to shape the future of electoral processes within the region, emphasizing the importance of upholding these essential democratic principles. As the legal battle unfolds, it will be closely watched by citizens, political observers, and legal experts interested in the future of democracy in Sierra leone.
Mohamed Kamara | 2023-10-12 15:12:49

Maybe this Marrah of a man is stronger than the whole of apc. May God gelp you I I your do or die mission.
| 2023-10-12 15:10:39

Augustine Marrah's decision to take ECSL to court appears to stem from a specific reason, which may involve a perceived violation of his rights, breach of contract, or some form of harm caused by ECSL's actions or negligence. While the exact details of the case are not provided, it is essential to respect the legal process and allow the court to assess the merits of the claim. It is crucial to ensure that individuals have the opportunity to seek legal redress when they believe their rights have been infringed upon or when they have legitimate grievances. So please let’s trust the process🙏 and allow the court to do it job.
| 2023-10-12 14:58:11

This words are alway called times without numbers"Transparency and Accountability" ECSL are farer from this process holding the country into still stand. Why sum up to 200 people holding about seven millions people stand still. Sierra Leonean let us stand up together for our right. But why Sierra Leone?
| 2023-10-12 14:30:14

Everybody know what happened 2012 election but nobody go to court because they will over rule you out so the result are clear to everybody so everybody should listen very carefully before saying anything.
| 2023-10-12 13:49:20

This was what they had wanted THE APC to go through.This is a clear example of how corrupt and clandestinely our institutions have been turned state captured by this administration. They knew what they were doing.If a citizen asked ECSL to released the results as enshrined in the constitution, and ECSL are dragging their feet,what would you think they would have done to APC if they would have gone to court for the same issue?sad state
| 2023-10-12 13:35:15

Good luck to you Mr Augustine Marrah. Hope you will succeed in this case. BUT please do not be surprised if the court rule that those results you requested were never hidden from the public. They were published on the same night at every polling stations. You will also see the reason why the APC party failed to go to court in all their noise making. You will also see the reason why the ECSL never listen to your request nor to the APC's. Once again, I say good luck.
| 2023-10-12 13:22:53

It's good you know that the law is bigger than anyone. If the law made a provision for RRF to be given to you as and individual then you have a case but if not then forget about it. If you want the analysis of the result go to ECSL website. If 2007, 2012 and 2018 results were published by polling stations with the RRF forms then you will have this one and if not, you wait for 2028 were you will employ agents in all centers so you will have the disaggregated results by stations without bordering ECSL
| 2023-10-12 12:54:39

Am sure every citizen have the right to so ,the right to informations and accountability is vital towards the development of our country.