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The credibility of the recently concluded Sierra Leonean elections has been called into question by The Carter Center, a renowned international election monitoring organization.
“The Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) released final results for parliamentary, mayoral, and local government elections in early July, but discrepancies between these results and the previously released presidential race results have raised doubts about the integrity of the tabulation process,” Canter Center stated.
On July 1, the ECSL made verbal announcements of the parliamentary, mayoral, and local government election results in a press conference. Subsequently, the detailed numbers were published on social media over several days.
According to Carter Center, Comparisons between the ECSL’s data for parliamentary elections and the presidential race results revealed inconsistencies in voter turnout and party votes across various districts, which has fueled suspicions about the accuracy of the overall election results.
The Carter Center’s concerns are further supported by the Process and Results Verification for Transparency (PRVT) exercise conducted by the National Election Watch.
The Center’s direct observations at the five tabulation centers have also raised red flags about the credibility of the presidential results. The Carter Center said they have long trusted the PRVT methodology employed by National Election Watch, which has proven reliable in previous elections in Sierra Leone.
In an effort to establish the credibility of the electoral process, The Carter Center is urging the ECSL to release results at the polling station level, in line with international best practices.
According to them, this measure would enable cross-verification of results recorded by party agents and independent observers on election day.
“In cases where discrepancies are found between the ECSL’s announced results and those recorded by agents and observers, ballot box seals can be reviewed, and recounts may be conducted to ensure the accuracy of the ECSL’s declared results,” the Center stated.
“The publication of the original Reconciliation & Result Forms, held by the ECSL, could also be instrumental in corroborating the election’s credibility.”
Moreover, The Carter Center expressed deep concern over reports of intimidation directed at some election observers. They call on all Sierra Leoneans to ensure that accredited election observers can carry out their responsibilities without fear or hindrance.
“These observers play a pivotal role in maintaining transparency during the electoral process, and their unbiased reports are vital in verifying the integrity of the elections,” they noted.
As Sierra Leone awaits further developments regarding the credibility of the election results, The Carter Center’s call for transparency and accountability resonates with many citizens who are eager for a fair and legitimate democratic outcome.
Mr.konneh must release those results by polling stations country wide to verify his claims that Maada won the presidency on first round.Good governance and democracy start with transparency and accountability of your actions. The world is watching you,Mr.Konneh.We are not asking Maada,but you Mr.konneh as the returning officer as mandated by the constitution.
The game that is being played by Carter centre and NEW is now an open secret. But it is too late for them. Carter center’s so called concern has nothing to do with the outcome of the election in Sierra Leone since they are election monitors. Except if they have been transformed into a group that takes action for oppositions around the world. For all I know, Carter center is a fraudulent group of people bent on creating chaos in Africa. But for Sierra Leone you will never succeeed. The election is over and president Bio declared the winner we care less about your selfish concerns. What was your concern about the election of Joe Burden, didn’t republicans cry foul and what did you do? Nothing. So just keep your stinking mouths shut.
Mohamed Kamara ar don dae tell you dis say you comment dem nor get sense you stupid if you know watin dae go on right now you dae sedon en set you mouth w e be nor more some of wona nor dae brush wona teeth dem twwwwww if you know watin we dae pa go through you dae set u mouth en wait
Election is over and all what we need now is the latest development our president is putting forward. We are happy with president Bio weather they like it or not, we care less about the so called carter centre and NEW because all what they want is under development in our country.
Thanks to the Carter Center for their wonderful work together NEW.
May God continue to bless you guys.
We the citizens of SL would like to see transparency, accountability and credible election.
This nonsense should be stopped in SL
The truth most revel in Mama salon
Hey! You debunk Carter Center, EU & USA. Fine!! France just stopped their airline from servicing Salone and people start complaining. You cannot oppose them interfering in your elections but want all their goodies in your country. Drive them away and go lay on your bunk bed awaiting to die from starvation and disease. Sycophancy is eating into Salone’s soul. GOD HELP MY PEOPLE!!
I think for transparency sake, let the ECSL do the right thing. If there is any doubt in the results, the rational thing to do is to published the results as demand . The to ensure the truthfulness or transparency of the elections’ results. This will poses and restore confidence in the electoral institutions, by its electorate. Let’s do the needful for the sake of peace and national inclusion . If this Democratic institution lack trust, them the face of our democracy will go ugly. The best we can do,is international best practice in a democracy. Long live sierra Leone, land that we love.
They want to ignite war in our country to come and steal our minerals as President Bio is putting stringent measures in the mining sector.
Please give peace a chance. Go to your places where you came from elections are over
Whoever is calling for a recount of the past election results is a stupid , useless and a God-forsaken creature. If the useless and so called Carter center is calling for a recount of the results, let them go and count the 2016 presidential result of their country America and as well the election result that ushered in Joe R Biden as president.
These are dirty and useless people including the author of this article.
I. Adice that if there is nothing to write about, it is good for themselves to research on whom they are and what brought about their existence on planet earth.
Mr. Bio is not legitimate, he’s on a stolen mandate aided by Mr. Konneh just to destroy our fragile peace.
May God help us all. Typical reaction. If you know that the process is transparent, do the right thing by releasing the results by pulling stations. In cases that are found to have evidence of fraud or the appearance of fraud, should be recounted. Some of us are blaming the wrong people. The Carter Center is a bystander. They go all over the world to observe elections especially in countries where Democracy is a challenge.
Some of you telling the Carter Center to mind their business, if you know anything about the Carter Center, you will know that is their business.
If you really LOVE Sierra Leone, you will do what best for her. Some of us LOVE our political parties more than we like Sierra Leone. I believe that if we love Sierra Leone, we should put her first.
Who
The only statutory body that have the mandate to ask ECSL to release the data by polling stations is the court. If APC is refusing to go to court, then I don’t know how your demands (both APC and Carter Foundation) are going to be met. Boycotting governance is not going to work.