The Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs (MLGCA), in collaboration with the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL), has engaged community stakeholders in Tombodu, Kamara Chiefdom, Kono District, in a move aimed at restoring fairness and transparency in the assessment of Tribal Authorities linked to the paramount chieftaincy election process.

The engagement brought together senior government officials, ECSL representatives, local authorities and peacebuilding institutions to address longstanding concerns surrounding the contentious assessment process that has affected local governance within the chiefdom.

Leading the engagement were the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs, Prince Alex Sorieba, officials from the Provincial Secretary-East Office, and the Electoral Commissioner East, Alex Pat Labib Saffa, alongside ECSL officials.

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Also present at the meeting were the Director of the MLGCA, Newman Combey, Provincial Secretary-East Alfred Lahai, ECSL Director of External Relations Albert Massaquoi, Assistant Director East Paul Bannister, District Elections Manager for Kono District Usman Joe Kamara, as well as officials of the Independent National Commission for Peace and Cohesion.

Speaking during the engagement, Electoral Commissioner East Alex Pat Labib Saffa underscored the importance of professionalism and integrity in the conduct of electoral-related processes. He expressed concern over what he described as the potential waste of scarce resources when credible procedures are not followed.

“The issue of professionalism and integrity in the conduct of processes is very important,” Saffa stated, while lamenting the consequences of failing to conduct transparent and credible exercises.

Delivering the keynote address, the Permanent Secretary of the MLGCA, Prince Alex Sorieba, said the stakeholders’ engagement was prompted by serious concerns and complaints raised through petitions submitted by aggrieved parties regarding alleged irregularities in the assessment of villages and towns within Kamara Chiefdom.

According to him, the disputed assessment process relates directly to the allocation of chiefdom councillors, commonly referred to as Tribal Authorities, who serve as eligible voters in paramount chieftaincy elections.

Prince Sorieba explained that under Cap 63 of the Laws of Sierra Leone on local tax assessment, specifically Section 5.1, chiefdom authorities are mandated to constitute a tax assessment team to coordinate assessment activities within the chiefdom.

However, he disclosed that findings from investigations conducted by the Ministry revealed significant procedural shortcomings in the process undertaken in Kamara Chiefdom.

“Based on the investigation conducted, the report concluded that no comprehensive assessment team was set up, nor any work took place and the figures produced were questionable and doubtful,” Prince Sorieba stated.

In light of the findings, the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs concluded that the assessment conducted in Kamara Chiefdom should be declared null and void. The Ministry further directed that a fresh assessment be conducted in the interest of fairness, transparency and compliance with the legal framework governing local tax assessment and paramount chieftaincy elections.

The decision by the Ministry was reportedly welcomed by stakeholders in the chiefdom, who later joined in peace and unity songs coordinated by officials from the Ministry of Local Government and the Peace Commission.

The engagement forms part of ongoing efforts by the Government of Sierra Leone and the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone to strengthen accountability, public trust and fairness in local governance and paramount chieftaincy election processes across the country.