NEW Cordinator Questions ECSL’s Preparedness for Diaspora Voting
Aminata Koroma In an interview with Liberty Online TV, the National Coordinator for the National Election Watch (NEW), Rev. James Lahai, has expressed doubts over the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone’s (ECSL) readiness to conduct Diaspora voting in future elections.
Rev. Lahai described the initiative as “a laudable venture” but raised concerns about the lack of infrastructure and preparedness to effectively manage the process.
“There are a lot of trust issues within the electoral system in Sierra Leone. The public has no confidence that the Electoral Commission will be neutral, impartial, and professional in carrying out its duties,” he said.
He emphasized that this trust deficit remains a major concern, even as ECSL continues to include Diaspora voting in its strategic plans.
“Even if Albert (an ECSL official) says there’s a strategic plan after another, my question is when they included Diaspora voting in those plans, what efforts were actually made to prepare for its implementation?” Rev. Lahai asked.
He noted that although the Commission has produced three strategic plans over the years containing proposals for Diaspora participation, no tangible steps have been taken toward implementation.
“Is it only now, after the Attorney General and Minister of Justice’s recent remarks, that they are beginning to think seriously about it? By now, one would expect mechanisms to already be in place to make this possible,” he added.
Rev. Lahai concluded that Diaspora voting is crucial for strengthening democracy and ensuring that every Sierra Leonean’s voice is heard at the ballot box.
You need to have the intention and act in accordance with the objectives to get results. If ECSL has included such activities into their strategic plan, I am sure they will work towards it for results.
Let the Rev. reserve his pessimistic views and observe how ECSL will go about the diaspora voting issues