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On Wednesday, August 16th, 2023, ‘Radio Democracy 98.1,’ one of Sierra Leone’s widely renowned and frequently tuned-in radio stations, experienced a temporary broadcast interruption.
This occurred just moments before airing a pre-recorded interview featuring the US Ambassador to Sierra Leone David Reimer, highlighting concerns about the general elections during the highly acclaimed Good Morning Salone programm.
As per the report, a leaked recording of a segment from the interview, which has been verified by the embassy, featured Ambassador Reimer addressing Washington’s apprehensions regarding the June 24 Elections. He expressed concerns about the integrity and credibility of the results declared by the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL).
“The United States is concerned about irregularities in the results that were announced by the ECSL that includes a big difference between the ECSL announced results and the parallel vote tabulation, as well as inconsistencies that were analyzed by domestic and international observers,” Reimer said.
“All of these things raise questions in our mind about the integrity of the official results.”
International observers had noted “statistical inconsistencies” and condemned a “lack of transparency” in the ballot count.
In the leaked interview, Ambassador Reimer affirmed that President Julius Maada Bio, who won 56 percent of the presidential vote, according to official results, is president.
But, he said, “What we have not done is congratulated him”, adding that “the US would not change its work with the people of Sierra Leone including health programs, but would review its government-to-government programs, including a Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) compact grant worth hundreds of millions of dollars”.
“In the year or two preceding the compact, we were very clear with the government of Sierra Leone that to get a compact they needed to have a fair, free, open, and transparent election,” he said.
“Sierra Leone had done everything else up to that point to get a compact, given the fact that there are all sorts of questions about the results, we’re taking a look at everything, and that includes the MCC compact.”
He said Washington would like to see an “outside, independent look at the election” and a government dialogue with civil society and political parties.
But, Reimer said in the interview, “It’s just not possible for someone who was a candidate in the election to then look at the process and be not biased.”
Ambassador Reimer called on the APC not to boycott the government and to serve the Sierra Leoneans who voted for the party.
According to Sarah Van Horne, a US embassy public affairs officer, has confirmed that they have been told the interview would be aired on Thursday 17th August 2023.
I will like to know when the USA will be transparent with the 2020 general election, that was allegedly rigged. We the people from Africa will like to investigate the inconsistencies and lack of transparencies in that election that has brought disrespect to their county’s democracy.
We will also like to know if it is acceptable for us in Africa to copy the American style democracy, wherein opposition leaders can be jailed for denying election results, voters can be jailed indefinitely for protesting election results and lawyers who tried to to defend these people, should also be brought to justice as co-perpetrators in the crime.
98.1 is longer a “Radio Democracy”but now an “SLPP PAOPA radio station”. All the people working in that radio station are not allowed to say anything adverse
against the SLPP party.
It is possible that the service of the moderator of that particular program has been terminated.
This is the PAOPA system which gives no room for “Freedom of Expression” , no “Freedom of Association” and all other International freedoms.
The people of Sierra Leone are under a dictatorial regime. Many people have been killed for trying to express their Foundamental Human Rights.
I wish Washinton could allow an independent body outside of the United States jurid8ction to investigate the past election between Biden and Trump rather than having Pro-Democrats running the show to investigate the Saga.
Lawal, I don’t understand why people like you put party before country so much so that the truth insults your sensibilities? What exactly is wrong about what the ambassador said, and if Bio won the election, why are they refusing to release RRF forms? They could have prevented all this if they had provided proper proof to prove Bio won.
I don’t know if you are bright or not, but you have a brain, so you know Bio did not get 55% of the vote, but we did not have a runoff and he is sitting in SH claiming to be the president. Stolen election. That being the case, why is what the ambassador said offensive to you? Should the wool just get pulled over the people’s eyes? Should votes get stolen and no one says anything about it? If APC was in power and did the same, would you think the same way? Go look in the mirror and fix yourself.
Since you are following the Trump saga, then you know he did not win, there are recordings of him trying to get an official to “find” extra votes that would have given him the win in one state and they had a plan to have fake electors after removing the real ones, certify that he win. But in your mind, I guess that is how you win elections. Numerous courts cases have not proven their claims right, including courts led by Trump appointed judges and I am sure you know all that. So stop, and put country first please.
Democracy in my sweet country Sierra Leone is dying slowly with the support of key stakeholders like the intereligious Council, civil society organisations and the press (journalists). May God deliver Sierra Leone from bad politicians and evil stakeholders in Jesus mighty name, Amen.
A Sanusie, I can see you chose to take this personal, so let me engage you. Since we are both in the same shoe of thinking about our country rather than party, but it I want peace more than some.
I can see that you and your party choose to bring our nation into disrepute by falsely claiming day after day that the election was stolen on behalf of Bio.
Therefore, why not take this advice to your party to put up or shut up. Let them take all their signed RRF’s as they claimed they have their own parallel results, tally them on a simple spreadsheet, then invite the executives from ECSL; all party representatives, all internal observers and your most trusted external observers; and take them into a conference room on live TV to expose ECSL and BIO.
If you and your party fail to do this, then we know who the enemies of our country are.
Please I trust you will take on my advice.