The Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone (EC-SL) has increased voting centres by 10% ahead of presidential, parliamentary and local councils elections slated for June 24, 2023, the Chief Electoral Commissioner said on Monday
Mohamed Konneh told a news conference in Freetown that, in 2018 elections there were 3,300 voting centers but after it had been reviewed, it had been increased to 3, 630 voting centers across the country.
He explained that the Commission would undertake Global Positioning System of centers thereby allocating more centers in easily accessible areas.
Chief Electoral Commissioner also said that the Commission would be embarking on rehabilitation of its facilities to enhance free, fair and transparent elections, adding that the Commission is currently constructing regional offices in Bo, Kenema and southern region. He said that the procurement processs for the rehabilitation of regional office in Makeni, National Headquarters in Freetown and Warehouse at Wellington are ongoing.
Recounting his successes, the Electoral Commissioners said that in February 2021, the commission achieved a milestone objective to restructure the Commission in order to meet international best practices and standards by incorporating new departments and division of departments for expression of performance and efficiency.
Konneh pointed out that commissioners and staff continue to benefit from local and international exchange program, election observation mission, public relation sessions and other forms of training all geared towards enhancing their performance.
“In order to improve on its Information Communication Technology (ICT) system, the commission is currently working on the local area network which would enhance the network and linkages with other offices like the National Civic Registration Commission (NCRA),” Konneh said.
He said that in virtue of the constitutional provisions, the Commission would be engaging in delimitation of Wards and Constituencies if the need arises, as the last delimitations of boundaries had elapsed.
By George M.O. Williams