By Sallieu S Kanu
Development partners on Monday, July 4, 2022, held discussion with the Board of the Electoral Commission Sierra Leone (ECSL) on a range of critical national issues, including the high number of invalid votes in the just concluded Parliamentary and Local Council by-elections. They also exchanged views on voter registration and boundary delimitation.
The diplomats who attended the meeting at ECSL headquarters were: Head of EU Delegation Ambassador Manuel Müller; British High Commissioner to Sierra Leone Ms. Lisa Jane Chesney, and U.S. Ambassador to Sierra Leone, David Reimer and the Irish Envoy.
The diplomats congratulated the Commission for conducting free, fair and credible by-elections and the results which were acceptable by the people.
The diplomat raised concern about the high presence of security personnel in the constituency and wards where the by-elections were conducted.
ECSL officials said the Commission will continue to conduct such elections that will be described as a transparent, free and fair.
Other Commissioners expressed their satisfaction about the formal reports of the international partners.