AFRICAN heads of four international election observation missions met in Freetown on Sunday to strategise on effective value addition to the electoral process ahead of Sierra Leone’s crucial March 7, presidential, parliamentary and local Council polls.

Under the coordination of ECOWAS and the African Union, the meeting was attended by Prof Amos Sawyer,  Liberia’s former Interim President, for ECOWAS, former South African President Kgalema Motlanthe, for AU, Ghana’s former President John Mahama, for the Commonwealth, and Nigeria’s former President Goodluck Jonathan for the Election Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa, EISA.

After an exchange of information on the work of their observers on ground, the heads of missions discussed the level of preparations for the poll, emerging scenarios, identifiable challenges, especially the legal issues before the Supreme Court and the way forward.

They noted that while international observers could render support, the success of the electoral process is the primary responsibility of Sierra Leoneans. They assured that their observer groups would remain impartial and ensure that the process complied with the relevant regional protocols and international best practices.

The heads of missions further agreed to continue constructive engagements with the country’s stakeholders and to hold further consultations among themselves before and after the elections.

Meanwhile, Gen. Francis Behazin,  new ECOWAS commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, has joined the Prof. Sawyer-led ECOWAS Observation Mission as leader of the Commission’s Technical Support Team to the Mission.

– Mar. 5, 2018 @ 12:59 GMT |