A technical consultation on a new legislative proposal informed by the tripartite committee recommendations has commenced at the Country Lodge in Freetown.
Attorney-General Alpha Sesay said the initiative represents “an inclusive and participatory process,” describing it as a true definition of democracy.
“Today we are here. This is what an inclusive and participatory process is. We are obliged to put before you what we have drafted as a legislative proposal informed by the tripartite committee recommendations. This is a true definition of what our democracy is – a process that consults with the public for the roll-out of legislative reforms that define our political behaviour in so far as elections and electoral processes are concerned,” Attorney-General said.
The proposal contains changes made to several legal instruments such as the Political Parties Act, Public Elections Act, Cyber Security and Crime Act, SLBC Act, and IMC Act.
The consultation gives institutions dealing with the laws contained in the proposal a platform to debate, review, and proffer expert advice regarding the legislations drafted by the Office of the Attorney-General.
The AG said expert opinions on the subject-matter offer a refreshing professional context guiding how the law would legislate electoral processes in a manner that builds unity and strengthens national cohesion among a people whose tolerance transcends the political system they practice.
Senior Adviser to the President, Dr. Emmanuel Gaima, stressed the importance of implementing the tripartite recommendations as not by choice but by mandate.
He said government was serious about the tripartite; it was cabinet approved; and so institutions must put every effort in the implementation of the recommendations.
The technical consultation comprised representatives from the Electoral Commission Sierra Leone, Political Parties Registration Commission, Office of National Security, Independent Media Commission, Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation, and National Civil Registration Authority.
Head of Country Programme for International IDEA, Dr. Mamoud Tarawallie, said there had been remarkable progress in implementing the tripartite recommendations.
He recalled consultations on recommendation 78 dealing with the electoral system, and 76 and 77 dealing with the review of IMC and SLBC Acts respectively, which had been implemented.
He added that attention would be paid to other institutions seeking support for the implementation of various recommendations.
Coordinator for the Tripartite Secretariat, Ngolo Katta, said he was pleased at the level of progress in the legislative process, stressing the importance of consultations in taking Sierra Leoneans onboard.
He said the process would build credibility, foster transparency, and ensure accountability to the public.
Katta also revealed that the Ministry of Youth Affairs had been engaged on recommendations 51 and 52 to mobilize the youth sector to form a committee that would work on developing a National Youth Development Act in line with the GEWE Act.
A consultant hired by International IDEA from Kenya, Lucianna Thou, facilitated the consultation. She works with a committee of lawyers in the Office of the Attorney-General on drafting the legislations.
There will be further consultative meetings with members of parliament, political parties, CSOs, the media, and the private sector.
The consultation is organized by the Office of the Attorney-General with funding from the European Union in Sierra Leone through International IDEA.
