By Janet A. Sesay
The Director of the Public Sector Review Unit (PSRU) Suliaman Phray Musa has on Tuesday, 5th November, 2024 in collaboration with International Foundation for Electoral System (IFES) presented to the Independent Management and Functional Review to the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone.
This event took place on Tuesday, 5th November, 2024 at the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone conference room at Tower Hill in Freetown.
The event attracted key stakeholders such as Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC), SLP, IFES, among others.
The ceremony was an inception meeting anchored on the independent management and functionality of the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone that was presented by the Public Sector Review Unit in collaboration with International Foundation Electoral System (IFES).
The Chief Electoral Commissioner of Sierra Leone, Mohamed Konneh in his statement said over the years whether in the form of development or strategy plan for electoral cycle, after every post-election they have reviewed their steps and accessed themselves, adding that they are committed to ensuring that they continue to improve on the Commission’s capacity to be able to deliver its mandate within the context of best national and international standards.
Commissioner Konneh furthered that they look forward to receiving a next step in terms of its schedule of engagement.
Commissioner Konneh asked that people send whatever engagements they have with them ahead of time so that they can prepare themselves.
He disclosed that next week Monday and Tuesday the Commission will host an ECOMED meeting where they will be having international and ECOWAS partners to discuss issues related to elections in the sub region.
He said ECOMED is ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commission for Africa.
In his statement and presentation, the Director of PSRU Mr. Musa said a lot has taken place after June, 2023 general elections but there was a unity agreement between the ruling party and opposition party that gave birth to the Tripartite Committee negotiations.
The Committee, Mr. Musa said sat for many months and eventually brought out eighty (80) recommendations and out of that four or five of those recommendations have to do with what they have been mandated to do at the Public Sector Review Unit (PSRU) which is to ensure the strengthening and structural alignment of systems and processes at the Commission.
He said on that note the Chief Minister’s office was charged with the responsibility through Cabinet conclusion to coordinate the implementation of the recommendations and they called on the PSRU to see how best they can drive with recommendations six, ten, twenty-one, seventy-two and seventy-seven.
Director Musa furthered that IFES and an international organization were contracted through USID to provide technical support and capacity building to the PSRU which is a state institution to conduct a management and functional review for the ECSL.
He added that they have signed a memorandum of understanding with the International Foundation Electoral System (IFES) with the Chief Minister’s office, adding that it was a-three part MOU and the Chief Minister witnessed the signing of the MOU.
Director Musa furthered that the reason of the conference is to present the format of their internal or independent management of functional review of ECSL and other bodies.
Director Musa went on that the IMFR is not just a review but a comprehensive diagnostic assessment to investigate whether the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone has the requisite institutional structure, systems and processes, capacity and resources to effectively deliver on its mandate and ensure efficient service delivery to the people of Sierra Leone.
He further that the Public Sector Reform Unit was mandated by the Chief Minister office as Chairman of the steering committee to implement specific recommendations in the tripartite report.
Director Musa further in his presentation that moreover the government of Sierra Leone is currently implementing its new medium term development plan from 2024-2030 a comprehensive strategy for national development.
He said this plan identifies five pillars known as “The Five Big Game Changer” as the key national development and transformation drives.
He said critical among those pillars is Pillar 5 which is call for the revamping of the public service architecture through deliveries, accountability and professionalism a cross cutting enabler to drive service delivery.
Commissioner Edmond Sylvester Alpha from the Southern region said the functional review they are talking about has processes and procedures, adding that they are in the position to serve the country as this is the only country that we have.
He further that we have experience about elections when they are not done properly it is problem, adding that as citizens this is the only country we have and they have the onus to do justice to not only themselves but the entire citizens of the country.