Months after recommendations of the Tripartite Committee were published and handed over to government, implementation is seemingly at a slow pace.
The snail-paced steps taken to carry out the recommendations prompts the opposition leader, Samura Kamara to call on the international community to speed up the implementation of the recommendations for the betterment of Sierra Leone. Kamara observes that “the implementation of the recommendations has been slow” urging the international community to put the recommendations into action.
The opposition leader believes that there would be justice and fairness only if the recommendations are carried out as his favourite saying has always been “My Sierra Leone, My Responsibility.”
The adage means each and every Sierra Leonean should work towards peace and stability by observing duties and obligations bestowed morally and legally.
Kamara and few APC (All People’s Congress) stalwarts have also called for ‘electoral Justice’ which is about establishing the winner of June 24, 2023 elections and hold accountable those who conspire to rig the electoral process.
The ball started to roll in late 3018 after the setting up of the Tripartite Committee, a body set up to look into alleged irregularities of the June polls.
80 recommendations bordering on electoral reforms in Sierra Leone were initially made public to ensure that the irregularities which marred the elections did not occur again.
Later, four hinging on actual victory and accountability was brought within public domain as espoused in a radio interview by US Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Bryan Hunt.
Perhaps, the four is the most feared as those who conspire to undermine the June 24, 2023 elections would be brought to justice regardless of whatever political party one belongs.
Politicians in the main opposition, All People’s Congress (APC) would be held accountable if there is evidence that they play any role in the alleged rigging of the June polls.
A close look at the prevailing situation shows that foreign diplomats and judges will oversee the implementation, if at all, it would take place. About year ago, images popped up on social media showing international judges sworn in for the Residual special Court for Sierra Leone and the flame of justice lit up indicating justice is at hand. But, justice is yet to come.
Top ECOWAS (Economic Community Of West African States) officials and Presidents from West African countries have visited Sierra Leone and held in-camera discussions with their Sierra Leonean counterpart with Ghanian Prexy, John Dramani Mahama being the latest.
Mahama’s recent meeting with President Julius Maada Bio at the International Airport in the Northern town of Lungi generated heated debates among the public who hold the view that the meeting is for a peaceful political transition while official account states the contrary.
Government spokespersons have always maintained that the move is to strengthen ties between Ghana and Sierra Leone.
A credible online newspaper known as The Organiser also reported similar facts.
According to the Organiser news, Mahama played a deciding role in the 2018 elections that led to a peaceful transfer of power from then ruling party, APC to the former main opposition now the ruling party, SLPP (Sierra Leone People’s Party).
It is also clear that if a probe by the Tripartite Committee shows that Bio loses the June elections and fails to concede defeat, the Ghanian President would also be contacted by the International community to ensure that government does what is right.
Before Mahama’s visit to Sierra Leone, the Liberian President, Joseph Boaki was in Sierra Leone and held talks with President Bio, but the outcome was a closely guarded secret, but grapevine communication insinuates a transfer of power.
However, President Bio has always insisted that he is the legitimate winner of the elections as announced by the Chief Electoral Commissioner, Mohamed Konneh. He heads the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL), a body mandated by law to conduct and supervise all public elections in Sierra Leone.
It all began in June 2023 following the pronouncement of the incumbent, President Bio winner of the elections based on what many called a concocted results since Mohamed Konneh failed to produce the election results by polling stations and districts as demanded by the opposition party and the international community. A post-election stalemate erupted forcing the international community to broker a three-day peace deal between the main opposition, APC and the government resulting into a Communique containing several resolutions. Resolution-3 requires the government, opposition party and Development Partners to form a cross-party committee to look into alleged irregularities and proffer “actionable” and “implementable” recommendations. Throughout the probe, the election boss reportedly failed to fully cooperate with the investigators by rejecting request to produce the results, and to date has failed to do so. But, it is hoped that the Tripartite recommendations would produce the desired results especially if they are speedily implemented.