Sierra Leone Electoral Commission pays courtesy visit to ECOWAS Commission
ABUJA, Nigeria, October 28, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ — A four-member delegation of Sierra Leone’s National Electoral Commission (NEC), led by its Chairperson, Dr. Christiana Thorpe on Tuesday, 25th October 2011 met in Abuja with the Vice-President of the ECOWAS Commission, Mr. Jean de Dieu Somda.
Dr. Thorpe said the visit was to follow up on the request for assistance made six months ago to the ECOWAS Commission regarding Sierra Leone’s 2012 presidential, legislative and local government elections. The electoral Commission had requested ECOWAS to provide logistical support and sponsor some of its activities, particularly in the use of biometric technology to reduce multiple voting.
She assured the Vice-President that efforts were underway to improve security in the country towards ensuring that the elections were peaceful and free of any incident. She also mentioned efforts to prevent the circulation of light weapons and small arms in the Mano River Union countries of Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia and Sierra Leone as evidence of this commitment.
Responding, Mr Somda who was flanked by the ECOWAS Directors of External Relations and Political Affairs, Doctors Abdel-Fatau Musah and Jonas Hemou, respectively, expressed delight at the visit of the delegation and promised to convey their concerns to the appropriate quarters.
The Vice-President, who received the delegation on behalf of the President of the ECOWAS Commission, James Victor Gbeho, told the delegation that it was the practice for ECOWAS to provide assistance to Member States in support of their electoral processes, assuring that the Commission would in due course indicate the type of support it would provide for the elections.
“I reaffirm my commitment and support to the Electoral Commission because it has no reason to fail, especially as it is headed by a woman,” Mr Somda added.
The visit afforded the ECOWAS Commission the opportunity to officially present to Dr. Thorpe a letter inviting her to lead the ECOWAS fact-finding mission for the 24th November 2011 presidential election in The Gambia.
SOURCE
Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS)
