EON-SL and NGC
Elections Observers Network (EON-SL) Present final findings on the just concluded National Delegates Conference and Convention of the NGC Party.
NGC is the only opposition party to have concluded all required Lower-Level Elections and National Delegates Conference, which provides voters with an alternative to the poor governance of the Bio-led SLPP government.
The Conference gave the National Executive Committee, the mandate to pursue strategic alliances with other political parties, which is consistent with NGC's values and in the interest of the people of Sierra Leone.
EON's report is a vindication that the National Delegates Conference, was free and fair to all who participated in the process.
Here is the full text of their report.👇👇
ELECTIONS OBSERVER NETWORK
(EON–SL)
MOTTO: Anchoring Transparent & Credible Elections
EON INDEPENDENT ELECTION OBSERVATION TEAM -
13th & 14th DECEMBER 2022 NATIONAL GRAND COALITION PARTY NATIONAL EXECUTIVE OFFICERS’ ELECTIONS IN FREETOWN
STATEMENT OF FINDINGS
21ST DECEMBER 2022
INTRODUCTION
The National Grand Coalition Party (NGC) is one of the political parties in opposition in the current political dispensation in Sierra Leone. The NGC is also one of the youngest political parties in the country. It was approved and registered by the appropriate authorities in October, 2017.
The NGC came onto the political scene with high hopes and confidence to …‘‘break the stranglehold which the two leading parties, the APC and SLPP, have had on politics in Sierra Leone”. The party is headed by Dr. Denis Bright as Chairman and Leader. Dr. Bright, a former Minister in the cabinet of the Late President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, was once a lecturer at FBC, University of Sierra Leone and Director at Pedagogical Centre in Freetown. He was a vibrant civil society activist and initiated many successful youth programmes, culminating in his appointment as the country’s Minister of Youths & Sports. He resigned from the SLPP in April, 2017, to co-found the NGC.
The NGC gained four parliamentary seats- (all in the Kambia District) but lost the presidential race. The parliamentary Leader, who was their standard bearer in the presidential race, Alhaji Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella, has been a shinning light locally and internationally on issues of mutual interest to Sierra Leone and the International community as a whole. Dr. Yumkella is a former United National’s Under-Secretary and Head of UNIDO for two terms. He was also the special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All. In politics, he was Secretary of State (Minister) for Trade and State Enterprises during the NPRC military rule. He co-founded the NGC with a group of like-minded… ‘centrist progressive.’
The NGC as a political party has a national membership flavour with membership in all regions in the country. The party further enjoys tremendous active support from Sierra Leoneans in the diaspora as well as professionals in all walks of life. On the balance, the NGC is one of the most diversified political parties in Sierra Leone. Since the 2018 elections, the NGC has endeavored to provide credible opposition voice alongside others. Its Leadership has articulated alternative solutions/remedies on several issues of national concern.
The National Delegates Conference was finally held in Freetown on 13th – 14th December, 2022. The formal opening ceremony took place in the Freetown City Council Auditorium on Tuesday 13th December, 2022 while the election of its national executives was held at the Family Kingdom Hall, Aberdeen on Wednesday 14th December, 2022.
They party constituted an Independents Elections Committee (IEC) from its ranks to conduct all internal elections.
Early in the year 2022, the party completed its lower level elections under a revised constitution in preparedness for their national delegate conference which was scheduled for October, 2022, but was proponed and reschedule a few times due to internal disagreement.
ELECTIONS OBSERVER NETWORK (EON-SL)
The Elections Observer Network (EON-SL) is a non-profit and non-partisan conglomerate of Organisations that advocate for Peaceful coexistence, good governance, and respect for democratic processes as a Consortium.
2. The Elections Observer Network- Sierra Leone (EON-SL) requested for and was granted accreditation to attend and observe the two- day event.
3. The EON-SL team comprised five persons who attended both the opening ceremony at the City hall and the elections exercise at the Family Kingdom Hall.
OBSERVATION AND FINDINGS:
This report presents the EON’s main observation of the general outlook of the National Delegates Conference and the elections exercises of the NGC Party in 2022.
THE NATION DELEGATES CONFERENCE IN PERCEPTIVE
4. The NGC National Delegates Conference and elections of its national executives was held against a backdrop of complex circumstances.
Firstly, the intra-party tension and division over the Chairman & Leader position caused the PPRC to intervene, ‘postpone the conference and resolve the dispute finally agreeing on a date to host the event. This left a bitter taste in the mouths of some members. There were undercurrents of suspicious, mistrust, misgivings etc., which heightened tension between factions.
However, the opening statements by both the Chairman, Dr. Bright and the Parliamentary Leader, Dr. Yumkella, eloquently spoke to the issues and succeeded in bringing the tension down to comfortable level. The undercurrents, however could still be felt. The atmosphere was heavily laden with tense anticipation. Thus, the cozy but compact auditorium of the Freetown city council became unsuitable to contain the overzealous factions. Not surprisingly, the conference was moved, to the more relaxing and ‘loud-crowd-friendly’ space at the Family Kingdom in Aberdeen the following Wednesday 14th December, 2022.
Secondly the issue of the right of diasporas’ to vote by proxy or otherwise - remained a thorny issue up to the election time on Wednesday 14th December. However, through consultation and legal consul, it was agreed that only Diasporas present on the day would be allowed to vote.
Thirdly, the prevailingly fuel crisis in the country caused considerable discomfort and constrains on the movement on participating delegates.
All the above, compounded by the general uneasy calm of the political situation and current economic hardship in the country, made the NGC conference challenging but yet exciting and of keen interesting in certain quarters.
THE ELECTIONS COMMITTEE:
5. The NGC appointed an independent committee from amongst its membership to organize and conduct their internal elections. The committee, on the day, was headed by Mr. Oliver B. M. Somasa, former Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Sierra Leone, a gentleman of credible character and experience. The committee also comprised an experienced longstanding.
International Elections Observer, Ambassador Ibrahim Mbaba Kamara and others who all provided technical assistance and support. (See list below). Their mandate was to ensure transparent, free and fair elections. The EON team, noted with satisfaction, the Committee’s activities and transparent actions on the day, against the background of high tension and frequent demands from suspicious delegates.
6. Members of the Independent Elections Committee:
Mr. O.B.M. Somasa-Ag. Chairman
Amb. Ibrahim Mbaba Kamara- Member and Technical Adviser
Amb. Fode Dabor – Legal Adviser
Mr. Omar Jabbie - Assistant
Mr. Mohamed Jenkins Bawoh - Assistant
Mr. Harold Domingo - Assistant
Mr. Abu Bakarr Kamara - Assistant
DELEGATES LISTS:
7. The preparation and publication of the delegates list was a sore point for the party. The bone of contention, as always in every party, borders around inclusion or exclusive of some member or the other. The PPRC intervened along the way and the final list was displayed at the entrance to the conference center. A copy of the list was lodged with the PPRC. The EON team noted, that on the day, there were no objections/complaints (of significance) from any “disenfranchised” members or groups. A total of 730 delegates were eligible to vote for the contesting candidates. 596 who were present voted.
VOTING SYSTEM:
8. The elections were by secret ballot paper deposited into the ballot box bearing the candidate’s photograph, situated in a secured/secluded space. Vote counting was done openly in the presence of each candidates’ designated representatives, the PPRC and independent observers like EON-SL.
POLLING PROCEDURE:
9. Elections were conducted in a simple but efficient manner. A roll call from the delegates list brought up delegates from respective districts/regions/organisation, their relevant documents checked at the first post – I. D cards, party membership and constituency cards, - then issued with one ballot paper, in the full view of the general public and directed towards the booth – one after the other – to vote in private.
THE ATMOSPHERE:
10. The team noted with concern the high-pitched comments and agitation of some delegates before the commencement of elections for Chairman and Leader. The initial opportunity to allot three minutes to contesting candidates to make statements was cancelled due to the refusal of one candidate’s disagreements and temporary disorder. However, the ensuring skirmishes did not lead to any incidents of violence or total chaos. Elections commenced and went on peacefully. All registered voters who turned up were allowed to vote without hinderance or intimidation.
11. The EON-SL observation team was present throughout the event which commenced several hours behind scheduled time. The team observed the opening of ballot boxes, polling booth, delegates list, ballot papers and voting.
FACILITIES AND ACCESSIBILITY:
12. The process took place in the convenient and secured environment. Seating accommodation was sufficient and comfortable, well laid out with district/organisation demarcations. Restrooms were available with convenient reach.
SECURITY:
13. The NGC’s internal security arrangements were nicely complemented by the Sierra Leone Police who provided overall protection and policing. Thankfully, they behaved professionally at all time and averted any potential blowouts.
OVERSIGHT:
14. The EON team and other official observers namely – PPRC were present throughout the event.
MISCELLANEOUS:
a) Interjection by Hon. Yumkella; The Party’s charismatic Parliamentary Leader, whose name was not on any ballot on the day, made a timely personate intervention when tempers flared up before the Chairmanship elections. He calmly and passionately appealed to delegates to comport themselves and address the issues at hand peacefully in the interest of their party and country. This averted any intending chaos. He succeeded and everything went well.
b) Food and Refreshment:
The organisers of the event did a fine job in providing food and drinks for all the participants (delicious and sufficient).
c) Time Management:
The general malaise of bad time management in this country affects all and every event. The NGC conference was no exception. On both days, no event commenced on time. This national disease of lateness puts undue stress and discomfort on everybody. The EON-SL prays that one day, Sierra Leoneans would develop the fine habit of good time keeping.
CONCLUSION:
The NGC, which only entered the political fray in 2018 has weathered the political storm well and has succeed in holding its national delegates conference in good time before the general elections in June, 2023. It is only the second political party (after the ruling party the SLPP) to do so.
The EON-SL commends the party for achieving this goal.
Sierra Leone today is highly polarized (ethnic and regionalized). The election of Dr. Denis Bright (western region) as the National Chairman has demonstrated that despite the polarization, Sierra Leoneans do have the ability to see the good in persons across regional or tribal lines and the NGC has proved that we can bring together Sierra Leone from different backgrounds.
The just concluded conference no doubt put some undue pressure on so many people in the areas of accommodation and transportation. Freetown is our capital city and has more facilities than other parts of the country. That notwithstanding, political parties with wide membership should consider hosting conference at provincial location to ease transportation and accommodation constraints for the greater number of it membership.
The conference and eventual elections where held in the spirit of good demotic process, and despite the heightened tension and occasional inconveniences, the elections process was free, fair and transparent.
RECOMMENDATION:
The EON wishes to proffer the following for consideration with the view to enhancing the democratic processes of election and the like;
To the NGC Party:
Encourage intra-candidate debate or discussion long before convention dates. This might minimize or reduce rumours or misinformation (Social Media etc.). People from the same party are not enemies. They belong to the same political group. They must and should talk/ discuss together to disagree and finally agree in the interest of their party.
Take measures to ensure that delegate lists are prepared well ahead of time in transparent manner
(Lay down criteria, requirements and deadlines).
Endeavour to issue delegates cards in good time – perhaps even at respective regional/district levels (This is digital age!).
To the Police;
Continue the fine practice of impartiality, non-involvement and follow the tenants of the law.
To the PPRC;
Outline rules of engagement (published and available) to all political parties for onward dissemination to their general membership.
Also established punishment/ repercussion for breach of the code. Publish or forward finding to parties concerned.
The National Executive Elected on 14th December 2022 for the NGC Party
Position
Nominee
Results.
National Chairperson & Leader
Dr. Denis Bright
357
Joseph Maada Kpullum
239
Deputy National Chairperson & Leader
Jesmed F Suma
292
Mohamed Koroma
170
National Secretary General
Alhaji Amadu Sheriff
Unopposed
Deputy National Secretary General
Nyamakoro Sillah
277
Ambrose Osman Bangura
38
National Organising Secretary
Hawa Jawara
280
Saidu Abass Dumbuya
36
Deputy National Organising Secretary
Abu Bakarr Hassan
144
Ibrahim Jalloh
01
National Women’s Leader
Jarrieu Sillah
Elected
Deputy National Women’s Leader
Yatta Koroma
77
Remie V Musa
05
National Youth Leader
Ahmed Jah (Pompay)
Unopposed
Deputy National Youth’s Leader
Abdulai Jalloh (Game Changer)
Unopposed
Alloysius Ibrahim Musa
Declined
National Publicity Secretary
Wilfred Wyse
217
Penikie Abu
Declined
National Treasurer
Edwina Thomas Navo
Unopposed
Asiatu Bah
Declined
Financial Secretary
Esther Wilson Kamara
Unopposed
Legal Officer
Amb Foday Dabor
Unopposed
National Internal Auditor
Alhaji Brima Sesay
Unopposed
Deputy National Internal Auditor
Amara Bangura (Uncle Borbor)
Unopposed
Regional Chairperson Northeast
Mohamed Jawara
Unopposed
Francis Josiah
Does not qualify
Regional Chairperson Northwest
Aminata T.S Bangura
Unopposed
Regional Chairperson East
Mohamed Amadu Berete
130
Lansana Bockarie
09
Regional Chairperson South
Felix James
305
Kenneth Lahai
08
Regional Chairperson West
Arthur Pearce
306
Edward Nat Jones
10
Coordinator of Diaspora Affairs
Alan Luke (UK&I)
Unopposed
Head of Muslim Affairs
Alhassan Janneh
Unopposed
Hassan Wurie
Declined
Head of Christian Affairs
Rugiatu Macauley
Unopposed
EON-SL Observation Team
Ambassador Soulay Daramy
Mr. Samuel Patrick Mattia
Mr. Maada Patrick Moiwai
Mr. Sylvester Lusani Massaquoi
Mrs Sandra A Shall
Report Submitted by:
……………………………….
Amb. Soulaman Basirou Daramy
Chairman & Head of EON-SL Team
21st December, 2022.
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