By Alimamy Lahai Kamara
Sierra Leone — September 11, 2025: The Tripartite Steering Committee Secretariat (TSCS) has announced that 84 percent of the tripartite recommendations have been implemented, marking a significant milestone in the country’s ongoing electoral and governance reform efforts.
The progress report, presented during a high-level Steering Committee meeting held in the Chief Minister’s conference room, included data from key institutions such as the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL), Political Parties Regulation Commission (PPRC), Office of National Security (ONS), Attorney-General’s Office, Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC), Independent Media Commission (IMC), Independent Police Complaints Board (IPCB), Human Rights Commission (HRC), and the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA). The TSCS, alongside ECSL, the Public Sector Reform Unit (PSRU), and the Attorney-General, translated the implementation efforts into statistical data to assess progress.
Chief Minister David Sengeh, who chairs the Steering Committee, emphasized the importance of the meeting, describing it as a discursive platform to track the implementation of the 80 recommendations, evaluate the work of technical committees, and chart the next steps in strengthening democratic governance and fostering national cohesion.
The Steering Committee comprises a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including the mayors of Freetown, Makeni, Bo, and Kenema; representatives from the Council of Paramount Chiefs; ministers from key government departments; the Head of Government Business and Head of the Opposition; and civil society organizations such as SLAJ, APPA, APPWA, and the Bar Association. This diverse composition ensures robust oversight and monitoring of the reform process, in line with the President’s pledge to revamp the country’s electoral governance architecture.
Chief Minister Sengeh reaffirmed the President’s commitment to fully implementing the Unity Agreement. He noted that, in addition to the pardon of 37 detainees, salaries had been paid to opposition Members of Parliament and councillors who had abstained from taking their seats following the 2023 elections. He also confirmed that payments had been processed for SLPP councillors in the North and North-West who were affected during the APC’s boycott.
ECSL reported the development of new policies on consultation and regulation-making powers, and the commissioning of a consultant to address voter registration mechanics and result management systems. The Attorney-General’s Office presented a preliminary report on draft legislation aligned with the tripartite recommendations. Legal expert Alpha Sesay commended the constitutional review process, which incorporated inputs from both the White Paper and the Tripartite Report. He clarified that the proposed constitutional amendments were non-entrenched, allowing for smoother legislative adoption.
The PSRU announced the completion of Management Functional Reviews for SLBC, IMC, PPRC, and IPCB. Director Foray Musa stated that an implementation matrix would be developed to guide the rollout of the recommendations from these reviews.
Despite the substantial progress, concerns were raised about the spread of disinformation on social media regarding the tripartite process. Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah, condemned such actions as anti-democratic and harmful to public stability. He pledged that his ministry would intensify public outreach and information dissemination to counter misinformation and promote peace, unity, and national cohesion.
During the meeting, committee members—including the Mayors of Freetown and Makeni, APPA, and Honourable Nfa representing the Head of the Opposition—called for greater inclusion of political parties in the Search Committee responsible for selecting the ECSL Chairman and Commissioners. They also requested extended meeting durations and the timely distribution of reading materials to enhance preparation and participation.
As the tripartite implementation process advances, stakeholders remain committed to ensuring transparency, inclusivity, and accountability in reshaping Sierra Leone’s democratic landscape.