By Fatima Kpaka
Sierra Leone – January 23, 2025: The Public Sector Reform Unit (PSRU), acting on behalf of the Tripartite Steering Committee, has formally presented the Management and Functional Review (MFR) Reports of key Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs) to Chief Minister Dr. David Moinina Sengeh.
The institutions reviewed include the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC), Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC), Independent Media Commission (IMC), and the Independent Police Complaints Board (IPCB).
The Tripartite Committee’s recommendations on electoral reform in Sierra Leone focus on strengthening the independence, transparency, and accountability of electoral institutions, improving stakeholder consultation, enhancing regulation-making processes, and ensuring credible elections through reforms in governance, media, and security oversight.
Presenting the reports, PSRU Director Mr. Sulaiman Phoray-Musa highlighted key findings and recommendations designed to enhance institutional efficiency, governance, and service delivery. He explained that the reviews were conducted in line with recommendations of the Tripartite Committee Report earlier submitted to President Julius Maada Bio.
Permanent Secretary in the Chief Minister’s Office, Mr. Lamin, recalled that one of the major recommendations of the Tripartite Report was the conduct of management and functional reviews of electoral and governance institutions. He noted that the submission of the findings to the Chief Minister, who chairs the Tripartite Steering Committee, was intended to guide implementation.
Minister of Public Administration and Political Affairs, Hon. Amara Kallon, reaffirmed that the exercise was undertaken following a Cabinet resolution mandating the Ministry, through PSRU, to lead the reviews. He assured the Chief Minister that the reports had undergone rigorous scrutiny and broad consultations.
In his response, Chief Minister Dr. David Moinina Sengeh described the presentation as a significant milestone in public sector reform and national civic responsibility. He emphasized that the Tripartite recommendations address long-standing institutional challenges and are critical to building resilient institutions capable of meeting current and future governance needs.
The event concluded with a symbolic handover of the MFR Reports to the Chief Minister by Hon. Amara Kallon and Mr. Sulaiman Phoray-Musa.
Key Recommendations from the Tripartite Committee
1. Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC)
- Strengthen oversight of political parties to ensure adherence to democratic principles.
- Improve transparency in party registration and monitoring processes.
- Enhance mechanisms for resolving intra- and inter-party disputes peacefully.
2. Independent Media Commission (IMC) & Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC)
- Promote balanced and fair media coverage during elections.
- Strengthen regulation of media houses to prevent misinformation and bias.
- Enhance SLBC’s independence and capacity to serve as a neutral public broadcaster.
3. Independent Police Complaints Board (IPCB)
- Improve accountability in policing during elections.
- Strengthen mechanisms for investigating complaints against police misconduct.
- Ensure impartiality and transparency in handling election-related security issues.
These recommendations are designed to:
Increase public trust in electoral outcomes; reduce political tensions by ensuring fairness and transparency; strengthen democratic institutions to safeguard against authoritarian tendencies; and promote peace and stability by addressing long-standing governance challenges.