Head of ECOWAS’ 55-member Observation Mission to SierraLeone, Prof. Amos Sawyer, has tasked the regional observers to discharge their
duties with the highest sense of responsibility and impartiality given the
critical importance of the March 7 polls to peace and democratic consolidation
in the country and the region, reports ITRealms.
Prof. Sawyer, who was Liberia’s former Interim President said
in Freetown at the briefing of 40 Short-Term observers, who have joined 15
Long-Term Observers already on ground in Sierra Leone.
“I wish to therefore admonish each and every one of us to
conduct ourselves in a manner that is beyond reproach and ensure that our
feedback is factual and truly reflects an impartial assessment of the 2018
General elections,” he said, noting that all stakeholders, both domestic and
international, are looking up to ECOWAS to lead the way, whilst on the field, will add value to the entire process.
The Head of Mission outlined ECOWAS’ engagement with
stakeholders and support to Sierra Leone to ensure a successful electoral
process, including the Needs Assessment Mission in July 2017 by the ECOWAS
Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC), the first of its kind, followed by a
joint ECOWAS-AU-UN High level Mission in November 2017.
This was followed by an ECOWAS Pre-electoral Fact-finding
Mission in February 2018, complemented by series of training workshops on
election-related mediation and dispute resolution, targeting faith-based
organisations and community peace actors in the country.
In his introductory remarks, Prof. Sawyer congratulated the
new ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Gen. Francis
Behazin, on his appointment and formally welcomed him to his first observation
assignment.
On behalf of the new President of the ECOWAS Commission
Jean-Claude Kassi Brou, Commissioner Behazin, who is leading the Commission’s
Technical Support Team for the Mission, welcomed the observers and urged them
to carry out their assignment witheffectiveness and precision.
He said the general elections would mark a major step toward
consolidation of peace and democracy in Sierra Leone, and the largerECOWAS
Community, adding that the Commission had provided financial and other forms of
support to ensure the success of the electoral process.
The ECOWAS Director of Political Affairs, Dr. Remi Ajibela,
and the Head of Electoral Assistance Division Mr Francis Oke, set the tone for
the observers’ briefing, by providing them with the historical and political
contexts of the Sierra Leone polls, the logistics, security and local contacts.
Members of the Long-Term Observation Core Team also provided
the observers with relevant information on the situation report, and also went
through the observation Code of Conduct with them.
Chuks Egbune/GEE
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