By Alpha Sesay (Amb. Penpusher)
Representatives of the All People’s Congress (APC) Party convened a Press Briefing on Wednesday, February 14, 2024, to provide a comprehensive update on the progress of the Tripartite Committee. This briefing, attended by media personnel, development partners, APC members, and concerned citizens, aimed to shed light on recent developments within the Committee’s purview.
Co-Chairman Dr. Kaifala Marrah took the podium to deliver a detailed report, underscoring the significance of the press briefing in ensuring transparency and accountability to all stakeholders. Dr. Marrah highlighted the Committee’s milestone achievement of signing the Terms of Reference (TOR) on February 6th, 2024. The TOR serves as a guiding document, delineating the Committee’s scope of operation and mandates.
Among the key mandates outlined by Dr. Marrah were the examination of the 2023 general elections alongside previous electoral processes spanning from 2007 to 2018. Additionally, the Committee is tasked with scrutinizing existing electoral laws, data migration, reviewing elections observer reports, assessing redress mechanisms, evaluating elections management bodies (EMBs), and addressing issues pertaining to elections security. Dr. Marah stressed the importance of impartiality and thoroughness in executing these responsibilities.
Looking ahead, Dr. Marrah announced plans to establish the Committee’s Secretariat and recruit qualified professionals to support its mandate. He urged all Sierra Leoneans to refrain from pre-empting the Committee’s outcomes, emphasizing the need for support, clarification-seeking and the avoidance of misinformation dissemination, particularly through social media platforms.
The National Secretary General of the APC Party, Lansana Dumbuya Esq, reiterated the party’s commitment to the Bintumani Dialogue Agreement signed in October, which birthed the Tripartite Committee. However, he expressed concern over the Government’s failure to fulfil its obligations under the agreement, particularly regarding politically motivated cases, the release of political prisoners, and the resettlement of displaced individuals.
Lawyer Lansana Dumbuya urged the Government to prioritize peace-building efforts and refrain from actions that could undermine national cohesion. He condemned recent attacks on APC supporters allegedly perpetrated by Government loyalists and called upon the Inspector General of the Sierra Leone Police to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice.
Furthermore, Lawyer Lansana Dumbuya addressed economic challenges, including the surge in prices of essential commodities, attributing it to what he described as deliberate Government actions detrimental to the populace. He called for urgent measures to curb arbitrary price hikes and alleviate the burdens faced by ordinary citizens.
On his part, the National Chairman of the APC Party, Hon. Minkailu Mansaray, appealed to party supporters to unite and prioritize peace, underscoring that unity is paramount for progress amidst prevailing challenges.
The press briefing concluded with a renewed sense of commitment from APC representatives to uphold democratic principles, foster national unity, and ensure the successful execution of the Tripartite Committee’s mandate.
