By Alvin Lansana Kargbo

The Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) deepened its national consultative mission on Thursday, 22th May 2025, as it engaged stakeholders in Port Loko City in a meeting that marked both reflection and a major institutional milestone. Beyond shaping the future of electoral governance for the 2025–2029 cycle, the event celebrated the symbolic start of ECSL’s permanent regional office in the Northwest, marking a new chapter for electoral administration in the region.

Held at the Port Loko District Council Hall, the engagement convened stakeholders from across the Northwest Region, including political parties, civil society actors, traditional authorities and electoral officers. At the heart of the discussions was a drive to evaluate the ECSL’s 2020–2024 Strategic Plan and lay the groundwork for a new strategy that is inclusive, regionally grounded and nationally responsive.

Welcoming participants, Northwest Regional Commissioner Albert Samba Kanu underscored the event's historic nature noting that, for the first time, Port Loko would host the foundation ceremony of the ECSL’s regional office.

“This office will not only cement our physical presence in the region,” he said, “but also symbolize our institutional independence and long-term commitment to electoral transparency and accessibility.”

He praised his staff for their sacrifices during the 2023 general elections and expressed gratitude to all stakeholders contributing to the ECSL’s new roadmap. He also acknowledged the contribution of youth engagement leaders and reaffirmed the region’s readiness to support credible electoral systems.

Port Loko City Mayor, Alieu Badara Tarawallie, echoed the importance of the engagement, linking electoral reform directly to citizens' daily lives.

“Political decisions touch every corner of our existence,” he noted. “That’s why our people must understand and participate in the electoral process.”

Calling for more regional offices of Government agencies to be based in Port Loko as it's now a standalone region. Mayor Alieu Badara Tarawallie urged inclusivity and education to counter misinformation and apathy.

“We must educate our people about their rights, their roles and how their voices shape governance,” he said. He concluded with optimism about the city’s growing role in national affairs and welcomed all participants on behalf of the municipality.

Chief Electoral Commissioner, Mohamed K. Konneh, used the occasion to reflect on the institution’s strategic trajectory. He revealed that of the 163 activities in the outgoing 2020–2024 strategic plan, 85% were successfully implemented, an achievement made possible by strong Government support and internal reforms.

He noted that the ECSL’s engagements across Kenema, Bo, Makeni and now Port Loko reflect a deliberate bottom-up strategy.

“We are collecting honest, region-specific feedback,” he said, “and these ideas will be consolidated into strategic pillars that reflect the lived realities of all Sierra Leoneans.”

He added that the draft strategy will be brought back to stakeholders for validation before its official launch later this year.

The Commissioner also emphasized the importance of independence, citing the start of a new ECSL office in Port Loko as a safeguard against the operational constraints posed by rented spaces.

“This office will secure the integrity of our work and provide a dignified environment for both staff and citizens,” he said.

Dr. Francis Sowa, ECSL’s lead consultant working on new policies stemming from the Tripartite Committee recommendations, outlined two crucial initiatives: a stakeholder consultation policy and an information/document management policy.

“The first ensures that ECSL institutionalizes the kind of stakeholder dialogue we are witnessing today,” Dr. Francis Sowa explained. “It’s about building trust and making consultation a permanent, structured feature of our work.”

The second policy aims to streamline how ECSL manages, stores and shares its documents. “We’re moving toward a system where all non-sensitive documents are publicly accessible by default,” he stated. “It’s a shift toward proactive transparency.”

Dr. Francis Sowa emphasized that those reforms are not theoretical. “We’ve engaged political parties, civil society and other stakeholders. Their insights are directly shaping our work. This isn’t just a policy exercise; it’s democratic practice.”

As with other regional engagements, the Port Loko session ended with group work. Participants revisited the outgoing plan and submitted recommendations for improving voter registration, information systems, electoral integrity and public education.

The ECSL now moves closer to finalizing a strategic plan that reflects not only national mandates but regional realities. From Kenema to Bo, Makeni to Port Loko, one message resonates: credible elections are a shared responsibility and the roadmap must belong to the people. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/ecsl-engages-stakeholders-on-2025-2029-strategic-plan-turns-sod-for-new-regional-office-in-port-loko/