By Zacharia Jalloh, Strategic Communications Unit, MIC.
A team of high-profiled officials from the National Electoral Commission which comprises the Chief Electoral Commissioner and Chairman, Mr. Mohamed Kenewui Konneh yesterday paid a visit to the Ministry of Information and Communications to update the Ministry on the upcoming validation conference on electoral reforms and also to solicit their support for the involvement of the media especially SLBC, during the reform process.
The meeting which took place at the conference hall of the Ministry of Information and Communications focused primarily on the importance of the media in the electoral reform process for enhanced public knowledge of the exercise.
The Chief Electoral Commissioner and team were greeted by senior officials of the Ministry which included the Minister of Information and Communications, Mohamed Rahman Swaray, the Permanent Secretary Kwame Yankson and the Acting Director of Information, Emmanuel Turay.
The National Returning Officer commended the work of the Information Minister in broadening the media landscape. He solicited the cooperation of SLBC in the electoral reform process and impressed on the MIC to expedite their request.
The Honourable Minister of Information and Communications Mr. Mohamed Rahman Swaray welcomed the NEC team and expressed his willingness to work with the Commission in popularizing their work. The Honourable Minister assured the Commission of SLBC’s support in the process as a state broadcaster.
Minister Mohamed Rahman Swaray explained to the Commission how steps have been taken to improve the media and to increase citizensโ access to information.
According to the Minister, elections must not be a warfare activity but a serene process. “Elections should be like every normal day activity where citizens express their constitutional rights unhindered,” said the Minister.
Albert Massaquoi, the Director of Media and External Relations at the National Electoral Commission, informed the Ministry of the ongoing review of the electoral laws by a consultant, Barrister Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai.
Albert Massaquoi said there are over 100 recommendations made by Election Observer Missions (EOMs) and these recommendations have been put into 6 Clusters.
The Conference which is expected to be held on the 10th August 2021 is intended to hear from panelists drawn from different sectors in the society on how best to implement those recommendations.
The Minister of Information in his final note reassured NEC of government’s commitment to support the Commission in conducting free and fair elections.
The meeting was climaxed by a symbolic presentation of the Commission’s Strategic Plan and 2020 Annual Report to the Minister of Information and Communications.
