𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐟𝐬 𝐄𝐂𝐒𝐋 & 𝐎𝐍𝐒 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐟𝐬

𝐁𝐲 𝐀𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐦𝐲 𝐋𝐚𝐡𝐚𝐢 𝐊𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐚

‘’I am here to visit you, to introduce the Tripartite Secretariat to you, and to track and coordinate with you in the implementation of the tripartite recommendations relative to your institutions. I am aware you are germane in this process, and my understanding is that you have begun implementing some of the recommendations bordering on your respective agencies. Time is not on our side; we must walk fast, take long jumps if necessary but following the necessary processes to address all the 80 recommendations, especially those requiring administrative, operational and legal reforms,’’ Coordinator for the newly established Tripartite Steering Committee Secretariat told heads of Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECLS) and Office of National Security (ONS).

Ngolo Katta made the courtesy calls Tuesday and Wednesday to familiarize with work of the agencies as regards implementing the recommendations.

According to Mr. Katta, the Secretariat is developing trackers to track recommendations implemented while making conscious effort at meeting timelines for key recommendations. The ECSL has some 57 recommendations, some of which have to be implemented alongside other players like the PPRC, Office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, and ONS.

These shared responsibilities are coordinated by the Tripartite Secretariat, which is housed at the ground floor of the Public Service Reform Unit office, at Wesley Street, Freetown.

The Secretariat is established by recommendation 80 of the Tripartite Report, and reports on its work to the Steering Committee (SC) headed by the Chief Minister. The SC is a broad-based entity comprising government institutions relevant to elections management, CSOs, political parties, mayors, paramount chiefs, and MPs.

Chief Electoral Commissioner welcomed the Secretariat and said ECSL has developed a spreadsheet which identified some 57 recommendations bordering on ECSL, and some of which will be implemented jointly with sister agencies. Mohamed Konneh said series of activities are being implemented such as the BRIDGE capacity building training for 25 staff with support from International IDEA through the European Union. Policies on information and consultation are being developed by a local consultant recruited by the Commission with support from EU. Management and Functional Review has been conducted on ECSL by the Public Service Reform Unit (PSRU), which report may be published by early March, 2025. These endeavours are efforts to address recommendations in the Tripartite Report requiring their conduct.

The National Security Coordinator (NSCOORD) pledged their staunch cooperation with the Secretariat and informed the body that they are making progress in implementing the recommendations. Some 10 recommendations touch on ONS and plans are underway for their implementation. Abdulai Caulker said District Risk Mapping is a key activity to be implemented once they are able to solicit funds. Trainings of trainers of security sector personnel, including prison officers and chiefdom officers to be able to man all the polling stations during voting are underway.

On training, communication and professional response to electoral violence require policies guiding their utilization. This means consultants will be hired to develop the said training manuals and other documents to inform actions within these components.

On Thursday 20th February, Coordinator of the Secretariat briefed international partners at the Irish Embassy on the establishment of the Secretariat, its commencement of work, and its relationship with the Office of the Chief Minister. Ngolo Katta told the partners that Government has provided seed money for the establishment of the secretariat, covering office accessories and other utilities and also supporting some of its activities. Partners were concerned about recommendations that are time bound which are yet to be implemented, and the funding challenges slowing work of the Secretariat and by extension implementation of time-lined recommendations.

The Secretariat continues to collaborate with partners including UNDP, IDEA International, NDI, Iceland Embassy, Irish Embassy, US Embassy etc. This will allow the Secretariat to access funds donated for the purposes of implementing the recommendations and for informing the public on progress made so far.

In a briefing with the Chief Minister, David Sengeh said government will continue to demonstrate commitment to the process and support the Secretariat to function fully and effectively in coordinating implementation of the 80 recommendations. ‘’This process is at the heart of government; it is a function of democracy; it is a testament of the resilience of our political governance – so I urge you, Mr. Coordinator, to increase your speed measurably, take the public along at every progress made, and coordinate efforts of the MDAs in their implementation of the recommendations,’’ Sengeh told the Tripartite Secretariat Coordinator, Ngolo Katta.

The Secretariat is scheduled to continue its tracking exercises, and will meet with CSOs, political parties, Paramount Chiefs, Members of Parliament, election management bodies, and the public.