Fact-Check Story
The post states, “The voters registration center at Kanigo School in Lumley, are asking citizens for payments as to make the process fast for them.” It was posted in the WhatsApp group name “The Dialogue Forum on the 24th September 2022.
Fact-Checkers Comments
The Director of External Relations at ECSL, Albert Massaquoi said no report have been made to the Commission to date. The Truth Team also spoke to a cross section of community members who also refused the claim |
By Ndeamoh Mansaray and Alinah Kallon
The Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone (ECSL) has denied any connection with soliciting of cash from registrants by its registration officers in the ongoing registration process.
The Director of External Relations at ECSL, Albert Massaquoi was responding to an allegation shared on social media (WhatsApp) alleging that on 24th September,2022 ECSL officers at Kaingo school registration center at the Kanigo community, Lumley in Freetown were requesting payments from citizens to register them quickly.
The post states, “The voters registration center at Kanigo School in Lumley, are asking citizens for payments as to make the process fast for them.” It was posted in the WhatsApp group name “The Dialogue Forum on the 24th September ,2022.
For Mr. Massaquoi said the Commission executed a swift investigation on the centre and that their findings proved that they were unconnected to it, “Got this information yesterday, and went to the centre to investigate the allegation. My findings revealed that our staff are not in any way connected to this.” He added, “I also alerted the security personnel that if anyone is caught impersonating as an ECSL staff and soliciting cash from registrants, such a person would face the full brunt of the law.”
The External Relation Director made it clear that no registration centre should ask for any favors noting that if any act of such is discovered, the information should be sent as an allegation to the ECSL’s Situation Room for investigation for possible criminal offence.
Speaking to some residents of the community, they denied any exchange or paying of cash to ECSL officer at the centre in order to be registered quickly as claimed in the post.
A community Leader at Kaingo , Mahawa Turay reiterated that at no certain point the ECSL officers have solicited money from them to be registered rather they have been encouraging the residents to come and register.
Meanwhile, the registration process is in its second and final phase and citizens continue to go out to exercise part of their democratic rights to be eligible to take part in the 2023 election.