By AbdulAziz Kamara
Lusien Momoh, the Communication Lead at Political Party Registration Commission (PPRC) says the said post about the international community forcing the Commission’s chairman to resign is fake and misleading. He went on that “the international community does not appoint neither sack heads of the commission, but rather the President through constitutional mandate.
“The PPRC is created by an Act of Parliament and the International community cannot determine his removal, the President the constitutional mandate to do so,” he averred.
Responding to the social media post, the Secretary General of the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) party, Interim Transitional Governance Committee (ITGC), Hon. Abdul Kargbo noted that,” as a party we do not operate on social media. The APC is a well-structured political party and we do not aware of any social media post calling on the current PPRC chairman to resign by the international community.”
The Executive Director of Campaign for Good Governance (CGG), Marcela Samba Sesay, reported she had no knowledge of the above post by Gibril Bangura. However, she continued that such a post is unfortunate and misleading. “How can the international community forcing the PPRC chairman to resign when in fact they have no right to meddle into the political affairs of our country”. The is misleading and should not be accepted by Sierra Leoneans.
Joseph Koroma is a teacher in one of the schools in Waterloo. He told Salone Factchecker, “News is good but when it is fake, it is not good, he continues, Anybody that shares fake news is not patriotic because patriotic citizens should be loyal to their country” Fake news especially at a time like this that the country is preparing for its elections is bad because it can lead the country to unrest “Africa is mostly dependent on donor support which comes from our International partners, so if fake news continue to reach them about the state of our affairs, it will affect our development.
Noting the recent violent past of Sierra Leone, and the need for continued peace; and given the desirability for a free, fair, peaceful and well-regulated election and the avoidance of political discord, as provided for by the Political Parties Act, 2002, which establishes the PPRC for the registration and regulation of the conduct of political parties in accordance with sections 34 and 35 of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone.
The institutional mandate and independence of the Political Parties Registration Commission are enshrined in the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone. The Political Parties Act, 2002, establishes the PPRC for the registration and supervision of the conduct of political parties in accordance with Sections 34 and 35 of the Constitution. In conformity with the Political Parties Act – 2002, the Commission in collaboration with registered political parties and civil society established a Code Monitoring Committee to function as a forum for discussion of issues of common concern, including breaches of the Code before, during and after the elections.
From around the mid-1980s there has been greater interest in, and scrutiny of, the conduct of democratic elections. There has also been an unprecedented commitment around the world to electoral reform.
Public interest has been more often focused on reforming electoral systems to enhance representation. Reforms to the machinery for organizing and administering electoral events are, however, equally important.