Freetown, 16th March 2023
The Executive Director of the Centre for Accountability and the Rule of Law (CARL), Ibrahim Tommy ESQ, on 16th March 2023 delivered a public lecture to students of the Fourah Bay College on the topic, “Benefits of an Effective Electoral Justice System and Opportunities for Reforms Ahead of the 2023 Elections in Sierra Leone”
The public lecture, coordinated by the Ministry of Political Affairs of the Fourah Bay Students’ Union Government, focused on the scope of electoral justice, challenges confronting its effective administration in Sierra Leone, progress in addressing those challenges and recommendations for reforms.
Mr Tommy also spoke extensively about the meaning and benefits of an effective electoral justice system. He gave practical instances of electoral disputes or complaints over the last decade, including petitions against election results, controversies around the censuses and the Proportional Representation electoral system, and delimitation of boundaries, amongst others. Regarding the challenges that confront our the country’s electoral justice system, Mr. Tommy identified delays in resolving election disputes, an enduring perception gap between citizens and the justice system, limited investment in alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, ineffective investigation of electoral offences, and limited knowledge about pathways to accessing justice.
He spoke about some notable progress in recent years, including legal reforms in the election laws and rules, speedy resolution of an election-related suit by the Supreme Court, and increased commitment by the GoSL to fund the Electoral Commission, among others.
Mr. Tommy made a number of recommendations for improving the administration of electoral justice in Sierra Leone, including the fair and expeditious resolution of election-related complaints, an independent and professional security sector, increased funding to formal electoral justice mechanisms and alternative dispute resolution bodies, among others.
Mr. Tommy said the most practical way of ensuring a peaceful or violence-free electoral process is more robust of and effective electoral justice system. He concluded by urging students, regardless of their course of study, to take an interest in the effective administration of justice and rule of law.
