Freetown — President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah Thursday broke tradition to announce the date for the much talked about 2007 elections. It is to be held in late July, during the rainy season.

In his announcement the President said it is his constitutional responsibility to dissolve Parliament in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution in order to pave the way for the holding of the elections.

Declared the President: "It has been customary to announce the date of the elections on the occasion of the dissolution of Parliament. However, after due consultations with the National Electoral Commission, I am pleased to announce today that the Presidential and Parliamentary Elections will be held on 28 July 2007 in accordance with the provisions of our Constitution." The President however quickly warned, "but I must hasten to state that the declaration of this date does not mean the start of political campaign activities.

The Electoral Commission will determine the start of campaigning." President Kabbah reminded Sierra Leoneans that his term of office would come to an end next year. He said it would become necessary to hold elections sometime next year to elect the next President.

The President referred to the constitution, which stipulates that a "general election of the members of Parliament shall be held within three months after the dissolution of Parliament. In the case of the election of the President the election is to be held during the period of three months beginning with the date when the office of President becomes vacant." Warned the President: "With this announcement I hope all the speculations and rumours surrounding the date for the holding of the elections will now be laid to rest. We can now prepare ourselves to ensure that the elections themselves will be conducted in a peaceful and conducive democratic environment.

"The decision to announce the date almost one year before the conduct of the election itself is a further demonstration of my government's continuing commitment to pursuing the path of good governance and of promoting the democratic electoral process." President Kabbah continued that we have every reason to be confident because our past performance in the electoral process has been commendable. "We have successfully conducted three sets of elections; Parliamentary and Presidential elections in 1996, and 2002, and also local council elections in 2004 and over seventy paramount chieftaincy elections from 2003 to now. All these elections, which have been judged as free and fair marked a significant milestone in advancing participatory democracy and in consolidating the peace process." The President recounted that his government has established and reinforced independent political institutions vital for the effective practice of democracy. "This can be seen in the establishment of the Political Parties Registration Commission and the restructuring of the National Electoral Commission.

Both Commissions are currently engaged in developing procedures for the smooth conduct of the elections," he maintained.

President Kabbah assured that the Political Parties Registration Commission is in the process of preparing a code of conduct, which will govern the conduct of all political parties, party members, candidates and their supporters before and during the elections. He said the code would require all political parties, members, supporters and candidates to comply strictly with rules and regulations that will ensure free, fair and peaceful elections.

The President alluded that he has also been briefed that the National Electoral Commission is developing topics to encourage candidates to focus on during their campaigns only on national developmental issues and issues which will promote national cohesion.

"This will help create a healthy campaign environment for the discussion of subjects relevant to our national development. It will also compel parties to present only clear and coherent policies or programmes to the voters. In this way voters will have the opportunity to choose candidates according to the respective party programmes or policies presented to them." The President appealed to all Sierra Leoneans to see the forthcoming elections not as warfare between warlords but purely as a friendly contest.

Reactions from opposition political parties about the election date have been mixed.

Victor Bockarie Foh of the opposition All Peoples Congress told Concord Times late Thursday, "I wish it were even earlier so that we can see the back of this non-performing government. Though it is in the rainy season, so be it. Whether they take us to the tsunami season we are prepared for it." Meanwhile, Raymond Bamidele Thompson, Chairman of Peoples Movement for Democratic Change (PMDC) Media Committee heard the news from Concord Times when contacted late Thursday.

"That is news to me. But my initial reaction is that the date is in the rainy season and a lot of people will not be enthusiastic to come under the rains to vote. I would have preferred a date in the dry season because you are aware that during the rainy season some roads are terrible and almost impassable. PMDC is ready for an election any even tomorrow, but our concern is that we want the voting public to come in their numbers. I hope the President would have considered that." The PMDC mouthpiece also raised concerns about the period of campaigning, which he said, is definitely going to be in the rainy reason and will not be "conducive" for campaigning.