Abbas Jimoh
1 April 2009
The integrity and personal stance of the chairman and other managers of the electoral commission in an African country are of critical importance to the success of elections in the country, the Chief Electoral Commissioner and Chairperson of the National Electoral Commission (NEC) of Sierra Leone Dr. Christiana A. M. Thorpe said in Abuja yesterday.
Thorpe, who organised Sierra Leone's 2007 presidential and parliamentary elections which were globally adjudged to be free and fair, was also named the runner-up to the Daily Trust African of the Year last January.
She said, "It must be stated categorically that the stance of the Head of the Electoral Management Body (EMB) is critical. He/she must believe in the integrity of the Institution that is under his management. It should be made clear to all political authorities that the mission and position he holds is sacrosanct and must be respected as such by all stakeholders."
She spoke at a two-day political summit tagged "Forum on National Dialogue on Electoral Reform" organised by International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), International Republican Institute (IRI) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI). Thorpe also said public confidence in the electoral process is crucial if citizens of a country areto believe in the authority and legitimacy of their government.
Delivering a paper on "Electoral Reform: Impact of the Political Environment of a country and its Electoral Framework on the Credibility of an Electoral Process -A Case Study of Sierra Leone's Electoral Reform Programme," Dr. Thorpe said, "It is crucial that there is public confidence in the electoral process in order for the citizens to believe in the authority and legitimacy of their government. It is worth noting that a credible electoral process cannot be separated from other general societal considerations, such as the political climate, the rule of law, mechanisms for the enforcement of legal and human rights, media freedom, neutrality of the security forces, and the impartial operation of an independent Electoral Management Body."
She said that a stable political environment, sound political will and a solid electoral legal framework, based on internationally recognized electoral standards that are contained in the human rights instruments ratified and recognized by a country, are prerequisites for credible elections and democratic governance in any country.
"This is because genuine democratic elections are the vehicle through which the people of a country freely express their will, on a basis established by law, as to who should have the legitimacy to govern in their name and interest. The establishment of a legitimate or credible electoral process, therefore, begins with the existence of a favourable political environment and political will, the adoption of a sound legal framework and the designation of a neutral and impartial body that is responsible for administering the election. While a legitimate or credible electoral process can contribute to peace and stability, a fraudulent election may lead to chaos and anarchy," she said,
She listed steps taken by her country in what she described as "The Electoral Reform Matrix" as restructuring the existing NEC, staff capacity development, infrastructural development, establishment of an information technology system, reform of the electoral laws and regulations, electoral boundary delimitation and the establishment of a permanent voters register.
Speaking on lessons learnt during her country's watershed 2007 polls, Thorpe, who was once Sierra Leone's Minister of Education, said "The principle of collective responsibility is also very important as one bad fish in the basket affects all the others. There were undesirable incidences that questioned the moral and ethical standing of some of the staff. Swift legal and punitive measures including dismissal and blacklisting by the Commission brought effective solution to the problem." She said when she was doing her election work in Sierra Leone, she never thought that the world would take notice, and was very pleased when Daily Trust named her the runner-up to the African of the Year 2008 for her election work in Sierra Leone.
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