Abuja — A four-member delegation of the National Electoral Commission (NEC) of Sierra Leone led by its Chairperson, Dr. Christiana Thorpe on Tuesday, 25th October 2011 met with the Vice-President of the ECOWAS Commission, Mr. Jean de Dieu Somda. Dr. Thorpe said the visit was to follow up on the request for assistance made six months ago to the ECOWAS Commission with regard to the 2012 presidential, legislative and local government elections.

The electoral Commission had asked for ECOWAS logistical support and sponsorship of some of its activities, particularly in the use of biometric technology for the elections in order to reduce multiple voting. She assured the ECOWAS Commission Vice-President that efforts were underway in to improve security in the country in order to ensure that the elections were peaceful and free of any incident.

She mentioned efforts to prevent the circulation of light weapons and small arms in the Mano River Union countries of Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia and Sierra Leone as evidence of this determination. Responding, Mr Somda, who was flanked by the Directors of External Relations and Political Affairs, Dr. Abdel-Fatau Musah and Dr. Jonas Hemou respectively, expressed delight at the visit of the delegation and promised to faithfully convey their concerns to the appropriate quarters. He told the delegation that it was the practice for ECOWAS to provide assistance to Member States in support of their electoral processes, assuring them that at the opportune moment, the Commission would indicate the type of support it would provide for the elections.

"I reaffirm my commitment and support to the Electoral Commission because it has no right to fail, especially as it is headed by a woman," Mr Somda concluded. The visit afforded the ECOWAS Commission the opportunity to officially present to Dr. Thorpe a letter inviting her to lead ECOWAS fact-finding mission for the presidential elections of 24th November 2011 in The Gambia.