AYV News, May 21, 2025
The Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (EC-SL) has engaged its staff in the northern region as part of ongoing consultations for the development of its 2025–2029 Strategic Plan. The engagement took place during a closed-door session at the Commission’s regional office in Makeni.
This internal staff session follows similar engagements already completed in the eastern and southern regions, specifically in Kenema and Bo. The consultations are designed to assess the expired 2020–2024 strategic plan and collect inputs to shape the new roadmap that will guide ECSL’s operations through the next electoral cycle, especially the 2028 general elections.
Speaking to journalists after the closed-door session, ECSL’s Assistant Executive Secretary – Support, Gladys Nancy John, explained the purpose of the engagements.
“We are here in the northern region today as we have successfully completed engagement in the East and South of the country. Today in the close-door session, we engaged with staff in the northern region and tomorrow we will engage stakeholders on the strategic plan 2025–2029.”
She noted that the Commission’s approach involves consultations with both internal staff and external stakeholders.
“First of all as a commission, we consider elections as everyone’s business. We cannot develop a roadmap without engaging with stakeholders to input their views on the expired plan (2020–2024) and to make recommendations for improvements for the upcoming Strategic Plan (2025–2029),” she said.
The Commission is holding these sessions with a range of actors in the electoral process, including civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations, and persons with disabilities. “We are engaging with all stakeholders, NGOs, and other groups that are relevant in our electioneering process. They need to know about our processes,” she further explained..
Gladys Nancy John also emphasized that lessons learned from the 2023 general elections, which were conducted under the previous strategic plan, are being used to improve future electoral planning.
“After every election, there are lessons learned and new ideas to input on the next one. Stakeholders will be engaged to make recommendations for improvements. So we are in consultation with them to give us feedback on what improvements are needed and necessary for the next elections,” she continues.
She also confirmed efforts to ensure inclusivity during the engagements.
“As you all know in Kenema and Bo, we invited persons with disability to make their input in the process as well,” she said.
The EC-SL team includes all regional commissioners and the Chief Electoral Commissioner. After the northern region sessions conclude, the team will proceed to Port Loko for the final round of consultations, scheduled for 21st–22nd May,2025.
