AYV News, August 7, 2026
Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh has strongly defended the Proportional Representation (PR) electoral system, describing it as the most appropriate electoral model for Sierra Leone as the country continues efforts to strengthen democracy, promote inclusive governance, and maintain political stability.
The Vice President said the PR system provides broader representation by ensuring that diverse political, regional, and social interests are reflected in Parliament. He argued that the system fosters inclusion and provides women, young people, smaller political parties, and marginalised groups with greater opportunities to participate in national decision-making.
Dr. Juldeh Jalloh noted that proportional representation is the most widely used electoral system for lower houses of parliament worldwide, owing to its ability to produce legislatures that better reflect the diversity of the electorate.
He further highlighted the system’s contribution to advancing gender equality, stating that international experience has consistently shown that countries using proportional representation often achieve higher levels of female representation in parliament than those operating under first-past-the-post electoral systems.
The Vice President also pointed to the economic benefits of the PR model. He referenced earlier remarks by Attorney General and Minister of Justice Alpha Sesay, who disclosed that Sierra Leone has saved an estimated NLe20 million by eliminating parliamentary by-elections under the current arrangement. According to Dr. Juldeh Jalloh, such savings can be redirected to critical sectors, including education, healthcare, agriculture, infrastructure, and youth employment.
In addition, he observed that reducing the frequency of by-elections helps ease political tensions, lessens the burden on security agencies, and allows government institutions to focus more effectively on national development priorities.
While defending the PR system, Dr. Juldeh Jallohemphasized that the effectiveness of any electoral model ultimately depends on the credibility of the institutions responsible for administering elections. He stressed the importance of independent electoral management, transparent voter registration and vote management, strong legal safeguards, and public confidence in the electoral process.
The conference brought together Paramount Chiefs, officials of the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL), the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA), civil society organisations, government institutions, and international development partners to deliberate on issues relating to security, governance, and electoral reforms.
The Vice President concluded that Sierra Leone’s national conversation on electoral reform should focus not on which system is politically advantageous, but on identifying an electoral framework that guarantees fairness, accountability, inclusiveness, peaceful elections, and national cohesion.
His remarks have reignited public debate on the future of Sierra Leone’s electoral system as discussions on constitutional and electoral reforms continue across the country.
