ECOWAS assesses preparations for elections in Sierra Leone

Freetown, Sierra Leone (PANA) - The Chairman of Ghana National Electoral Commission, David Adeenze Kangah has arrived in Freetown to observe preparations by Sierra Leone's Elections Commission (NEC) the presidential and parliamentary elections on 11 August 2007.

NEC Public Relations officer, Isaac Curtis Hook said Kangah arrived here Friday with a four-member delegation hailing from the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS).

Kangah told a press briefing Saturday that they were in Freetown to assess NEC's preparations for the scheduled presidential and parliamentary elections in Sierra Leone.

"Our mission is in furtherance of the 2001 ECOWAS supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance which mandates the ECOWAS Commission to send fact-finding missions to member states preparing for elections.

The Director of Training and Communication, Gambian Joseph Colley said the mission will hold broad consultations with major stakeholders and key democratic institutions such as Parliament, the National Electoral Commission, political parties, civil society organizations, the media, security agencies and international organizations involved in the electoral process.

Earlier, Director General of Foreign Affairs and Ambassador-at-large Umaru Bonn Wurie assured the delegation of government's preparation for the elections in a "free, transparent and fair atmosphere".

ECOWAS assesses preparations for elections in Sierra Leone | Afrique en ligne