BY JOSEPHINE W. LAGAWO
232NEWS, FREETOWN
The Director of Media and Communications at Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone Raymond George has said that the date which the commission has slated for the village headmen elections is on October 28th 2023. Mr. George stated that in the Public elections Act 2022 section 36 in the act state that the commission should conduct six elections such as the Presidential parliamentary council paramount chief’s elections, the only one which has left is the village headmen elections it is specifically people residing in the Western Rural for 121 villages, there are criteria which has been set up for citizens to contest in this elections must have reside in the village for more than five years also he/she must have pay all taxes also must reach the age of 30 years.
He pointed out that nominations will start on October 4th and ends on October 7th 2023 from 7am to 4pm each the nominations fees is Four hundred thousand Leones (Le 400, 00) the commission will issued receipts to the candidates, for any candidates who did not want to contest in the elections as long as they have issue receipts to you it is not refundable. he went on to say that out the commission is going held meeting and training for the candidates contesting in the 121 villages but they are going to divide it in to five zone for Koya at Bramaa by CGG, for Waterloo and environs the meeting is at Hastings, for mountain village the meeting is at Regent, and Angola town is at Peninsular at 12pm.
Mr. George further that after the nominations the list of candidates will be hanged at their respective centers were the nominations take place, for citizens who have objections to made for any of the candidates must do so to the ECSL where they will engage them and the final list will be out on also campaign will start on October 12th and ends on October 26th 2023 each candidates will be given their own date for campaign. The Director of Media Communication said the village headmen election is non- partisan election they would be given symbol to candidates they have Shovel, hoe, house, Pick axe and others.
According to him, the commission has done sensitization in all the radio stations in the Western rural district about the Village headmen elections, the commission will be working with statistic Sierra Leone because they did the census. Also for people residing in Western Rural to take part in the voting process his/ her name must be in the registered list of the ECSL. He cited example if you vote at Angola town in the past presidential and parliamentary election is the same place you are going to vote back for the village head election. He said the polling centers on the day of election will open at 7:am to 5:pm if the media want to do coverage on the election it is open they should contact ECSL.
