Freetown 19 March 2026 Sierra Leone’s Chief Electoral Commissioner (CEC) and Chairman of the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL), Mr. Edmond Sylvester Alpha, has pledged to restore and strengthen public trust in the electoral process through dialogue, institutional reforms, and an open-door approach.
In a letter widely circulated on social media, addressed to leadership of the opposition All People’s Congress (APC) and the Unity Parties respectively, the CEC invited party leaders to courtesy meetings during a window of 23 March to 10 April 2026. The National Returning Officer stated that the specific date and time for the meeting would be selected by the respective parties.
According to ECSL, similar invitations were extended to all registered political parties across the country. The letters thanked parties for their endorsements and requested their leadership to meet with the Commission in a spirit of engagement.
The move, which has been received positively by members of the public, reflects Alpha’s stated commitment to improving the electoral environment through cooperation with key stakeholders. As a long-serving ECSL official, the CEC said his goal is to ensure the Commission operates with integrity, neutrality, and professionalism, while reinforcing transparency and accountability.
In the “unprecedented” correspondence, the Chief Electoral Commissioner highlighted the responsibilities entrusted to him as he serves all registered political stakeholders and the people of Sierra Leone. He assured that the Commission would remain a credible standard-bearer for fairness in electoral administration.
“*In line with my commitment to inclusive electoral management,” Alpha wrote, adding that the purpose of the engagements is to: *explain his vision for the Electoral Commission, provide an update on the Commission’s activities, and discuss the Commission’s strategic roadmap for the 2028 General Elections.
Reactions from citizens reflected optimism that the meetings will set the tone for meaningful preparation ahead of the 2028 polls. Alhaji Yeila Koroma, a 56-year-old father of seven, described the invitation as historic and said it signals a deliberate focus on building a transparent and credible electoral process.
Also speaking, Mabinty Tarawallie, a petty trader and mother of three, said she expects the opposition APC and Unity parties to honour the invitation, stressing that regardless of the discussions, productive engagement is ultimately in the interest of the nation and its people.
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