By Kadiatu Sankoh
Freetown,
On 24 June 2025, Dr Emmanuel Gaima, Senior Executive Adviser to the President on the Public Sector Reform Unit, and Ngolo Katta, Head of the Tripartite Secretariat, shared comprehensive updates on the Tripartite Committee and the execution of its eight key recommendations. The two were speaking at the weekly government press briefing, hosted by the Ministry of Information and Civic Education, which took place on Tuesday, 24 June 2025.
Dr Gaima traced the Committee’s origins to post-June 2023 election tensions, when the main opposition APC and the Electoral Commission raised concerns regarding structural and financial challenges within the electoral process; and efforts culminated in the Bintumani Conference in October 2023, resulting in eight key resolutions, including the creation of a Tripartite Committee composed of representatives from the government, the APC, and UN Resident Coordinator, Seraphine Wakana.
Dr Gaima emphasized that the Committee’s mandate was to foster post-election peace, leading to 80 major recommendations, notably the release of detainees under recommendation 46, following consultations with the APC.
Ngolo Katta reported that the Secretariat has executed extensive consultations via its steering committee, which includes government and opposition representatives, Parliamentarians, Mayors, Paramount Chiefs, and Civil Society Organizations, to compile a detailed report. He also announced a national dialogue scheduled for July, ensuring participation from persons with disabilities through Braille documents and video-based sign-language services.
Currently, the Secretariat is conducting legal reviews of the Electoral Commission Act, the Police Act, and the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation Act. And a functional review of the ECSL is underway, supported by implementation trackers designed to monitor progress. These efforts are being undertaken in coordination with the Office of National Security, aligning with recommendation 80, which calls for establishing a fully staffed Tripartite Secretariat.
Dr. Gaima and Ngolo Katta reaffirmed their commitment to the July national dialogue, and pledged that all reports and documentation will be made available in accessible formats, such as Braille and sign language. They stressed ongoing collaboration with Parliament, the ECSL, and other relevant bodies to transparently integrate all Tripartite Committee recommendations into governance and legislative frameworks.
Through sustained dialogue, institutional review, and inclusive planning, Sierra Leone is moving steadily toward reinforcing public trust and ensuring the integrity of future electoral processes.