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Sierra Leone’s multi-tier elections conducted on June 24th 2023 had thirteen Presidential candidates on the ballot papers but with endorsement by these parties for the Sierra Leone People’s Party and All people’s Congress party respectively, the two main party became the only focus for locals and international bodies. These top candidates are Dr. Julius Maada Bio and Dr. Samura Kamara and they have issued messages addressing the election and the people who voted. The presidential candidate of the Sierra Leone People’s party who’s also incumbent President Dr. Julius Maada Bio, after casting his votes, encouraged people to return home and wait for the announcement of official results from the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone. In a short interview at the centre, remarked that his fate remains unknown as only the Electoral Commission possess that mandate to declare a winner. He further tweeted a thankful note to the Sierra Leonean people for adhering to this year’s slogan for “Saful” elections, a demonstration of the resilience of the nation’s citizens. Dr. Samura Kamara, the Presidential Candidate of the All People’s Congress party, after casting his vote, thanked the people for exercising their constitutional right and further called for transparency in the counting and announcing of election results. Dr. Kamara later tweeted commendation for the Sierra Leonean people whose participation ensures the continuation of democracy. The tallying of results from polling centres continues today at regionally offices to be forwarded to the Freetown International Conference Centre where various electoral bodies, including the electoral Commission has set up situational hubs.

The National Election Watch has released a situational analysis of their reports filed in by their observers circulating around at polling centres nationwide, on elections day on June 24th. According to their report, there were primarily reports of late opening of polling centres , followed by missing data of seemingly valid voters with registered slips but whose names were not found on the voting register and the unavailability of validation stamps in some centres. The report mentioned one incident of the arrest of a person with ballot papers in Makeni. The report further outlined the inclusion of women in the voting process, protection of the privacy of voters, access to all polling stations by the electoral commission’s validated bodies. Their report points out an eighty-nine percent presence of security forces. The electioneering process, specifically the tallying of polling centres results, continues today at regionally designated offices of the electoral commission.

The Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone has declared their designated centres for tallying of results for the just concluded Multitier elections of June 24th 2024, opening 9am today. The ECSL invites two representatives from elections stakeholders including media, national and international observers and political parties to respective regional Tally Centres. The tally centre for Western Area is at the National Data Centre,15 Industrial Estate, Wellington,  Freetown. The Southern tallying centre is at the ECSL Regional Office, Reservation Road, Bo City. The tallying centre for the East Region is at ECSL Regional Office, Reservation Road, Kenema City. The North Region tallying centre is at ECSL Regional Office, Azzolinni Highway, Makeni City The tallying centre for North West is at District Council Hall, Port Loko City It is from these centres that single polling results will be combined and sent to the Freetown International Conference Center hub of the electoral commission of Sierra Leone.

The Minister of Trade and Industry in the Republic of Sierra Leone confirmed to this medium that the release circulating on media, alleging an increase in price of fuel is fake. The now debunked notice showed an increase of fuel price from the current Nle21.5 to Nle30 for petrol and diesel. According to the Minister, this notice should be disregarded as fake, as there is no plan on the horizon to increase fuel prices.

The representatives of the United Kingdom, United States, Germany, France, Ireland and European Union delegates have issued a joint statement condemning election related violence reports around Sierra Leone. The jointly signed release reminded Presidential candidates of the Sierra Leone People's party Dr. Julius Maada Bio and Dr. Samura Kamara of the All People's Congress party and other political party candidates of their pledges of peace committed to, in May. They urged everyone to reject languages of violence and respect each other's political choices.

President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, His Excellency Julius Maada Bio on Tuesday 20th June 2023, ahead of elections, delivered a national address committing to ensuring a free, fair and transparent elections. In the statement delivered on national televisions and on major online platforms, President Bio remarked on elections tensions and their dangerous potential to lead to bigger issues of unrest, similar to those that sparked the decade long civil war. He reasoned that memories of this will prevent him from taking actions tantamount to destabilizing the nation's peace currently being experienced, albeit a volatile one. He outlined actions taken since his inception in office with the goal of ensuring peace, such as the national conference for peace and cohesion dubbed the Bintumani three, the enactment of the Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment law and the stregthening of frameworks protecting women from sexual and gender based violence. Regarding elections, he outlined that his plans to promote fair elections encouraged him to establish the multi-stakeholder steering committee constituted by representatives of government, foreign bodies, political parties, religious leaders, civil society organizations and more. He concluded with this year's election slogan of conducting individual actions by it, calling all Sierra Leoneans to vote Saful, go home saful and accept results saful This address has however left some citizens dissatisfied that President Bio insufficiently addressed concerns brought up by opposition parties which could continue the situation of unrest. Here's the link to watch the Presidential address: https://fb.watch/lkkKOHqn2q/

Sierra Leonean para powerlifter Rugiatu Sankoh, who has a lower limb amputation, successfully completing a regional training course in Ghana ahead of the All Africa Paralympic Games in September 2023. The training, which was held in Accra, was organized by the Ghana Paralympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee. It was attended by coaches and technical officials from 16 African countries. Sankoh, who is classified as a powerlifter with an impairment in her lower limbs, said the training was a "life-changing moment" for her and her colleagues. "I learned a lot from the coaches and I am now confident that I can compete at the highest level," she said. Sankoh also thanked the Government of Sierra Leone, the Ministry of Sports, the National Sports Authority, the National Olympic Committee, the President and the Executive Members of the National Paralympic Committee for their support. "I am grateful for the opportunity to represent my country and I will do my best to make Sierra Leone proud," she said. The All Africa Paralympic Games will be held in Ghana from September 3-12 2023.

The Commonwealth Observers group have disclosed in a Press briefing today, held at the Bintumani International Conference Centre, that their arrival and stay in Sierra Leone is to observe the coming elections and make recommendations based on those observations. According to the Chairman of the mission, Former Vice President of Nigeria Prof. Osinbajo, the mission will be observing the pre-election environment, polling day activities and the post election period for an environment for the conduct of credible elections, including a fair election environment, media impartiality, voters’ freedom of expression and transparency of the counting process, in adherence to national, regional and international commitments. He continued that their twelve man team who have been in Sierra Leone since the 17th June 2023, were put together by the Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland, KC, herself, will be guided by the principles of neutrality, impartiality, objectivity and independence but in carrying out their functions will in no way be interfering. He continued that they hope to engage stakeholders to form an initial assessment and will be issuing a preliminary statement with their findings after the elections, specifically on the 26th June 2023. He hoped that the Sierra Leoneean people would abstain from violence based on knowledge that a good part of the world is observing to witness the portrayal of hospitality and peacefulness that its citizens are known for.

The Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone(ECSL) today at the Lungi International Airport received over two hundred pallets of elections materials from South Africa for Presidential, local councils and Parliamentary elections Present to observe the delivery, offloading and handing over, were party representatives, election monitoring bodies, security personnel and Media practitioners. Speaking, the Director of Operations for ECSL, Mohamed Turay, outlined their plans after receipt of the materials. He disclosed that after sorting out the materials based on the election and district for it, they will be taken to a district office of the ECSL to be protected by joint security personnel of the Sierra Leone Police and the Sierra Leone Armed forces. He concluded that the plans for the elections continues unhindered and Saturday's activities are expected to go off without a hitch.

Minister of Energy, Alhaji Kanja Sesay, during the switching on of the Moyamba township electricity grid, has said electricity is a given right of every citizen resident of a country, especially its citizens. Minister Kanja who was accompanied by President Bio on 18th June 2023, informed the people that this completion is a matter of pride to him given the President’s urging to fulfill it for the people of Moyamba. He urged the town’s people to help protect the installations against vandalizers and saboteurs, to better enjoy the service. He also informed the people that solar facilities would be added to complement the thermal plants. His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio impressed upon the people his desire to provide sustainable electricity supply for all and described the occasion as historic, adding that his administration was on a mission to correct social and historical injustices in the country. He said his presence in the district to light up the town was illustrative of his desire to deliver on the promises he had made to the people of Moyamba, noting that the township electricity project,the fourteen mini grid facilities,the solar lights,the reconstructed roads and bridges,and the many NaCSA social projects and cash transfers provide shining examples of how far his Government had taken steps to take development to the district. With funds exclusively provided by the Government of Sierra Leone, the township of Moyamba was identified as one of those district headquarter towns that would benefit from the Seven Districts Electrification Project.

Davida Green known as Vida, has penned a volumnous message of thanks to her support for their efforts during her time of ailment last year. Vida was revealed to have been suffering from complicated internal ailments that required life saving surgery at the earliest possible time. Colleagues had rallied around and commenced thprocesse but it was discovered to be insufficient and had gone public to ask for assistance. The country in a surprising turn of events had taken it up giving it the attention it needed. The first Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone had reached out to a third party to also help. Over time she has undergone the surgeries needed, is out of the woods and well on her way to recoveries. Today, Vida who came in last week, wrote a thank you message to colleagues, diasporans and family who stood by her to ensure her recovery. She thanked sisters who supported her by praying with her, giving her strength and courage to get through treatment. She thanks media supporters who organized and promoted that "Vida Green Concert" to raise funds and contribute to her medical bills. The public has been restlessly seeking for information and this message from her is just what is needed to allay their concerns.

The Political Parties Regulations Commission has invited electoral participants to a mediation at Bintumani International Conference Centre tomorrow at 11am. The Parties include the central aggrieved, the All People's Congress Party, who have raised concerns against the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone on execution of election processes. The APC had registered to the Police their intent to peacefully March to the office of ECSL, which had elicited a call to an afternoon meeting(1PM)with the Police, as a response. However, the PPRC's meeting comes before that time and both ECSL and APC, along with the Independent Commission for Peace and National Commission and the Police are expected to sit in on this mediation. Whether this negates the sit down with the Police is unconfirmed, as sources within refused to comment at this time.