By Gibrilla Elongima Kanu

The newly-appointed National Electoral Commission (NEC) Chairman and Chief Electoral Commissioner, Mohamed Kenewui Konneh will conduct his first election in constituency 110 soon.

To many people, this would be his first test case that would go down history whatever the outcome of this election. The outcome of this and other bye-election that would be held on the same date would prove or disprove Konneh’s competence at conducting elections. It indeed would be his first test.

Meanwhile, Konneh’s appointment comes after the former Chief Electoral Commissioner – Mohamed N’Fa Allie Conteh, whose term in office ended in February 2020, was not renewed by the president.

But few had expected the president to renew Mohamed N’Fa Allie Conteh’s contract, after what many in Sierra Leone regard as his spectacular failure to oversee the 2018 general and presidential elections, dogged by accusations of electoral fraud, malpractices and several High Court petitions that are still ongoing, casting doubts on the results and outcome of those elections.

Given such controversy and its knock-on effect on the integrity of and confidence in Mohamed N’Fa Allie Conteh, politicians across the divide are breathing a sigh of relief that his contract was not renewed by President Bio.

Mohammed Kenewui Konneh was Director of Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU).

OwlPress