By Lawrence Williams
The U.S. Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Bryan Hunt (photo), has been actively engaged in discussions on key governance issues impacting the country’s democracy. During a recent interview on the Africa Young Voices Wake Up Sierra Leone show, Ambassador Hunt shared his insights on the possible outcome of the Tripartite Committee’s work.
Ambassador Hunt hinted at the two main areas the committee’s recommendations are likely to focus on. The first bracket, he said, will address proposals for electoral reforms, including legislative and administrative changes. The second bracket will propose accountability measures for individuals involved in electoral misconduct during the June 24 elections, potentially leading to the establishment of a tribunal for those who committed wrongdoing.
Sierra Leoneans who have expressed doubts about the credibility of the results announced by the electoral commission may have found some comfort in Ambassador Hunt’s views. This sentiment is also shared by prominent election observation groups, who flagged irregularities in the tallying and tabulation of results by the electoral commission.
The anticipation for the Tripartite Committee’s recommendations and the possibility of accountability measures being implemented are topics of significant interest and importance to both citizens and foreign partners concerned about the democratic process in Sierra Leone.
This June, a delegation comprising representatives from ECOWAS and other international bodies will be arriving in the country to assess the progress made in implementing the Agreement for National Unity. They will engage with the government, opposition, and other key stakeholders as the Tripartite Committee approaches the end of its work.
Sierra Leone Improves Transparency Score in 2023 Open Budget Survey
The country has shown significant progress in transparency and accountability in its budget process, as revealed in the 2023 Open Budget Survey released by Budget Advocacy Network on Wednesday. The country’s transparency score increased by 10 points above the global average, from 45% in 2021 to 55% in 2023. This improvement has also seen Sierra Leone climb 17 points in the global rankings, moving from 64th in 2021 to 47th in 2023 out of 125 countries surveyed.
This rise in transparency places Sierra Leone ahead of several African countries, including Liberia (52%), Ghana (46%), and Nigeria (31%). The publication of the Citizens’ Budget, the Enacted Budget, and In-Year Reports, in compliance with the 2016 Public Financial Management Act and its 2018 regulations, has significantly contributed to the country’s improved scores in the survey.
However, despite these achievements, Sierra Leone still falls below the pass mark of 60%. Abu Bakarr Kamara, Coordinator of the Budget Advocacy Network (BAN), highlighted the need for the government to enhance budget information disclosure by publishing the Pre-Budget Statement online at least one month before submitting the Executive’s Budget Proposal to Parliament and the Mid-Year Review three months after the end of the six-month period.
Furthermore, citizen participation in the budget process has decreased, with only 20% taking part in 2023 compared to 31% in 2021. The International Budget Partnership noted a significant drop in citizen involvement in budget formulation from 70% in 2021 to 33% in 2023. Despite this, 17% of citizens participated in the budget execution stage, with 33% selecting issues for the Audit Service Sierra Leone to audit.
Sierra Leone has seen an improvement in audit oversight, with the score increasing to 78% in 2023 from 72% in 2021. However, legislative oversight has fallen by 3 points, from 33% in 2021 to 30% in 2023.
Anjali Garg, head of the Open Budget Survey, emphasised the importance of open budget practices in building public trust and ensuring resources reach those most in need. She highlighted countries like South Africa and Mexico as examples of where progress is possible with political will.
The Open Budget Survey serves as a critical assessment of transparency, oversight, and public participation in public budgets, providing valuable insights into the budget processes of countries around the world. Sierra Leone’s progress in the 2023 survey reflects a positive step towards greater transparency and accountability in its budgeting practices.
