By Ibrahim Sesay
In a bid to advance electoral inclusion for persons with disabilities (PWDs), a delegation from the National Commission for Persons with Disability (NCPD) paid a working visit to the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone (ECSL) headquarters in Freetown on Thursday, 2 October 2025. The visit aimed to strengthen collaboration and promote greater participation of PWDs in the country’s electoral processes.
Chairman of the NCPD, Brima Abdulai Sheriff, commended ECSL’s efforts toward disability inclusion and outlined his vision for enhanced collaboration with key stakeholders to raise awareness and dismantle systemic barriers that have historically marginalized PWDs.
“PWDs are often challenged to participate fully in electoral processes due to barriers such as inaccessible polling centers and low levels of awareness,” Brima Abdulai Sheriff said. He urged ECSL to leverage NCPD’s technical expertise on disability issues, advocating for the recruitment of PWDs not only as polling agents but also as permanent staff in line with the Persons with Disability Act.
Brima Abdulai Sheriff emphasized the importance of inclusive training for polling officers and shared his PRIDE framework, designed to guide strategic interventions that advance the rights and opportunities of PWDs across multiple sectors.
Responding to the delegation, ECSL Acting Chairman and Chief Commissioner, Edmond Sylvester Alpha, described the engagement as both inspiring and sobering. “The visit of the Commission serves as a source of inspiration and reminds me that we need to do more,” he said.
Edmond Sylvester Alpha highlighted ECSL’s ongoing initiatives to promote inclusion, including the establishment of disability working groups across all districts and infrastructural adaptations such as a lift and a disabled-friendly toilet at the head office. He stressed that ECSL has an entire department dedicated to disability-related matters, signaling the institution’s structural commitment to accessibility.
Acknowledging the importance of formal collaboration, Edmond Sylvester Alpha proposed that both institutions develop a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to guide their partnership, strengthen coordination and deepen their relationship. He also noted that ECSL has been co-opted into the Political Parties Liaison Committee to facilitate effective participation of PWDs.
The meeting was attended by NCPD Executive Secretary, Saa Kortequee, ICO Manager Mawsuie P. I Dumbuya Esq, HR Manager Aminata Kelly and ECSL Commissioners, Abubakar Koroma (North), Alex Saffa (South) and Deputy Executive Secretary, Gladys John.
With Sierra Leone preparing for upcoming electoral cycles, the strengthened collaboration between NCPD and ECSL is expected to play a critical role in ensuring that no citizen, regardless of ability, is left behind in the democratic process.
The Calabash Newspaper is Sierra Leone’s leading English‑language news platform—established in 2017 to deliver trusted coverage of politics, culture, health, and more to audiences both at home and abroad.
