Peace Network wants IEC to rise bar higher for Mayor, Presidential, Parlimentary Contenders

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By Amo Manneh 


Peace Network, a non profit organisation called the Indepedent Electoral Commission (IEC) to increase the requirement and qualifications for Councilorship, Mayoral, National Assembly and Presidential aspiring candidates in the country.

Accroding to Alasana Justice Jallow Chief Executive Officer of Peace Network, the qualifications for councilorship should be graded with Senior Secondary School Certificate with at least three credits.

He added that, the qualifications for mayoral candiatates should be undergraduate degree or Higher National Diploma whilst parliamentarian or presidential candidates should have a minium of first-degree. 

He made these remarks on Wednesday during the Peace Network recommendation statement ahead of the local government election.

Mr. Jallow further stated that differently abled and visually impaired people have experience some challenges during the election.

He stated that despite differently abled being given priority to cast their votes, most of the polling centers were not catered for those with wheelchairs and walking sticks. 

“Voting Centers should be made accessible to differently abled persons. If the present centers cannot be transformed and be made accessible to differently abled persons then new centers should be chosen for conduct of future elections,” he stated.

He added that although visually impaired people were escorted into the voting booths and assisted to vote but there should be mechanisms to ensure that they vote in secret.

Mr. Jallow further recommended that the IEC should use paper ballots in future upcoming elections.




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