The Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone (HRCSL) has criticized the decision by the National Electoral Commission (NEC) to impose what the opposition and civil society groups have described as “prohibitive” fees for candidates running for President and Members of Parliament in November’s elections.
In a press release, HRCSL describes the fees as “astronomical and disproportionate” to the living standards and income of Sierra Leoneans saying, “taking part in the conduct of public affairs particularly through elections is a basic human right”
The commission also says that there was “no consultation with the political parties, before the initial fees were announced” and that the time of the announcement was too close to elections. The statement says that NEC’s argument that candidates should contribute towards the conduct of the elections was “untenable” because “funding NEC is the responsibility of the Government of Sierra Leone, not political parties or politicians.” It urges Parliament to reduce the revised proposed fees.
Last week NEC announced a huge increase in nominations fees for candidates running in November. They included Le 100 Million for presidential candidates and Le 25 Million for MPs.
