Freetown 17th November 2025– The All People’s Congress (APC) Party has issued a strongly worded public statement expressing deep concern over what it describes as unilateral and opaque actions by the Tripartite Steering Committee Secretariat (TSCS), particularly regarding the rollout of civic engagement sessions across Sierra Leone.
According to the APC, the TSCS recently released a “Schedule for District Public Education and Civic Engagement Sessions” without providing specific venues, timelines, or logistical details. The party claims this violates the procedural standards outlined in Recommendation 78 of the Tripartite Committee Report, which mandates inclusive and transparent public consultations.
The APC further alleges that the schedule was published without the knowledge or approval of its Chief Negotiator under the Agreement for National Unity (ANU), Dr. Kaifala Marah, nor was the party’s National Secretariat informed. The party views this as a breach of trust and a deliberate undermining of the consensus-building process.
Adding to the controversy, the APC has accused TSCS staff member Alimamy Lahai Kamara of making politically charged and unsolicited calls to individuals in APC strongholds. The party claims Kamara inquired about the presence of “political infiltrators” and issued directives to limit participation in the Falaba District session scheduled for Saturday, 15th November 2025. According to the APC, Kamara allegedly capped attendance at ten participants if infiltrators were present, and fifteen if none were identified.
“This is an outrageous attempt to shrink democratic participation and manipulate the national consultation process,” the APC stated, emphasizing that Recommendation 78 calls for open, uncensored engagement by all Sierra Leoneans, regardless of political affiliation.
The party reaffirmed its stance that the civic sessions are a national democratic exercise, not a partisan contest between the APC and the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP). It urged citizens across the country to attend the sessions boldly and lawfully.
In light of these developments, the APC issued a series of demands including: A public assurance from the TSCS that it is not being used for partisan manipulation. An independent investigation into the conduct of Mr. Kamara, a formal public apology from the TSCS to the APC and the people of Sierra Leone.
It also calls for the immediate resignation or removal of Mr. Kamara to restore public confidence, and full transparency regarding the civic engagement schedule, including locations, dates, objectives, and participation criteria.
Responding to the allegations, Ngolo Katta, Coordinator of the Tripartite Steering Committee Secretariat, stressed that his office serves as the operational wing of the steering committee, tasked with implementing directives rather than setting them.
He explained that the current exercise is a district‑level engagement, not a national consultation, though concerns raised will be documented and forwarded to the appropriate bodies. “We spoke with district actors because this phase is designed for district‑level input,” he noted.
Katta acknowledged the project’s limitations, citing the cap of 150 participants per session, with political parties holding the largest quotas. “Numbers matter, every additional participant has financial implications for the process,” he said.
He added that a planning committee meeting had been held, and those selected were duly informed. Importantly, he emphasized that all activities are reported to the steering committee, and that the APC, like every other stakeholder, is represented in the process.
He used the opportunity to defend Alimamy Lahai Kamara the Communications Specialist in the Tripartite Steering Committee Secretariat, noting that he was only doing his job and has done nothing wrong as accused by the APC.
