Freetown, 31st March, 2026 – The Sixth Parliament of the Second Republic of Sierra Leone has moved to mandate an investigation into the operations of National Elections Watch (NEW), following growing concerns over transparency and accountability in the civil society organization’s activities.
During today’s sitting, lawmakers are expected to debate a motion calling on the appropriate parliamentary committee to conduct a thorough investigation into NEW and report back with findings and recommendations within a specified timeframe. The motion emphasized that the probe must be carried out in the public interest, with due regard for transparency, accountability, and the integrity of democratic governance.
The National Consortium on Public Accountability, a civil society group, has submitted a formal complaint and urgent appeal to Parliament. The consortium alleged grave irregularities, lack of transparency, and unexplained utilization of donor funds by NEW, urging lawmakers to act swiftly to safeguard public trust in electoral oversight.
Speaker of Parliament confirmed that the matter will be referred to committee for detailed examination, marking a significant step in addressing concerns about the role and credibility of civil society organizations in Sierra Leone’s democratic process.
The investigation, once launched, is expected to shed light on how NEW has managed donor resources and whether its monitoring of elections has met standards of fairness and accountability.
