The Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs (MLGCA), in collaboration with the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL), has successfully concluded the Paramount Chieftaincy Declaration process in Mano Sakrim Chiefdom, Pujehun District, clearing three aspirants to contest in the forthcoming Paramount Chieftaincy Election scheduled for 21 June 2026.
The declaration exercise, a crucial stage in the chieftaincy election process, was conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Chieftaincy Act of 2009 and forms part of efforts to ensure a transparent, credible and lawful election.
Leading the verification process, the Provincial Secretary South, Abubakarr Kamara, emphasised that both the Ministry and ECSL remain committed to upholding the law and ensuring that only qualified candidates from recognised ruling houses participate in the election. “We are guided by the Chieftaincy Act and are ensuring that only eligible candidates from recognised ruling houses are approved to participate in the election,” Kamara stated.
Addressing stakeholders during the exercise, one of the assessor chiefs, Paramount Chief Sovular of Kamajie Chiefdom, urged residents of Mano Sakrim Chiefdom to approach the declaration process with honesty and sincerity. He described the declaration stage as one of the most important phases of any Paramount Chieftaincy election because it determines the eligibility of aspirants before the election itself is conducted. He noted that the assessor chiefs were carrying out their responsibilities with due diligence to ensure that only qualified candidates proceed to the election, thereby giving the chiefdom the opportunity to elect a Paramount Chief worthy of the position.
The exercise attracted a broad range of stakeholders, including representatives of the Director of Local Government, ECSL officials, traditional authorities, section chiefs, media practitioners and the District Officer for Pujehun.
As the institution responsible for the administration of chieftaincy affairs in Sierra Leone, the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs continues to work closely with ECSL to ensure that Paramount Chieftaincy elections are conducted peacefully, transparently and in accordance with the laws of the country.
In line with established chieftaincy traditions, aspirants must emerge from recognised ruling houses within the chiefdom. For the forthcoming election in Mano Sakrim Chiefdom, two ruling houses have been recognised: the Fawundu and Kaiba ruling houses. The three aspirants who successfully completed the declaration process and received their declaration boxes are Foday Abass Fawundu, Musa Fawundu, and Jane Kemah Seiwoh-Fawundu.
The successful completion of the declaration exercise marks another important milestone in the journey toward electing a new Paramount Chief for Mano Sakrim Chiefdom. Both the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs and ECSL have reassured residents and stakeholders of their commitment to delivering a free, fair and credible election process on 21 June.
