{"id":6904,"date":"2026-04-01T15:06:43","date_gmt":"2026-04-01T15:06:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/apexnewssl.com\/?p=6904"},"modified":"2026-04-01T15:06:43","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T15:06:43","slug":"as-parliament-commences-probe-into-new-has-the-hunter-become-the-hunted","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/apexnewssl.com\/?p=6904","title":{"rendered":"As Parliament Commences Probe Into NEW\u2026  Has the Hunter Become The Hunted?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>By JKM<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Sierra Leone\u2019s Parliament has taken a decisive step to probe the operations of National Elections Watch (NEW), amid growing concerns over transparency and accountability.<\/p>\n<p>The motion, tabled during Tuesday\u2019s parliamentary sitting, mandates a comprehensive investigation into NEW\u2019s activities, particularly its management of donor funds and its role in election monitoring. Lawmakers say the move aims to safeguard democratic integrity and reinforce public confidence in electoral oversight institutions.<\/p>\n<p>This action follows a formal complaint by the National Consortium on Public Accountability, which raised concerns over alleged financial irregularities and fund management within NEW. Parliament, through the Speaker, confirmed that the matter will be referred to the relevant committee for detailed examination, including hearings, evidence collection, and submission of findings within a stipulated timeframe.<\/p>\n<p>Observers believe the probe could have far-reaching implications for civil society engagement in governance, particularly in election monitoring, where credibility is essential.<\/p>\n<p>Moreover, Honourable Sellu strongly defended Parliament\u2019s decision, emphasizing that the move is not meant to punish NEW, but to ensure fairness, transparency, and accountability. He cited a March 26 press release, highlighting that information circulating on social media\u2014or claims presented as Parliamentary positions\u2014are misleading and could damage reputations and public trust.<\/p>\n<p>Sellu stressed that Parliament\u2019s intervention is designed to protect both individuals and institutions. By inviting NEW to appear before the relevant committee, a proper and impartial investigation can be conducted, with findings made public to clear any doubts and preserve credibility.<\/p>\n<p>He described the action as constructive and supportive, commending Parliament for taking proactive steps to safeguard institutional integrity rather than allowing speculation to persist. Hon. Sellu emphasized that the core issue is financial accountability and transparency\u2014not politics or electoral competition\u2014and connects directly to ensuring civil society organizations operate responsibly, especially those receiving public or donor funds.<\/p>\n<p>He further pointed out that, according to NEW\u2019s own press release, the organization has 487 members, with 442 actively participating\u2014representing 88.3 percent engagement. Membership lists are publicly displayed and verified, grievances addressed, and documentation exists across all operational levels, from local branches to district, regional, and national structures.<\/p>\n<p>Honourable Sellu concluded that these issues warrant parliamentary review, urging NEW leadership to provide clarity. This process, he maintained, will ultimately reinforce public confidence and demonstrate that civil society institutions operate with transparency and responsibility.<\/p>\n<p>The connection between Sellu\u2019s submission and his remarks underscores Parliament\u2019s dual aim: to safeguard institutional credibility while ensuring NEW meets the highest standards of accountability.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By JKM Sierra Leone\u2019s Parliament has taken a decisive step to probe the operations of&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6906,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6904","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>As Parliament Commences Probe Into NEW\u2026 Has the Hunter Become The Hunted? - Apexnewssl.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, 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