Date set for Sierra Leone elections

2011-11-11 07:41

Freetown - Sierra Leone's chief electoral commissioner, Christiana Thorpe, said on Thursday presidential, parliamentary and local elections would be held in Sierra Leone on November 17 2012.

"The proclamation has been made according to the powers conferred on the electoral commission after consultation with the president of Sierra Leone", Thorpe said in a statement.

Five political parties are so far recognised by the elections commission to contest the election.

They are the ruling All People's Congress (APC), the main opposition Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP), the People's Movement for Democratic Change (PMDC), the National Democratic Alliance (NDC) and the recently formed United Democratic Movement (UDM).

Only the APC, SLPP and the PMDC are represented in the current parliament.

The electoral commission will undertake a three month registration of voters from January, 2012.

According to elections officials, the poll will cost $47m, of which $27m will come from the government.

- AFP