MTHE Introduces Online Voting for SU Elections at IPAM

18th September, 2021

The Ministry of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE) has introduced an online voting system in the conduct of Students' Union (SU) elections at Institute of Public Administration and Management- University of Sierra Leone (IPAM-USL) for the first time in the history of the country.

Being a project initiated by MTHE's Directorate of Technology, the SU online voting system has allowed IPAM[1]USL to be the first higher learning institution in Sierra Leone to set the stage for a digitized electioneering system, creating an ambiance for a peaceful exercise of students' franchise. Aside from being excellently transparent, the system has equally enabled students to be anywhere and conveniently cast their votes for their candidates, unlike in previous years when there would be huge number of students clustered around the campus premises, causing chaos and vandalizing campus property.

According to MTHE's Director of Technology, Mr. Victor Sesay, the event is the cradle of innovation, as IPAM has made history. He encouraged the University Administration and students to embrace the advantage, adding that the days of chaotic elections at IPAM have been laid to rest. He envisioned replication of the same online voting approach in other higher learning institutions of the country during their own SU elections.

The Deputy Vice Chancellor of IPAM, Prof. Edmond Nonie, noted that the aim of an SU Body is to work together with its University Administration to help fix loopholes for an overall institutional benefit. He referred to the online voting as a clear manifestation of a positive relationship between the SU Body and the University Administration. Prof. Nonie thanked MTHE's Directorate of Technology for working with IPAM to enhance a system that will stand the test of time.

 IPAM's Deputy Registrar, Mr. Brima Bah, registered his appreciation to the entire student body for believing in the process, adding that it is important in terms of taking the USL into the 21st century along with other universities across the world that are now fully into the digitized system of operation. "...we are very happy that we have been able to pilot it here at IPAM for electioneering. I believe that our sister colleges and even other universities in the country will definitely be taking this onboard," he said. In exercise of the power conferred on the Chief Electoral Commissioner, Madam Susan Fatmata Bundu, by Chapter Three Article XI of the Students' Union Constitution, Anthony Mustapha Sannoh, who pulled 82, the highest number of valid votes cast, was duly elected President of the Institute of Public Administration and Management Students' Union.