By Thaimu T Kamara
The Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) is exploring a potential partnership with the Victory Teens Organisation (VTO) to promote the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in electoral education, youth participation and democratic engagement.
The development followed a courtesy visit by a delegation from VTO to the ECSL headquarters at Tower Hill, Freetown, on Wednesday, 26 August 2026. The delegation met with the Chief Electoral Commissioner and Chairman of ECSL, Mr Edmond Sylvester Alpha, to discuss areas of possible collaboration between the two institutions.
VTO Executive Director, Ms Magdalene Lebbie, said the organisation is focused on equipping young people with relevant skills and competencies, particularly in the area of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence.
She explained that VTO was interested in working with the Electoral Commission to explore practical and innovative ways AI could be used to improve electoral education and encourage greater youth participation in Sierra Leone’s electoral processes.
According to Lebbie, young people represent an important segment of the country’s population and have a significant role to play in strengthening democratic governance. She noted that access to digital skills and innovative technologies could help young people better understand electoral processes and participate more meaningfully in civic and democratic activities.
The proposed collaboration could potentially create opportunities for young people to engage with electoral information through modern digital platforms, while also supporting initiatives aimed at improving awareness and understanding of the electoral system.
Responding to the proposal, Chief Electoral Commissioner Edmond Sylvester Alpha welcomed the initiative and reaffirmed ECSL’s willingness to engage in partnerships that support the Commission’s constitutional and institutional mandate.
Alpha said collaboration with organisations working with young people and technology could contribute to the Commission’s efforts to strengthen electoral processes and promote credible elections.
He also highlighted recent steps taken by ECSL to build its institutional capacity in the area of Artificial Intelligence and elections. According to him, four ECSL staff members recently participated in AI and Elections training in India as part of the Commission’s efforts to develop knowledge and expertise in the application of innovative digital technologies.
The training, he said, forms part of broader efforts to ensure that the Commission keeps pace with technological developments that could have implications for the management of elections and electoral information.
The discussions between ECSL and VTO come at a time when Artificial Intelligence is increasingly being considered for applications across different sectors, including governance, education and public information.
For electoral institutions, the technology presents opportunities as well as challenges, particularly in areas such as voter education, information dissemination, data management and public engagement. The use of AI in electoral processes therefore requires careful consideration to ensure that innovation is applied responsibly and in a manner that protects public confidence in elections.
The proposed ECSL-VTO engagement is expected to focus on identifying areas where technology can complement existing electoral education and youth engagement initiatives.
The meeting also underscored the importance of partnerships between public institutions and youth-focused organisations in creating avenues for young people to contribute to national development and democratic governance.
For ECSL, the engagement is part of its continuing efforts to embrace responsible innovation and strengthen partnerships that can support the delivery of credible elections.
For VTO, a partnership with the electoral management body could provide an avenue to connect its youth-focused technology initiatives with civic and electoral education.
While no formal partnership agreement was announced following the meeting, both sides expressed interest in exploring opportunities for future collaboration.
The engagement signals a growing recognition of the role technology can play in reaching young people and encouraging their participation in Sierra Leone’s democratic processes, while reinforcing the need for responsible and informed use of AI in the electoral environment.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Wednesday, 2nd September 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
