Sierra Leone
2016
Bans and limits on private income
Public funding
Regulations of spending
Reporting, oversight and sanctions
| Question | Value |
|---|---|
1. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to political parties? |
Code
Yes
|
2. Is there a ban on donations from foreign interests to candidates? |
Code
No
|
3. Is there a ban on corporate donations to political parties? |
Code
Yes
|
4. Is there a ban on corporate donations to candidates? |
Code
No
|
5. Is there a ban on donations from Trade Unions to political parties? |
Code
Yes
Comment
All donations from legal entities banned
|
6. Is there a ban on donations from Trade Unions to candidates? |
Code
No
|
7. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to political parties? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Political parties are required to report on the identity of those who have made donations to the party or any of the candidates of the party.
|
8. Is there a ban on anonymous donations to candidates? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Political parties are required to report on the identity of those who have made donations to the party or any of the candidates of the party. Rules for parties should also apply to independent candidates.
|
9. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to political parties? |
Code
Yes
Comment
All donations from corporations are banned. Source
|
10. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with government contracts to candidates? |
Code
No
|
11. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to political parties? |
Code
Yes
Comment
All donations from corporations are banned. Source
|
12. Is there a ban on donations from corporations with partial government ownership to candidates? |
Code
No
|
13. Is there a ban on the use of state resources in favour or against a political party or candidate? |
Code
Yes
Comment
.
|
14. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during a non-election specific period? |
Code
No
Comment
Political Parties Registration Commission can create regulations introducing contribution limits. As of late 2011 they have not done so.
|
15. If there is a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during a non-election specific period, what is the limit? |
Code
Not applicable
|
16. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during an election? |
Code
No
Comment
Political Parties Registration Commission can create regulations introducing contribution limits. As of late 2011 they have not done so.
|
17. If there is a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a political party during an election, what is the limit? |
Code
Not applicable
|
18. Is there a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a candidate? |
Code
No
|
19. If there is a limit on the amount a donor can contribute to a candidate, what is the limit? |
Code
Not applicable
|
20. Is there a limit on the amount a candidate can contribute to their own election campaign? |
|
21. Is there a limit on in-kind donations to political parties? |
|
22. Is there a limit on in-kind donations to candidates? |
|
23. Is there a ban on political parties engaging in commercial activities? |
|
24. Is there a ban on political parties taking loans in relation to election campaigns? |
|
25. Is there a ban on candidates taking loans in relation to election campaigns? |
|
26. Is there a ban on donors to political parties/candidates participating in public tender/procurement processes? |
|
27. Are there provisions requiring donations to go through the banking system? |
| Question | Value |
|---|---|
28. Are there provisions for direct public funding to political parties? |
Code
No public funding available
Comment
As only citizens eligible to register as voters are currently allowed to contribute to political parties, public funding would require a legal change.
|
29. What are the eligibility criteria for political parties to receive public funding? |
Code
Not applicable
|
30. What is the allocation calculation for political parties to receive public funding? |
Code
Not applicable
|
31. What are the provisions on 'ear marking' direct public funding to political parties (how it should be used)? |
Code
Not applicable
|
32. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for political parties? |
Code
Yes
Comment
.
|
33. What criteria determine allocation for free or subsidized access to media for political parties? |
Code
Equal
Comment
.
|
34. Are there provisions for free or subsidized access to media for candidates? |
Code
Yes
Comment
.
|
35. Are there provisions for any other form of indirect public funding? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Political parties and candidates are exempt from customs duty on campaign materials.
|
36. Is the provision of direct public funding to political parties tied to gender equality among candidates? |
Code
Not applicable
|
37. Are there provisions for other financial advantages to encourage gender equality in political parties? |
Code
No
|
| Question | Value |
|---|---|
38. Is there a ban on vote buying? |
Code
Yes
Comment
.
|
39. Are there limits on the amount a political party can spend? |
Code
No
|
40. If there are limits on the amount a political party can spend, what is the limit? |
Code
Not applicable
|
41. Are there limits on the amount a candidate can spend? |
Code
No
|
42. If there are limits on the amount a candidate can spend, what is the limit? |
Code
Not applicable
|
43. Are there limits on the amount that third parties can spend on election campaign activities? |
|
44. Are there limits on traditional media advertising spending in relation to election campaigns? |
|
45. Are there limits on online media advertising spending in relation to election campaigns? |
|
46. Do any other restrictions on online media advertisement (beyond limits) exist? |
| Question | Value |
|---|---|
47. Do political parties have to report regularly on their finances? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Annually
|
48. Do political parties have to report on their election campaign finances? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Reports before and after an election.
|
49. Do candidates have to report on their election campaign finances? |
Code
Yes
Comment
Independent candidates only (for partisan candidates information about their finances should be included in reports by their political parties)
|
50. Do third parties have to report on election campaign finances? |
|
51. Is information in reports from political parties and/or candidates to be made public? |
Code
Yes
|
52. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates reveal the identity of donors? |
Code
Yes
|
53. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates include information on itemized income? |
|
54. Must reports from political parties and/or candidates include information on itemized spending? |
|
55. Which institution(s) receives financial reports from political parties and/or candidates? |
Code
Special agency for political finance
Comment
Political Parties Registration Commission
|
56. Which institution(s) is responsible for examining financial reports and/or investigating violations? |
Code
Special agency for political finance
Comment
The Political Parties Registration Commission has a mandate to monitor the compliance of political parties with the law, though it has no specific responsibility to monitor political finance regulations. |
57. What power is granted to the institution(s) responsible for examining reports and/or investigating violations? |
|
58. What sanctions are provided for political finance infractions? |
Code
Comment
Knowingly submitting false information carries fines or imprisonment. Being convicted of vote buying means a person can lose the right to vote and be elected.
|
