By Grace Q. Bryant
The United Nations Representative to Sudan, Sam G. Doe, has warned about the implications of any potential electoral fraud.
According to him, election fraud damages international reputation because the international community values democratic norms and principles, when a country experiences elections fraud, it often faces criticism and sanctions.
The Resident Representative for UNDP further explained that election fraud has grave economic consequences and also erodes trust in political institutions.
Speaking yesterday at the high-level National conference on electoral integrity held at Ministerial Complex, under the theme: United for Credible, Peaceful Elections and a Prosperous Liberia, Doe noted that election fraud has the propensity to breathe new life into the demon of ethnic and social tensions.
“When citizens lose faith in the integrity of elections, it undermines the legitimacy of the government. This distrust can lead to political unrest, protests, and even violence, as people seek to voice their grievances and demand accountability,” the UNDP Representative expressed.
According to him, Liberia has been recovering, even if the recovery is painfully slow and fragile, due to episodes of a senseless and prolonged civil war, adding that free and fair elections have played a crucial role in the progress.
He added that election fraud can isolate Liberia on the global stage and hinder its access to foreign aid and assistance, which are crucial for sustainable development.
“It is our collective responsibility as citizens, leaders, and stakeholders, to safeguard the electoral process and ensure that the 2023 Presidential and Legislative elections in Liberia are free, fair, transparent, credible, and peaceful,” he emphasized.
He therefore called on NEC to engage in more strategic and proactive communication, as well as information sharing on the electoral process with the public, “Information is power, and there should be no room for speculations,” he noted.
He added that democracy thrives when its foundations are solid, and free and fair elections are its bedrock.
“Liberia is Africa’s beacon of hope for self-rule; we can once again serve as a shining example for the consolidation of democracy. The over 200 thousand souls who paid the ultimate price for our democracy are watching. We must not let them down,” he said.
However, the UN Resident Coordinator, Madam Christine N. Umutoni, said the responsibility and capability of any society to organize free, fair, transparent, credible, and inclusive elections is considered the basic proof of its maturity.
Madam Umutoni noted that Liberian now has a unique opportunity to show the world that they have become a capable democracy, able to sustain hard-won peace, stability, and development.
“The biggest responsibility lies on the national stakeholders and people of Liberia to coordinate, cooperate, and collaborate with the National Elections Commission to ensure peaceful, transparent, and credible elections,” she added.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Minister for Administration, Momolu S. Johnson, said the forthcoming elections is fundamental to securing lasting peace, stability and prosperity for the country.
He also appreciates the NEC for the level of preparation and safeguards put in place, encouraging the upholding of its mandates, enforcing electoral laws, and ensuring a level playing field for all candidates.
He noted that the different political parties have all emphasized the importance of these elections during their campaign launches, urging for integrity, prudence, transparency, and credibility.
