By Laurina B Lormia
(Cub-Reporter)
The Naymote Partners for Democratic Development has embarked on a mission to empower citizens across five counties to demand accountability from their government.
Documented from the 100-day deliverables released on May 13, 2024, Naymote’s detailed tracking and monitoring report indicated that the Boakai-Koung administration has completed 11 promises constituting 10 percent with 45 more promises in progress constituting 42 percent and has 51 constituting 48 percent unrated due to insufficient information.
in a meeting held in five town halls across Bong, Lofa, Nimba, Montserrado, and Grand Bassa Counties on May 31 to June 7, organized under the Democracy Advancement Program, (DAP), to deepen citizens’ understanding of government operations and performance, the Executive Director, Eddie D. Jarwolo, said the core purpose of government is to serve the interests of society, not just a selected few.
According to him, these sessions highlighted Naymote’s comprehensive report on the Boakai-Koung administration’s 100-Day Deliverables, promoting informed citizenship and fostering political accountability to achieve democratic dividends, a critical aspect since independence.
“The town hall meetings have significantly impacted public discourse, with discussions about the report proliferating on radio talk shows, in coffee shops, on social media, and across public institutions in the five targeted counties,” he said.
He added, this underscores the necessity for ongoing engagement and citizen advocacy to ensure government accountability for the campaign and post-campaign promises, reinforcing the social contract between elected officials and voters.
The participants expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity to receive firsthand information about government performance and commended Naymote for its efforts in keeping citizens informed and called for continuous engagement with rural communities.
“While some participants felt it might be premature to pressure the government, advocating for a longer evaluation period, they however acknowledged Naymote’s consistent political accountability initiatives, which began during former President George M. Weah’s administration,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, many participants expressed confidence in Naymote’s report, appreciating the thorough diligence applied in gathering and disseminating information.
They pledged to amplify the report’s findings to other community stakeholders and praised Naymote’s Democracy by Radio initiative for educating citizens on government performance and institutional activities.
Making remarks, a resident of the Lelekpayea Community in Bong County, Oretha Binda, noted that the town hall meeting enlightened her on the government’s progress on its 100-day deliverables, expressing hope for increased opportunities for women and youth.
The County Police Commander of Lofa County, Bob L. Jackson, highlighted that the meeting empowered residents with evidence-based information to counter disinformation and engage in informed public discussions about the report.
He encouraged residents to contribute to maintaining national peace, emphasizing that a peaceful nation is essential for national development.
