By Precious D. Freeman
A one-day engagement dialogue seeking commitment on post-election democracy and peace consolidation has ended in Monrovia.
The engagement was organized by the Liberian National Bar Association (LNBA), in collaboration with the National Elections Commission (NEC).
The dialogue, held through the UNDP Electoral Support Project, brought together Civil Society Organizations, security actors, religious leaders, and the media, among others.
Also, it climaxed the UNDP Electoral Support Project (LNBACNP) that was launched September 19, 2023, aimed at strengthening the legal capacity of Liberian lawyers and providing civic engagement for stakeholders across the country.
The project came about due to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) among stakeholders that included the LNBA and the NEC to execute a grant of US$50,000, allowing elections stakeholders understand the distinction between court room litigation process and administrative hearings conducted before NEC.
In his opening remark, LNBA president, Cllr. Sylvester D. Rennie, thanking the participants, said the consolidation of Liberia’s peace and democracy rests on the collective efforts of every Liberian.
He noted, “So, today marks the closure of a program that was birthed in September with a concept developed by the LNBA to ensure there be a partnership with NEC in connection with the electoral program.”
“And now, we have come to see how we can brainstorm on the consolidation of Liberia’s peace and democracy. On that basis, we have called you here for us to brainstorm,” Cllr. Rennie narrated.
According to him, based upon some missteps they saw along the way on the part of lawyers and NEC, they decided to unite and build the capacity of lawyers, CSOs, media, and stakeholders, to ensure peaceful elections and understanding of legal electoral processes.
He clarified that not understanding the laws at times has created serious problems in the past, and as such, the LNBA sees the decongestion of electoral complaints carried by political parties and lawyers as a major concern to be addressed with urgency.
Meanwhile, representatives from the CSO, the media, and religious community, thanked the LNBA and NEC for the engagement, describing it as a knowledge worth receiving.
