By Bill W. Cooper
The National Elections Commission (NEC) has held a one-day, highly engaging forum, bringing together 2023 Presidential Aspirants and international partners.
The event, held under the theme: “Building the confidence of the presidential candidates in the workings of the NEC”, aimed to foster dialogue, cooperation, and transparency among key stakeholders, with a focus on maintaining a peaceful electoral process.
The forum, held at the NEC headquarters yesterday, August 2, 2023, in Monrovia, was also a significant step towards building consensus and promoting democratic values within the country.
Recognizing the importance of open discussions, the NEC provided a neutral platform for presidential aspirants to express their visions, concerns, and proposed solutions regarding the upcoming elections.
Almost all presidential candidates from the various political parties showed up, eager to share their campaign promises and engage in fruitful discussions.
Their participation also showcased a commitment towards the country’s democratic ideals and a desire to address key issues that could potentially impact the electoral process.
Speaking of the NEC’s role as the custodian of free and fair elections in Liberia, its Chairperson, Davidetta Browne-Lansanah, in her opening remark, emphasized her and her team’s commitment to providing a level playing field for all candidates, and ensuring that the electoral process adheres to international standards.
The discussions in the forum revolved around crucial electoral matters, such as voter registration, campaign financing, electoral security, and the prevention of voter intimidation.
Madam Browne-Lansanah also acknowledged the significance of robust voter education programs, to ensure a well-informed electorate, as well as outlined plans to intensify its efforts to educate voters about their rights and responsibilities, and the importance of peaceful participation in the electoral process.
She further stressed the Commission’s commitment, aimed at reducing the potential for misinformation, polarization, and electoral violence that could hinder the successful conduct of the elections.
At the same time, the NEC Boss also disclosed that as it stands, the Commission has now received most of the funds in the total elections budget from the government, through the Ministry of Finance.
Madam Browne-Lansanah who announced that the final listing of qualified candidates is expected to be published on Saturday, August 5, 2023, which happens to be the same day the period for electoral campaign will officially kickoff, disclosed that the Commission is now working with the Government to make available the remaining funds, so as to fast-track the electoral process.
She also revealed that due to the bad road condition in the country, precisely the Southeastern region, the Commission has embarked on the transporting of election materials to various election magistrates in the far-to-reach counties.
She then called on all Liberians, including various political parties and their supporters, to desist from electoral violence and engage the elections in a more peaceful and constructive manner, to ensure maintenance of the country’s fragile peace.
Madam Browne-Lansanah, on behalf of the NEC and Board of Commissioners, thanked all presidential aspirants and international partners for their active engagement and pledged to incorporate their valuable inputs into the electoral process.
At the forum, each presidential aspirant, and/or proxy, had the opportunity to present their ideas on the subject matter, while international partners offered suggestions and shared best practices from other successful democratic transitions worldwide.
Further echoing on behalf of the One United Nation at the event, Christian Umutoni underscored Liberia’s collective effort to conduct credible and peaceful elections throughout the country.
For her part, ECOWAS special representative to Liberia, Josephine Nkrumah, expressed her institution’s fullest support for Liberia’s democratic aspirations, to ensure that the upcoming elections are free, fair, transparent and violent free.
She also pledged the ECOWAS’s unflinching and valuable insight to offer technical assistance and to foster an environment of transparency and fairness throughout the electoral cycle.
The gathering concluded with a renewed sense of unity and commitment among aspirants, to uphold the principles of democracy and peaceful elections.
Additionally, all political party leaders, and/or proxies, signed the symbolic peace banner(s) as a pledge to supporting a violent-free electoral process in Liberia, while samples of the ballot paper were also issued to each of them for their perusal or viewing and signature.
