The former Managing Director of the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation (LWSC), now Director of the Engineering Department at the University of Liberia has called on voters to reflect on challenges of the past as they go to the polls.
He made the statement through Francis Kangama Adgana, Director for Block Mapping at the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation during the official launching program of ‘Your Vote, Your Right’ (YOVOYORI) INC., held on Friday, January 20, 2023 at the Monrovia City Hall Conference room.
Adgana explained that Liberia has a democratic form of government and one primary distinction between a democratic and non-democratic governance is that in democracy, the people hold the power.
He said that power is the right to elect their leaders for a fixed term after which they return to re-elect or vote them out if they are not accountable to them, if their dignity is abused, their safety is at risk and their lives are not improved, adding this right to freely elect their leaders is the most fundamental right given the people in a democracy.
Speaking on the topic: ‘Challenges we saw in the last three election cycles,’ Adgana stressed that Liberia has a democratic form of governance and that is why the framers of the Constitution included chapter one which reads, “All Power Is Inherent in the People.”
He reminded Liberians saying, “The 2023 elections are critical for this country because we have gone through three election cycles and by now, we the electorates, officials of the elections commission, the partners involved in the electoral process, including those responsible for voters’ education, and awareness, should now sit and reflect, and identify the shortcomings from previous elections, and make corrections to make the elections of 2023 better than past elections.”
He said further that many Liberian electorates want to cast their votes, but many others are not aware of its need and how to cast their votes, adding, “This is where the voters’ education comes into play.”
He said the idea of voter’s education is to help the people understand the importance of voting, which motivates eligible voters to register and vote, a method by which the citizens express what they want from their leaders.
The keynote speaker noted that voting is an integral part of democracy, and it is necessary for the people to have a voice, an important civic duty that significantly impacts the future of a country like Liberia.
Adgana also said, “Your vote and your right make politicians accountable for their actions and creates a framework for democracy where everyone at the age prescribed in the Constitution has the right how to spend their tax dollars.”
He identified challenges in five areas namely number of eligible voters that registered to vote where in 2005 recorded population then at 3.260 million, eligible voters then at 1.956 registered voters 1.353, percentage 69.20.
Challenge two reflected that in 2011, population 4.181 million, eligible voters 2.509, registered voters 1.799 million, percent 72.00, then in 2017, 4. 797 million, eligible voters 2.878, registered voters 2.100 million percent 72.97, now 2003 5.302, eligible voters 3.180 registered voters 2.703 million percent at 85.
Adgana named said challenges as numbers of eligible voters getting the voters to turn out to vote on election day; the attitude of political leaders after the first round of polling centers, reaching the voting population.
Marking remark during the launch of ‘Your Vote, Your Right’ (YOVOYORI) INC. the Executive Director at the National Elections Commission, Anthony K. Sengbe, lauded the organizers of the civic education group, and pledged his organization’s support in working with them for the common good of the Liberian people and then presented some booklets in enhancing their work in the country.
The organization “Your Vote, Your Right” was established in the City of Chicago in the United States of America by young Liberians who have been closely following the electoral process here in Liberia for the last eighteen years.
The organization’s membership believes that something needs to be done to enhance the country’s chances of achieving better outcome, because YOVOYORI’s overall goal and mission is to maintain the culture of a democratic society in which the accomplishment of education, training and knowledge will be the yardstick for natural achievements.
Your Vote, Your Right leadership include Moses C. Moore, president; David Karwo, Vice president; Edward Tarr, Chairperson of the Board and Panjue Beyan, Country Representative.
