Africa-Press – Liberia. — Stakeholders say at high-level panel in Monrovia
The conduct of 2023 Legislative and Presidential elections by the National Elections Commission (NEC) has set Liberia on a high democratic pedestal with commendations coming from all over the world, but the Liberian electoral cycle was not also short of challenges, including violence that led to major injuries and even deaths among some supporters of opposing political parties.
In an effort to review the electoral cycle, a high-level panel dialogue kicked off in Monrovia on Thursday, October 24, with the aim of taking stock on not only the positives that have raised the country’s democratic credentials but also added significant blemishes to the process.
The two-day dialogue event, which is expected to end today, brings together representatives from the United Nations Office of the High Commission for Human Rights (OHCR), the Independent National Human Rights Commission (INHRC), the NEC, security stakeholders among others.
These stakeholders will endeavor to ensure that policy actors bring to logical conclusion security or safety issues that arose from the elections. They are expected to proffer recommendations for actions, including punitive actions, where necessary, against perpetrators of violence that led to major injuries, destruction of properties, and the loss of human lives.
Pasipav Chirwe, Deputy Country Representative of the UN Human Rights Office, said challenges that confronted the system that should be conclusively investigated and actions taken in order to improve the electoral system of the country.
“We have been there with you all in the Counties, including Zwedru, Grand Gedeh and Kakata, Margibi and now we are here to further discuss on the way forward. At OHCR we monitored the elections and we issued our reports. Some of the issues we mentioned in our reports were about the need to conclude investigations into the electoral violence that led to injuries and even deaths. Most of the points we mentioned were conclusive but reports are yet to be made public,” Chirwe told the audience in her opening remarks yesterday.
She said her office in partnership with the Liberian government through line Ministries and agencies, particularly the NEC, is implementing the activity of stocktaking under the peace-building Fund. “The UN was implementing projects related to elections under this fund. After the elections, it is time to stock-take the challenges and the lessons learned during the elections. It is about how we can do better the next time we undertake the same activities.”
Chirwe thanked the participants for attending the dialogue and hoped the outcome from the discussions would not only be fruitful but lead to desired results for the good of Liberia’s democratic gains.
Cllr. Dempster Browne, Chairman of INHRC, lauded NEC for the great job done but cautioned that a lot more needs to be done in order to correct the wrongs of the past.
He pointed out that his advice to NEC through its chairperson, Davidetta Browne-Lansana was misconstrued and taken out of context, specifically when he highlighted violations of the elections law on campaigning but in the end, the truth became clear and he was vindicated.
“Our monitors reported some problems especially in the Lofa, Foya area. There were deaths. Notwithstanding, I can remember there was a meeting held at the peace-building office and the chairperson of NEC was there and I told her, ‘Madam, you are doing well but something is happening that you have to speak out against.’ It had to do with campaigning without declaring a campaign opened,” he said. “She took it against me by saying I was against her. I said no. In the interior there is violence there and it is not time to run a campaign. So tell all political parties to cease campaigning. When we left later on she realized that we were talking about the real thing.”
According to Browne, it was the first of its kind for an incumbent President to concede defeat even before the announcement of final results that proved the margin was very slim.
“Although there were some irregularities, elections were held and it was surprising to everybody. Somebody called me from the British Embassy and said Africa is setting a precedent. Imagine in the middle of announcing results, former President Weah congratulated [Mr.] Boakai that he had won the elections. In Africa, it has never happened,” he shared.
For the Justice Ministry Human Rights Protection Division, peace is a major pillar for development and it must be sustained by the holding of free, fair and transparent elections.
“Liberia has enjoyed peace for the last couple of decades because we have appreciated the holding of free, fair and transparent elections,” Kutaha Togba, who spoke on behalf of the Ministry of Justice, said, adding that it is the collective responsibility of all branches of government to protect the peace by supporting peaceful and credible elections that meet the aspirations of the population yearning for development.
“It is our collective responsibility to strengthen our elections systems as they are essential for the legitimacy of our democratic institutions. Together we are in it to fortify our electoral framework to ensure the integrity of future electoral processes,” he concluded.
Peter B. K. Flomo, President of the National Union of Organizations for the Disabled, welcomed the dialogue around finding not only the success stories that embraced the electoral cycle of the country but also the challenges faced, including persons with disabilities lacking easy access to certain polling places due to their unfriendly locations to the disabled community.
Flomo expressed hope that the dialogue, which is expected to end up with stocktaking on major issues, will serve to meet the expected outcomes.
For the National Elections Commission, Ignatius Wesseh, NEC Director of political affairs was present and, in his remark, thanked all stakeholders and the electorate in particular for ensuring that the elections were held peacefully.
Wesseh said NEC is managed by human beings and, as such, it is not short of challenges but there is always room for improvement.
He explained that the elections processes are operated in cycles and as such, the Commission has not drawn curtains on the 2023 elections yet.
“We want to encourage the Human Rights office of Liberia to continue its review process and be assured that NEC will work along with you,” he said.
He disclosed that NEC is currently involved with reform of the Elections Law in order to meet best international practices.
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