Africa-Press – Liberia. Liberian officials have lauded the EISA-LEOM and encouraged observers to remember that the National Elections Commission needs capacity building for its younger staff.
The Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA), a Pan-African organization, has closed its election observation activities in Liberia in collaboration with its Liberia Elections Observation Mission (EISA-LEOM).
EISA-LEOM’s closing program underscored the importance of effective voter education efforts to ensure that all potential voters have the necessary information to exercise their rights and understand the electoral process.
On July 23, 2024, EISA-LEOM organized a ceremony in Monrovia to close out activities of the election observation mission of the 2023 presidential and legislative elections.
Officials from the embassies of Sweden, Germany, and South Africa attended the program. The National Elections Commission of Liberia (NEC), ECC, Carter Center, and LEON were also present.
In her appreciation note, EISA Country Director and Chief of Party Antonetta Hamandishe noted that donors must adopt an electoral circle approach to their assistance, ensuring sustained funding to maintain momentum to support the Election Management Body (EMB) and its partners.
Outlining EISA’s role in the Liberian elections, she said that, through a long stay in the country, EISA could tell the Liberia story from an informed perspective.
Elections are often shaped by perspectives and assumptions, stating that everyone becomes an expert during the election.
“Our role was to be storytellers and witness to the process – avoiding the danger of one-sided narratives which in most cases creates stereotypes, and the problem with the stereotypes is that they are untrue, but that they are incomplete,” said Hamandishe.
She went on to appreciate the crucial role of collaboration with domestic groups and civil society organizations such as LEON, ECC, NAYMOTE, and others.
According to her, these partnerships allowed EISA to engage effectively with local stakeholders and amplify their impact.
The exchange of ideas and coordination with development and cooperation partners further enriched the EISA mission and strengthened their efforts.
The Chief of the Party believes the EISA Election Observation Mission to Liberia was unique in many ways. It deployed observers for nine months and maintained a presence in the country for 20 months, setting a new standard in election observation methodologies.
This long-term engagement allowed the institution to provide consistent monitoring and reporting, significantly enhancing the credibility of the 2023 elections.
According to her, “By leveraging USAID’s support, EISA-LEOM has bolstered public confidence in Liberia’s 2023 electoral process.
With over 256 key informant interviews and consultations and the timely release of 13 public statements, election reports, 4 research reports, and 28 blog articles, she said they contributed to a transparent and inclusive election environment.
Through continuous observation, reporting, and analysis, EISA kept Liberian stakeholders informed about electoral issues, building trust, debunking myths, and ensuring access to accurate information – a key element in any electoral process.
In conclusion, she quoted Kofi Annan: “Without international observers, the election can easily be manipulated and the will of the people undermined.”
“In an environment where democracy is declining, it’s even more important to spotlight international election observation– what it looks and feels like for the citizens.”
Making remarks, EISA AOR for USAID, Mrs. Louise Fahnbulleh-Jacobs, said EISA has been a testimony to the spirit of cooperation, transparency, and commitment to democracy principles, stating that over the past 20 months, their team has worked tirelessly to observe, document, and support the electoral process in Liberia.
She said the findings and recommendations aim to continue strengthening Liberian democratic institutions and processes.
She added that they are confident that the insight gathered will foster greater transparency and trust in future electrical processes.
In remarks, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Ibrahim Nyei, commended EISA for immensely contributing to a credible, transparent, and democratic election, mentioning that their initiative played a major role in the success of the Liberian elections.
He acknowledged the work of the NEC and civil society organizations and hoped that women’s legislation would be passed in the future. He pledged the Government of Liberia’s consolidation support to observation organizations.
Representing the National Elections Commission of Liberia, Commissioner Boakai A. Dukuly expressed excitement for EISA’s work, which he stressed helped preserve the Commission’s integrity.
Commissioner Dukuly indicated that the presence of EISA helped mitigate interference from the election processes, which contributed to the successful 2023 presidential and legislative elections.
Dukuly used the occasion to encourage observers to continue to observe the problem while keeping in mind that the NEC is in need of capacity building for its younger staff.
Also, in remarks, the Federal Republic of Germany Ambassador, Mr. Jakob Haselhuber, extolled EISA to consider the electoral processes before, during, and after.
He indicated that these were crucial, adding that he is impressed by EISA’s professionalism during its mission in Liberia.
“I think those who are to be lauded most are the Liberian people because [the] 2023 elections [were] a clear sign of democracy,” he said further.
The Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa, Iqbal Jhazbhay, spoke briefly, urging other African countries to learn from the Liberian 2023 elections.
He also mentioned the importance of EISA’s presence in Liberia for future elections and praised the NEC for cooperating with partners and civil society organizations.
The EU praised EISA for providing African perspectives on elections and democracy, stating that EISA continues to improve in concrete professionalism.
He continued that EISA did not only strive for credible elections in Liberia but also promoted human rights.
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