Africa-Press – Liberia. <\/strong><\/span>A corruption watchdog has released a report highlighting widespread violations of campaign financing, with the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) being identified as the primary violator.<\/p>\nIntegrity Watch Liberia (IWL), in addition to shedding light on the abuse of incumbency and violations of campaign financing in its report, also highlighted the need for greater integrity and transparency in Liberia\u2019s electoral practices.<\/p>\n
The group noted that of the total of 1,390 pieces of evidence of violations documented, opposition Unity Party ranked second in terms of violations \u2014 a situation that campaign finance issues are prevalent across various factions within Liberian politics, raising concerns about the integrity and transparency of electoral practices.<\/p>\n
Speaking at a stakeholder’s conference on breach handling of the National Elections Commission\u2019s (NEC) campaign regulations, Executive Director Harold Aidoo linked all the political parties and most of the independent candidates to the reported violations. The conference, funded by the United Nations Development Program, aimed to address these concerns and promote responsible campaign financing.<\/p>\n
These allegations have raised concerns about the transparency and fairness of the political landscape in the country.<\/p>\n
\u201cCampaign financing regulations are put in place to ensure that elections are conducted in a fair and equitable manner, and to prevent the influence of money in politics,\u201d Oscar Bloh, Elections Coordinating Committee Chairperson noted at a press conference a few months ago. \u201cThese regulations are essential for maintaining a level playing field and promoting democratic values.\u201d<\/p>\n
However, as per Integrity Watch\u2019s report, this was not the case in the October 10, presidential and legislative elections.<\/p>\n
The violations cited in the report are diverse and extensive. They range from the misuse of state properties and vehicles donated by international partners to the practice of pulling students out of classes to wait for prominent individuals, as well as the failure to disclose sources of funding.<\/p>\n
Though the report was not specific, it has also been reported that the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), as well as other major political parties, have exceeded the legal limits for campaign contributions and expenditures. This not only raises questions about the integrity of the electoral process, but also undermines public trust and confidence in the political system.<\/p>\n
The European Union Election Observation Mission recently accused President George Weah and his CDC of using state resources to gain unfair political advantage \u2014 the \u201cdisproportionate\u201d use of \u201cstate resources\u201d, which the mission said distorted the political playing field.<\/p>\n
According to a report by the EU, which was released on October 14, the President\u2019s campaign team utilized a lot of state resources to establish a more dominant presence across the 15 political subdivisions of the country.<\/p>\n
The report noted that \u201cstate resources\u201d not only provided the President\u2019s campaign with a substantial advantage but also contributed to a campaign environment characterized by significant disparities.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe disproportionate spending on behalf of the ruling party, the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), distorted the fairness of the campaign,\u201d said Andreas Schieder, the head of the EU Election Observation Mission. \u201cEU observation showed an obvious disparity in terms of resources available to CDC for the presidential campaign in all 15 counties in terms of billboards, posters, vehicles, and t-shirts, etc.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe widespread use of state resources in the form of official vehicles and buildings was widely observed by the EU EOM observers,\u201d he added. \u201cMany appointed officials at county or electoral district levels were publicly campaigning in favor of the ruling party.\u201d<\/p>\n
Schieder noted that while the mission\u2019s observation of the campaign period showed a high level of \u201cmonetization and bartering,\u201d it also found that in \u201csome counties, civil servants were pressured to attend the ruling party\u2019s campaign events.\u201d<\/p>\n
The violation of campaign financing regulations is a serious matter that could have far-reaching consequences for the democratic process in Liberia, electoral experts say. It is crucial that political parties adhere to these regulations in order to maintain the integrity of the electoral system and ensure a fair and transparent election.<\/p>\n
The National Elections Commission (NEC), the authority responsible for overseeing campaign finance regulations, has been urged to conduct thorough and impartial investigations into these reports \u2014 with the hope that if any violations are found, appropriate legal action would be taken to hold the responsible parties accountable.<\/p>\n
But at the conference, NEC Commissioner Boakai Dukuly rather emphasized the importance of citizens taking legal action against individuals who deliberately breach campaign financing regulations.<\/p>\n
He expressed concern that some individuals willingly flout these regulations without considering the consequences for the Liberian people, highlighting a broader issue of disregarding laws within society.<\/p>\n
Dr. Lenka Homolkona, the Chief Technical Advisor on elections at the UNDP, welcomed the involvement of civil society organizations to scrutinize campaign financing and stressed the significance of such scrutiny in ensuring a level playing field for all candidates, regardless of their political or societal status.<\/p>\n
Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in Liberia, Christine Umutoni, expressed gratitude towards Integrity Watch Liberia, the National Elections Commission, and the Liberian government for their efforts in promoting responsible campaign financing. Umutoni also highlighted the importance of Liberia taking ownership of its electoral process, with the country financing the elections independently for the first time.<\/p>\n
However, other stakeholders stressed that it is imperative that the government and relevant institutions take steps to strengthen campaign financing regulations and enforcement measures. This could include implementing stricter reporting requirements, increasing transparency in political donations, and imposing harsh penalties for non-compliance.<\/p>\n
In addition, civil society organizations and other stakeholders have an important role to play in monitoring campaign finance activities and holding political parties accountable. Their involvement can help ensure transparency and fairness in the political process, the stakeholders said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the conference, held under the theme \u201cStrengthening Political Accountability Project,\u201d brought together participants from various organizations, including the Liberia National Bar Association and civil society groups. It received funding from the United Nations Development Program and support from international partners and governments.<\/p>\n
The report\u2019s findings underscore the need for robust enforcement of campaign financing regulations and the promotion of transparency in political fundraising. Addressing these violations is crucial to ensuring fair and credible elections in Liberia.<\/p>\n
Source: Liberian Observer<\/b><\/p>\n
For More News And Analysis About Liberia<\/a> Follow Africa-Press<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"SIMEON WIAKANTY Africa-Press – Liberia. A corruption watchdog has released a report highlighting widespread violations of campaign financing, with the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) being identified as the primary violator. Integrity Watch Liberia (IWL), in addition to shedding light on the abuse of incumbency and violations of campaign financing in its report, also […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":46324,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,6],"tags":[233,237,234],"class_list":["post-46325","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-news","category-files","tag-africa-press","tag-africa-press-liberia","tag-liberia"],"yoast_head":"\n
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