Stakeholders Validate GC Annual Governance Report (AGR) on Elections
The Governance Commissions on Thursday March 9, 2017 held a public presentation on its draft Annual Governance Report (AGR) in anticipation for inputs from stakeholders. The draft AGR on Liberia’s Electoral System includes draft recommendations to assure that all players in the 2017 elections undressed and agree to the rules of the process, and their role and responsibilities to the process. The program was held at the James Fromoyan Conference Hall at NEC.
Commissioner Othello Gongar, in his opening remarks noted that the AGR was in keeping with the mandate of the Commission, and that the study’s analysis, recommendations and Conclusion were all done by GC. The AGR also reviewed Liberia’s electoral systems, analyzed data referencing Liberia’s elections including the Liberian Constitution and election laws, and recommendations made are based on findings and interpretations of the Commission, based on information gathered.
For her part, National Election Commission’s Vice Chair Madam Sarah Toe acknowledged receipt of the draft AGR from GC noting that NEC is perusing the document in order to make the necessary inputs. Madam Toe added that the report, as read so far, captures and addresses most of the issues and problems experienced by NEC. She said it was necessary for political parties to read the document and get a better understanding of Liberia’s electoral system.
The NEC Vice Chair also thanked GC for undertaken what she described as “this herculean task”. The Commission made a power point presentation of its Annual Governance Report. It is anticipated that the Report will help inform and assure an inclusive and participatory process that will assure the holding of free, fair, credible, democratic 2017 national elections in a peaceful environment.
The Report highlights the following recommendations:
NEC lacks the capacity to singly monitor campaign financing and financial flows into political parties; therefore, NEC must enter cooperation agreements with appropriate entities such as the LACC, FIU, and other integrity organizations, where consistent with the Elections Law, to monitor campaign financing and financial flows into political parties as prescribed in NEC’s mandate.
Other recommendations include using elections to:
Lead responsible parties: NEC and the Supreme Court
Other Challenges of NEC
Other (external) challenges of NEC include the absence of the National Identification Cards, undue burden of citizenship verification, security landscape and test to the capabilities of our national security forces particularly during elections, and achieving reconciliation, pursuing national vision and advancing agenda for development.
Meanwhile the Governance Commission has clarified that its draft AGR recommendations on the Code of Conduct were mere suggestions to stimulate discussion and a possible way forward to clear doubts about the Constitutionality of the provision.
The Supreme Court has ruled 3 for and 2 against that Part V Sections 5.1 and 5.2 of the Code of Code is law and must be fully adhered to.