The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is deploying stringent measures to support a credible election in Liberia.
Together with the African Union, an independent IT team is working with the National Electoral Commission to assess the collation and tallying of electoral results.
For about two weeks, an independent IT team by ECOWAS together with the NEC has been proffering solutions to relevant issues ahead of polls.
Representative of ECOWAS in Liberia, Josephine Nkrumah explained that “the independent IT are working steadily with the data centre at the National Election Commission. They have come across very insightful issues and they have taken steps to address them”.
Liberia is preparing to go to polls on Monday to elect a President for the next six years as well as others to fill positions in the Senate.
Already, political rhetorics have fueled mistrust for the National Electoral Commission.
Josephine Nkrumah further said, “in the last few weeks, we have seen a growth, a spate of inflammatory rhetoric in the public space and that has raised concerns for many of us in the international community and Liberia as well.”
“In order to ensure that we escalate the conversation it was necessary for us to invite Prof. Jega, the head of mission to assess the situation as well. We believe that the engagement was successful. We received the reassurance of political leaders that they are committed to a peaceful electoral process,” she added.
There is already heightened enthusiasm among the Liberian electorate on a critical election slated for Monday.
It is the first time a party that was once in government attempted to stage a comeback.
The ECOWAS has an ongoing engagement with the political parties and other interest groups. Over 120 observers have been deployed by the ECOWAS for the election.
Their interest is in maintaining the peace that Liberia has observed after years of protracted conflict.
Speaking on measures in place to ensure confidence in the NEC, leader Prof. Attahilu Jega, said that “most importantly we have to know that as observers we have to be impartial, non-partisan and very professional. We must avoid interference in any way and we must ensure that in any way we do not create problems.”
Source: Ghana News
