By: Varney Dukuly
MONROVIA: In the lead up to the October 10, 2023 Presidential and Legislative elections in the country, Liberia’s traditional ally, the United States of America has raised grave concern over the lack of funding for the effective operations of the National Elections Commission (NEC).
The America’s concern about the 2023 Presidential and Legislative elections in Liberia started as a rumor in the Liberian public domains.
But it soon grew to a widespread debate that many commentators believe distorted the smooth operations and activities of the National Elections Commission, especially at the start of the Biometric Voters Registration (BVR) process which officially began on March 20, 2023 in six of Liberia’s 15 political sub-divisions.
The outgoing US Ambassador said he was encouraged by President George Weah’s statements including at the UN General Assembly where he pledged a free and fair elections in Liberia for 2023.
McCarthy: “Liberia’s international partners share that goal, but we believe, as with the integrity institutions, it cannot be achieved unless the National Elections Commission is fully funded.”
The top American Diplomat told a news conference on Tuesday, March 28, 2023, that with one quarter of the calendar year already behind the people, the NEC has yet to receive any of its 2023 funding.
The NEC most recently said, the Government of Liberia (GOL), through the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning has provided US$18 million for the conduct of the biometric voters’ registration which began on 20, March. However, a deficit of US$3.3 million still remains.
“We were informed that some four million was being processed but up to date, there is no funding for the elections process,” NEC’s Board of Commissioners Chairperson, Madam Davidetta Browne-Lansanah, indicated recently during her appearance before the Senate.
Brown-Lansanah noted that the Weah administration has also adjusted its US$91 million election budget to US$33 million and promised to make payment in phases.
Weeks later, the US government said, such action should be alarming to every well-meaning citizen as the elections are less than seven months away.
Ambassador McCarthy: “This is a situation that should alarm every Liberian. Today, I am urging that the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning immediately provide the Elections Commission with its full 2023 budget so it has the necessary resources to effectively prepare for and implement all aspects of the electoral process.”
Touching on the Voters Registration process, he condemned the violence at a polling center over the weekend and encouraged all voters to register in a peaceful manner.
The US Ambassador however called on the National Elections Commission to move quickly to provide the promised meal and training allowances to poll workers who are working long hours under difficult conditions.
He said the Embassy observation team will visit various polling centers to observe the process, “and I am looking forward to joining one of those observations team later this week.”
Though Ambassador McCarthy is expected to be replaced by Mark Christopher Toner who on Tuesday, March 28, 2023, was nominated by President Joe Biden, said, “in case I don’t see you again soon, that I am looking to some travel within the next month and a half to various counties in Liberia.”
According to him, one cannot know Liberia if you only stay in Monrovia. The Diplomat said he was excited to spend time outside of the Liberian capital.
