High-Level National Conference on Electoral Integrity United for Credible and Peaceful Elections and Prosperous Liberia 2023 Legislative and Presidential Elections

Thank you for the opportunity to speak at this important event, the High-Level National Conference on Electoral Integrity. As I reflect on the title, I feel very inspired and proud of the Government and the people of Liberia under the esteemed leadership of the National Elections Commission for taking full ownership of the 2023 Presidential and legislative elections. I would like to commend the Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning for providing funding for the elections. I would like to also commend all the electoral stakeholders, especially, standard bearers, vice standard bearers, leaders of all political parties, and independent candidates for endorsing the Revised Farmington River Declaration and committing jointly to peaceful and violence-free general elections.

Fourteen days to the elections, we have come very far with the implementation of the Elections roadmap, and it is very assuring to note that under the leadership of NEC, the roadmap is fully on track.

Ladies and gentlemen, in modern societies, the right to elect and to be elected are considered basic human rights. Therefore, the responsibility and capability of any society to organize free, fair, transparent, credible, and inclusive elections is considered the basic proof of its maturity and capability. One may ask why that is so. History has proven that societies capable of organizing peaceful, inclusive, and transparent elections have demonstrated greater progress in national development and improvement in the well-being of its people. This is imperative for Liberia, its institutions, and its people. That is the reason we gathered here today and in the coming two days to discuss, exchange, identify, and clarify perceived barriers or challenges and to further build and sustain trust and integrity in the electoral process and the institutions.

In the context of Africa and the sub-Sahara region, Liberia now has a unique opportunity to prove to themselves and show the world that they have become a capable democracy able to sustain hard-won peace, stability, and development.

Every one of us here has specific and different roles and responsibilities in this process. We the friends, and supporters of Liberia the international community coming from abroad from different countries and regions, bring our experiences and good intentions. However, the biggest responsibility still lies on the national stakeholders and people of Liberia, to coordinate, cooperate and collaborate with the National Elections Commission to ensure peaceful, transparent, and credible elections.

I am inspired and happy to see this initiative emerging from Liberian people and institutions, all coordination and preparation of this event is a result of the hard work of the Liberian institutions and people. However, permit me to recognize the efforts and support provided by international organizations and development partners who have so far been accompanying and providing technical electoral support to the elections process.

Ladies and gentlemen, as I have noted earlier, a lot has been done in laying the foundation to ensure the integrity of the 2023 presidential and legislative electoral process. This year the people of Liberia under the leadership of the National Elections Commission took a bold step by introducing and successfully conducting the biometric voter registration process. This is highly commendable, as we would all agree, that the sanctity of the voter roll is one of the pivotal pillars in ensuring credibility and integrity in the electoral process.

I also know that several technical support, including capacity building, training, and engagements have taken place with political parties, media, civil society, key elections support institutions, and stakeholders in charting a path for election integrity.

While these are very commendable efforts, it is still important and imperative that we continue our search for excellence in the electoral process by learning from some fallouts and pitfalls in recent elections in the sub-region, and guard against them. Some of these challenges include effective, efficient, transparent, and credible results management; actions that try to compromise voter anonymity (e.g.. vote buying); the role of the media and elections observers in fostering credible and evidence-based reportage, delays in electoral disputes resolutions; fear and intimidations of voters, mis/dis information on voting locations, voting times, and voting processes and destruction or disruptions of electronic systems and many more.

It is my fervent hope that after the 3 days, we will leave here with more convergence on how to continue to deepen trust and integrity in the electoral process. It is my call to action that the political parties and Liberians continue to nurture trust in this national process and take full ownership for a peaceful, transparent, and credible outcome. It is my call to action that we continue to witness a peaceful campaign environment before, during, and after elections by condemning in no uncertain terms any inciteful, provocative, and hate speeches. 

In conclusion, I would like to thank our resource persons and I wish everyone very frank, honest, constructive, and forward-looking engagements.

Thank you.