Lofa County – Ahead of Liberia’s pending 2017 general presidential and legislative elections, NOGs are working out modalities to ensure that more Liberia participate in the electioneering process.
Even before the election, Liberian is bracing for a national referendum aimed at amending several parts of the constitution.
At a well-attended conference in Gbarnga this year, delegates voted for 25 propositions to be put forward for referendum. The propositions were submitted to the national legislature for a review.
Despite the ongoing review process by the legislature, many political observers believe the propositions are just too large to be put up for referendum without proper public education.
In a bid to increase public awareness on the constitutional review process, the Pentecostal Mission Unlimited, (PMU-Liberia) in partnership with the Center for Peace Building and Development (CPBD) and Independent Human Rights Investigators, (IHI) recently launched a project gear towards deepening citizen’s engagement in constitutional reform process in Liberia.
The project is being funding by the United Nations Development Program.
According to Mr. Davestus James, Head of Programs at PMU Liberia, the project will engage with relevant policy makers and legislators, a look at ongoing constitutional review process and proposed amendment as well as increase public understanding on the role of the legislators in the review process among others.
James said thousands of copies of the current constitution of Liberia along with other educational materials have been distributed to citizens of Voinjama and other parts of Lofa County in order to provide more education to them.
“We are targeting about sixty-eight communities that fall within three electoral districts in Lofa County,” he said. He named Foya, Vahun, Kolahun and some parts of Voinjama districts as part of his targeted areas.
According to James, based on interaction with the citizens in Lofa, many are proposing a decrease in the number of propositions that were voted upon at the Gbarnga convention.
“They want a total reduction in the number of propositions. There are too many confusions and less public awareness,” he noted.