Monrovia – It does not need to be overemphasized again: the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has stopped funding our budget! This is the loss of millions of US’ taxpayers’ monies that were being poured into our economy to help mitigate some of our problems. This loss is not only going to affect sectors of the Liberian Government that USAID funded directly in time past, but the negative outcomes are going to be felt nationally.
By Alaska Johnson, contributing writer
For this 2025 fiscal year alone, USAID’s direct support to the country’s budget is in the tune of US$74 million. But a dime of this promised might not be realized from the Donald Trump-led US Administration. Aside from this direct budgetary support, USAID also provides “soft aids” to other institutions which provide supports to national institutions, including the National Elections Commission (NEC).
The NEC, which is a very important and a critical sector of the democratic governance processes of Liberia, is going to be adversely affected. Even though USAID doesn’t send budgetary support directly to the NEC. It, however, used to support international and local organizations, which ably support the workings of the Commission to make it vibrant and viable.
With those USAID supports, which came to the NEC through institutions like the Democracy International (DI), Internews, International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), etc, many Liberians were employed and or contracted to perform services.
However, a high-placed source within the international community, which has been keenly following developments at the NEC, has indicated that the severe overcrowding of the Electoral Management Body is a significant contributing factor to the ongoing crisis facing the organization. Currently, the Commission employs over 300 permanent staff members, a substantial number of whom are reportedly inactive, merely present to receive their salaries and allowances without contributing meaningfully to the Commission’s day-to-day operations.
Our source emphasized that is imperative for both the government and the international community to take immediate and decisive actions to address the challenges facing the Commission, as well as to safeguard the democratic processes in Liberia, especially as President Donald Trump’s action might likely have a trickle-down effect on other bilateral and multilateral partners, who provide supports to the government.
In line with international best practices for electoral management bodies, it is customary for such organizations to downsize their workforce following major electoral sessions to maintain an effective and efficient operational structure. Unfortunately, this has not been the case with Liberia’s National Elections Commission, leading to some of the current inefficiencies and public embarrassment associated with its operations.
Research conducted by this newspaper shows that comparing the staffing levels of NEC Liberia to those of its regional counterparts, the discrepancies become apparent. Despite Liberia having less than 2.5 million registered voters, its permanent staff count range to Ghana with more than 18 million registered voters and Sierra Leone with more than 11 million registered voters.
For instance, Ghana operates with just three permanent Commissioners, while Sierra Leone has five. In stark contrast, Liberia has appointed seven permanent commissioners. This disproportionate staffing structure has led to an unsustainable financial burden on government and the international community; the substantial salaries allocated to the National Elections Commission (NEC) staff during periods of inactivity are diverting funds away from essential development programs across the country. The paper recommends an immediate restructuring of the Commission to meet international standard.
“Media institutions need to take the initiative to visit the NEC to further verify what I am telling you, and to engage with individual staff and commissioners on this matter. You all should also be encouraged to engage with representatives from the international community as well as former commissioners, to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the overcrowding at the Commission,” our source further emphasized.
In another development, it has been reported that more than half of the staff members, including 18 magisterial offices staffers of the Commission, have distanced themselves from the conduct of certain colleagues who often create disruptions and embarrassment for those who are diligently working. They have shown support for the return of the Chairperson of the Commission, Madam Davidetta Brown Lansanah, who worked diligently for the peace that Liberia currently enjoys, especially after the opposition secured victory by a narrow margin.
Those staffers further stated that the Co-chairperson is acting unlawfully, as she was not appointed by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai to serve in that capacity. They called on electoral stakeholders, including the international community, to request that an independent investigation be conducted to know the real reason behind the recent disruptions at the Commission and to restore integrity. The staff said that the person leading the disruptive acts at the Commission is already retired, more than 65 years old and should not be listened to, as he is not a part of the future of the Commission.
