Monrovia – The head of the Governance Commission (GC), Dr. Amos Sawyer, has stressed the need for the holding of a national forum aimed at promoting a peaceful and transparent election in October 2017.
Report by C. Koinyeneh – [email protected]
It can be recalled President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, in her final annual message delivered to the Legislature in January, proposed the holding of a national dialogue to be chaired by Dr. Sawyer.
Speaking on a local radio station in Monrovia on Monday, Dr. Sawyer said the forum is expected to bring together major political actors in Liberia and the international community.
“We’re hoping that this forum that the President is talking about will be held under the patronage of the President,” he said.
“Frankly, she becomes the chief convener. Presiding at this meeting, we are hoping that there will be a steering committee and the leadership of the Inter Faith Mediation group will play a significant leadership role on this committee.
At the beginning of this meeting, the President will invite her colleagues in the West African region and the international community,” Dr. Sawyer said.
He disclosed that the process has begun with series of consultations with the religious community to be followed by political parties.
He said the President’s initiative was based on the success of other countries where major stakeholders during elections come together and recommit themselves to their country to ensure that they work together despite the contestation during the campaign; and following the announcement of the results, they remain one country, united and moving forward.
“The President decided that just before the beginning of the campaign, bringing together under her leadership, all of the major contestants, Presidential contestants, and the leaders of the parties to come together and agree a solemn declaration, that we commit ourselves, to holding peaceful elections, we commit ourselves to avoiding violence, we commit ourselves to one Liberia no matter who wins.”
He noted that many efforts are being made by the National Elections Commission, the Ministry of Justice and UNMIL in creating an enabling environment for the peaceful conduct of the elections.
The revered Liberian statesman used the medium to call on all political parties to respect the agreements reached with those institutions.
“We commit ourselves during the course of the campaign to abide by all other declarations and agreements that have been worked out through this political process.
NEC, along with political parties has been having the political party consultative meeting. They have been reaching some agreements there.
“Those must hold. The SRSG has been holding quarterly meetings with political party leaders. The understanding reached there must hold. There has been some meetings with the Ministry of Justice on security issues with the police, the understanding there must also hold.
And this meeting we are talking about must reaffirm the commitment of all of the parties to those agreements that they have signed on to,” Dr. Sawyer admonished.
He also disclosed that the objective of the dialogue is also geared towards bringing the parties under one umbrella to endorse a National Peace and Mediation Committee that will intervene if there are some problems having to do with the results.
“It could be the Inter Religious Council leaders. And other notable people of moral standings agreed to by the political parties’ leadership themselves. We can have also an advisory group of our international partners at the higher levels,” Dr. Sawyer averred.