PAYNESVILLE – Naymote Partners for Democratic Development has unveiled a report of campaign promises by the Unity Party (UP) it tracked during the 2023 general elections.
By: Gerald C. Koinyeneh – [email protected]
The institution documented 93 promises made by President-elect Joseph Boakai, Sr., who secured victory with 50.64%, according to Liberia’s National Elections Commission.
The promises were tracked from the winning party’s manifesto containing six pillars including its campaign rallies, media engagements, and public statements, according to Naymote.
Among the promises tracked, Naymote, through its executive director Eddie Jarwolo said notable commitments include the reform of tax administration policies, targeted fiscal incentives for agriculture and light manufacturing, implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA), introduction of a program budgeting system, and the roadmap for the de-dollarization of the Liberian economy. Also tracked include asset declaration of the President and all appointed officials, and the pledged to audit the outgoing government, among others.
“Election promises, forming a social contract between voters and candidates, obligate President-Elect Joseph N. Boakai, Sr. to fulfil the commitments made during the campaign,” said Jarwolo. “Post-inauguration in January 2024, Naymote will commence tracking the government’s performance against these promises for the next six years. The Unity Party developed several action points and strategies to implement the promises.”
The tracked promises
Under pillar one which seeks to stabilize the economy and enhance infrastructural development, a total of fifty-eight promises were identified and documented. They covered economics, financial management, agriculture, natural resource management, job creation, commerce and industry, infrastructure development, transportation, information communication technology (ICT) and culture and tourism.
Under pillar two which tends to address health, WASH, the environment, and climate change, a total of nine promises were also tracked. Pillar three seeks to develop human capacity Development. In it, seven promises were documented with a primary focus on education.
Seven promises were tracked under pillar four with emphasis on foreign relations, rule of law, accountability, governance and transparency and reconciliation.
Gender, youth, children, and social protection fall under pillar five and it documented eight promises with a focus on gender garnering, social protection and youth empowerment. In the fight against corruption which falls under pillar six, four promises were documented.
Jarwolo announced that Naymote will begin tracking the government’s performance against these promises for the next six years after the inauguration in January 2024.
He called on citizens of Liberia, civil society organizations and the media to actively participate in this initiative; saying, “It is our collective responsibility to ensure that political campaign promises translate into tangible actions that positively impact the lives of the Liberian people.”
For the past six years, Naymote has monitored and tracked President George Weah’s performance in fulfilling the promises he made during and after the 2017 elections. Jarwolo noted that these reports have played a pivotal role in promoting public accountability and facilitating constructive dialogues between citizens and the government. As a testament to their impact, political parties and civil society organizations consistently refer to the President Meter Report as a crucial reference document for assessing the Weah administration’s performance, he noted.
“The institution believes that tracking the campaign promises of presidential candidates and monitoring political parties throughout elections are essential for sustaining the foundations of democracy, ensuring fair competition ideas, and protecting the integrity of electoral processes,” he said.
