ECOWAS Donates Vehicles, Others to NEC
By: Laymah Kollie
Monrovia-October 6,2023: In an effort to boost the logistical strength of the Elections House in Liberia, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) today donated several vehicles and stationery equipment to the National Elections Commission.
The donation comes three days to the 2023 General Presidential and Representatives Elections.
The materials donated include twenty digital printers, thirty one laptop computers and four Toyota vehicles.
During the donation at the Headquarters of the NEC, Amb. Josephine Nkrumah, Resident Representative of the President of the ECOWAS Commission in Liberia said the donation is meant to ensure transparency and credibility in the elections through technology.
She stated that the materials will strengthen NEC’s ability in tallying, and presentation of results. The ECOWAS representative believes the Liberian people efforts can be better transparent and interrupted through technology, nothing that it also serves as a speedy redress for disenchantment and irregularities in the October polls.
“ Today in our world of elections, technology spotlights transparency in elections and as I’m standing, we are collaborating with NEC in place of the request they made to the commission. We want to strengthen its capacity when it comes to transparency in elections, when it comes to the results tallying and ensure the credibility of our electoral process. It should drive confidence and trust in the tallying and transmission of results so that at the end of the day when the Liberian people have made their choice it will be reflected through technology. We can have a peaceful election. It also provides the opportunity for anyone who seeks redress with irregularities which we do not anticipate, to provide based evidence through technology and address these matters in the court of law. It is therefore my humble pleasure on behalf of the ECOWAS Commission to present to the National Elections Commission thirty one laptops, twenty printers, four terrain vehicles to help support NEC and compliment government of Liberia efforts in funding elections 2023.”
Receiving the materials on behalf of NEC, Madam Davidetta Browne Lansanah, Chairperson of the National Elections Commission lauded ECOWAS for the gesture and promised to used for the intended purpose.
“It has come at a time we are in dying need. We appreciate you for honoring our request, we are motivated and will start deploying them in rural areas”, Madam Browne-Lassanah.
Meanwhile, the ECOWAS commission has however cautioned the youthful population of Liberia to engage the election with civil approach and sustain the country high earn peace. Madam Josephine Nkrumah also echoed calls to politicians to embrace the process with unity and responsibility. She further admonished them to uphold the Farmington River Declaration and sustain peace.
“I take this opportunity however to also call on Liberians particularly the youth that they will engage in this peaceful process, that the strong force of Liberian youth will be a force for good. I also take this opportunity to call on political parties to continue to abide by the Farmington Declaration to engage that the next few weeks our utterance, our actions are of peace and nation building and united Liberia in order to see peace and development. This election is part of the democratic process so we should all work towards this.”
