Thanking int’l partners for standing by Liberia

Liberia’s evolving democratic process could not have reached this far or accomplished much without support of the international community, especially, ECOWAS, AU, UN, EU and the Government of the United States. These partners and many others are very instrumental in supporting the peaceful conduct of both the first and second rounds of elections in the country that would lead to transfer of political power from one elected government to another in January 2018.

We note with keen appreciation the prompt deployment of a High Level Mission to Liberia on 1st November 2017 comprising of Professor Alpha Conde, Chairman of the African Union and President of the Republic of Guinea, and President Faure Gnassingbe, Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, and President of the Republic of Togo, immediately during the post-electoral dispute that characterized the first round of elections.

Subsequently, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Marcei Alain de Souza, authorized the return of a 35-member ECOWAS Election Observation Mission (EOM) here to support the electoral process and observe the 26th December runoff presidential poll under the leadership of former Ghanaian President, John Dramani Mahama. Also, Ex-president Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria, under the auspices of the African Union, has been in Monrovia to observe the runoff election between Vice President Joseph Nyumah Boakai and Senator George Weah.

The presence of these distinguished personalities, regional and continental bodies does not only lend credibility to the process, but demonstrates global solidarity with the Government and people of Liberia. Liberians are grateful.

he United States Government, Carter Center, National Democratic Institute and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems have all been exceptional in helping to sustain democratic governance in Liberia. We as a country owe our partners a lot for standing by us as they have always done during challenging times.

In a preliminary declaration released here on the conduct of Tuesday’s runoff poll, the Head of Mission of the EOM, former president John Dramani Mahama urges all development partners to continue to provide more support to this country in ensuring that it maintains its progress towards political and socio-economic development.

This will be critical in the post-elections era in order to sustain the dividends of democratic elections such as peace, economic prosperity and national healing, among others. Continuous global support to this country would greatly help in not just getting the incoming government off the ground, but guiding it to sustainable development.

Liberia remains a critical member of the Comity of Nations. It is a founding member of the United Nations, African Union, formerly Organization of African Unity, Mano River Union and ECOWAS, among other international bodies. This country is also immediate past chair of ECOWAS.

The assistance of the international community was very critical in ending 14 years of civil war here initiated by ECOWAS. We note with grateful hearts, the gallant soldiers of the Economic Monitoring Group, ECOMOG, who gave their lives during the 1990s in restoring sanity to this country. “Thank God for ECOMOG”, like every peace-loving Liberian would always express.

We applaud the international community for being a reliable partner. Liberians can but only hope that their incoming government would play by the norms of global politics, economic cooperation and peaceful co-existence for both regional and world peace.