By: G. Bennie Bravo Johnson I
The Liberian National Bar Association’s capacity support to the National Elections Commission (NEC) and its stakeholders received nationwide commendation and gained rousing momentum from the general public and stakeholders involved, with the Bar extending its activities to Grand Bassa County on Tuesday, September 26, 2023.
The project, whose objective is to ensure the peaceful conduct of a free, fair, transparent, credible and democratic election, is the first of its kind, and has been widely praised by members of the Bar, the Supreme Court and the general public, given the sacred role of the Bar over the years.
The LNBA has been rolling out activities under the LNBA-NEC Collaboration Project intended to build the capacities of the National Elections Commission (NEC), civil society organizations, security sector actors, religious community and the media with funding from the UNDP Electoral Support Program.
It can be recalled, the Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA) received US$150,000 (one hundred fifty thousand Untied States Dollars) from the UNDP Electoral Support Program to roll out activities under the project.
Meanwhile, the implementation of the project began on Tuesday, September 19, 2023 with the holding of a public dialogue on electoral dispute resolution, with emphasis on the distinction between courtroom litigation and administrative hearings conducted at NEC, and public awareness on the election timetable and pre-election activities.
In a communication to media practitioners, the BAR secretary general Cllr. Bornor M. Varmah, provided that the project was extended to Tubmanburg, Bomi County, on Friday, September 22, 2023, and the event was attended by over 100 participants drawn from Gbarpolu, Grand Cape Mount and Bomi Counties, representing various sectors of the Liberian society, including members of the bar, CSOs, security sector and the media.
The unprecedented project, according to a LNBA release, is geared toward ensuring the peaceful conduct of a free, fair, transparent, credible and democratic election.
Meanwhile, at the activity in Grand Bassa, the LNBA conducteda public dialogue, training, and awareness event with participants drawn from Margibi, Rivercess and Grand Bassa Counties.
Presenters at the event will include former Associate Justice, Philip A.Z. Banks, III; former Minister of Justice, Cllr. Benedict F. Sunnah and former National President of the LNBA, Cllr. G. Moses Pager.
The three presented on different aspects of “Electoral Dispute Resolution, with emphasis on courtroom litigation and administrative hearings conducted at NEC”.
The training session was moderated by Cllr. Frederick L.M. Genie, a member of the National Executive Council of the Bar.”
The LNBA added that it remains grateful to the Irish and Swedish Governments, and the European Union (EU) for providing support to enable the LNBA achieve such unparalleled initiative.
