Monrovia, Liberia – Liberia has taken a major step toward deepening democratic governance and political cohesion with the formal inauguration of the Secretariat of the Inter-Party Consultative Committee (IPCC) on Friday, 27 March 2026, in Monrovia. The event represented a renewed commitment to coordinated political cooperation and communication between political parties.
Members of political parties, the National Elections Commission (NEC), governmental organisations, civil society, and development partners were among those present at the ceremony. They all demonstrated a common dedication to upholding peace and advancing inclusive democratic processes.
Gabriel B. Saydee, Jr., National Coordinator of the IPCC Secretariat, stressed in his speech that political actors have a historical obligation to put national unity ahead of the interests of individual parties. “We must stand not as representatives of individual parties, but as stewards of the collective democratic interest. This is not a competition with government; it is a complement to Liberia’s democratic process,” he stated.
Saydee outlined three key priorities for the newly inaugurated Secretariat: Fostering constructive political engagement, Strengthening electoral processes, and Building institutional resilience. He stressed that dialogue remains central to preventing conflict. “If we can resolve issues here,” he noted, “we will not need to fight them in the streets.”
The ceremony also featured a keynote address by Dr. Nathaniel Blama, former Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency, who reflected on structural weaknesses within Liberia’s political landscape and the critical need for stronger collaboration among political actors. “Weak political systems produce weak governments. The IPCC offers a pathway to strengthen institutions through cooperation, shared resources, and collective accountability,” Dr. Blama stated. He underlined the importance for political parties to develop into institutions focused on policy that are rooted in inquiry, discussion, and productive involvement.
Speaking on behalf of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Deputy Resident Representative Louis Kuukpen reiterated the organization’s unwavering support for inclusive politics and democratic institutions in Liberia. Kuukpen emphasized that maintaining peace and making sure that democratic procedures produce significant results for all Liberians require ongoing communication amongst political stakeholders.
Counsellor Teplah Reeves, Co-Chairperson of the National Elections Commission, emphasized the value of collaboration between the NEC and political parties in promoting inclusive, transparent, and credible elections. Participants praised the inauguration as a turning point in Liberia’s democratic development, emphasising the importance of political parties in governance, stability, and accountability in addition to their role as rivals in elections.
In order to ease political tensions and resolve electoral concerns, political parties worked with the NEC to establish the IPCC as a forum for communication, coordination, and consensus-building. The framework was first codified in a 2005 Memorandum of Understanding designating the NEC as Secretariat. To improve its independence and bolster political party ownership, it underwent substantial adjustments in 2016 and again in July 2025.
The agreements made during a two-day meeting in Gbarnga in December 2025, where political parties elected members of the Secretariat and adopted the IPCC constitution and bylaws, are the foundation for this transition. It represents a significant move toward a fully-led organization that aims to foster collaboration, inclusivity, and ongoing communication.
The program is a component of the continuous support provided by UNDP and its partners through the Liberia Electoral Support Project, which aims to maintain the peace, inclusivity, and resilience of Liberia’s democracy. With assistance from the European Union, Ireland, and Sweden, UNDP oversees the Liberia Electoral Support Project, which is carried out in collaboration with UN Women, the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy, and the NEC.
Reported by: Naneka A. Hoffman
