Says the meter is not intended to target anybody or political party but to benefit Liberian people based on the divide of their participation.
Monrovia, Liberia – Ahead of Liberia’s October 10, 2023, general elections, Eddie D. Jarwolo, Executive Director of Naymote Partners for Democratic Development, and his group have started a town hall gathering with locals to discuss the President Meter Report.
With the use of this study, Liberians and members of the civil society can assess how well President George M. Weah and the Coalition for Democratic Change have lived up to their election-related and post-election pledges, Jarwolo noted.
He added that, it aims to track the president’s development agenda since his election and monitor, track, document, rate, and report on how well he performed both before and after the election.
The meeting, which included representatives from the Banjor Community in Montserrado County District #17 and Caldwell, especially the Concern Community, which serves as host to a portion of District #11, was intended to discuss the President Meter Report as a tool for accountability for the nation’s democratic process come October. The Democracy Advancement Program (DAP) is supported by the Swedish Embassy in Liberia.
“To address the President Meter Report as an accountability tool, we decided to launch our town hall meeting with community leaders, women, youth, and different political parties. Many people don’t understand what we do, so we advised them to come out and meet with us in person to better explain the President Meter, its purpose, how it works, and the advantages it will have for the democratic process.”
In his presentation, Jarwolo told the audience that his initiative is designed to help the Liberian people as a whole rather than to target specific individuals or political parties.
“We want to inform our people about the methodology used, the level of transparency in the process, and where we are in today’s meeting.”
Jarwolo cautioned voters to exercise good judgment in the October 2023 elections and to cast their ballots based on a candidate’s or aspirant’s ability to help them rather than on a bag of rice.
Using the slogan “Change for Hope,” which promised equal opportunity for all Liberians, President Weah and the CDC won.
The party’s manifesto for the 2017 election, according to Naymote’s executive director, detailed four pillars: pillar one, “Power to the People,” pillar two, “Economy and Jobs,” pillar three, “Sustaining the Peace,” and pillar four, “Governance and Transparency.”
24 of the 292 projects that were captured under the CDC government, according to Jarwolo, have been completed based on these promises by the Liberian government. He added that the 115 unfinished projects have not been started by the CDC-led administration as of yet.
He added that it is best for the government to go back to the people and explain why the CDC government was unable to accomplish their promise, noting if there is a problem that prevents one from completing or implementing the commitments.
“This town hall meeting is something that we are taking to all the counties within the Republic of Liberia. And we are happy that people are getting to understand our country’s politics, but they have to be more issue-based.”
He continued that it is preferable for politicians to keep their word whenever they make promises because every Liberian deserves to have a better life.
Participants praised Naymote and crew for the quality work they are doing in the nation at the same time. They also requested that Naymote track the president’s budget performance report moving forward, in addition to the President Meter Report.
