Aggrieved workforce of the National Elections Commission calls for a comprehensive forensic audit of the commission following a tumultuous leadership crisis that has paralyzed operations and raised serious allegations of corruption.
Since October 2024, the NEC has faced significant disruptions attributed to alleged leadership failures, culminating in the recent suspension of the Chairperson of the NEC by the President.
This decision was hailed by staff members as a necessary step toward restoring order within the commission, which is critical for ensuring free and fair elections in the country.
At the a news conference Monday, staff expressed relief at the new environment where open discussions could take place without fear of intimidation or retaliation.
“For the first time in a long time, staff were able to freely express their views,” one member stated, highlighting the chilling atmosphere that previously stifled communication.
Despite this newfound sense of security, the workforce emphasized the necessity of transparency moving forward, urging President Joseph Boakai to approve a forensic audit of NEC’s operations.
“Reports indicate that despite the Commission spending over $200,000 on a solar power system, we often find ourselves in the dark when the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) service falters,” the employees pointed out.
The failure to maintain essential energy sources, including a generator that has gone subserviced for months, has hampered operations and affected the Commission’s ability to function effectively they said.
The situation has further deteriorated, with staff buses out of commission due to a lack of fuel, and clean-up efforts having become a grassroots initiative undertaken by the workforce to address the accumulated debris left since the 2023 elections. “This lack of resources and support speaks volumes about the leadership’s mismanagement,” stated another staff member.
The NEC workforce is particularly alarmed by rumors suggesting efforts are underway to reinstate the suspended Chairperson without a thorough investigation into her tenure, which they argue would undermine the integrity of the commission.
“We have reached out to all of our partners, including ECOWAS, the EU, and USAID, to inform them about the crisis that has undermined the integrity and stability of the NEC,” said a representative at the conference. They stressed that reinstating the Chairperson without addressing these pressing issues would be counterproductive and detrimental to the moral fabric of the NEC.
