PHOTO: Leaders of the CSOs during their news conference
By Augustine Octavius, augustineoctavius@gmail.com
Six pro-democracy civil society organizations has blamed “leadership failure” and “weak oversight” for the current spike in COVID-19 cases in Liberia and is calling on the Weah government to demonstrate commitment to accountability.
“We are of the strong conviction that the current surge in cases can be attributed to leadership failure, weak oversight, limited accountability and transparency in the way resources were managed by the incident management system,” the CSOs said at a news conference in Monrovia on Wednesday, June 23, 2021.
The CSOs are the Naymote Partners for Democratic Development, the Accountability Lab Liberia, the National Civil Society of Liberia, the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia and the Institute for Research and Democratic Development.
They advanced nine counts recommendation aimed at curbing the spread of the new variance of the corona virus in the country.
The six CSOs proposed that President George Weah must restructure the incident management system to include a more robust, accountable and transparent mechanism to ensure the IMS is more efficient and effective, among other things.
According to them, the government through the Ministry of Health should bring on-board more experienced and professional health workers to contribute towards the fight against Covid-19 and that the President widely consults with stakeholders, including independent civil society.
They want the government must build temporary emergency treatment centers in strategic locations in the country to augment the strength of existing hospitals and clinics.
The five CSO also recommended that the government should in a timely way provide food and non-food items to the needed population in case of any lockdown announced and said process must be made based on prevailing circumstances, with a more inclusive and transparent mechanism for distribution.
They encouraged the Ministry of Health and National Public Health Institute must decentralize the COVID-19 vaccination process to serve as many persons as possible, provide basic materials such as personal protective equipment and other logistics to health workers to save lives;
The five CSOs proposed that the enforcement of the national health protocols by security forces should be in line with human rights standards and all local laws
They also recommended that the Ministry of health takes steps to ensure people with pre-existing conditions, including pregnant women and children have access to health care services
“We wish to remind Government of its accountability responsibility to itself, citizens, and development partners that are contributing valuable resources and inputs to the process.”
“The Government must provide regular and timely updates to the public on resources received and expended”
“Furthermore, available mechanisms and frameworks must be strengthened and made accessible to the media, civil society and partners to enable them constructively engage with the process.“
Meanwhile, the CSOs said they are deeply concerned over the government’s failure to take any action on the financial statement audit of the incident management system covid-19 response since the report was released on December 2020 by the Auditor General of the Republic of Liberia.
According to them, the GAC audit report noted that the incident management team failed to disclose information on the Covid-19 recast national budget in the tune of $32.770 Million United States Dollars.
“The systematic attitude of the government not to disclose information on the management of Covid-19 fund undermines public trust and makes it difficult for donors and international partners to provide assistance to strengthen the health sector capacity to respond the current surge of the virus and breakdown of the health system.”
“With the new wave of outbreak and drawing on the GAC audit report, a new and restructured team, with more capable, trusted and individuals with integrity, should be immediately announced by the President to lead the process.”
“Our independent assessment has shown that frontline health workers are again at risk, with no indication of additional measures to carter to their needs and keep them safe, while risking their lives for others.”
“People with pre-existing medical conditions including, pregnant women and children are at further risk of not receiving needed health services due to the fact that the health system is at it breaking point at the moment.”
The civil society organizations said they are committed to working with the government purposely to foster a united and coordinated fight, but one that is overseen by individuals that have shown increased levels of transparency and accountability in the discharge of their responsibilities.”
The press statement was signed Eddie Jarwolo, Executive Director Naymote and Partners; Lawrence Yealue, Country Representative, the Accountability Lab Liberia ; Anderson Miamen, Executive Director, the Center for Transparency in Liberia; Harold Aidoo, Executive Director, Integrity Watch Liberia and Matthias Yeaney, Executive Director Institute for Research and Democratic Development.