By Alfred Kollie, alfredkolliejr92@gmail.com
Monrovia, Liberia- Their appears to be no immediate end in sight to the internal rift at the National Elections Commission (NEC) among top administrators and between some senior officials and staffers on the other hand.
A group of aggrieved employees from the National Elections Commission (NEC) is calling for the immediate reinstatement of staff members who they claim were wrongfully dismissed following a unilateral decision by the Commission Chairperson, Madam Davidetta Browne Lansanah.
On December 2, 2024, staff were summarily dismissed after Chairperson Lansanah reportedly instructed the Human Resource Director, Ms. Pauline Garmai Korkoy, and Executive Director, Mr. Anthony Kawala Sengbe, to take immediate action against employees who had been protesting for their benefits.
These dismissals have stirred significant unrest within the NEC, which has been grappling with tensions stemming from ongoing negotiations aimed at resolving a crisis within the organization.
During a press conference on Friday at NEC headquarters in Monrovia, Madam Deddeh Mulbah Pusah, the Director of Civil and Voters Education, called upon President Joseph Boakai to suspend Chairperson Lansanah, accusing her of ruling the Commission in a “dictatorial and unilateral manner.”
Madam Pusah expressed that Lansanah no longer possesses the moral authority to lead the NEC.
She also emphasized the staff’s demands, which include the payment of four months of outstanding general allowances and the establishment of medical and life insurance for staff members for the upcoming fiscal year.
She lamented the ongoing climate of fear, claiming that the current Executive Director is engaging in “witch hunting” against staff members.
The aggrieved staff have taken their grievances to the Liberian Senate, meeting with key officials in the Senate Committee on Autonomous Agencies in an attempt to shed light on their situation.
Despite ongoing discussions with the Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs, which requested that employees halt protests and return to work—a request that was followed—tensions have continued to escalate by the Chairperson.
“The staff are committed to the request from the Office of the President, as we believe the interests of the NEC are more important than our grievances,” Pusah stated during the conference.
However, she criticized Lansanah’s departure from the country amidst these pressing issues, reflecting what they perceive as her insensitivity to the staff’s concerns.
The staff also underscored that the current Executive Director Sengbe’s position may be invalid, citing potential violations of election law regarding his appointment in line with Section 2.19 paragraph 2 of the New Elections Law
As the calls for reinstatement grow louder, the situation at the NEC remains tense, with both sides hoping for a resolution that ensures the integrity and functionality of the electoral body.