New survey shows Liberian citizens trust their Armed Forces

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-But citizens’ perception of CDC governance rated low

By Augustine Octavius

A new survey shows that public perception of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) is largely positive, with most Liberians having confidence in the security forces.

But according to a survey just released by the National Youth Movement for Transparent Elections (NAYMOTE) that positive perception held by citizens about the AFL is not the same for the economic governance of Liberia under the CDC government.

Releasing the report in Monrovia on Monday, NAYMOTE Executive Director, Eddie Jarwolo said the public rated the AFL as the most trusted security agency with 61 percent.

The restructured AFL is led by a corps of young and well-trained men and women who see themselves as “a force for good” and the top command of this new army have always reminded Liberians that they are committed to obeying only “lawful orders”.

AFL Chief of Staff General Prince C. Johnson

But the governance of the economy and livelihood of the ordinary people did not get good rating in the recent survey.

Addressing a news conference in Monrovia, Mr. Jarwolo pointed out that the AFL was closely followed by the Liberia National Police (LNP) with 46 percent, the Liberia Immigration Service with 21 percent and the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency with ten percent.

On the economic situation, the NAYMOTE Executive Director went on “70 percent of the citizens described the current economic condition in the country as poor while 41 percent described the current living as very poor.”

According to survey, two percent of the citizens said the economic condition in Liberia is very good; while one percent described the economic condition as fair.

Generally, a vast majority of the citizens rated the government’s performance in handling the economy as poor job creation as poor and improvement living standard of Liberians as poor.

NAYMOTE Executive Director Eddie Jarwolo

Other areas that the Liberian government’s performance was rated poor were keeping prices stable improving health services and fighting corruption.

As for the educational sector, the government was rated as fair while the addressing infrastructural development was fair.

In terms of democratic governance, 74 percent of the citizens expressed satisfaction that democracy is working in Liberia; while six percent of the people are very satisfied with the way democracy is working in the country.

“19 percent of Liberians are not satisfied with the way democracy is working in the country.”

On the issue of meeting with government officials, the survey showed that 85 percent of the people have not attended any meeting organized by official while 13 percent of Liberians confirmed attending meeting organized by official of government.

When it comes to the performance of lawmakers, the survey revealed that “ 44 percent graded the lawmakers of performing poorly, 30 percent rated the performance of lawmakers as fair and 25 percent described the performance of their lawmakers as good.”

As for the appointment of local leaders, 86 percent of the citizens rejected the president appointing of local leaders or chiefs in the districts while 11 percent of the people endorsed the appointment of local leaders and chiefs.

“ While each district showed differences in what are the most important problems facing the country, the report went on, “ the people stressed the need for the government to prioritize the economic problems, the health, infrastructural development and unemployment.”

According to the report, the survey used 3,185 registered voters out of 2,183,629 registered voters from across 46 electoral districts out of 73 within the 15 counties

46 percent of those surveyed were women and 54 percent were men

The survey was sponsored by the Center for Democratic Governance through a grant support from the National Endowment for Democracy

-But citizens’ perception of CDC governance rated low

By Augustine Octavius

A new survey shows that public perception of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) is largely positive, with most Liberians having confidence in the security forces.

But according to a survey just released by the National Youth Movement for Transparent Elections (NAYMOTE) that positive perception held by citizens about the AFL is not the same for the economic governance of Liberia under the CDC government.

Releasing the report in Monrovia on Monday, NAYMOTE Executive Director, Eddie Jarwolo said the public rated the AFL as the most trusted security agency with 61 percent.

The restructured AFL is led by a corps of young and well-trained men and women who see themselves as “a force for good” and the top command of this new army have always reminded Liberians that they are committed to obeying only “lawful orders”.

AFL Chief of Staff General Prince C. Johnson

But the governance of the economy and livelihood of the ordinary people did not get good rating in the recent survey.

Addressing a news conference in Monrovia, Mr. Jarwolo pointed out that the AFL was closely followed by the Liberia National Police (LNP) with 46 percent, the Liberia Immigration Service with 21 percent and the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency with ten percent.

On the economic situation, the NAYMOTE Executive Director went on “70 percent of the citizens described the current economic condition in the country as poor while 41 percent described the current living as very poor.”

According to survey, two percent of the citizens said the economic condition in Liberia is very good; while one percent described the economic condition as fair.

Generally, a vast majority of the citizens rated the government’s performance in handling the economy as poor job creation as poor and improvement living standard of Liberians as poor.

NAYMOTE Executive Director Eddie Jarwolo

Other areas that the Liberian government’s performance was rated poor were keeping prices stable improving health services and fighting corruption.

As for the educational sector, the government was rated as fair while the addressing infrastructural development was fair.

In terms of democratic governance, 74 percent of the citizens expressed satisfaction that democracy is working in Liberia; while six percent of the people are very satisfied with the way democracy is working in the country.

“19 percent of Liberians are not satisfied with the way democracy is working in the country.”

On the issue of meeting with government officials, the survey showed that 85 percent of the people have not attended any meeting organized by official while 13 percent of Liberians confirmed attending meeting organized by official of government.

When it comes to the performance of lawmakers, the survey revealed that “ 44 percent graded the lawmakers of performing poorly, 30 percent rated the performance of lawmakers as fair and 25 percent described the performance of their lawmakers as good.”

As for the appointment of local leaders, 86 percent of the citizens rejected the president appointing of local leaders or chiefs in the districts while 11 percent of the people endorsed the appointment of local leaders and chiefs.

“ While each district showed differences in what are the most important problems facing the country, the report went on, “ the people stressed the need for the government to prioritize the economic problems, the health, infrastructural development and unemployment.”

According to the report, the survey used 3,185 registered voters out of 2,183,629 registered voters from across 46 electoral districts out of 73 within the 15 counties

46 percent of those surveyed were women and 54 percent were men

The survey was sponsored by the Center for Democratic Governance through a grant support from the National Endowment for Democracy

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